Buddy of mine built his XJ on rocks. He built a tube frame attached to his exo and bumpers so he would have something to mount the links to. It works but looks kinda dumb having the frame plus another frame below it. Look at your jeep, you can see the frame now. Imagine seeing another 4" below that. It's like those wranglers with way too much body lift. It works but looks dumb and makes you a bit more top heavy. All the steel you add will be sprung weight so you will be tipsy.

 

Explain this one more time. One frame. Stock frame gone, no more. Boxed frame in its place. So set up like a blazer. One boxed frame exact replica of the stock one but stronger. No more crazy noses from the body flexing, no worries about twisting the frame, and a little body lift just to have something different. Plus really thinking of fox coil overs at all 4 corners. The box frame will make mounting easy.

 

i'm not sure you are understanding the unibody...the rails not only are the suspention mounts but they keep the entire body in shape there is no structure to mount to with out it...if you somehow took the time to strip the rails out of the xj and build a chassis to replace it you won't have any structure to mount the chassis to..

 

even with it removed it would sit a bunch higher (more frame showing). most frame rails are 4-6" tall. and even if you removed it and then mounted to body to it you would need to put rubber mounts in which are about another 1/2" minimum added height. so it would stick about 3-4 inches lower then it is now. which isn't bad, but still lower. the present "frame" is level with the floor boards, you can't do that with a "body on frame" set up, well you could but it would be the same thing as it is now, and would make the body flex with the frame(making noise and having the same body twist issues... even "body on frame" makes the body twist a bit. the rubber mounts "help" eliminate this, seams like a LOT of work for little gain to me. I would just get the H.D. frame stiffener peice set.

either way good luck.

 

Yes the idea is 4"x2" with a 2" body lift and at all body mounting locations I will reinforce the body with some .25" plate 8-12 locations. The body will be more ridged then a typical body frame since it was at one time a uni-body. The frame will be noticeable but nothing crazy. The majority of my weight will say at its location now motor, trans, ext. I see this as an advantage. The suspension, motor, trans all that will mount onto the frame. There could be some noise from the body but I highly doubt it will me much if at all. I see the advantages as astronomical. Even the little things like cleaning. The suspension will mount to DOM hoops welded on the frame. The only draw back I see is a little extra weight but I think its worth it. This makes the possibility of modifications endless.

 

The stock frame itself is already 4.5" in spots.

 

STOP SAYING FRAME YOU DON'T HAVE ONE!!!!!!!! if you want the hight just sister the unibody rails with a tube chassis cutting the rails out to do what you are saying you want to do is retarded you don't understand whats involved in that job not to mention how flimsy the body will get plus makin all new rad. support system, inner structure to support the body on its new mounts...........just biuld a buggy or build your xj right with suspention

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I like being doubted makes it that much sweeter when I am right. You must not be much of a fabricator if you think its that much work. Really how to mount the radiator is a big deal to you. I guess we all have to start some were. I'm shocked you think coil overs on all 4 corners is not a good suspension. Well what can I say to each there own. I know I use the word frame loosely when talking about an XJ but what else do you call it sub frame? What ever not sweating the small stuff. I would just build a buggy but how do you register it? And I love my XJ and want it to retain the look. I'm glad you posted put A smile on my face.

 

never said coilovers were a bad idea.. i think as a guy that has built a number of chassis and has expiriance on frame machines, and owns his own business building drag cars,hotrods and well anything else that walks through the door.. you need a better understanding of the jeep you can't just cut and paste you can build a buggy with just your xj for a shell..cutting the rails out front to rear (which in its self is an incredible amount of work) and just sticking a frame under your jeep will not end well the xj isn't designed to have pressure on small points down a frame like an old framed truck it should be supported continuously front to back and as far as the radiator support there is more then sticking a radiator in it it houses the entire front end..the jeep will be very flimsy if you remove the main structure you will have to reenforce the hell out of the body and it will probably flex even more and make more noise then it does now.

 

My XJ "had 38's" with a 60/14 combo it wheeled the East at Tellico the gulches orv park all the way to Colorado and 2 years later no cracks anywhere it only had sliders welded to unirails as unirail stiffners and a rear bumper with welded in tube inserts and a wrap around with tube welded to unirail front bumper welded/reinforced at front unirail with 1/4 plate running along side front side unirail not welded just bolted I could flex it out on 4ft tall boulder open all doors/hatch easily and close them easily . I've added some 10 guage/3/16th to the rails and will add an exo cage I did this just because I plan a comp cut the cage will add great strengh but the exo is to keep the roof intact when it rolls so I''m not swapping parts off first hard roll...However I have had my eye 5.9's to put my parts on since I still want a v8 ,but not the hassle of a swap.

 

I think the XJ body has more support then a typical body frame rig. If body mounts are put in appropriate areas it will work fine. After all body weight isn't much considering the over all weight of the rig. I do intend on putting cross braces in the frame stock ones are and with body mounts in these locations I feel it will be more then enough support. Really the hood quarter panels ext. dose not weigh much. It is alot of work but I don't feel it to be hard. As soon as I can afford the new rims and tires we will see. Thanks for your input.

 

sounds like alot of work for an XJ. if you have your heart set on having a frame maybe you should start with a vehicle that has, well, a frame.

or if you really wanna hack your XJ up and throw a frame on it then have at it and let us know how it works out.

 

In the presses of getting all the parts. Have axles need rims tires bumbler got a long list let. Hope the over time stays. Did an exo and stiffeners on my blk 95. Almost just as much work as what I want. When I get the parts ll do a tread.

 

Ok foot in mouth update. Talked with a guy on Pirate. He put a full frame under his XJ and lead me to some build treads that did also. Still less work then plating the frame but way to heavy. Found out 1/8" plating is strong enuf and I didn't think it would be. So after hearing from people who have dune it. That have valid points. Going to plate in stead. Didn't want that much work but strength vs weight. Its the best rout. Some tried to tell me this but needed proof.

 

I want links to these threads... lol

how can plating an existing "frame" be more work the removing one and building another from scratch?