I've decided I'm chopping the top of my 95 xj. I worked in a sheet metal shop for a couple years so I'm not a novice, far from an expert tho so I'm coming here for some help. It's a four door, so I have some questions. I have access to a bender and the material for a cage, and an engineer buddy whose helping with the design to make sure I regain all the structural integrity lost from cutting her open. But my real question is mounting points. I plan on running the cage internally from the b pillars back. So anyone that has done something like this, got any pointers??

 

search feature is a beautiful thing you will find pointers there

 

I've already searched the fab forums and found a lot of good ideas. But the one thing that I can't seem to find is mounting points which is why I started this thread.

 

look at this thread from pirate if look at all the pics this guy has posted you can see every mounting point and see exactly how the cage is built his isnt exactly a chop but works the same being he had to stiffen the entire rig up

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557715

 

If that is your advice, please don't bother. We are here to help, and telling someone to search is not helping...you're better of not replying to the thread...

 

Like this?

I was heavily involved in this one...

If I were to do it all over again, I would leave the top on while I reinforced the frame rails front to back, inside and out.

Then cut the top.

 

^^That makes sense, then you don't have to worry about sag as much...

 

COSXJFAN, thanks for the back up. I tried looking around for the proper thread but I couldnt find what I was looking for.

Abbadon, that build on pirate4x4 is perfect almost exactly what I wanna do except i'm starting from the b pillar back. I hadnt thought of fabbing the cage up prior to avoid body flexing. Thats a very good move.

freak, that is pretty close to what im getting at, do you remember how you did the mounting points on that one? It looks sick btw.

 

Was the rear axle going to be stretched, it just looks off center, so I was wondering...

 

There is an article in a mag I get that had a topless XJ. I'll see if I can get pics or something to post here, I'm sure similar points would be used for bracing when cutting the top.

 

Got any pics of the front of that truck you could PM me?

It gave me a couple ideas...

 

Yeah I read this guys thread, he goes absolutely BANANA'S on this XJ. Serious fab skill!! Its Freakin Awesome thou

 

There were multiple frame to rocker tie in pieces that we made out of 2x3" tube. The cage lands on them (A & B pillars, and then lands on floor plates (welded on top the frame rails) behind the rear seat.







There are also multiple tie in tabs to the remaining body at the A and B pillars, and along the horizontal run above the door openings.

(disclaimer: these are NOT MY welds!)



I think it's the angle of the photo... it's centered in the wheel opening.

I'll see what I can find.






Someone asked about the doors:

 

I really like the front grille look.. more then likely I will copy it.. but a lil narrowere

 

Going for a J-series truck on that front end?