[95_TSi_AWD]

any chance your selling the drop bracket setup?

[EricsXJ]

Originally Posted by 95_TSi_AWD

any chance your selling the drop bracket setup?

Yes but I'm going to try local first to avoid the shipping hassle. If I don't sell it I'll let you know. It'll be a couple weeks maybe.

[jimbosz07]

oh boy oh boy oh boy.... this is an awesome build. i love your jeep eric

[bigern26]

I love your XJ
Im going to use yours to help me with build ideas for mine........
Would you happen to have the dimentions for the frame stiffeners?
i need to make a set

[conrasm]

I like the frame stiffeners and I was looking at them on T&T's website. Are they L shaped or U-shaped? Seems like a U-shaped brace would be a big pain on the driver's side given the fuel and brake lines are on the inside of the frame rail.

[EricsXJ]

bigern / conrasm - the T&T stiffeners are an L shape but the corner is bent to fit the contours of the frame rail. I was quite surprised at how well they fit. IMO, you want to avoid using a U channel. Not only does it add weight that probably isn't needed, but it would be a big pain to fit it around the sections where the pinch seam sticks out and you would have to remove the gas lines during the install because they run along the inboard side of the rail and you wouldn't want to be welding close to that.

Most people that make their own stiffeners just use 3" x 3" angle iron and it turns out pretty good. Also the T&T stiffeners are 3/16" thick which I think is good. 1/8" would probably work almost as good and save weight. 1/4" is (IMO) too heavy and not needed.

[Topgun514]

dang thats amazing, your gonna have such a solid rig (i didnt notice your Xmember was gone earlier to, my bad) are there plans for a cage for this...if your doing a full frame stiffener i may not be surprised for a halo cage?

[Clean RC]

Nice build Eric.. I am curious to see how the exhaust sounds.. I have been looking into something along those lines for my 90 since the engine swap..

[EricsXJ]

So for the front frame rails I bought the TMR (Temper-Mental Racing) plates. Here's the pic of their plates from their site:


They sell these in 1/8" and 3/16". I bought the 1/8" plates but what I didn't realize until later is that they mistakenly sent me one 1/8" and one 3/16". They sat in my garage for a couple months and I didn't notice until I got them out to install them. So it was too late to return the 3/16" one... I really only wanted the 1/8" and feel its strong enough (and doesn't add as much weight). Plus the 1/8" is much easier to work with since the plate needs to be bent in a couple places along the body.

So what I decided to do was to use the 3/16" ones on the driver side since it would match up better with my track bar bracket and C-rok plate.


I probably could have taken the time to match it up better with the T&T stiffeners but not to worry....


... because I planned on connecting the two together to prevent the frame from cracking between the two plates, which would be an obvious weak area.


I also plan on adding another small plate on the underside of the frame to further support this area. I have to get the Jeep off the jackstands first though so that is why I haven't done that yet.

Then I ran across a slight problem on the passenger side. I got most of it tacked in place except for the very front section which I was having trouble bending it to be flush against the frame rail. So I enlisted my 13 year old son to help me. I gave him a quick lesson on how to tack weld so that I could push the plate flush against the frame while he tacked it in place. He never has welded before but did a pretty good job. Here he's just practicing.

[EricsXJ]

Here is the passenger side welded up.


and here's what I did on this side. I did it a little different on this side because I was working with two different plate thicknesses and this way made less of a gap.


And here they are with paint.




more tomorrow so stay tuned

[geewally9]

That's awesome build. Wish I had time,money, etc. Thats also great you got your son welding. It's a great thing for people to learn how to do.

[jeeposaurus]

Very nice work...will be watching this thread intently!

[MGrobe]

Hey Eric!

At least one part of your build is something I will be addressing in the next month or two. I have the Dynomax cat back like you used to. Well the tip has come free from the muffler after 4 years of Chicago winters and general wetness. Instead of repairing I may just replace it as it is getting to be delicate like a carton of eggs.

Let me know how the sound is different on your new exhaust. I am not much for loud droning exhausts, but I could tolerate a touch louder than what the Dynomax was.

[Jason, aka: Jeepin.com]

Originally Posted by EricsXJ

... I'm also going with their Y-link long arm upgrade....

Dang you Eric, guess I'll be one of the last guys around still rockin' the RE drop brackets for a while longer.

[RWKXJ]

Hey Eric...Looking good!
Just when I think I am catching up to your jeep...you go and do something like this! Maybe when I do the WJ swap in a week or two then you have something to be envious of on my Jeep. I have been able to keep up with you on trail so far, I guess we will see how that goes this season! Anyway, looks good when are we hitting the trail?