finished up the rusty floor and chopped the back part off the thing today. here are pics.

another

the donor cab

the floor fixed

Its looking good!!

Wow you have some balles to cut that thing that much. Looks good though keep up the good work.

Is it going to look something like this?

http://aev-conversions.com/gallery/A_3_L.jpg

What did you use to cut everything off?

Later,

EDIT: I should have checked your site first. Looks like a cool project.

LOL :D wow brent your getting manly with this project.. Thats gonna be sweet :D Definitly keep us posted.

well here it is today. I've got to figure out the roof, then clean it up a lot, add the bumper, roll cage, and exo cage.

another

back seat in place.

Damn Brent you've got some skills. I dig that alot. Wouldnt mind doing that to my daily driver (chero) :D You must have a lot of time on your hands lately. you should fab up some 4" LED taillights on the back now. :D

very nicely done! keep posting pics!

Man I just have to say that what you are doing is really cool and I think that your skills are pretty good.

Keep us posted and keep posting those pictures.

That is some really good looking work

thanks guys, not bad for a beginner hu, no really I got the welder for x-mas, ok, maybe a month early. :D

one thing I haven't figured out is how I'm going to get the rear end to come down some, its sitting about 2" high with the tank, spair tire, and my 200lbs of fat ass standing in the back, there will be a little more weight from the bumper and cage tube, but not that much, I didn't think this setup would be that much lighter.

looks awsome. woder if my bro will let me do that to his haha. keep the pics coming. whats the end plans for this project like what tires and lift and all?

Originally posted by yjtj
looks awsome. woder if my bro will let me do that to his haha. keep the pics coming. whats the end plans for this project like what tires and lift and all?
arround 4.5" lift, and the tires its running, till I wear them out or spring for some 37x12.5 17 ssr's

what yah doing to the front to fit the bigger tires?

Originally posted by yjtj
what yah doing to the front to fit the bigger tires?
I may move the axle forward an inch, and cut it more. I figure it will still hit the under side of the battery tray, but there is nothing I can do about that, and the fire wall, I could pound it in some, but moving the axle forward will help some there

you planning on going full exo cage??? honestly I don't think you should hide all that work with a bunch of tube! Your rig definatly makes cherokees look like much serious fourwheelers/builder rigs then most I've seen! (bolt on bitches mostly...)

Oh yeah ment to ask how your SSR's compare to other tires out there in Utah. I bought some 37's figureing they would be better in moab then Boggers.

I have no complaints with the ssr here in utah, I do like them better than the mt/r and tsl radial, but have seen the sx do some pretty amazing stuff. the sx just is not offered in the size I want to run.

Originally posted by NE-RokToy
you planning on going full exo cage??? honestly I don't think you should hide all that work with a bunch of tube! Your rig definatly makes cherokees look like much serious fourwheelers/builder rigs then most I've seen! (bolt on bitches mostly...)
I am going to have some sort of a cage, some internal, some external, I'm thinking about using 1.25-1.5" .120 wall tube, not to big, and its main purpose will be to strengthen the whole unibody more than a roll, but that too. and when I paint the thing, it will all be the same color, if I go patriot blue, if I stay green, I'll probably keep the grey rocker.

Wow that has really come a faer way great job that looks super clean. Very impressive.

Looks great man, keep up the good work! If your battery tray is going to be in the way after moving the axle forward why not mount two optimas in the back, if there is enuff room. It may help add a little weight back tehre as well. Just a thought man.

Ya gotta respect a guy that cuts up a perfectly good cherokee, You kick ass man!

Nice job Brent! Wire feed migs welder are pretty handy, eh? About your rear springs: I put on the RE 1462 and lift shackels this summer and they are about 1-2" shorter than my front. I would consider trading for yours if yours would net me about 7" total.

Looking forward to wheeling with you in the SPring.

SeanP

Brent, SHHWEEEET :eek: lookin' rig! I have been waiting to see something like this done for a while now. I have also been trying to find a competent person to take on my ideas and make 'em a reality. I have a '76 FSJ Chero 2 dr. and want to do a removable hardtop like the old Broncos. Once that is done I want a full cage put in. So far the few people I have spoken to tell me I will have problems with body panel flex or whatever. I would appreciate your input on this one. Your rig is quite a resume! Post here or email me if you want. A few :beer:s for the BADA$$ job!! Keep us all up to date with the killer pics. THANX, keith

Your rig is looking really awesome. I just want to say i think what ur doing is excellent and keep up the good work. Keep us posted!!!

the roof is coming together.

most of the back welded in.

another of the roof.

still scratchin the head on what to do here, I want to use recessed lights, something that won't get taken out by a rock like the stock ones and mj ones would.

Originally posted by SeanP
Nice job Brent! Wire feed migs welder are pretty handy, eh? About your rear springs: I put on the RE 1462 and lift shackels this summer and they are about 1-2" shorter than my front. I would consider trading for yours if yours would net me about 7" total.

Looking forward to wheeling with you in the SPring.

SeanP the springs I'm using now are a modified 4.5" pack, modified to get 3.5" out of them, but I think I'm going to try a stock main leaf now with a couple of other springs, moving the axle back and making the overhang less and lighter, I may get away with a stock spring.

Brent,
for the tail lights, why not weld some metal to where the stock tail light housings were, make it smooth, then cut the hole for some 4" round leds?
Scott :grinpimp:<><

Hey Brent,

Have you thought about taking a bit of sheetmetal and forming a smoothface on the rear. Then taking a set of Military Taillights and mounting them in? Then you would mave some heavy duty Brake, Turn, Hazard and even blackout drive if you wanted to wire it up.

Shave that back pillar down flush and cap the entire rail with Diamond Plate. I think that would look trick. I would say do the entire back but that might look a little tacky, so I would use sheetmetal on the mounting face.

With no tailgate you really do not need to worrie about an mounting system and if you do want to use it as a bed to haul a few things, you could use a mesh tailgate.

Hey brent lookin good man! :D

Looking Great Brent!! I got tired of knockin my tail lights out too:
http://www.castlenet.com/users/herzog/xj_tail_light.jpg

Just tossing around ideas.

:beer:

Herzog,

That is what I was trying to describe, thanks for the picture.

Also I still think that the military lights would look great set into that. You should be able to pick up a set for cheap at a Army navy store.

If not talk to me offline;)

You going to put some of that spray-in or roll-in liner in the back of that bad boy. That would be cool. Problem is the can of roll-in stuff is $99, and you would barley use any of the can to put 10 layers in that small of a surface area. You'd have enough left over to do the inside, or a truck bed or something.
I plan to line the whole tub of my CJ.
Good job on the project,
Shaggy

----------------------------
My wife caught me with my offroad magazines fabrigating again.

Brent ... that is flippin' cool!

cm "a big ole' slap on the back to ya' man, well done" k

Since I rolled my jeep in April, I've been hounded by all the jeep folk that I know to chop the top of my XJ off. However, I'm not a fan of how the four door XJs look w/o a roof. I am however, sold on the way that yours looks. That design rocks. I've got a couple of ideas for mine, kind of a combo of what you have done and other sick thoughts in my head, but I love your project and can't wait to see it done.

mac 'cutting on a jeep is theraputic' gyvr

roof line finished.

another pic

rear corner, bumper tube set in place, and back corner pillar cut and bent over to match the crease on the outside, time to bend up some bed sides and graft them in.

Tell you what, I'm a Yota guy myself but I have always been a fan of the Cherokee. Nice fawking work man. Would love to do something similar to my '93 runner. What are your plans afterwards :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I'll bring plenty of :beer: :beer: Naw, really, great job!

Originally posted by Brent Orton
another
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=187860
what size rims and tires are those? That is an AWESOME project

VERY cool project. Nice work! :beer:

Originally posted by YJ4LIFE

what size rims and tires are those? That is an AWESOME project
35x12.5 16 ssr's on 16x10 wheels.

any particular reason you used 16s and not 15s or 16.5s?

Damn you Brent... Now you got me thinking of awkward, but functional ways I can cut mine up. Gettin the Sawzall bug...

:beer:

Originally posted by Herzog
Damn you Brent... Now you got me thinking of awkward, but functional ways I can cut mine up. Gettin the Sawzall bug... :beer:
I have had the :idea: in my head, then came Brent :emb:, now my SAWZALL won't stop crying for me to come out and play!:( My trigger finger is getting on the band wagon as well. The "itch" is getting harder to resist every day!
THANX BRENT!! :mad2: j/k! :laughing: :laughing:

Keep up the awesome chop job!! It keeps the juices flowing!

Originally posted by YJ4LIFE
any particular reason you used 16s and not 15s or 16.5s?

can you sat 4 - 35x12.5 16 ssr's for $300 :eek: and now that I have them, I think the 16 was a good idea, if I go 60's in the front, I'll only have to turn down the outside of the hub to make it 5 on 5.5, and not the inside to fit the 1/2 ton breaks.

less side wall to flex = less bouncy bouncy on steep stuff

thinking about going to a 37x12.5 17 ssr and a beadlocked 17x10 wheel.

Sport-Trac on steroids anyone ? :flipoff2:

Hey Bort, thinking of a fuel cell?

any new pics? keep us updated man

Brent You do good work!!!! keep it up!!!

Adam,

nice work and to think i was teasin you about the photo chop a few short weeks ago wait til you see my creative fabrication in a month or two:beer:

Very nice!! Thanks for all the pics. Greddy

Originally posted by kegmaster
Hey Bort, thinking of a fuel cell?
and throw away a perfectly good stainless tank :eek: no


I don't have any more pics, I've just been cleaning things up some, I've got the inside bedsides bent and cut out, and a few other things welded up, but mostly I'm waiting on x-mas to get the cutoff saw so I can start on the bumper and cage.

Any more pics on how this is coming along? I cant wait to see more.
Steven

:beer:

Just wanted to bring this one back to the top.
Have you made any more progress Brent?

DIY ALL THE WAY!!!

He's at the what do we use Bondo on, and how much stage.......:D I'm sure we won't see any more body flex :rolleyes: ....but he's braced the hell out of the rear, so maybe we won't. I think we are priming tomorrow and then he's on to the exocage the cute little painter get's involved....(I believe that's still me, but he could do it)