I've been thinking about doing a frame extension on my Samurai for quite a while now, and have found a nice step by step way to do it. My biggest concern is how long will the frame extension last before it starts to sag if it were to be my DD for a while? Also what other issues can occur over short/long periods of time?

Thanks,
Sharlene

If it is done correctly you won't ever have problems with it. It "should" be stronger that in stock form

Great. I'm glad to be hearing good things so far. To not get anyone confused I'm wanting to do a mid body frame extension/body extension not a front frame extension.

Like this?

Done right you won't have a sag problem:

Okie that’s amazing that you got the style lines to match up so well!

Just a question, I have heard of a few ways to stretch the frame, and from what I have read the best way is to stretch it just behind the transfer case. What I am wondering is, do you sleeve the inside of the chassis rails and puddle weld the sleeve inside, or are you better off just butt welding the extension on and then fish plating the extended area (welded on an angle down the frame of course)

Looks like a fair amount of work in getting the sheet metal back together again!

Thanks

Damn it all to heck..... I got another plan for my zuk........ Thanks for the insperation okie. That looks pretty sharp. Nice work.:smokin:

Use door panels to fill in the body. I use 2"X4"X14 ga. tubing for my ext. and fish plate the outside of the frame:

You can also ext. behind t-case:

Last one I built for Alex Flatt as a flattbed Zuk with Subaru seats:

I stretched mine in the middle 24 inches so I could run 4 bucket seats in a zuk. 2"x4" X 1/8" rect tubing, butt welded the extension, then fish plated as well. For the body, I frankensteined two tubs together.


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Hughmungas1/S5030183.jpg

not done with it yet. my build thread is on zuwharrie http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,45579.0.html