was going to weldin in tubing to strengthin it but my buddy had a good point, unibodys are supposed to flex. but am i going to break something or stress it really bad if i dont?

give me experiences and ways you have done it!

for rockcrawling a simple rollcage will probably strengthen it enough, but for desert racing it will fold like a taco after a couple jumps with out substantial strengthening

but am i going to break something or stress it really bad if i dont?

give me experiences and ways you have done it!

YES and YES

The unibodys do flex, but overtime develop cracks (most common are at the a-pillar) and if not that, the body will twist permanently until it's so bad your doors won't open right ;)

Most people put some angle iron across the "frame rails" and call it even.

Others go to more extreme measures, but some stiffening is better then no stiffening. Plus you get good link mounting locations!!! :grinpimp:

Unibodies were never designed for the extreme stresses of hardcore offroading. A rig that flexes very little won't crack up like one that does. A decent cage combined with subframe sleeves will eliminate most of the A,B,C pillar flex/cracking, and plating the frame at the steering box and bumper mounts will eliminate most of the "frame" tears. Search for these fixes here and on naxja and you will find quite a few fixes for these areas.

Find a paper clip. Bend one side of it out, then bend it back. Repeat a few more times until you're holding two pieces.

Nah, unibody strengthening is overrated. Just wheel it.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/EricFilar/IMG_3674.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/EricFilar/IMG_3675.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/EricFilar/IMG_3676.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/EricFilar/IMG_3638.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/EricFilar/cj7028.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/EricFilar/orng3.jpg


WALL JUMP (http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k183/dirtysnow/?action=view&current=mdrwalljeep.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1)

WALL JUMP 2 (http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=4dU9M055RlU&eurl=http%3A//fatcityoffroadracing.com/id3.html&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/4dU9M055RlU/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskJEvKu7UcZY8si6q8t2rix5)

:p

I have been wheeling my XJ for the last 5 or 6 years now and didnt put a cage in it. I really wish I did now. I have plated some of the frame rails but nothing substantial, just enough to mount my long arms to and skid plate. There are some pretty big cracks at the rear corners that let in a water fall when it rains, none of the doors line up stright anymore, plus there is paint missing on the edges of the doors and on corresponding places in the door frame from where they have been rubbing the body when flexed out, and theres cracks starting to form around the door hinges on the firewall. Another plus is my track bar makes poping noises that I cant find, and all the bushings and bolts are tight. I have a "little" cherokee with a well built 4.6L stroker, 5 speed manual, and 35s.

So in short to answer your question, YES you need to strengthen the unibody otherwise under hard use it will start to come appart.

AARON

It doesn't just have to do with a unit body design, full frame rigs that are wheeled hard and regularly also develop stress cracks in the frame. CJ's, TJ's, Toyota's, it doesn't make any difference. If you flex any metal enough it will eventually get stress cracks, and it's harder to fix cracks in the body than it is to fix cracks in the frame.

Yes, it is a VERY good idea to reinforce your frame, or you will end up having problems.

thats the info im looking for!

will definatly be puting some type of strength on it.

Thanks guys

i bought the t&t customs unibody stiffeners and they came in yesterday
ill take some pics when i get home tonight
probably going to install them tomorrow

Another plus is my track bar makes poping noises that I cant find, and all the bushings and bolts are tight.
AARON

I had the same problem, using a RE adjustable track bar with the stock brackets. Turns out one of the 4 bolts that bolt the bracket to the "frame" had loosened up just enough to get that popping noise. It wasn't barely loose, but there was enough torque pushing on it that it popped like that. might want to tighten them all down :D

I think its really nessessary to have unibody streagth so nothin cracks on ya.

these are the t&t customs unibody stiffeners

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/wheelingpictures/flat%20belly/102_1356.jpg

ill have more pics when i finally install them