XJ Frame Plating, Skids & Long arms

chris · Nov 14, 2009

Chris @ MarsFab is doing a fantastic job for me. He's putting on my Rusty's long arms, plating my frame including reinforcement of steering box and tranny/tcase/gas tank skids. I wanted to post of some pictures of the progress. This thing is gonna be a tank! Can't wait to try it out!

Still to come: Gas tank skid, steering box reinforcement, paint and to cut off LCA stock brackets.

Album:
http://s696.photobucket.com/albums/vv325/cltdba/1991 XJ/MarsFab Work/

Frame plating:

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0419.jpg

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0420.jpg

Crossmember:

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0408.jpg

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0409.jpg

Tranny Skid:

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0411.jpg

Transfer Case Skid:

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0417.jpg

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0426.jpg

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0424.jpg

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0421.jpg

Long Arms:

ai696.photobucket.com_albums_vv325_cltdba_1991_20XJ_MarsFab_20Work_IMG_0412.jpg

mosh5186 · Nov 14, 2009

looks good. :driver:

Joe J. · Nov 14, 2009

dang Chris, you going all out aint ya. heck, ya brake a u joint and ya gain a u joint along with long arms, belly armor, bracing and god knows what else. now thats how ya do it! go ahead and have them exo it while there at it and youll be one step closer to a buggy. :beer:

chris · Nov 14, 2009

This is phase 1. Phase 2 is probably going to be an exo/interior cage hybrid. (still coming up with ideas) Phase 3 will be 4-linking the rear with the 8.25 or 8.8. Haven't decided which axle yet. Right now, I'm just about broke!

I picked up several D30 axles from pull-a-part today so that I have some spares. Picking up some D35 spares tomorrow in case I break and am not ready for phase 3.

Oh I also got some armor for the D30. Picked up a solid diff cover and I ordered one of those tube style skids from 4 wheel parts. Gonna try to put them both on there.

I need to get some more pics of that crossmember. That's the coolest part of this whole armor job.

JDHolland · Nov 14, 2009

looks good......we need to get the yj in there soon, put those axles under it one day

Dylan W. · Nov 14, 2009

you aughta gank that cat converter outta there. Get a couple more pony's.

Looks good.

Joe J. · Nov 14, 2009

Dylan W. said:
you aughta gank that cat converter outta there. Get a couple more pony's.
Looks good.

true, and you might get a few bones for it too. or are they still worth anything?

Joe J. · Nov 14, 2009

cltdba said:
Oh I also got some armor for the D30. Picked up a solid diff cover and I ordered one of those tube style skids from 4 wheel parts. Gonna try to put them both on there.

nice

HaPtOAD · Nov 14, 2009

Lookin good. I need to do all that to mine while it's down.

chris · Nov 14, 2009

Dylan W. said:
you aughta gank that cat converter outta there. Get a couple more pony's.
Looks good.

I thought about doing that, but I want it to be street legal. Plus I don't like the noise. I prefer it to be quiet.

I may go back with a hi-flow cat later though. Right now I seem to have all the power I need. Still running stock gearing too.

MarsFab · Nov 15, 2009

Chris Im glad you like it. It's been a fun project to work on.

TJcrawler97 · Nov 15, 2009

nice work, it sucks not living on so close to the shop anymore, I miss everything. Ill have to stop by soon

CherokeeChieftan · Nov 15, 2009

Looking good Chris, you need to build me some sliders around christmas time

criminalxj · Nov 15, 2009

looks good, can't go wrong w/ chris, he does some of the cleanest fab work i have seen!

chris · Nov 15, 2009

Thanks for the discussion guys.

cgm147 · Nov 15, 2009

that thing gonna be ready for the trip to mt city this weekend???

MarsFab · Nov 15, 2009

I sure hope I can get it done, I've been really busy. hope to have it done by Wednesday but we'll see.

TJcrawler97 · Nov 15, 2009

damn I got to get there by weds to see it :beer:

chris · Nov 15, 2009

Heck yah man. Come on by. I'll likely give it a test run on the rock pile and will bring some beer for afterwards! :beer:

Hey Chris, I was thinking, should I put some chains on that front axle or will the shocks be able to hold it at full extension? I'd hate to break a shock and then break my other hand on the hi-lift jack. :shaking:

chris · Nov 15, 2009

cgm147 said:
that thing gonna be ready for the trip to mt city this weekend???

I think it should be. Not much left to do. I'm looking forward to the trip!

Hey Chris, the pressure is on! hahah

jonnyB · Nov 16, 2009

looks good, cant wait to see it this weekend

chris · Nov 18, 2009

Job's all done! Here's the finished product. Flexed 39 3/4 inches. I gotta figure out how to get my rear to flex more. May just say the heck with it until I get around to four linking it.

I couldn't be more happier with the work. Chris really went the extra mile! He had my driveshaft extended 2 inches to make sure I wouldn't have any problems with it slipping out. He even fixed my sloppy steering! I've been trying to figure out what in the world was going on with it. He found that the steering box bracket was extremely loose. So loose that when you turned the steering wheel the body shifted over 2 inches. He tightened everything up and put a weld in where a bolt hole was wallowed out. In addition to that he helped me out big time and put in a set of ZJ front axle shafts I got from PAP, cleaned the rust off my steering knuckles and shot some paint on them and installed my SOLID diff cover. As you all know, my hand is broken so I asked for his help since I have a hard time turning wrenches much less putting on my heavy ass tires. He gladly helped me out. You couldn't ask for a nicer guy. My experience with MarsFab was outstanding and I will definitely recommend him to anyone who needs some fab work done!