Story
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The original body looked great from the outside when I bought her. The floorboards were patched and repactched as most CJ tubs are...it was not until I really started to wheel (read: BEAT) on her did the body really start falling apart. Upon removal of the tub the front floorboards just about fell away from the rockers. The cage was no longer attached to the top of the wheelwells in the back...it was terrible.
Other than the two front body mounts (just ahead of the driver and passenger) were holding it to the frame. I would go over bumps and the tub was bouncing up a couple inches out back. I am sure it made my Jeep look like a GEM. :)
A friend of a friend had two Wranglers at his house...both of which he was looking to get rid of. I decided to take the tub off his hands - from firewall to tail-lights, excluding the front seats and dashboard. The body was an 88 YJ. It worked out quite well. I ordered up a driver floorboard and in a weekend, with help from friends swapped the body on so I could drive it to work the following week. THANKS GUYS!
After having the body on I knew I needed some sort of rock rails so I traded some time(aka work) for a friend to make some rock-rails for me. They turned out exactly how I wanted. I want to modify them slightly for more underside protection but they hold up to the rocks just fine, being they are made from .1875" and at the bottom is double thickness due to the angle iron that is there for lip\edge protection.
Future armor additions include rear corner protection and tube front fenders. The rear corners are going to be purchased as I have no way to curve any thickness steel, however, the front tube fenders will be custom - I will just have to have someone bend me two tubes, one for each side.
Pictures of the body swap are bleow. |
Links |
Jeep CJ7 >
Body and Armor |