XJ Rebuild photos.....

[mike]

Well, many of you will remember these photos of Mike, former desertdawg, sons (David) Xj after he flopped it on a trip through Willow Springs a few months back. Seeing as how Mike, is no longer a member on the board I asked him if it would be ok if I posted up pics of the rebuild process. Here are a couple of reminder photos, and the progress so far. There will still be some X bracing going from front corners to back corners. As well as some interior supports that will go through roof from inside in the B,C,D pillar locations.

Also there will be new racing seats with 5 point harness installed.

Stay tuned for more pics.

The ratchet strap that is visible from top view is just temp to hold the sides in place while tubing is being fitted.

[FlexyXJ]

Mike, Looks Great!!! Pretty typical of the work you have always done. Just wish you could open up your own shop......:)


Joe
Absolute Offroad

[mike]

Thanks Joe. It was pretty rough when I started on it, but we (Mike and myself) are just glad I was able to get it straight enough to put a windshield back in it. It will still be a daily drive once David gets back state side agian.

As far as shop goes, that sure is a nice dream.....

[terron gregg]

mike that thing looks just as good as it did when i first saw it i cant wait till the 22 to get my cage done oh and by the way i put your sliders to test today i have to say i highly recommend them to anybody

[mike]

Good to hear. I will have to look at the pics from your upper woodpecker trip to see.....

[terron gregg]

no pics of my carnage just jims door

[brian lujan]

the before pics looked bad the after pics look good. the bar in the middle looks awsome.

[terron gregg]

mike you are an fing magician that thing looked bad how did you get that dent out towards the top get in and kick it up

[mike]

A hi-lift jack, lots of anger management with the BFH, and some good ear protection to soften the sounds of the hammer blows from inside the jeep. Without, the seats, carpet, or headliner it got pretty loud inside there :aagh:

It is not perfect, but it turned out pretty good for what I had to work with.

[Desertdawg]

That sure is looking good Mike!:fashizzle:

[Number 7]

Looks great.

[terron gregg]

i also had mike do some work for me as well and although i havn't really had the chance to beat on mu tube fenders and sliders i have come down pretty hard on them and they did their job excellent i also got a pretty good deal on them as well i would say that if you are looking to get some work done like this to get a hold of mike except on the weekend of th 22 im also having him do my cage .here are some more pics of his work .
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/terrongregg/IMG_4037.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/terrongregg/IMG_4035-1.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/terrongregg/IMG_4036-2.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/terrongregg/IMG_4387.jpg

[Papa Mo]

wow!! looks great so far!!

[ROKBITR]

Very, very nice work! I think I have made my mind up on the exo vs. internal cage debate. I REALLY like the bar in the middle.

[mike]

Got a little more progress made this weekend. It was to dang cold and windy today to get much done. But here are some pics of the start of the X brace across the top.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/topview1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/topview4.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/topview5.jpg

[AZCA Jeeper]

Wow Mike, that is phenomenal work!!! It looks awesome. :fashizzle:

[mike]

Thanks :)

[arczech]

Nice job Cool looking, When do you want to do ours?

[mike]

PM sent :)

[Mike H.]

repair work looks awesome.
for the exo cage, do you plan on running a bar up over the cowl, and tie'n the center roof bar down the windshield to it?

[mike]

well, it has been a while since I posted some updated pics so here are a few to look at. The X brace across the top is all mocked up and I got the bar to go across cowl are built as well. Now I just need to remove the new section and do a full weld on all the fittings and then intall it and weld it in place.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/Rebuildphotos001-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/Rebuildphotos002-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/Rebuildphotos003-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/Rebuildphotos004-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/jaggededgechoppers/XJ%20Rebuild%20Photos/Rebuildphotos005-1.jpg

[Tom Schenk]

This is a dumb person question but how do you paint it once its done? Oh, and that is some freaking sweet work you did there! :fashizzle:

[mike]

when it was built the first time I built it in sections and painted the back sides of all the tubes, then installed it all and finished painting it. I will pretty much do the same on this. All the new tube will come off and be fully welded then painted. Then after I install it and weld the four joints together where I am seleeving to the original cage, I will paint those.

[Tom Schenk]

So you can still take it off? That makes sense.

[Mike H.]

looks killer.

[Moriarty]

Awesome work on the reconstruction.