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Adding 15" to my TJ

141K views 392 replies 104 participants last post by  solman 
#1 ·
A few months ago I decided that I wanted to stretch my tj in order to have a more stable rig when I upgrade to 40" tires. I already have a 1979 high pinion dana 60 and a 14 bolt sitting in the garage but I still have a lot of homework and parts collecting to do before Im ready for that project. For now I am just doing the frame/body stretch and staying with my hp30/8.8 and 35s. I got the material for the frame a few weeks ago along with an lj soft top. The plan is to add 15" to the frame and body right behind the door. I finally got started on the jeep yesterday. So far its going good. Here's a quick run down of what I did in case anyone else is thinking about taking a sawzall to their jeep.

First I removed the rails on top of the tub for holding the soft top down.



Marked my cuts to follow the inner support bracket where the roll bar ties in that way I don't lose ant strength where the door latch is. I got most of my ideas from another build thread I found a few weeks ago from Chop110 on the forum here.



After the sides were cut I drilled out the spot welds on the floor.



After a little trimming here and there the jeep now looks like this.





Heres a shot of the rears that will be going in at the end of the summer. The 14bolt has 5.13s and a detroit locker. The front is straight out of the junk yard and needs to be completely gone over.

 
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#3 ·
I ordered my front axle brackets and rear axle truss and shave kit this week. The original plan was to wait until the end of summer to do the axle swap but I might just do it all now while the jeep is apart.
front axle brackets
XJ - TJ Jeep combo bracket upgrade kit

Rear truss and shave kit
14 Bolt Rear Axle Truss
 
#7 ·
I have plans/dreams of doing something similar. I want to do a 5-8" wheelbase stretch and stretch the body at the wheel wells enough to fit a LJ top on. Therefor gaining the rear room and having a overhang similar to the old scramblers. Then I would cover the sides with some modified LJ body armor. I really like the way you are going though and look forward to seeing how it works out. On another note are you looking to sell you old axles?? Just the rear?? PM me if you are, depending on where in Pa you are it might be a fun road trip. Good luck and keep the pictures coming.
 
#8 ·
00tj2 The axles will be for sale but I'm not sure how soon. I plan on just doing the stretch for now and keeping my current axles. The 1 ton swap is going to take time and money that I don't have right now and I don't want to start it this close to spring. I will send you a PM with a price and my number, you can remind me in a few months if you are still interested.
 
#12 ·
This week has been pretty busy and it looks like I'll be shoveling snow for the next 2 days :( but I plan on cutting the frame on Sunday so I should have some new pics to post Sunday afternoon.
 
#13 ·
I pulled out the gas tank and the brake and fuel lines running down the frame along with the drive shaft and e brake cables today. I marked where Im cutting the frame. No I just need to round up some metal to brace the frame on both side of the cut before I cut the frame on Sunday.
 
#15 ·
Your the man dude. Can't wait to see this getting done. Were doing the same axles swapped over to my brothers YJ right now, they are already set up though just tearing them from another rig. This stretch should be cool. Are you adding and wheel base at the axles over the body or keeping the stock relationship with the axles to the frame/body?
 
#16 ·
In the rear the axle to body ratio will stay the same, if anything I might need the move it forward a little bit so the 14b diff cover clears the gas tank skid. In the front I plan on pushing the axle forward about 2".
 
#17 ·
I am too impatient to wait until Sunday so I cut the frame today before heading to work. It went easier then I expected considering I didn't have an extra set of hands to help out today. I will be making the internal frame sleeves tomorrow then my Dad is coming over on Sunday to help me get the frame back together. So far the project is going well. I only have 8 hours into it spread out over 3 days.



 
#20 ·
After 5 hours in the garage and a ton of help from my Dad we got the frame back together today.
Here are the inner frame sleeves that I made. I started with 1/4" plate, cut them into strips and welded them up into box tubing.

Once I tacked the sleeves in I made sure that the extensions were square

Heres the sleeve mounted in the frame

Ready to join the 2 halves
 
#21 ·
We used ratchet straps to pull them in tight

Everything came together really smooth, After a few last minute measurements I welded it up. I still need to make up my fish plates to add to the outside of the frame for extra strength, ill do that this week.



Here it is under its own weight


We stuck the rear half of the tub on just to get an idea of how it will look.
 
#28 ·
We used ratchet straps to pull them in tight

Everything came together really smooth, After a few last minute measurements I welded it up. I still need to make up my fish plates to add to the outside of the frame for extra strength, ill do that this week.



Here it is under its own weight


We stuck the rear half of the tub on just to get an idea of how it will look.
You don't need the fish plates, but if you want to do them, put them on the inside and smooth the outside welds and plugs welds with a good flap disc so it looks pretty factory. Good for fooling folks.
 
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