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Frame stretch questions

greenjeep

greenjeep

Cause it's green, duh!
Location
Moab Local!
For a while now I've been contemplating stretching my CJ but haven't wanted to relocate my gas tank, lose my rear seat or comp cut my tub. So it occured to me why not do a frame/body stretch. I've never attempted anything like this, but it doesn't seem like it should be that difficult. Stretch and sleeve the frame, add sheet metal to the body, lengthen control arms, lengthen driveshaft, few new wires and fuel lines. Am I missing anything?

My current set up: CJ clip, YJ tub, TJ frame (and now registered as an atv!), 360/T400/D300, 60/14b, 5.5" RE long arm, 39.5" Iroks, current wheelbase about 95-96ish inches

My plan: Cut right in front of the rear fender wells, where the floor goes up and the rear seat sits. Add 10" to body and frame, basically giving my a Scrambler wheel base without the big rear overhang. This also should allow me to use RE LJ rear control arms, making that aspect clean and easy. Shoot for about 105" wheelbase.

If I could find a Scrambler tub I could use that and bob it. But they seem to be hard to find and expensive to boot.

Thoughts?
 
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
Bart did that to his TJ, stretched it between the door and rear wheelwell I think. Used an Unlimited suspension setup, so that'd make it about 10" stretch. Turned out really nice and worked well.

Kirk F. did it to his CJ7 also, keeping the leaf-sprung setup. It looks nice as well, and fits 5 seats now. :)

Maybe one/both of them will chime in and post pics.....
 
jeepspeedtj

jeepspeedtj

Active Member
It sounds super simple and in concept it is. The hard part is making it look good and not like some backyard hack job.

If you have the space and equipment to do it all yourself go for it. Oh you will also need a lot of time and patience!
 
GOAT

GOAT

Back from the beyond
Location
Roanoke, VA
Not a big fan of running LJ rear arms to make up for the stretch, especially RE arms. Have you considered just stretching the WB and not the tub? If your set on stretching the tub, you could buy some blank full sides from genright to cover the seams and add some strength. There also are some good wrangler stretch threads on pirate that may give you some more ideas.

The one thing I can say is, go bigger to be safe. You're better off ending up with 108" WB than 103", and wishing you had more to show for your efforts. Ask how I know.................



Here is a link to my stretch (100"wb, soon to be 110+")
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=403448


Tim's stretch (106"WB)
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424809
http://community.webshots.com/user/redbulltj
 
Bart

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
I was around 106 on my stretch. If I did it again, I'd go to at least to 110, maybe 115. BTW, I loved my longer Tera LJ arms.
 
greenjeep

greenjeep

Cause it's green, duh!
Location
Moab Local!
Kirk said:
Here is where I posted some info about mine. It looks like most of the pictures don't appear anymore. let me know if you want some more (I took alot :)

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=41702&highlight=stretch
Click to expand...
I'd love to see your pics, do you have them hosted elsewhere?

Bart said:
Here is my thread on my project LTJ.
http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=40732&highlight=frame+stretch

One thing to think about is your top. If you plan to enclose it you will need some kind of custom application. I ended up with a half cab from GR8Tops and it was cool, but pretty pricey. Dang, wish I still had that rig.
Click to expand...
Not going to run a top, so no concern there. Why did you cut behind the rear wheel well instead of in front of it, what was the advantage to do it that way?

GOAT said:
Not a big fan of running LJ rear arms to make up for the stretch, especially RE arms. Have you considered just stretching the WB and not the tub? If your set on stretching the tub, you could buy some blank full sides from genright to cover the seams and add some strength. There also are some good wrangler stretch threads on pirate that may give you some more ideas.

The one thing I can say is, go bigger to be safe. You're better off ending up with 108" WB than 103", and wishing you had more to show for your efforts. Ask how I know.................



Here is a link to my stretch (100"wb, soon to be 110+")
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=403448


Tim's stretch (106"WB)
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424809
http://community.webshots.com/user/redbulltj
Click to expand...
What's wrong with RE's LJ arms? I have their TJ kit and love it. I'm not a big fan of only wheelbase stretches because I don't want to relocate my gas tank, lose my rear seat or comp cut my tub.

Thanks for the links.

Bart said:
I was around 106 on my stretch. If I did it again, I'd go to at least to 110, maybe 115. BTW, I loved my longer Tera LJ arms.
Click to expand...
Really, that long? I thought most buggy guys went for like 103-108". 110+ seems HUGE to me.
 
Bart

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
greenjeep said:
Why did you cut behind the rear wheel well instead of in front of it, what was the advantage to do it that way?
Click to expand...

I had another rear tub section and it was easier for me, plus I wanted to keep the TJ inner rear fenders and that way I could just extend them the 10". It was a good transition.

greenjeep said:
Really, that long? I thought most buggy guys went for like 103-108". 110+ seems HUGE to me.
Click to expand...

All my comp rigs were 101" to 103" and they were fine for tight places. My new buggy is 112" and although I can't turn between the cones as well, the difference on the big climbs is amazing. I love the longer wheel base.
 
GOAT

GOAT

Back from the beyond
Location
Roanoke, VA
greenjeep said:
What's wrong with RE's LJ arms? I have their TJ kit and love it. I'm not a big fan of only wheelbase stretches because I don't want to relocate my gas tank, lose my rear seat or comp cut my tub.
Click to expand...


Not bashing RE, just an observation.

RE and most other manufacturers use the same skid for TJs and LJs, and just increase the length of the rear arms to compensate. The arms end up hanging down low and getting bashed on the rocks. RE arms tend to bend at the male threaded end because of this. Some run the arms backward to overcome this issue. The RE kit also has issues cracking the skid at the arms mounting points.

RK, TERA and a few others are now starting to bend the arms to gain clearance.

Clayton uses the same arms on his kits as the brackets are welded to the frame and not attached to the bellypan. Easy to stretch.

I totally understand not wanting to comp cut. I avoided it on my last build, but will have to cut or go coilovers in the front and rear. That's not in the cards for me right now.

Looks like a CJ6 or 8 tub would be the way to go for you. The 8s are nearly 104 and have enough room in the back to gain another 6-8 inches without hacking it up.
 
greenjeep

greenjeep

Cause it's green, duh!
Location
Moab Local!
Bart said:
I had another rear tub section and it was easier for me, plus I wanted to keep the TJ inner rear fenders and that way I could just extend them the 10". It was a good transition.



All my comp rigs were 101" to 103" and they were fine for tight places. My new buggy is 112" and although I can't turn between the cones as well, the difference on the big climbs is amazing. I love the longer wheel base.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. Maybe I'll shoot for like 108ish.

Kirk said:
http://s640.photobucket.com/albums/uu124/kcmf/

See if this works
Click to expand...
Yes, thanks!

GOAT said:
Not bashing RE, just an observation.

RE and most other manufacturers use the same skid for TJs and LJs, and just increase the length of the rear arms to compensate. The arms end up hanging down low and getting bashed on the rocks. RE arms tend to bend at the male threaded end because of this. Some run the arms backward to overcome this issue. The RE kit also has issues cracking the skid at the arms mounting points.

RK, TERA and a few others are now starting to bend the arms to gain clearance.

Clayton uses the same arms on his kits as the brackets are welded to the frame and not attached to the bellypan. Easy to stretch.

I totally understand not wanting to comp cut. I avoided it on my last build, but will have to cut or go coilovers in the front and rear. That's not in the cards for me right now.

Looks like a CJ6 or 8 tub would be the way to go for you. The 8s are nearly 104 and have enough room in the back to gain another 6-8 inches without hacking it up.
Click to expand...
I see your point on the control arms, maybe I'll just lengthen mine and can bend them then as well. A scrambler tub would be awesome, just don't figure I can find one for cheap.
 
Jay5.9L

Jay5.9L

...I just filled the cup.
Location
Riverton
It can be done :)

attachment.php
 
rokrash

rokrash

Member
Location
flat ol' Nebraska
I would love to claim that I did the work on mine, but my 5 was stretched 22" behind the door and in front of the rear wheel well, then the axles were pushed as far forward and back as was necessary to have a 110" WB. I thought it was a 6 when I first saw it for sale:


I do not have access to my photobucket here, but here is a trip report with some pics of it. It is obviously the only one with a 5 door!!!;)

http://rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=53832&highlight=rokrash
 
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