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Unibody Rock Sliders *TESTED*
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=43114		 Page 1 of 8
Author:  Inc [ Tue May 12, 2009 4:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Unibody Rock Sliders *TESTED*
I started my new rock rail unibody project this morning.

I took off my old rails, and the crappy plastic body panels that cover the rockers. Then I took measurements for the length and width that the rails need to be.
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The figures I am using are 70" lengths, running the entire side of the jeep from here:
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to here:
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I am going to use 2"x5" square tubing for the main bar of the rail.
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After that I am going to run a 5"x68" piece of flatbar, .25" thick, that will connect from the bottom of the outer lip of the rock rail to the pinch weld. I am going to weld the flatbar to the rail obviously, and then weld the seam that will be created where the flat bar meets the pinch weld. I am going to weld the pinch weld to the flatbar. So in essence the rails will be mini-boatsides on the bottom for 5". I will also cap the front end of the triangle shaped hole that will be created between the rail , the pinch weld and the bottom of where the rail meets the cut out unibody. After that I will be welding in two, maybe three, 2"x2"s - .25 wall tube for side supports from inside the pinch weld to the unibody frame.


The issues that I will have to deal with are that there are front fender body panels that bolt to the pinch weld under the front fender. So if I cut and weld that panel to the rail, which I am, I may have to cut that off and re-cut the new piece if I ever get in a fender bender or accident. I won't be able to just unbolt it and replace it like I would normally. Oh well.

I am going to cut the uniobody right beneath the door so I don't have to cut the doors shorter like the XJ guys do on theirs. The weld will be visible right at the base of the door.

The steel for this project cost me $181 out the door.

I should be done in a week or 2, depending on how motivated I feel.
Author:  tommudd [ Tue May 12, 2009 4:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Looks and sounds like a good start. Pretty much what I have planned. I had thought about what to do with the bottom fender bolts as well but thought if it came to it would just have to cut it out and redo.
So you are going clear up to the bottom of the door then? I was thinking about doing mine from the crease about one half inch from the door where it starts to curve back down around that way it would not be right under the door when you opened it
Author:  STINGN [ Tue May 12, 2009 5:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
what are you doing with your old ones :lol: :lol: :lol:
Author:  Inc [ Tue May 12, 2009 5:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
tommudd wrote:
Looks and sounds like a good start. Pretty much what I have planned. I had thought about what to do with the bottom fender bolts as well but thought if it came to it would just have to cut it out and redo.
So you are going clear up to the bottom of the door then? I was thinking about doing mine from the crease about one half inch from the door where it starts to curve back down around that way it would not be right under the door when you opened it

I'll be cutting right at where the bottom of the door meets the unibody. I thought about going lower with the cut but since I can go that, high, I might as well to gain more clearance. And if I went higher I would most likely run into clearance probems with the rear doors. Right at the very rear at the lowest point of the rear fender that is attached to the door, I think would need to be chopped if I cut higher. I don't want to cut my doors or my fenders so I think the way I have planned now will work best.


As far as my old rails, I am cutting off the mounting arms and giving the steel to my brother to use on his CJ8, if he wants them. He needs to see them and measure to see if they'll work. Otherwise I am cutting off the old mount arms and selling the rails locally.


Steel shop said it would be 3-5 days before I got my metal.
Author:  Inc [ Tue May 12, 2009 6:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Also, I had to choose from 2x4, 2x5 or 2x6 tubing. I went with the 2x5 because it seems to fit the best. The 2x4 won't stick out at all and would stick out about as far as the bare unibody rocker does now. The 2x6 will stick out over 1" past the bottom of the front fender and I thought it was too much of a shelf at the bottom of the fenders and the doors. The 2x5 will stick out a hair past the front fender and be just about even with the rear fender, plus it sticks out a bit from the doors and still offers that extra protection the 2x4 wouldn't. There will be enough of a lip with the 2x5 that they can be used as a step below the doors too.
Author:  tommudd [ Tue May 12, 2009 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thats what I had mocked up was 2X5 the last time I was planning. It should work out great I think. Can not wait to see pics of everything cut out.
Author:  jsc7002 [ Tue May 12, 2009 6:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
looks like a real good start, I cant wait to see what you come up with
Author:  Inc [ Tue May 12, 2009 6:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was gonna cut today, but since the steel won't be here for a few, I'm gonna wait. :(
Author:  Fulltimer [ Tue May 12, 2009 7:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sounds good. Hurry up and get busy....with pics too! :lol:

Terry
Author:  Inc [ Tue May 12, 2009 7:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fulltimer wrote:
Sounds good. Hurry up and get busy....with pics too! :lol:

Terry

Stinking steel company told me my stuff would be ready tomorrow and then changed it to 3-5 days. I want this done more than you guys. No wheeling until it is. :(
Author:  2006 KJ [ Tue May 12, 2009 8:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
i really like how you wont lose any ground clearance.
Author:  ken [ Thu May 14, 2009 2:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
I, for one am interested to see the project underway. You did such a good job on the first ones you made, that these aught to be sweet. Can't wait to see them. :)
Author:  Inc [ Thu May 14, 2009 4:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
ken wrote:
I, for one am interested to see the project underway. You did such a good job on the first ones you made, that these aught to be sweet. Can't wait to see them. :)

Thanks Ken.

When we going wheeling? :D
Author:  ken [ Fri May 15, 2009 1:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Let's go 8)
Author:  Inc [ Fri May 15, 2009 2:28 am ]
Post subject: 
ken wrote:
Let's go 8)

As soon as I finish these rails up. :wink:
Author:  JJsTJ [ Wed May 20, 2009 3:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
Update? Whats teh holdup!? Begging to see those rockers all cut up! :twisted:
Author:  JeepinJarhead03 [ Wed May 20, 2009 3:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
yeah! what JJ said!

*Twiddle*
Author:  Inc [ Wed May 20, 2009 7:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
I picked the steel up about 2 hours ago. And that is as far as I've gotten. This stuff is crazy heavy and super beefy.
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I'll cut and shape the rails tomorrow, including weld the end caps and then there are a few things I need to get for my welder before I start. I didn't want to take the doors off to do it but looks like that will be the best and only way to do it right. Maybe I'll get it done by this weekend.
Author:  Diggerfreek [ Wed May 20, 2009 7:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
holy cow :shock: I don't think those are going to bend any time soon :shock: :shock:
Author:  JJsTJ [ Wed May 20, 2009 7:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nice. When you get them trimmed to length, add to them, etc. can you weigh them? I'd Like to know how much extra they weigh Over a set of normal rock rails.
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