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Welding Or Bolting?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by neohic, Jan 16, 2023.

  1. Jan 16, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    500
    I'll be working on rock sliders and tying my cage into the frame on my '75 soon. What I'm looking for is opinions on whether or not to weld everything directly to my frame or to bolt them on. I’ve got my opinion, but I’m really curious what other fabricators think.

    CJ for reference:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2023
    Stakebed and colojeepguy like this.
  2. Jan 16, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    I'ld bolt it with sandwich plates. Spread the load out and it is removable making repairs easier.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  3. Jan 16, 2023
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    You know the right answer. :D
     
    Fireball likes this.
  4. Jan 16, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Here is what I did.
    The flat plate is the sandwich plate for my cage plate.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Jan 16, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
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    Agreed. :cool:

    I know how I want to do it but I also think it’s interesting when looking around in internet land what others think. There’s the whole “if you think you trust your welds” and “what about the heat affected zone?” on the pro bolt side. On the other hand is “how is putting a ton of holes on your frame not affecting it?” or “things flex and bolt holes elongate” from the pro weld group.

    I guess I was looking for opinions specifically from the early CJ crowd that knows how these frames flex and move over time. This goes hand in hand with plating, not plating, or partial plating.
     
  6. Jan 16, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
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    This is a great example in tying a cage to a frame. So many people don’t use a bottom bushing though. My sliders will be out rigger style that won’t be bolting to the body. These will essentially just be frame extensions so there won’t be any bushings.
     
  7. Jan 16, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Since my cage is tied to the body and the body is mounted with bushings, I used bushings on the bottom to allow some give when the frame flexes.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  8. Jan 16, 2023
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    Jan 10, 2014
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    2,137
    I actually tried to do something like that last night. Spent more time removing what I did and doing it the way I should have done it the first time.
     
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  9. Jan 17, 2023
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Jun 15, 2003
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    2,132
    I welded 1/2" plate to my frame that had four 3/8 - 16 tapped holes that I bolt to. My frame is boxed so I didn't want to "sandwich" and I wanted them removable.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  10. Jan 18, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
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    My original plan was to sandwich thick rubber mat between the underside of the body and a matching plate to the floor plates. Went scrounging through my parts and found these instead. (y)

    [​IMG]
     
    Fireball, Norcal69, Ol Fogie and 3 others like this.
  11. Feb 22, 2023
    Lucas

    Lucas New Member

    Utah
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    Jul 8, 2020
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    16
    Weld sliders and bolts where the unite with cage as well as some easy accessible tack welds for insurance
     
  12. Feb 22, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
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    500
    To wrap up this thread, I ended up bolting my sliders to the frame and then used bushings from the outriggers to the cage legs.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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