Finally started on the Poly cage kit. I started with the rear. I had to adjust the notching on the c pillar spreader to get the bar level. It was tilted down to start.
I pulled the 4 nuts on the top, 3 bolts on each side, and 2 nuts behind the glove box to get the dash back a little. It gave me enough room to get the tubes run without any issues.
It probably would have been quicker with a second person, but it can be done with one and a few ratchet straps.
I tacked everything in place except the sleeve to the upper A pillar. It allowed me to pivot the lower portion of the A pillar towards the center of the Jeep, weld the floor plate, and they rotate it back.
After I had everything tacked, a coworker stopped by and did the final welding for me. Took a little under 4 hours.
A couple of pictures of the cage after paint. One thing I would recommend is pulling the door sensors before you start. After moving the dash back and forth so many times to check the notch for the tube, I managed to wipe out both of mine.
I'll have to grab some pictures with the interior in. The front dash piece fit in with the windshield up, even with the dash bar as low as I could get it. Door surrounds took a little rework around the front bend, but not bad.
I also knocked out some maintenance stuff. My cheap parts store radiator finally gave up. The threads on the petcock were no longer holding. Swapped it for a Mopar. It is a little funny that the $100 unit from the radiator shop lasted a couple years while the Griffin before it leaked twice within the 1 year warranty.
I need to get better about pulling the battery during the winter like I do the rest of the stuff that gets stored. The Diehard Platinum made it 5 years. Sears was good about the credit and they had a new one in stock.
I pulled the 4 nuts on the top, 3 bolts on each side, and 2 nuts behind the glove box to get the dash back a little. It gave me enough room to get the tubes run without any issues.
It probably would have been quicker with a second person, but it can be done with one and a few ratchet straps.
I tacked everything in place except the sleeve to the upper A pillar. It allowed me to pivot the lower portion of the A pillar towards the center of the Jeep, weld the floor plate, and they rotate it back.
After I had everything tacked, a coworker stopped by and did the final welding for me. Took a little under 4 hours.
A couple of pictures of the cage after paint. One thing I would recommend is pulling the door sensors before you start. After moving the dash back and forth so many times to check the notch for the tube, I managed to wipe out both of mine.
I'll have to grab some pictures with the interior in. The front dash piece fit in with the windshield up, even with the dash bar as low as I could get it. Door surrounds took a little rework around the front bend, but not bad.
I also knocked out some maintenance stuff. My cheap parts store radiator finally gave up. The threads on the petcock were no longer holding. Swapped it for a Mopar. It is a little funny that the $100 unit from the radiator shop lasted a couple years while the Griffin before it leaked twice within the 1 year warranty.
I need to get better about pulling the battery during the winter like I do the rest of the stuff that gets stored. The Diehard Platinum made it 5 years. Sears was good about the credit and they had a new one in stock.