Front coil overs in a Jeep Xj Cherokee

This is a blog about what it took to put 16-inch coil overs in the front of my Jeep Cherokee XJ. This is part 1. Making space and cutting.
Here is a link some of the tools I used in this video
The Arccaptain Cut 50 plasma cutter
amzn.to/3XYMjEl

[@BlackAndBlueGarage]

Your ceiling fan is genius! 👍🏻 Looking good man, keep us posted.

[@tstrenuous10]

From experience, make sure you check how much the shock moves with everything drooped on one side and stuffed on the other. My coil springs rub the unibody sometimes.

[@FMJeeping]

I'm getting close to that step now. I have the driver's side tacked in place and need to mount the passenger . I will definitely cycle the front before hard welding anything in.

[@matty86suk]

16'', that's gonna be big

[@FMJeeping]

It should have lots of travel though. We will see how it goes

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

That inner weld on the drivers side coil bucket snapped off because it was mig welded steel to cast. Welding to cast takes preheat, post heat, and proper filler material. I have had good results with preheat to 400, stick weld with 7018, and wrap in fiberglass insulation to slow cooling.

[@FMJeeping]

You are 100 percent correct. I didn't preheat that weld. I really need to get into stick welding.

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

@@FMJeeping I would strongly recommend you get a machine capable of 150 amps of DC stick welding. I run 3/32 7018 for most materials from 1/8" - 3/8" at 85-90 amps. I run 1/8 7018 for anything over 3/8 at 125 amps. Stick is a lot easier to get a bunch of heat into the joint for good penetration.

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Gonna be awesome with coilovers in the front too. What brand for the front?

[@FMJeeping]

Fox 2.0s

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

@@FMJeeping nice! That should be a nice ride

[@FMJeeping]

@@TheBeardedJeeper that's the hope

[@moejr14]

What axle truck did you put on your front axle? We are building a 110 Comanche with coil springs up front for now, but would like to eventually go to coil overs when we get the money. I just wanna make sure I’m getting the right axle swap truss so that I can modify in the future.

[@FMJeeping]

2006 F350 D60

[@moejr14]

@@FMJeeping artec or barnes?

[@FMJeeping]

@@moejr14 i did Artec. But I would try a Barnes as well

[@moejr14]

@@FMJeeping artec is soo expensive. Barnes is half the price and I dont see a big difference

[@danhambrick6331]

Did you have to go back to the cut 50 unit?

[@FMJeeping]

Yes. The tip is better for demo work. The bestarc is much better with clean flat metal.