NEWS PARTS JEEP & 4x4 ATV & UTV

Jeep "Sport Trac"

733 Views 17 Replies 3 Participants Last post by sweetjeep, Nov 26, 2003

2490

Discussion Starter · Nov 17, 2003

Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

I have always thought that the Ford Sport Trac was quite possibly the greatest idea ever. Not neccessarily the greatest implimentation, but a superb idea.

I am also well aware that my chances of Merceedes/Chryco alowing Jeep to build their own version is next to non-existant. Or come out with another pickup (except maybe for the lame M80 concept)

So I have done as much research as I can and I have decided to build one of my own.

The key is I want an extra cab MJ.. which doesn't exist, or a Cherokee with a slightly longer open box in the back.. which also doesn't exist.

What I have decided to do is take a Cherokee and graft on a Comanchee bed. As best I can tell this is BASICALLY what Jeep did by removing the back seats.

What I am planning to do is find (hopefully REALLY cheap or preferably free) and Comanchee and cut off from the cab back and then get the Cherokee and cut off from the back seats back. Seal the opening with a combination of the Comanchee cab rear and the Cherokee rear. Ideally I'd like to keep the opening hatch, but I don't know if that will be possible yet. Then having built some kind of subframe, attach the back of the MJ to the back of the XJ. In the process getting an MXJ.

Does anyone out there in Genius land have any suggestions or things to be aware of?

And as well.. I am currently seeking a CHEAP or preferably free MJ. And I will deal with the Cherokee in the future. I'd like a nice one as this will be a functional vehicle when I am done!

If you know of an MJ.. I am in Massachusetts but I'll drive a good distance for the right donor vehicle. Condition of the MJ is virtually unimportant, year, color condition.. it's all about the price!

Anyone care to chime in?

Thanks!
Morgan

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G

· #2 · Nov 17, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

I didn't keep the URL for it but over on the NBaorth American XJ Association site there was a link to a XJ built like your talking about. You ought to take a look at it. The url to the NAXJA site is right here . The link was in the forum section.

2490

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 17, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Thanks.. I found some info about it. It seems they are still just discussing it though. No one has actually attemped anything.

One guy wants to knock the cargo hatch area off and have a teeny tiny bed. But that's not what I want. I have to have something large enough for a dirt bike. I only need it long enough with the tailgate down. So I may grab a 6' bed and chop it even.

Depends on what I am able to find!

LionShooter

· #4 · Nov 18, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Here is one. I really like the idea but the bed is short. Even so, if I had the time, I would seriously consider this option.Cherokee Sportrac

G

· #5 · Nov 18, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

SweetJeep go back and look some more, there was a thread with pictures of one that some one had built. Thats what actually started the discussion.. The one that was built was built in a very short time. I can't remember how long but it was suprising how fast it was done. The one in the thread also looked like it was more built for show than for trail.
You could sign up over theere and ask a question about it. I'm sure some one would be able to hook you up with the right threrad link.

2490

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 20, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Steelerfan: What keywords did you use. I found a bunch of stuff.. but I didn't see the link to the completed unit.

As for build time.. SHOULD be quick. The hardest part is simply bracing the 2 halves together. The rest is simple wire and hose extensions.

The driveshaft will be a pain, but I'll just fork over the $$ and buy one.

As for the red Jeep with the back end cut off.. that thing is pretty nice but retardedly expensive and a) no back window/hatch/gate and b) the bed is utterly useless. My main goal for this is to haul a couple dirt bikes around.

2490

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 20, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Over on the NAXJA site.. I can reply to topics and search them.. I was still unable to find anything relevant to the topic. Only one post but I seem to be ignored in the topic.. I don't know.

I attempted to creat a post and ask around, but for some reason I can't create a topic yet. So for now, I wait.

G

· #8 · Nov 20, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

I didn't search for it. It was a topic of discussion on the forum a week or two ago. I just opened it and read it. So I can't really help you much with the search. I'll try posting a question about it for you over there. So give it a little time and check it out.

G

· #9 · Nov 20, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Here is the site that had all of their vehicles custom done. It doesn't appear to have been that hard.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/PreOwned.html

G

· #10 · Nov 21, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

That shows one but it's not the site that I was telling him about the site I mentioned went into more detail. It wasn't a cemmercial site . It was a personal site.

OverDriven

· #11 · Nov 23, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

I've been trying to do what you have planned for a while now.
Here are a few things to consider.
Unibody. If you mess with choppin two frames you are asking for lots of trouble. The Comache has a partial sub frame on the bed but the cab is all unibody.
I also thought of taking a 4 door and cutting the back window out and using the rear hatch of the XJ to close off the back. Then cutting most of the bed out of an MJ and trying to blend them together at some point. I talked to a guy that had chopped the top off of the back of a 4door, used 14 guage steel to close the back of the cab off and make a lockable tool box out of the back end (not what you want to do).
Last option. ( the one I chose) Get a 2 DR. Chop from the B Pillar back off and fab a MJ tailgate on to the back, and have a soft top made (kinda like a blazer or bronco). Big concern is a strong Rollcage that takes the place of all the support that is cut out from losing the roof. Also, you end up with an Open top Jeep for those in the back seat, fold the seats down and drop the tailgate and you'll have room for two bikes, or throw the canvas top on and have an XJ again.
Good luck. I'll upload pics when I get mine done.
Tyson

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2490

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 24, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Yeah.. the AEV conversions are cake. You could practically do on in your sleep. The hardest part is closing off the rear hatch. Which is also quite easy. That, however, is useless. The bed, even with the tailgate down (OK.. that's the hard part, fabbing in the tailgate) still leaves you with MAYBE a 3.5 - 4 foot bed. Worthless. Looks badass though.

Overdriven: Yes. The MJ has a "frame" attached to a unibody. If you think. The MJ is what I am going to do to my Cherokee. Jeep linked a "frame" to the XJ unibody (and cut out the back seat). I am simply going to mimic this and then put a secondary frame support structure underneath. Both somewhat time consuming, but not that hard. I also am thinking of fabing up a hidden exocage to create a secondary plane of support if it's neccessary. Basically a roll cage in the bed hooked to the body of the XJ.

I also thought of doing your idea of simply putting a bed on the regular chassis. Or converting the rear end into a bed. But I lose the backseat area (in order to get a large enough bed), and that's crucial. That's the whole reason for this project. I don't need the full seat area, but I need a good amount of space. I need to fit gear plus and/or at least maybe 1 person. The other problem with converting the XJ into a front seat vehicle with an open bed is you get the Avalance problem. When you want to use the bed/whole length you have an open cab. Which then becomes a vacuum and sucks all the dirt and crap into the cab, plus in the winter you suddenly have an open cab acting as a huge ass outside -> inside blower. The Avalanche is a spectacularly poorly executed idea of this concept. A great concept, brutally poorly executed.

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LionShooter

· #13 · Nov 25, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

So buy a trashed Comanche and add the whole bed to the shortened XJ, lengthen the drive shaft and you have what you need-4 seats and a useable bed with a real tailgate.

My dad and I built something similar many years ago using military jeeps (I guess they were MB Willys) left behind when the Allies pulled out of North Africa. One was a hardtop (yes, a hardtop Willys with a 3' bed), the other was cloth. We cut and welded and lengthened the bed and frame of the hardtop using parts from the other one. When we were done, we basically had a Scrambler with a hardtop over the 4 seats and a useable bed. Of course we were not having to deal with the problem of welding a frame to a unibody, but I am sure that could be engineered with crossbars and a rollbar for rigidity. I may have a pic somewhere in my archives. -when I get time-haha

Or "exo-frame" the thing

Stan

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G

· #14 · Nov 25, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

I swore that in the last month I saw a Cherokee & Wrangler (YJ) graphed together to a sport trac. I have not been able to locate the post.... Did anyone else see that ? I can not find the link.

It was a work in progress but the basics were complete.

Jeff

2490

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 25, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Lion-shooter: That's exactly what I plan to do. I just have to find the appropiate donor vehicles. I am not exactly tripping over "free" MJ's though. And I am trying to get one as cheap as possible for obvious reasons!

That and I would like to attach it to as new an XJ as possible, which will cost signifigantly more $$.

JAS: Yes. The thing you are talking about is pretty common. I would imagine it's probably just an XJ with the cargo area uncovered. Or perhaps uncovered and maybe sheetmetal lengthened.

There is also the AEV conversion where they grafted an MJ tailgate onto the open back XJ. Neat, but still useless.

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G

· #16 · Nov 26, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

I can't remember who it was with the 2dr open air but were you talking about making it similar to a early 4Runner? I like the old 4runner concept but the engine sucks and IFS make it a setback.

OverDriven

· #17 · Nov 26, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Sweet - I get what you are saying about turning the Jeep into a vacuum. But, I really got into the way the 4Runner's, Bronco's, and Blazers had the open back end during the 80's. I may actually put in a nice Sunroof over the front seats as well. I live in North Texas so I'm not going to have to worry about the cold or rain that much.
I'm not breaking out the sawzall untill the spring anyway. Got plenty of time to plan. I just got the XJ so right now my priority is getting it trail worthy. Got some nice 31's sitting in my garage just waiting to be stuffed under there with the lift I'm putting together out the the yard tomorrow. Make the best out of the Holiday weekend.

2490

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 26, 2003

Re: Jeep \"Sport Trac\"

Beerstash: *I* am not talking about making it an open air beast. The thought crossed my mind to put in a large removeable roof. But I will have enough trouble with the baseline project first!

The removeable top Broncos et. al. are pretty cool. And being in Texas, you only have to worry about heat and dust. The cold isn't too much an issue (I would think).

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