So, I've been wrenching like mad on my MJ, trying to bring it back to life.  For those of you who don't know, I'm taking all the parts from the B-pillar forward from a '97 Cherokee, and putting them in my '88 Comanche "The Red Truck".   Well, it isn't going too well, and my hope of getting to drive the finished truck to Moab this year for Easter Jeep Safari isn't looking too good.  So, I'm going to take the XJ instead.   

The problem with that, is that the XJ has no skidplates or rocker protection under it what soever.  As part of keeping it as low and as stable as I can, I am putting off lifting it just as long as possible.  So, one of the things that need to happen is everything I add for protection, needs to be as high clearance as possible

Part of my plan for this Jeep always included cutting out the rocker panels and replacing them with some square tube.  Christian and John will surely chime in about how butch it is, and how it looks like ass.  I put up with this abuse all the time, but for a Jeep, in most cases, I think square tube just looks right.  A Jeep is a square looking vehicle. 

But I digress, some 2x4 square tube will replace the rockers, some 1.5-inch, .188 wall tube will tie the rockers back into the unibody, and some 1.5-inch, .120 wall tube will provide a step/door saving service.  The thing is, the dimple die panels I have are about 18 inches long.  And, I decided to see what the thing would look like when it was done, so we ended up with these three photochops

Originally I got my buddy Dave to do these photochops (cause I'm horrible at the photochopping) so I could see if the tube/step was going to be too wide.  With the TJ flares, I think it looks just fine.  Then Dave went and got fancy with the clone tool, and rearranged the perf metal panels.  Now I'm not going to tell you guys which I like best, I'm wondering how you all feel about it.  Which one do you like, and why? 

Here's my hokey photochopped look at what I'm planning on doing, if you are having troubles wrapping your mind around it.