I have the body mount chopped and did not weld, replaced the mud flap and have had no problems for the last 3yrs

 

I ended up chopping mine back some more and haven't welded a plate back,no problems two yrs strong.

 

I do believe on of the members here used JB Weld to box in the mount.

 

I still haven't welded mine. Ran Kokopelli and the Summit as well as several thousand miles back and forth with no problems. I have pieces cut and fit but haven't gotten inspired yet to pull the tires and all.

 

I ran mine with out a plate welded on for some time. I ended up doing it just because. I honestly don't think it is necessary.

 

If you want to cap off the open area after cutting, and don't have access to a welder, try cutting a filler piece out of some sheet steel, and use metal filler (or JB-Weld) to hold it in place.

Then, after it cures overnight, sand the 'weld' smooth, prime, and paint.

This stuff is easier to apply than JB-Weld, and will hold just as well. You can squeeze a nice bead with this stuff, because it's one product in a tube, instead of mixing resin and hardener. Just make sure that the tube is warm, so it comes out a little 'pasty', and will stick well (if the product is cold it'll come out slightly hardened and won't fill cracks as well).

I've used alumized Bondo in the past, for patching steel body panels, and that stuff is even easier to use. You can cut a rough filler blank as backing for the hole, then spread a layer of the metallic Bondo over it. Sand, prime, and paint...

 

I did my body chop about 6 months ago and have not had any issues. When I originally did the cut, I told myself to take it to a welder the following week and now look 6 months later still no cap:rotfl: I would like to cap it off...but who knows when that will happen.


I like JoeUser's bondo idea!

 

17k on my body mount chop and not one issue. Someday when I buy a welder I will cap it just for a clean look.:bigthumb:

 

Interesting. All of you running around without boxing the end after the chop. Have any of you looked for cracks propagating from the mount hole out to the edge?

Think of a pop can when you crush it in the middle. Flex it long enough and it will tare. I would think it would only be a matter of time before it cracks if it hasn't already. I certainly would not buy a chopped rig that hasn't been boxed.

 

Electrodes (filler metal) is normally rated at 70,000 lbs +/- tensile stregnth.
JB weld maybe 100 lbs

 

Chopped and not filled but on the list of too doos.