XJ cherokee into a softtop?

[Forest Gump]

Well today i spontaniously bought a 95 XJ Cherokee 170,000km from a good friend only $1000, my origional idea was to turn it into an unregisterable buggie for hunting and offroading, using mums landcruiser and car trailer to move it everywhere.
But it soon daunted on me that this would require great sums of money more than i have avalable (and its to nice of a jeep to wreck)
So ive kinda descided i want to keep it registerable and street worthy.

The main question im wanting to ask is will i b able to turn the cherokee into a softtop (by a proffesional), and will it be regerstable? (in Queensland). Im thinking i am going to also need to install a rollcage for saftey reasons and strengthning the roof.

i want to be able to stand up in the back (removed rear seats) and spotlight hunt with gun rests on the sides of the open roof

Any tips, hints, info, will be much appreciated

thanks for reading, sorry if it sounds like a dumb question

[layback40]

The XJ uses the body as a structural part of the car ~ no independent frame.
you need to talk with a good structural mechanical engineer before you do too much cutting. If you are planning just a big sun roof you may get away with it.

[kj69]

just buy a ute will be cheaper in the long run and better suited for the job.

[Siggers]

Like layback said, you will need to speak with some fabricators and engineers before you go doing to much cutting, but adding strength isn't a problem, how much of the roof you cut away will defiantly have some bearing on how much to put back in it... My suggestion, would be a full cage, plus rail support and stiffening, then go from there... I have some phone numbers of some people on the coast if your interested, just PM me...

[james]

No can do. No chassis

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[Antiferret]

Originally Posted by james

No can do. No chassis

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Yes can do......

Heaps of VW beetles driving around QLD with soft top conversions!

my father in law was a specialist VW mechanic (old school ones, not the new ones).

had a look how its done, seems there is a welded L or C channel frame bolted through the underfloor that is tied again with bolts to major parts of the subframe. NO WELDING ON TO VEHICLE. all these vehicles had the mod plate allowing it.

GO AHEAD, DO IT!!!

[Jimmyb]

You could easily cut an oversized sunroof in the back, but again, would need decent reinforcing.

Ideas??