Nice tracker!! I just replaced the shock crossmember on my tracker yesterday. I used  1  5/16  sch 40 pipe, 43 inches long. I think 1 1/4 may have worked better. I had to taper the end on the 1 5/16 to get it thru. I just took the rear wheels off, oiled down the new pipe and slide it thru the shock towers. Weld the ends and you're done. I didn't have to take the gas tank out either. I plan on raising the tank this weekend when we put the body lift on so I"ll replce the mounts then.

I'm in the exact same process right now.  Trying to decide how to replace the tube, I had some dom scrap laying around, it's the size OD as the existing cross member.  Initially I thought I would be able to slide it right through, but that's not going to happen with out drilling out the section that runs through the rails,  so I think I'm just going to plat the ends of the new tube, and weld the plates on the inside of the frame rails.

Picked up some flares off a Jeep at the u-pull for $5.50 a piece with brackets. Found out that older trackers have less flare/bulge in the 1/4 and fenders and the trim/rub strip is higher on the 96 up or something. Flares fit great on the white Tracker I held them against at the yard.

Anyhow, trimmed the bottom quite a few times till I got it to sit flush then trimmed the corners at the front bumper and rounded it. Scribed/marked some holes, drilled, and bolted on (3 bolts right now, have to replace other 2 cause they snapped off) Rear was trimmed to sit flush then scribed and drilled. Had to mount it about 1/4" lower then what I wanted because of the wheel tub curving down so early but it worked out alright.

Now I just need to trim up the rub strip and put it back on along with cut up a spare bumper and melt on some "patches" to fill the spots at the bottom 6-8" towards the center of the vehicle cause the jeep has a wide strip instead of the little 2.5" one the Tracker has. Once I get them modded/fitting right they'll be painted the low gloss black like the hood.

i like the jeep fenders. what was the jeep that they came off

i like the jeep fenders. what was the jeep that they came off

Jeep Cherokee


I got a Warn winch for a decent price on a mounting plate so the front bumper began. I got a 4'x4' piece of 3/16" that I'll be using for the bumper and probably get some more as I also ordered bushings and sleeves to make custom front control arms instead of hacking up the factory ones. IDK if there are any issues with the stock arms bending or anything but this will prevent it.


Photoshop of what I want to do, the tubes will have more of a radius on the center tho. All tubing will be 1.75" .120 wall.




Got this together in a few hours, I'll be continuing today... I really need to get a plasma cutter.

Taking a little break

looks good cant wait to see how the bumper turns out .i ant to build one like that to

Been busy with some stuff around here and work so I didn't progress as much as I wanted. Ended up using my JD2 bender instead of my pipe bender. Read the "rules" for aux lighting for inspection and it says center to center can't be closer then 20" so I went wider at the top and kicked it in so I can put the lights as spaced out as space allows which will be just shy of 20" center to center. It's all level and centered, there's an illusion that it blocks a good bit of the headlights but it only comes in about 1/2" infront of them for a small area. Shouldn't have a problem.

It runs!!!

After the first few starts an o-ring cracked on #1 injector so I had to pull the upper manifold and fuel rail, I decided to replace all 4 o-rings. Exhaust is hooked up now also.


Things left to do till it's drivable:

1. Wire up 2nd O2 sensor
2. Control Arms
3. Up insurance (storage insurance right now)
4. Alignment (will be toe-in bad after I do the control arms)
5. Inspection/Emissions

Wiring the o2 sensor tonight and starting on the control arms.

Nice work
Cant wait to see the turbo set up
Are you going to run a intercooler? I have been throwing around the idea of a turbo set up

I like the flairs
Are they off an xj?

Looks great, where did you get the new suspension stuff? I may nee dthat for my 1998 Chevy Tracker.

Looks great, where did you get the new suspension stuff? I may nee dthat for my 1998 Chevy Tracker.

I got the shocks from AutoZone, front are Gabriel replacement and rear are 91 Crown Vic with steel spacers from Lowes installed in the bushings and new grade 8 bolts. The spring and strut spacers are from Low Range Offroad.



SO, Today I found typical cancer on my Tracker. The crossmember that the front of the tank mounts to as well as the fuel filter is 80% gone. IDK how my tank didnt fall off when I was off roading last week.

Guess its time for body lift. If I'm going to drop the tank to cut out the crossmember and put a new tube in, I might as well get a 2" body lift and tuck the tank up higher when I reinstall it.

I just replaced that cross member, I also had to replace the rear portion of the frame though.


If you plan to raise the tank, consider a 3" body lift, this will allow you to bolt the tank directly to the front cross memeber and use the existing mounts on the rear cross member, I don't think 2" will give you enough clearance on the top of the tank. 

I just finished raising my tank with a 3" body lift and it just makes it, I'll take some pics tonight and post them up.

Had to replace the front main seal the other day... I should have just replaced it when I had everything else torn apart. Good news is the keyway and key are in great shape and came right apart. Also dropped the oil pan and cleaned off the old gasket material and used high temp RTV gasket maker since it's been leaking slightly for some time now. 600 miles later and everything is still dry under there!

Finally got around to bending and welding up the tube for the passenger side. Also cut 4 plates to bolt to the frame using 3 grade-8 1/2" bolts per side.

Stupid me, I forgot to weld the backside of the D plates for the shackles so now I have to do that or they could possibly rip out from what I've read. Oh well, shouldn't be hard to touch up the paint.