I only cut an inch out, max. Put in some stiffners, then capped it with a 3/16" plate. I drilled holes in the new plate to line up with each stiffner and plug welded those as well as the plate to the rest of the frame. A hell of a lot stronger that before. Also added a removable cross brace above the panhard bar for more strength, had to run exhaust through it also. Overkill maybe.
