Hello, I am Barry Ogletree, the owner of WhataJeep, Fredericksburg, Texas, USA. I have been watching with much interest your discussions and ideas of extending a TJ Jeep for Gio. I would like to help all of you with this project. I think it would be fun for all of us to try and communicate and to do it.
The actual stretch that is necessary is 43 3/8 inches. You must always calculate from the inside of the panel. In a TJ there are pillar and door supports that must be allowed for. To shorten it anymore, the door will then have to be made shorter. This is a difficult process even for us to do. The interior connections and door locks and controls get very complicated.
I will send more photos today if possible to communicate them to you.
Best Regards
Barry Ogletree
President of WhataJeep
Barry@whatajeep.com