Another Frame Rust Post (Input Appreciated)

[AdrianBrewster33]

Hi team!

Looking at picking up a 2005 LJR that’s located in Kansas City. I swore to myself I wouldn’t by another Jeep was the north (or Midwest) after finding a hole in the frame of my old TJ, but these Jeeps are getting harder to find and it’s a pretty good deal.

I’m 7 hours away from the Jeep but the owner seems really cool and sent me a ton of pictures. It definitely has some discoloration/surface rust but that’s it. What does everyone think? Looks solid enough or too risky?

 

[williambmac]

That looks mainly like surface rust. The torque boxes and floors look to be in great shape.

 

[AdrianBrewster33]

Yes I know it was garage kept up until 2 winters ago.

 

[williambmac]

Yes I know it was garage kept up until 2 winters ago.

I would have no problem with buying that. Wire wheel the frame down and paint.

 

[TheBoogieman]

After the wire wheel and paint, coat the inside of the frame too. Looks good to me.
p.s. If you're going all the way to Kansas City, make sure they throw in a Patrick Mahomes signed jersey. You can then sell it on Ebay to recoup travel expenses.

 

[JMT]

Might be some surprises. Torque boxes look good so the floor panels are probably good. What about the front fenders? I'm sure there is some rust inside the frame. Things that can be fixed or brought to maintenance level. Work.

 

[AdrianBrewster33]

I had a few first Gen Tacomas and all I did was chase the never ending rust issues. I really don’t want to do that again.

Wire wheeling the frame once and painting it is easy enough. It’s just not something I want to do yearly.

For additional context, it’s an LJR with 79k miles. 6 speed with a 4 inch iron rock lift. Warn winch, homemade custom bumpers (look to be well done). Ect. Hard top, soft top, full and half doors. He agreed to take $23k if I want it. Sounds like a pretty solid deal, right?

 

[TheBoogieman]

Wire wheeling the frame once and painting it is easy enough. It’s just not something I want to do yearly.

For additional context, it’s an LJR with 79k miles. 6 speed with a 4 inch iron rock lift. Warn winch, homemade custom bumpers (look to be well done). Ect. Hard top, soft top, full and half doors. He agreed to take $23k if I want it. Sounds like a pretty solid deal, right?

Treating the inside of the frame is more important IMO. That's where the trouble starts. That sounds like the going rate these days. There's a non Rubi LJ with a Savvy mid arm lift around here going for $22,000 around my area.

 

[97' 4 Popper]

Treating the inside of the frame is more important IMO. That's where the trouble starts. That sounds like the going rate these days. There's a non Rubi LJ with a Savvy mid arm lift around here going for $22,000 around my area.

I can't tell you how many jeeps Ive seen or driven with a clean frame on the outside and the inside looking like that. It's easy to get caught up focusing too much on the exterior of the frame not realizing it's basically cosmetics in comparison to the inside.

I had a few first Gen Tacomas and all I did was chase the never ending rust issues. I really don’t want to do that again.

Wire wheeling the frame once and painting it is easy enough. It’s just not something I want to do yearly.

For additional context, it’s an LJR with 79k miles. 6 speed with a 4 inch iron rock lift. Warn winch, homemade custom bumpers (look to be well done). Ect. Hard top, soft top, full and half doors. He agreed to take $23k if I want it. Sounds like a pretty solid deal, right?

Sounds like a solid deal if the inside doesn't look like Boogie's post. If done properly and thoroughly you shouldn't have to keep coming back every year to touch up. That's for the guys who are dding it offroad or in the salt. I painted my underside last summer. I drove my TJ every day this winter granted snowfall has been practically non existent, but still a good amount of salt on the road. With regular washes the rust has only come back in a few spots where it was going to anyways. Nooks and crannies where my needlescaler couldn't hit at the right angle.

 

[AdrianBrewster33]

Treating the inside of the frame is more important IMO. That's where the trouble starts. That sounds like the going rate these days. There's a non Rubi LJ with a Savvy mid arm lift around here going for $22,000 around my area.
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I’m always take for a trip. You have a link?

I’m fine buying a none rubi and doing an axle swap. Sounds more fun than chasing down rust issues.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I’m always take for a trip. You have a link?

I’m fine buying a none rubi and doing an axle swap. Sounds more fun than chasing down rust issues.

https://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/culpeper-2005-jeep-lj/7454450172.html

 

[AdrianBrewster33]

Just ordered a endoscope on amazon for $30 to bore scope the frame so I can see the inside

 

[tr21triton]

Just ordered a endoscope on amazon for $30 to bore scope the frame so I can see the inside

money well spent ! also great for inspecting the cylinders.....