Is This Frame Too Rusty?

[MossGreen98!]

Trying to figure out if my frame is good enough, needs repair, or time to just buy a new tj.

thoughts?

 

[rasband]

Yep.

 

[Kid Mechanic]

... time to just buy a new tj.

thoughts?

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I thought they* said, “if you like your TJ you can keep it”.



*I’m from the government and I’m here to help.

 

[Squatch]

Trying to figure out if my frame is good enough, needs repair, or time to just buy a new tj.

thoughts?

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Your torque box (where that body mount is) is rusting out, as well. What may just appear to be blistering is likely more severe than that. I have a Moss Green '98, coincidentally, that has both torque boxes rusting out. As to the question of the frame, it's getting to the point where I'd be looking for another TJ, myself. It's not shot, but it ain't good...

 

[TJ4Jim]

Do they use road salt in California, that looks like my retired NJ frame.

 

[Rubicon88]

Lol...looks pretty much on par for a TJ east of the Mississippi and above the Mason Dixon line.

Quick question.....does the Jeep have everything else you love.
Equipped exactly as you enjoy or modified perfectly for you?
If yes then it's up for consideration.

If not...then WTF does it matter?

We see so many people ask about rust on here and I'd bet you half of them don't even know if they'd like the damn thing in lieu of any rust.

That's the most important question. Do you like it enough you could see owning it. Loving it.
Price, rust are irrelevant if it's not "your" Jeep.

That said if it's "your" Jeep the price may not fit for you and or rust repair beyond your repair capabilities.

Good luck.

 

[WallyWest]

Needs to be capped at a minimum. And get used to dealing with rusted, frozen bolts that either take 1000000 ft/lbs of torque to remove or snap.

Option 2, part it out and buy another one with a good frame.

Option 3, tear it apart and do a frame swap.

I'd go with option 2 myself.

 

[ejay]

 

[Rubicon88]

Needs to be capped at a minimum. And get used to dealing with rusted, frozen bolts that either take 1000000 ft/lbs of torque to remove or snap.

Option 2, part it out and buy another one with a good frame.

Option 3, tear it apart and do a frame swap.

I'd go with option 2 myself.

These rust questions crack me up though.

#1 I guarantee you there are many members of this very forum running around with a frame in identical condition as the subject vehicle. Some even worse. I guarantee it.
#2 this is a subject that can't really give a true accurate opinion of as you can't tell the real question here. It's obviously rusty but is it safe or not. Ultimately this is an in person diagnosis that needs done.....

But again, only if it's a Jeep that the OP really wants to keep and loves. If not who the hell cares. It's a moot point.

Trying to figure out if my frame is good enough, needs repair, or time to just buy a new tj.

thoughts?

Is it setup exactly as you like? Do you love the thing?
Know how to weld or a friend that can?

 

[Chris]

Damn... was that thing sitting in the bottom of the ocean in Davey Jones' locker?

Only way I would buy that thing is if you want a project. And even then, I'd pay maybe a few thousand tops.

 

[someguysjeep]

that looks like ocean air condensation. pics don't tell the whole story time to start the hammer test. then you can decide if it's fixable. most of that looks like surface rust, but some has gotten a bit deeper and that needs addressed.

there is a co. that makes brand new TJ frames. if i can find it again i'll post it up (later).

 

[Mike_H]

that looks like ocean air condensation. pics don't tell the whole story time to start the hammer test. then you can decide if it's fixable. most of that looks like surface rust, but some has gotten a bit deeper and that needs addressed.

there is a co. that makes brand new TJ frames. if i can find it again i'll post it up (later).

Full throttle kustoms.

To OP...it mostly looks like surface rust. But your pictures ain't the greatest. Like said above, you gotta start working it to know. Grinder and a hammer. Get as much of the crap to flake off as you can, then you can make a decision.

It's a ton of work to bring them back tho. if it's not "The Jeep" you'll be better off parting it out or selling outright.

 

[Flivver250]

I think the pictures answer your questions.

 

[MossGreen98!]

Thanks guys. Back story. I’ve owned it for 13 years. I love it. It was a northeast Jeep originally, but now sits garaged in California. I’ve finally have the means to build it up. I would go frame off resto, just don’t have the space currently. It’s sounding like it’s not worth starting unless I start with the frame otherwise I’ll just be doing all the work twice once I do have space. Guess I’ll hold onto it until I have space or see another just like it minus the rust

 

[Hopper]

Capping that frame isnt that hard with a good lift and a decent welder.
Each section (6 total) took me about an hr to cut and someone else 30-45 min to weld in.
I lucked out and my mechanic let me use his lift on Saturdays to do the cutting and he welded them in for me.

 

[SolarColumbia]

It really depends on the condition of the inside of the frame.

 

[bromel]

I can tell by that second-to-last pic that you definitely have internal frame rot. Take a look inside those frame holes. I would start looking at SafeTCaps.

 

[Stretch]

If yours is bad I’m in trouble...

 

[glowell222]

If you are going to keep it and swap the frame, I suggest to start looking now. Took me more than 3 months to find one that was not, in itself, a project. Prices on the good frames are not likely to recede.

 

[qslim]

Full throttle kustoms

It's Throttle Down Kustoms

https://throttledownkustoms.com/c-1402116-frames-tj.html