Holding back rust

Assforkr

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 3, 2018
Messages
153
Location
Massachusetts, USA
As promised, I boarded a plane in Mass a few weeks ago and landed in Austin Texas, where I proceeded to spend the next 13 hours looking at Jeeps and ultimately buying an 02. Full story post/video to come.

Now that the wife and I drove it back to the Northeast I'd like to see what you guys think about keeping the frame and body free of rust.

I own a first gen Taco so I know about plugging frame holes where wheel spray enters frame channels, wire wheeling and chassis paint and liberal use of fluid film. But what should I know about TJs specifically?

What should be covered? What products do you guys use? Do you wash out frame rails? What do you do to the body mount rails? Whats up with that rocker rust under the driver side door? What causes that?
 
As promised, I boarded a plane in Mass a few weeks ago and landed in Austin Texas, where I proceeded to spend the next 13 hours looking at Jeeps and ultimately buying an 02. Full story post/video to come.

Now that the wife and I drove it back to the Northeast I'd like to see what you guys think about keeping the frame and body free of rust.

I own a first gen Taco so I know about plugging frame holes where wheel spray enters frame channels, wire wheeling and chassis paint and liberal use of fluid film. But what should I know about TJs specifically?

What should be covered? What products do you guys use? Do you wash out frame rails? What do you do to the body mount rails? Whats up with that rocker rust under the driver side door? What causes that?
Hey there,

I can tell you from experience of just replacing sections of my frame, that the main focal point for rust and corrosion will be the Center Frame Rails where it meets the Transfer Case Skid Plate. That and the Rear Trailing Arms and possibly the rear spring perch could become bad easily too.

I forget if Mass uses salt on roads or not (lived in New Bedford for a while). Looking forward to seeing some pics of this new to you TJ!
 
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I can tell you from experience of just replacing sections of my frame, that the main focal point for r

We use so much “salt” the roads look like they’ve been bleached for months. I wash down the Taco undercarriage anytime the water in the garden hose isn’t frozen solid.

I have to do the passenger ball joints tonight in order to pass inspection so I’ll try and pull the transfer skid bolts and make sure they’re not seized. Then figure out how to wash out the frame and where to dump the fluid film, which btw works amazingly well. Taco frame still looks mint after four winters.

15CA5E1B-5C28-4237-8012-0C0C64A1BABE.jpeg
 
I just look at it twice a year ( spring and fall ) clean any rust spots, paint with gloss black paint in combinations with the fluid film in all the hard to reach areas. other than that, visit the car wash as much as possible in the winter for the under spray bar :)
 
I just look at it twice a year ( spring and fall ) clean any rust spots, paint with gloss black paint in combinations with the fluid film in all the hard to reach areas. other than that, visit the car wash as much as possible in the winter for the
under spray bar :)

See there's a caveat there. The underbody spray pay washes use is (high)pressurized. And during yearly application of fluid film, you're supposed to use a pressure washer to get rid of last year's layer of dirt and oil. So I avoid underbody sprays and just use a garden hose to do a rinse instead of blasting the shit out of it and losing the FF layer mid winter. So far it's worked very well. Not sure I'd change things
 
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Some people sprinkler under to clean it out. Seems like it would be more thorough than you could be with a hose unless you’re lying on your back underneath.

In addition to plugging the holes on the sides, a lot of people (myself included) drill drain holes in the frame.

The tops of the fenders will rust. I’ve heard of people drilling drain holes in the supporting piece that runs underneath and traps moisture. Others I believe have sealed it at the sides where the moisture gets in with RTV.

The area below the right rear taillight is prone to rusting. I haven’t come across a solution to this, but I have no doubt that it’s from crap getting up there and not having a way out. Same with the rockers in front of the rear wheels.

Or you could just never drive it in the winter.
 
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Seems like they are salt happy anymore. Cant have any slick surfaces....even if it's getting up to 50º degrees. Bridge might frost....spray it with chloride. They didn't stop spreading salt here until mid April.
I have a sacrificial truck (anode) for the winter pictured otherwise I keep the nice stuff in the garage.
We did make a "wand" out of copper to rinse the underside. It shoots up about 8'
Bought this truck new in 2003. The rockers are gone. the cab corners are gone. And the body behind the plastic wheel well is shot.
IMG_3734.jpg
 
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On the subject of the weak central frame where it meets the tranny skid plate..... I understand that plate is holding the tranny in place. I’m wondering if there is a way to put some spacers (even just 1/4” or so) between the frame and skid plate so I can keep this area clean and treated without screwing up the tranny. Anybody done anything like this, or have any ideas?
 
On the subject of the weak central frame where it meets the tranny skid plate..... I understand that plate is holding the tranny in place. I’m wondering if there is a way to put some spacers (even just 1/4” or so) between the frame and skid plate so I can keep this area clean and treated without screwing up the tranny. Anybody done anything like this, or have any ideas?
I don't remember if I said this before. Just put a 1/8 to 1/4 thick heavy duty lock-washer and that will do the job without compromising anything.
 
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I have just finished the 2000 tj rust bucket I bought. Cut open the lower 1" of frame , cleaned it out ,welded safety cap type channels I made and put 3/4 holes at each end to put fluid film in after I coated with eastwood internal frame coating. I also put 1/4" spacers between the frame and skid plate. I also put 2 1/2" holes between the 3 skid plate bolts for drainage.Might be something for you to consider To keep the frame in good shape.No more winters for this one.
 
That was two 1/2" holes between the skid plate and frame. That way you have good drainage if you want to do any water crossings.A hose through the 3/4" holes will also help any accumulation .
 
Those sound like a great idea. I have the holes at each end already, and that makes drainage much better. Don’t know why I didn’t think of holes between those bolts, too... I guess just focusing on whether I could even safely put spacers in before I thought any further.
That was two 1/2" holes between the skid plate and frame. That way you have good drainage if you want to do any water crossings.A hose through the 3/4" holes will also help any accumulation .