WTB: 97-02 Frame

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jodomcfrodo

Antagonist and Dick
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Illinois
Hi all,
I've been on the search for a frame for a while without too much luck so I thought I'd post up here to see if anyone has one or knows of one for sale. Doesn't matter much where it is, as long as it is in the US or even Canada. I've searched craigslist and ebay a bunch as well as facebook marketplace. If anyone sees anything pop up, please let me know!

Looking for a frame with:
No rust inside or out
No weld in sections
Has to be straight
4.0 motor mounts

Thanks!
 
You’re looking for used and not a new replacement?

Yup, I would like to keep the frame original. Not too keen on the throttle down kustoms option. I see more complications in the future with a non-stock frame.
 

Thanks for the link! Unfortunately, it appears like most of the frames on there have been in wrecks or have rust. There is one for sale on there that looks nice. Price is a bit crazy but I'll give the guy a call. Thanks again for the tip!

I’d almost bet you’ll have the best luck looking in Arizona or SoCal. So much rust everywhere else.

Thats my plan. Some people bring them up north to sell. Seen a couple of those that look promising. Weirdly, I haven't found any in the south besides one from Florida that looked sketchy. Driving distance isn't really a problem so I'm looking everywhere.
 
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I've seen a few pop up on the Jeep Flea market group. Not sure if this is the sketchy one the guy seems to run a Jeep salvage yard.

3 days ago
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I've seen a few pop up on the Jeep Flea market group

3 days ago
View attachment 50837

Could you link me to this facebook group? Would be interested in watching it. That frame looks nice, but unfortunately it is for a four cylinder. I'm hoping to find a plug and play frame (or as close as I can to a direct replacement).

EDIT: Found the group and joined. Thanks for the info!
 
Could you link me to this facebook group? Would be interested in watching it. That frame looks nice, but unfortunately it is for a four cylinder. I'm hoping to find a plug and play frame (or as close as I can to a direct replacement).

EDIT: Found the group and joined. Thanks for the info!

Oh whoops I can’t read. Might be worth contacting the guy as he seems to run some salvage yard.
 
Oh whoops I can’t read. Might be worth contacting the guy as he seems to run some salvage yard.

I actually contacted that guy a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I saw a weld on one of the control arm brackets that looked too sketchy to be factory. Despite the fact that he insisted it was factory, I'm not so sure. I'll definitely keep him in mind. Again, I appreciate the info. I crawled under my Jeep today and decided I can't drive it long distances or at speed until this is fixed. Sucks, but it is what happens when a Jeep sits in the salt!
 
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I actually contacted that guy a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I saw a weld on one of the control arm brackets that looked too sketchy to be factory. Despite the fact that he insisted it was factory, I'm not so sure. I'll definitely keep him in mind. Again, I appreciate the info. I crawled under my Jeep today and decided I can't drive it long distances or at speed until this is fixed. Sucks, but it is what happens when a Jeep sits in the salt!
Contact Olympic 4X4 Supply in Monroe, Washington, and see what they have available. I would be more than willing to go check out a frame for you, if they sell 'em (I don't know why they wouldn't). Now, they can be an expensive establishment on some items, but I just don't know how much demand there is in this area for frames, as we typically do not deal with rust issues. The first thing I would look at would be why the TJ is in the yard. The last thing you need is a frame from a rig that was nailed in the front, or in any other kind of serious collision. Anyways, look 'em up on the web, and give 'em a call. Like I said, I'd be more than happy to check one out for you.
 
Contact Olympic 4X4 Supply in Monroe, Washington, and see what they have available. I would be more than willing to go check out a frame for you, if they sell 'em (I don't know why they wouldn't). Now, they can be an expensive establishment on some items, but I just don't know how much demand there is in this area for frames, as we typically do not deal with rust issues. The first thing I would look at would be why the TJ is in the yard. The last thing you need is a frame from a rig that was nailed in the front, or in any other kind of serious collision. Anyways, look 'em up on the web, and give 'em a call. Like I said, I'd be more than happy to check one out for you.

I appreciate your offer! I'll give them a call. Finding a straight frame is just as hard as finding a rust free frame. Doesn't seem like too many people part out straight TJ's with no rust. Can't blame them considering what price a rust free TJ can bring nowadays.
 
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I appreciate your offer! I'll give them a call. Finding a straight frame is just as hard as finding a rust free frame. Doesn't seem like too many people part out straight TJ's with no rust. Can't blame them considering what price a rust free TJ can bring nowadays.

Yeah you almost need something that rolled on the roof and crushed the tub but didn't touch the frame or blown engine
 
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I appreciate your offer! I'll give them a call. Finding a straight frame is just as hard as finding a rust free frame. Doesn't seem like too many people part out straight TJ's with no rust. Can't blame them considering what price a rust free TJ can bring nowadays.
I have seen at least one that they sold the frame out from under it (well, it was missing, anyways!). Also, I have seem complete rigs in the yard that had no apparent signs of major damage, so they must've come in for some other reason, I figure. Either way, just let me know.

There was one down south of Seattle here a while back that the guy was selling for $500. It was on Craigslist for about a month before it sold. Point is, they do show up from time to time. I'll look around here, and see what I can find. Ya just never know...;)
 
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Welp, over 2 months into the search and still no luck! I've been watching craigslist, facebook marketplace, daveysjeeps, and CarPart.com all day, every day. I almost scored one in Memphis a few weeks ago but someone grabbed it before I could (it was gone only a few hours after it was posted). If anyone has a source on a frame or knows of anyone else I should contact in the lower 48 or Canada, please let me know! Willing to travel almost anywhere!

Also, this may seem crazy, but if anyone knows of a cheap, straight, rust free, 4.0L 97-02 TJ that I could rip apart, let me know. Don't care if it has 500,000 miles or a locked motor and a blown transmission, just need a good frame.
 
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I was at Olympic 4X4 this past Saturday, and I asked about a TJ frame. They had one that had mild surface rust for $750. Said I could check it out, if'n I wanted to. Was a 4.0 set-up. That's the only one they had. I didn't look at it, but can, if you're interested.
 
I was at Olympic 4X4 this past Saturday, and I asked about a TJ frame. They had one that had mild surface rust for $750. Said I could check it out, if'n I wanted to. Was a 4.0 set-up. That's the only one they had. I didn't look at it, but can, if you're interested.

Thanks for offering to check a frame out for me again! I gave Olympic 4X4 a call a while back and they didn't have anything then so that frame must be a new arrival. But I'll be honest, I've been to a bunch of places and scrapyards that say their frames have minor surface rust. Every single time the frame has rust on the inside. That, when combined with the fact that $750 is a very low price for a rust free frame makes me cautious about that specific frame. Most rust free frames go for $1500 - $2500 from what I've been able to tell.
 
Thanks for offering to check a frame out for me again! I gave Olympic 4X4 a call a while back and they didn't have anything then so that frame must be a new arrival. But I'll be honest, I've been to a bunch of places and scrapyards that say their frames have minor surface rust. Every single time the frame has rust on the inside. That, when combined with the fact that $750 is a very low price for a rust free frame makes me cautious about that specific frame. Most rust free frames go for $1500 - $2500 from what I've been able to tell.
I agree. But when I asked their prices, he told me $750 before he even looked up whether or not they had one, so that just must be their price. I'll probably check it out just to satisfy my own curiosity. I have some scale rust inside my frame. It's not bad, but if I can find a clean one for $750, I might just buy it.
 
I agree. But when I asked their prices, he told me $750 before he even looked up whether or not they had one, so that just must be their price. I'll probably check it out just to satisfy my own curiosity. I have some scale rust inside my frame. It's not bad, but if I can find a clean one for $750, I might just buy it.

They're a pretty good investment. If that frame is rust free and straight, you could sell it for $1700 easily on the east coast today. If you held on to it for a few years, I'd imagine you could sell it for even more.
 
There is a yard here in northern CO that sells them. Jeeps Unlimited. Off the top of my head I believe they are in Erie, CO
 
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