03 X frame swap and freshen up

[Lax22]

A couple months ago I went to buy some parts from a guy that was parting out an 03 TJ. I had only intended on buying the steering box for a hydro assist project and I ended up buying the whole Jeep.

it’s an 03 TJ X with 124k miles, 4.0 Auto, working AC, new Bestop soft top, and a rust free body. It’s a clear Jeep with no accidents, the reason he was Parting it was due to the frame being rusted beyond repair.

I stared my search for a useable frame and got very lucky to find a rust free 05 frame just an hour away. Got it home, cleaned it up and got ready to pull the body off the bad frame.

While I had the body off I changed the valve cover gasket, water pump, hoses, fan clutch, thermostat, and spark plugs. After pulling the frame I ran new brake lines on the new frame and swapped in low mileage TJ rubicon springs and control arms with Rancho shocks, new track bars, and a dynomax cat back exhaust. I also rebuilt the front driveshaft with new spicer joints and center ball kit.

I finally dropped the body back on the Jeep last weekend. In the process of doing so, I installed a jks 1.25 body lift with a advanced adapters shifter bracket and brown dog rubber 1-inch motor mounts.

Thats where it currently is while
I wait on parts in the mail.

Does anyone want a rusted 03 frame before I scrap it haha!

 

[Lax22]

Didn’t make a whole lot of progress last night. Bled the power steering, flushed the heater core, and started topping off the cooling system.

still need to get the suspension torqued to spec, now that it’s been sitting on its own weight the last couple of days. Then I need to hook all the shifters and brake cables back up and bleed the brakes.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Nice work. How is the rust on the rest of the body? Looks to be in good shape.

 

[Lax22]

Nice work. How is the rust on the rest of the body? Looks to be in good shape.

The rest of the body was super clean, which was another reason I wanted to do the frame swap. The fenders are in great shape and there was very little surface rust on the underside. A few spots I hit with a wire wheel, some primer, and paint but it was not much at all. All the bolts came out clean with 3/8 hand ratchet; very little effort to get the tub off really.
I almost gave up hope on finding a frame, and even had someone interested in the tub if I parted it. I was a week away from stripping stuff down to sell and stumbled onto a rust free 05 frame. The frame seller said he had a lot of interest in the frame but I was the first person to actually give him a phone number and talk to him directly so it just worked out. It has been a lot of work but I’m just happy to be able to save a nice TJ from getting stripped. My brother and I have probably fixed and sold about 9 different TJs over the years. Some of them have gone to friends and family.

 

[Lax22]

Yesterday was a banner day working on the project Jeep TJ. Snapped a mounting bolt trying to torque the steering box to spec, so now I have to source new ones because the other two stretched. Also broke the plastic eyelet on the end of the transmission shift cable trying to hook it to the trans so I'm waiting on a new molar cable assembly on its way as well. Finally the thermostat housing didn't seal correctly and leaked out a bunch of coolant when I tried to bleed the system.

On the plus side, I was able to extract a broken seat bolt using welded nut method; so I should be able to get the interior back together. The winch plate showed up so I’ll start that install as well. I am also planning to install some JK headlight take-offs and the adapter harness should be here this week. If everything gets here on time I should wrap this up Saturday.

I’m Still trying to determine what the end game is for this Jeep once everything is wrapped up. I could leave it alone and enjoy it as is, then again I do have a pair of 05 super duty axles sitting in the garage. Just not sure that’s where I want to go with such a nice TJ.

 

[Lax22]

Just about done. Needs a good cleaning.

Also scored a set of mopar TJ rock rails. Also need a good cleaning but came with gaskets. Going to blast them and repaint.

 

[Lax22]

Got the brakes bled and took it for a spin. Ran great and rode very well. Have to trailer it over to my. Buddy’s shop and have the AC recharged since we had him suck the Freon out prior to pulling the tub.

 

[JMT]

Looks fantastic. Nice save. Jeep looks brand new!

 

[Lax22]

Looks fantastic. Nice save. Jeep looks brand new!

Thanks! It really turned out great. I am lucky enough to have a local guy that parts out jeeps (Dans Jeep Junk on Facebook) and he’s been a huge help getting some of the harder to find bits to finish this off.

it does feel good to give a TJ a second chance. Just a lot of work.

 

[JMT]

Thanks! It really turned out great. I am lucky enough to have a local guy that parts out jeeps (Dans Jeep Junk on Facebook) and he’s been a huge help getting some of the harder to find bits to finish this off.

it does feel good to give a TJ a second chance. Just a lot of work.

What you’re doing is something I was considering, but I doubt it would go over well in my driveway, and there’s no way I’d get the garage.

 

[Lax22]

What you’re doing is something I was considering, but I doubt it would go over well in my driveway, and there’s no way I’d get the garage.

It is a bit of an undertaking. If we didn’t have the car lift and space it would have been a challenge for sure.

 

[Lax22]

So my brother is going to buy the TJ. He helped me with the frame swap and has been looking for a wrangler. He sold his XJ and already started buying parts for a lift. Right now he is looking at 2.5 inch lift with 33’s. Going to adding some underbody protection and other things. I’ll take pictures and follow along in case anyone is interested.

 

[Chris]

Wait, so you’re selling the TJ?

 

[Lax22]

Yes, I had always thought about possibly selling it when I was done working on it. The good news it’s staying in the family.

I still have the 03 rubicon and a 98 Sport so there is plenty to keep me busy haha. 3 jeeps is a bit excessive.

 

[Lax22]

Bunch of stuff showed up in the mail.

 

[Lax22]

Been awhile but we did some work to the frame swapped TJ.

2.5-inch lift springs
extra isolator up front and bump extensions
Rancho shocks
Aluminum 1.25 body lift
33x12.50 MTs
Front Locker
Welded in Currie control arm skids
freshened up the front axle joints and seals
Alloy USA diff cover
Metalcloak track bar
UCF engine Skid
Flex-a-lite trans cooler

 

[Lax22]

Mopar rock rails installed. Should be ready for a shakedown run at Rauch toward the end of the month.

Needs a driveway alignment but runs surprisingly well down the road.

future plans include
New brakes
SYE and cv driveshaft
Limited slip and chromoly shafts for the rear
Higher clearance transmission skid/crossmember.

 

[Lax22]

Installed this hood louver that we found on amazon. Decent price, aluminumand powder coated. Couldn’t tell a difference from the poison spider one on my rubicon, other than the missing logo. Showed up in a box labeled sevenblacksmiths.com. They had a collection of Jeep products on their page and the louvers were $99.

In case anyone was interested.
Sevenblacksmiths.com/jeep

 

[Lax22]

Went out to the Cove in Va. and gave the Jeep a shakedown. It did well and my brother and his son had a blast. No damage to report but some upgrades for extra clearance are on the list.