Frame Opinions and Options

[harbiison]

Hey all, I had done some posting to my build thread when @Westtown Willy had brought my frame rust to attention. I had gone under and inspected but I wanted your guys advice on what’s the course of action. My step dads mechanic friend said it’s pretty clean and is solid but a second opinion would be nice. Thank you!

 

[harbiison]

Also my jeep was brought up in around May of 2018 and has done around 25,000 miles in WNY after its first home in Georgia.

 

[Fouledplugs]

Id remove that skid and inspect the frame.

New York, so youre living on borrowed time with that one. I personally wouldn't drive it much less, take it in the woods.

You would greatly benefit from a frame swap from a salavage yard in the deep south or out west like Arizona or Socal.

You can get a brand new frame from Throttle Down Kustoms.

 

[harbiison]

l I personally wouldn't drive it much less, take it in the woods.

Well I only use this Jeep in every season the roads aren’t salted it’s my daily driver besides winter. and by deuce it much less what does that constitute?

 

[Fouledplugs]

and by deuce it much less what does that constitute?

Come again?

 

[harbiison]

Come again?

oops drive** not deuce so does that mean don’t drive it?

 

[Fouledplugs]

What do the hard brake lines on the rear axle look like?

What does the emer brake bracket look like?

Those two things are worth inspecting too, IMO.

 

[Fouledplugs]

oops drive** not deuce so does that mean don’t drive it?

That’s your call. I wouldn't, I’d just fix it.

 

[MangoTango]

I live in your area and my frame was in just as bad, maybe even worse shape. I stripped it down as best I could and I did POR15 treatment on it. For the time being it looks like the coating is holding up to the copious amount of salt they dump on the streets. With that being said, I cant say the same for the inside of the frame where you cant get at so I try to flush it out as best I can throughout the winter.
Edit - PM me if you want to swing by. I'd be happy to look it over.

 

[bromel]

I can see chunks of rust in the frame holes, so my guess it that it's not in great shape. How does the metal feel when you feel around inside the frame?

Unless you are prepared to do the work yourself or pay $6k out of pocket, don't even entertain the thought of a frame swap. Safe T Caps are a much better solution for 95% of people.

 

[harbiison]

I can see chunks of rust in the frame holes, so my guess it that it's not in great shape. How does the metal feel when you feel around inside the frame?

Unless you are prepared to do the work yourself or pay $6k out of pocket, don't even entertain the thought of a frame swap. Safe T Caps are a much better solution for 95% of people.

the frame feels pretty solid and there’s obviously chunks of mud but you can still see most of the black original coating on the frame in most spots.

 

[harbiison]

I live in your area and my frame was in just as bad, maybe even worse shape. I stripped it down as best I could and I did POR15 treatment on it. For the time being it looks like the coating is holding up to the copious amount of salt they dump on the streets. With that being said, I cant say the same for the inside of the frame where you cant get at so I try to flush it out as best I can throughout the winter.
Edit - PM me if you want to swing by. I'd be happy to look it over.

i’m mainly worried about the inside the outside doesn’t appear to be completely destroyed and i may have to take your offer up!

 

[bromel]

the frame feels pretty solid and there’s obviously chunks of mud but you can still see most of the black original coating on the frame in most spots.

I'm talking about this. That looks like a big ol' chunk of rust. You need to feel inside the frame in the big hole where it curves over the rear wheels. That is rot spot numero-uno. Then feel inside the frame right over the skid plate. That is numero dos. Can you feel smooth metal in these parts or are they covered in scaly rust?

 

[Fouledplugs]

Then feel inside the frame right over the skid plate.

I vote for skid removal and frame inspection. Seems to be the worst spots when it comes to the rust battle between the skid and frame.

 

[bromel]

I vote for skid removal and frame inspection. Seems to be the worst spots when it comes to the rust battle between the skid and frame.

I'm not sure that skid is ever going back on if he removes it.

 

[Fouledplugs]

I'm not sure that skid is ever going back on if he removes it.

My point exactly.

 

[harbiison]

I'm not sure that skid is ever going back on if he removes it.

the skid plate was last removed around august at the mechanic when it was in the shop and they didn’t state anything was wrong? obviously i feel i should check for myself.

 

[97' 4 Popper]

Like you said the outside doesn't matter, take a needlescaler to it. A wire brush will take too long to remove the weakened layers of metal. It's the inside that counts. You need to get an endoscope and look inside. Have hope, you're not the only person dealing with rusty frames. You won't find out if it's solid or not by posting pictures of the outside of the frame.

 

[MangoTango]

Like you said the outside doesn't matter, take a needlescaler to it. A wire brush will take too long to remove the weakened layers of metal. It's the inside that counts. You need to get an endoscope and look inside. Have hope, you're not the only person dealing with rusty frames. You won't find out if it's solid or not by posting pictures of the outside of the frame.

True story. I will be replacing this frame possibly over the winter. The inside of mine is hideous lol

 

[defenderu]

take a wire brush to the area in your first picture to show how deep the rust goes. Then take a flashlight and shine it in one hole while you take a picture from another hole. gotta see the inside to see how bad it is.