Frame rust: How long do I have?

[Jamison C]

Update: I now have access to a shop free of charge thanks to a family friend, all I need is the frame and to eventually patch up the tub

You’re not listening to us. That Jeep is not worth trying to fix. Go to the dealer, get your money back, and save more until you can get something reliable. Jeeps are all about doing your own work and having fun with it, but this is an exception to that. There’s a reason everyone is telling you to get rid of it.

If that’s how the underside looks, how do you think the inside of the engine, tranny, transfer case, and differentials look? I would guess they were neglected just as badly as the underside was.

 

[rasband]

You’re not listening to us. That Jeep is not worth trying to fix. Go to the dealer, get your money back, and save more until you can get something reliable. Jeeps are all about doing your own work and having fun with it, but this is an exception to that. There’s a reason everyone is telling you to get rid of it.

If that’s how the underside looks, how do you think the inside of the engine, tranny, transfer case, and differentials look? I would guess they were neglected just as badly as the underside was.

+1 stop trying to polish a turd, this situation sucks but you’ll be thousands deeper in making this bucket back into a TJ than you would buying something else. There’s no sense in being stubborn about it.

 

[qslim]

Update: I now have access to a shop free of charge thanks to a family friend, all I need is the frame and to eventually patch up the tub

Dude you’re going to go down a hole you can’t get out of. For what it would cost to get that that bottom of the Atlantic artifact into running shape you’d be better off parting it & starting over if you can’t get recourse from the selling dealer.

 

[AMS417]

These guys are right you know. Rust is a never ending battle you will never win, especially starting with a Jeep that looks like it spend a couple decades at the bottom of the ocean. Like trying to restore the Titanic.

 

[JDS123]

Get your money back. It costs more to fix that Jeep than it would be worth fixed 3x over. Especially in Georgia, there is no reason to deal with that. The Jeep you own is worthless except for parts. Just get a different one, rust to this extent just isn't worth dealing with.

There is also nothing that the dealer could have used to cover that amount of damage up. You didn't know what to look for. Make sure to do some reading before you attempt to buy another after you get your money back.

 

[AMS417]

Get your money back. It costs more to fix that Jeep than it would be worth fixed 3x over. Especially in Georgia, there is no reason to deal with that. The Jeep you own is worthless except for parts. Just get a different one, rust to this extent just isn't worth dealing with.

There is also nothing that the dealer could have used to cover that amount of damage up. You didn't know what to look for. Make sure to do some reading before you attempt to buy another after you get your money back.

Not trying to be mean, but I wouldn't even want to part it out. Think of fighting every single bolt to the death. Not enough Kroil in all the Oreilly's.

 

[Flivver250]

Buying that rig was your first big mistake. Keep us posted if you are going to fix this daily driver.

 

[camflict]

Not trying to be mean, but I wouldn't even want to part it out. Think of fighting every single bolt to the death. Not enough Kroil in all the Oreilly's.

You’re not listening to us. That Jeep is not worth trying to fix. Go to the dealer, get your money back, and save more until you can get something reliable. Jeeps are all about doing your own work and having fun with it, but this is an exception to that. There’s a reason everyone is telling you to get rid of it.

If that’s how the underside looks, how do you think the inside of the engine, tranny, transfer case, and differentials look? I would guess they were neglected just as badly as the underside was.

After reading all the comments, I'll be going to the dealer once I'm back from my vacation (not taking the jeep don't worry) and attempting to get my money back. I'm gonna do some research on if I can even do that. Also, I've had it inspected multiple times before even posting this, the internals are all in tip top shape, the undercarriage just wasn't care of, (obviously) so parting it out might be my only option if the dealer doesn't take it back.
This was my first major car purchase, the first one was a 04 5 speed Ranger for 900 bucks, so I apologize for my stubbornness, just trying to make the best of a shitty situation. The family friend restores all kinds of vehicles from the 50s to the 80s whether rusted out or not, so I thought I would give it a shot. I'll still keep this thread updated with the progress though, whichever path I head down.

 

[AMS417]

After reading all the comments, I'll be going to the dealer once I'm back from my vacation (not taking the jeep don't worry) and attempting to get my money back. I'm gonna do some research on if I can even do that. Also, I've had it inspected multiple times before even posting this, the internals are all in tip top shape, the undercarriage just wasn't care of, (obviously) so parting it out might be my only option if the dealer doesn't take it back.
This was my first major car purchase, the first one was a 04 5 speed Ranger for 900 bucks, so I apologize for my stubbornness, just trying to make the best of a shitty situation. The family friend restores all kinds of vehicles from the 50s to the 80s whether rusted out or not, so I thought I would give it a shot. I'll still keep this thread updated with the progress though, whichever path I head down.

Good luck either way. I had to learn what to look for when I was a younger dude. My first car literally blew up on the drive home. Threw the timing belt and bent all the valves, all of them. I bit the bullet and put an engine in it. If I would have known then what I know now, I would have sold it for scrap metal. The new engine was the only thing that car had going for it. Literally a pile of shit with a new engine.

 

[someguysjeep]

It may have been registered in Georgia but there is no way you can get that much rust in two years in Ohio.... can you??

all it takes is a couple seasons of salt not being cleaned off , and this is what you get 2yrs later.

 

[WallyWest]

It may have been registered in Georgia but there is no way you can get that much rust in two years in Ohio.... can you??

Yep, you sure can.

I have a '02 4Runner that spent a few years in PA, and the rest of it's life in TN. It's currently in worse shape than the OP's TJ.

Doesn't take much time at all in the salt belt to kick things off. From there you have to stay on top of rust removal and treatment every year or you're boned.

 

[camflict]

Yep, you sure can.

I have a '02 4Runner that spent a few years in PA, and the rest of it's life in TN. It's currently in worse shape than the OP's TJ.

Doesn't take much time at all in the salt belt to kick things off. From there you have to stay on top of rust removal and treatment every year or you're boned.

do you still drive it? lol

 

[Hopper]

Update: I now have access to a shop free of charge thanks to a family friend, all I need is the frame and to eventually patch up the tub

Good luck Man. Did you ever contact the dealer? Alot of shysters out there on Cobb Pky

 

[camflict]

Good luck Man. Did you ever contact the dealer? Alot of shysters out there on Cobb Pky

Amen, there are a lot of scammers out here. I got it in Acworth at a place called United Auto Brokers, they seemed like nice folks at first, answered all my questions. obviously all their answers were lies though, in regards to condition

 

[TurboTJ]

all it takes is a couple seasons of salt not being cleaned off , and this is what you get 2yrs later.

Now that you mention it, that reminds me of the two winters I spent in central Illinois. They didn’t have much snow removal equipment out there so they just laid on tons and tons of salt. It made a real mess because the snow would melt some, re-freeze into ice, thaw some again and so on. I was amazed to see cars two and three years old that were rusted out. I grew up in Vermont and while salt was used, snow removal equipment was plentiful and that was the first line of defense. Cars rusted out but not in two years.

 

[rasband]

Cars rusted out but not in two years.

I have a buddy in Michigan, he says some cars will rust out within a matter of a couple years there too. I didn’t believe it until I visited and just looked under fairly new cars. Yikes.

 

[rdu-jeep]

damn ... that's bad.

interested to know what the dealer says ... this thing is definitely a liability for them.

 

[2001slvrstntj]

Amen, there are a lot of scammers out here. I got it in Acworth at a place called United Auto Brokers, they seemed like nice folks at first, answered all my questions. obviously all their answers were lies though, in regards to condition

I am not on Facebook but looks like they are, maybe blow that up with pics and the story if they dont work with you. Reviews are everything o line now I think.

 

[camflict]

I am not on Facebook but looks like they are, maybe blow that up with pics and the story if they dont work with you. Reviews are everything o line now I think.

Super good idea, thank you

 

[WallyWest]

do you still drive it? lol

I did until a few weeks ago when the muffler fell off, lol.

Deciding if I want to fix the exhaust and keep driving it or give up now. I can get a new exhaust for about $150, and it bolts right on, no welding. But I feel kinda stupid even putting gas in the thing. I may part it out since the drivetrain is in good shape, so is the body for that matter.

I exclusively own older cars/trucks. Just can't see putting all that money into a new one that turns into an old one really quick. But with that comes the inevitable argument of when to stop throwing money at it. Since I do most of my own work I will typically keep going longer than most people, but once the frame starts rusting out I'm done. I'd have to really love the thing to think about a frame swap.