My plan this weekend was to overhaul the cooling system, which I did with no issues. Waiting for the Radiator to be finished at the shop and I will get her back together. Now the real Issue.
Dropped my wife off at the airport on Sunday am (0400) and she tells me the jeep isn't engaging into 2nd gear very well. So while Im working the coolant system, I go and take a look at the transmission mounting because there was nothing obvious in the cab. CRAP! The PO had gone thru and treated a bunch of area on the frame so it was not noticeable at the time, but I have serious rust. I saw the left side of the skidplate wasn't flush, so I stuck my pry bar between the frame and plate and tugged. Down it came, The left side separated from the frame with bolts still attached.
I knew this could an issue prior to the purchase and commented to the PO about the treating because he was bragging about it and I told him if you only covered it and didn't treat and repair, then there is still an issue. We got the Jeep at a very good price for the area, with the thought that I might have frame work to do down the road. There is a shop in the state that will repair the frame (weld in new parts). They said they are doing 2-3 a month on the TJ's so they have got experience. Cost is very reasonable with parts being the cheap part of the deal. Typical, labor is twice parts, which is normal. Looking at <$700 per side. Jeep goes to the shop on Friday. Bummer, but this was the last thing I had in my mind that could be an issue, outside of normal upkeep and mx on an older vehicle. Now I'm waiting for the clutch to act up...
Side note, Im very proud of my wife to question what she was feeling when it didn't feel normal. This could have been much worse if it happened on the road.
Dropped my wife off at the airport on Sunday am (0400) and she tells me the jeep isn't engaging into 2nd gear very well. So while Im working the coolant system, I go and take a look at the transmission mounting because there was nothing obvious in the cab. CRAP! The PO had gone thru and treated a bunch of area on the frame so it was not noticeable at the time, but I have serious rust. I saw the left side of the skidplate wasn't flush, so I stuck my pry bar between the frame and plate and tugged. Down it came, The left side separated from the frame with bolts still attached.
I knew this could an issue prior to the purchase and commented to the PO about the treating because he was bragging about it and I told him if you only covered it and didn't treat and repair, then there is still an issue. We got the Jeep at a very good price for the area, with the thought that I might have frame work to do down the road. There is a shop in the state that will repair the frame (weld in new parts). They said they are doing 2-3 a month on the TJ's so they have got experience. Cost is very reasonable with parts being the cheap part of the deal. Typical, labor is twice parts, which is normal. Looking at <$700 per side. Jeep goes to the shop on Friday. Bummer, but this was the last thing I had in my mind that could be an issue, outside of normal upkeep and mx on an older vehicle. Now I'm waiting for the clutch to act up...
Side note, Im very proud of my wife to question what she was feeling when it didn't feel normal. This could have been much worse if it happened on the road.