Skid plate area frame rust

[Germanshepherd]

Hi Guys, and ladies. my search for a TJ continues. wondering if anyone ever had this part of frame fixed. the rest of the frame looks great, smooth and solid so wont bore you with those photos but this is the concerning part I see. the seller is a dealer and did come down 500k in price and I'm not looking the its not worth the price sort of answer (for the jeep) just wondering how extensive this sort of repair would be for a jeep. The skid plate is starting to rust at the bolt sections on the frame.

rest of the frame is of no concern, just this part and its similar on the other side if skid plate. I read it can be hard to remove those bolts due to the nut being on inside and rusted etc. if anyone had the sort of work done, any ball park figure for a repair? thanks

 

[UPJOHN]

Looking at that picture, it doesn't look all that rusty.

 

[Ron505]

It doesn't look bad, but it also looks like it's been painted recently. Hard to tell. My brother had Safe T Caps installed on one side of his rig for $400 labor.
https://www.autorust.com/product-category/jeep/jeep-tj/

 

[fourpointzero]

I've had the rails of my TJ replaced. It was done by none other than the fellas who make 'safe-t-cap' at
'Auto Rust Technicians' in Rhode Island. It was approx 2k after taxes w the anti-rust coating.
I was lucky that mine wasn't bad. A gentleman there told me I could have kept it as is for a while.
But my TJ at the time was a daily driver. And I plan on keeping it for the long haul, as well as 'build' it up. Replacing my rails was, to me, an integral part of that process.

Stick your fingers in ALL the access holes of the frame. If there's ANY large CHUNKS, walk away. I'm currently looking for a couple of Jeeps for some friends. My purchase factor often rests on if there's major rust inside the frame as well as under and inside the tube.

 

[Germanshepherd]

thank you all for the replies.

 

[billiebob]

I'd walk unless you get it $4K under value... This is where skid plate rust leads.

 

[Germanshepherd]

I'd walk unless you get it $4K under value... This is where skid plate rust leads. View attachment 4701

this whole jeep search thing is starting to get depressing. I am ready to either throw in the towel and give up or just deal with the fact that no matter what I get in my price range, will have to deal with rust of some sort.
In my area these jeeps, even rust buckets are selling and the sellers are not coming down on price unless they priced it so high to begin with they come down to a more reasonable price but still overpriced. been watching craigslist several times a day and they sell fast.

the supply and demand here is horrible.. I am already having to branch out to surrounding states to consider a TJ.
This jeep the seller came down 500k which surprised me as dealers do not budge and believe it or not, it was already priced well compared to everything else out there with even higher mileage, worse condition.

I am not ready to give up yet but getting close. been searching since January but will probably just get the nicest TJ I can afford (and it will have issues) deal with problems as they arise. If my wife would let me sell my damn mustang I could afford more for a jeep but she wants us to keep it. it is a sweet mustang and fun to drive though..

 

[Germanshepherd]

I'd walk unless you get it $4K under value... This is where skid plate rust leads. View attachment 4701

Billiebob, how long did it take for it to get like that? i know rust can spread fast but that is pretty bad and did not happen overnight. I would definitely get any rust fixed before it got that bad. did you end up getting if fixed? if so, now much did it cost? thanks

 

[billiebob]

If price matters you are shopping in the high season right now. Start looking in December or January if you want a deal.

Rust has no time limit.
Arizona... Jeeps 20 years old look better than Jeep 5 years old in the rust belt.

A guy offered me cash as is... I sold mine. But that photo was someone elses.

 

[Germanshepherd]

If price matters you are shopping in the high season right now. Start looking in December or January if you want a deal.

Rust has no time limit.
Arizona... Jeeps 20 years old look better than Jeep 5 years old in the rust belt.

A guy offered me cash as is... I sold mine. But that photo was someone elses.

Hi, in PA, the 4x4's sell very well in Dec/January here because of the snow. maybe fall would be a better time in PA.. winter not quite on peoples minds yet and snow but summer is over and people not thinking of driving with the tops down.
salt really bites and they overuse it so much here. we get a dusting and they are out dumping salt, ruining our vehicles and roads..

 

[Stinger]

I have done a "salt area" restoration. If I was you, and really wanted a TJ without salt damage, I would look in the SW, to include Socal. It would be worth it to buy it and drive it home. Granted you may find that one jeep in XXXXXXX that doesn't have damage in your area but you can win the lottery also.

 

[fourpointzero]

I bought mine in Delaware. That's a nice hike and a few hours from me in Jersey. But if I had to do it again, I would go even further south and literally purchase a Jeep from either the Carolinas, Georgia or Florida and drive it up. The time and money savings in (if needed) rust repair would be well worth it.

 

[billiebob]

one more point on used Wrangler pricing !!

They don't depreciate.... makes it harder to buy but comes back when you sell. One of the best auto investments out there.

 

[Ron505]

I was searching for over 8 months before I found mine. I was looking all over the US. The clean ones do sell very quickly, so know what you want, and go get it when the opportunity arises. My Mustang was for sale when I bought my TJ. It didn't sell until several months later, but luckily, I was able to swing them both for a while. I ended up finding mine in Cincinnati (with 90k miles, living in Indiana and Ohio for its whole life), with little to no surface rust on the frame only. I don't think the top was ever off of it, and you could tell it had lived its life in the garage. I did have to pay $10k though. The clean deals are out there, they are just few and far between. But like I said, be ready to pounce when you find a clean one.

 

[billiebob]

I was searching for over 8 months before I found mine. I was looking all over the US. The clean ones do sell very quickly, so know what you want, and go get it when the opportunity arises. The clean deals are out there, they are just few and far between. But like I said, be ready to pounce when you find a clean one.

THIS ^^^^^ not a lot of room/time to deal on a used Wrangler.

 

[Yvette B.]

How do you determine if a 98 is repairable? going to post pictures here tomorrow. i dont know if its THAT bad or Terrible. what should i do to know? and what are common places where rust it? also places that can sell parts to fix it

 

[StG58]

How do you determine if a 98 is repairable? going to post pictures here tomorrow. i dont know if its THAT bad or Terrible. what should i do to know? and what are common places where rust it? also places that can sell parts to fix it

We would need to see some clear, close up pictures. Most things are repairable, but sometimes the cost makes you look for other solutions.

 

[Mike_H]

Keep looking. They are out there...and repair really isn't terrible. There are parts to fix most everything on a jeep. How much are you looking to spend, if you don't mind me asking?

Having the cash and being ready to jump when you find it is key.

 

[jeepXcore]

Hate to necropost, but I'm having this same issue with my frame(not nearly this bad. The 2 out of the 3 bolts on the passenger side of the skid plate currently don't torque down due to rust.

I have an appointment to have my mechanic patch it up next Weds, will it be ok until then? Does my auto trans rest on the skid plate using it as a support? Like I said, all the bolts on the driversside are fine, and the 1 bolt on the passenger side torques down nice and tight.

 

[CybrSlydr]

this whole jeep search thing is starting to get depressing. I am ready to either throw in the towel and give up or just deal with the fact that no matter what I get in my price range, will have to deal with rust of some sort.
In my area these jeeps, even rust buckets are selling and the sellers are not coming down on price unless they priced it so high to begin with they come down to a more reasonable price but still overpriced. been watching craigslist several times a day and they sell fast.

the supply and demand here is horrible.. I am already having to branch out to surrounding states to consider a TJ.
This jeep the seller came down 500k which surprised me as dealers do not budge and believe it or not, it was already priced well compared to everything else out there with even higher mileage, worse condition.

I am not ready to give up yet but getting close. been searching since January but will probably just get the nicest TJ I can afford (and it will have issues) deal with problems as they arise. If my wife would let me sell my damn mustang I could afford more for a jeep but she wants us to keep it. it is a sweet mustang and fun to drive though..

Oops - necropost is necro...