TJ Frame protection

[GTboosted]

Hey all,

Been browsing the forums quiet a bit and came across threads about frame rust due to inadequate drainage.

So I quickly went out to my Jeep and it looks to be in good shape. Mainly desert dirt and pebbles sitting inside. Everything seems solid and I didn't feel anything flaking off when I stuck my finger inside.

Where exactly do I need to add drain holes? I fish right at the beach so I plan to clean and coat the frame. The air around there is very salty. I can see it rusting away at the fences and steel posts so coating the frame is a good idea even here in California.

I think it looks decent. Does it seem possible to simply add holes and wash out the crud. Then soak in degreaser. Rinse and let dry. Then coat in Eastwood internal frame coating and por 15 on the outside?

Rear near exhaust

Mid frame close to rear.

 

[Squatch]

Okay, now you're just showing off! After I remove the scale rust from my frame, sand it down, clean it, prime it, and paint it, it still won't look that good!

 

[GTboosted]

Okay, now you're just showing off! After I remove the scale rust from my frame, sand it down, clean it, prime it, and paint it, it still won't look that good!

Haha thanks. It's a legitimate concern lol

All my painting I have ever done involved prepping: sanding, and cleaning with a spirit.

Im liking my TJ more and more and I really do want it to last and it just seems inadequate to simply rinse a frame with degreaser before coating it. There's a hard coating of surface rust or dust that appears stuck on.

 

[Squatch]

Haha thanks. It's a legitimate concern lol

All my painting I have ever done involved prepping: sanding, and cleaning with a spirit.

Im liking my TJ more and more and I really do want it to last and it just seems inadequate to simply rinse a frame with degreaser before coating it. There's a hard coating of surface rust or dust that appears stuck on.

I wonder if the frame rails are open at the rear bumper? Pull the bumper, drive down to your local fire department, and make a monetary donation in exchange for them taking the hose and blasting into and through your frame rails! (You can tell I've thought about this! )

 

[GTboosted]

I wonder if the frame rails are open at the rear bumper? Pull the bumper, drive down to your local fire department, and make a monetary donation in exchange for them taking the hose and blasting into and through your frame rails! (You can tell I've thought about this! )

That's not a bad idea because I live in a apartment so I dont have a pressure washer!

Here's another one that I thought about earlier today. Take a big round wire brush and wrap in in a towel. Then tie a rope to each side.

After, soak it in acetone and pull it back and forth to clean the inside frame prior to painting.

Overkill or helpful? That was kind of my main worry on taking the effort to coat my frame. I wonder if the eastwood stuff is good enough that all this overthinking is not necessary.

 

[Squatch]

That's not a bad idea because I live in a apartment so I dont have a pressure washer!

Here's another one that I thought about earlier today. Take a big round wire brush and wrap in in a towel. Then tie a rope to each side.

After, soak it in acetone and pull it back and forth to clean the inside frame prior to painting.

Overkill or helpful? That was kind of my main worry on taking the effort to coat my frame. I wonder if the eastwood stuff is good enough that all this overthinking is not necessary.

I don't know if it's overkill, or not. I've considered something very similar to your idea, but I feel I actually might need to do it. My rig spent 5 years in Michigan, so it's definitely in need of some attention. Yours would probably benefit from a good spraying inside the rails at a local car wash, let's say. Or better yet, if you can find a place like a detail shop that has a heated pressure washer (steam cleaner, of sorts), then I'd go for that. Perhaps a place that maintains big equipment? Just thinking out loud...

 

[TJ2]

Or, call a plumber to install a water (heater) connection in your garage for your portable pressure wash.

 

[Mike_H]

The frame rails are capped on both ends, unfortunately. I drilled holes right in front of the rear lower control arm mounts. Ideally, you would pull the arms, and place the holes in the area that is inaccessible with the arms installed. That is the actual low point... But, in my case, the arms were not coming off without a big fight, so in the interest of something is better than nothing, I put a 3/8" hole in each rail, in front of the LCA mount.

I got a bunch of crap out of there. I actually am thinking of cutting a good chunk of frame out, and really getting in there... Get it clean, weld it back up, and then coat it.

Of course, there's no need to go to that extreme for your Jeep @GTboosted. You get it rinsed out, Eastwood make a prep product for their internal coating. So use that, then the actual frame stuff, I think you'll be golden.