just did a frame up
I just did a frame up. Minnesota Jeep and the frame was rusted through at the rear shackles. Body was rusted through on front and rear of drivers side and right rear corner. But it got worse.
I found a frame with body attached at a salvage. Included axles, etc. Once I got the body off my frame I found all kinds of little things that I got off the doner that I would have had to buy otherwise. So, if you do a frame replacement, be prepared for about $1,000 of incidentals, like brake lines, gas lines, gas tank straps, shocks, springs (mine had to be torched off), body bolts twisting off, fender bolts twisting off, radiator bolts twisting off, etc.
It took my grandson (16) and I 2 weeks to go from the raw frame to him driving it.
However, if you are using your old tub then it is quite easy. There are 10 bolts to lift the body from the frame. 5 attach the each fender to the body, along with a couple of braces. It is about 2 days to remove the body and take care to prepare things. Broken, twisted bolts could extend that time.
I would HIGHLY recommend getting a 2 ton cherry picker for about $200 at Harbor Freight. You can sell it afterwards. But it will lift the roll bars, tub, engine, etc. etc. It will assist greatly in installing the axles under the frame, etc. I painted everything as I put it back together so the cherry picker came in handy to hang the items, like the axles, for painting.
Get 2 boxes of zip lock bags, small and large. USE THEM to bag and label everything you can. The only things that don't go in the zip lock bags are things that won't fit.
Get a full set of torx sockets from T40 to T55. You will need them. And get the ones that are guaranteed. I went through three (3) T40's in one day. And the shattered, not just twisted.
I recommend Kroil penetrating. You can use google shopping and search and you could get 2 cans for about $14. VERY well worth it. Worked better than PB Blaster and Liquid Wrench, and I used all 3 extensively.
You will need a bench wire brush if you can. Need to get rid of the rust from bolts, etc. I went through about 15 cans of Rustoleum paint and primer painting everything including engine, trans, TC, drive shafts, shackels, bolts, EVERYTHING. But it really paid off when it looked like a new vehicle, except for outside I still need to paint.
Really need to people doing it to hand, hold, etc. It would have taken me at least 6 weeks to get done what we did in 2.
Good Luck.