IMO with that history of significant rust + rust repairs the only real option is frame replacement. Its going to be a major investment + project for the next owner or a parts vehicle so the value could be limited.

 

When my skid plate dropped on one side I bought both the LH & RH SafeTCaps https://www.quadratec.com/products/56011_9052_07.htm and my local shop cleaned up the skid plate frame area, welded them on, drilled me some drain holes and painted it for $500....so that $2K number seems a bit high.

That was the only bad frame area that I had, but in a few weeks when it warms up I am going to do a complete frame cleaning & treatment (remember, these frames rot from the inside out)

There are many threads here regarding frame cleaning, I am going to follow the one where the rear bumper is removed and openings are cut into the rear frame crossmember...this gives you access to almost the complete inside length of the frame for cleanout/treatment. http://www.wranglerforum.com/f282/tub-off-what-preventative-should-i-do-1902298.html (see post #15)

I don't know if the other rust issues that you mentioned bring you to the point of letting the Jeep go, but you may still be able to save the frame.

Good luck!!

 

It definitely sounds like this "Family Jeep" holds a lot of sentimental value. So.....IMHO, I would sell the engine, transmission and transfer case or use for spares, and turn the rest into YARD ART. I could not sleep at night if it was mine and I sold it to someone else and they were driving it.

 

Evpjr you are the voice of reason..

I've had Jeep brands for 31 years. On my 3rd Grand Cherokee and older daughter had her own also until we lost her to the dark side and she got a Prius. 5 total but this but this is the only Wangler.

So I had a little chat with our hometown welder who's a rare breed and he's up for the challenge. Plus he doesn't want to mess with any pefab kits.

So I've decided to tow the Jeep back to Northern IL.

 

Plus he doesn't want to mess with any pefab kits.

I believe I've read that those safe-t cap kits are spoken of highly.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

In N.J. I looked at plenty of jeeps for sale. This process eventually was shortened to simply looking underneath and then walking away. Lots of jeeps for sale without any frames whatsoever can be found down the shore. I suppose that there’s plenty of suckers that don’t bother looking down there. It’s worth whatever you can sell it for, and I’ve seen nasty ones at $10K. The ethical thing to do is to replace the frame or part it out. That’s what I would do. 2003 was the first year they started using good metal.

 

4WFool- I agree on selling. I wouldn't try to sell without disclosing condition of the frame. I'd hate to see someone get hurt not to mention the ethical factor.

My goal is to get it back and see if my local welder can get it safe enough for me to drive around locally for another year two. I don't off road. At least not yet.

Thanks

 

Value of Tj with rusted Fram

It all depends what a Tj is worth with rusted frame.
If it has a Hard top and full metal doors and both are in good condition, I have bought a few like this for a round $2K and ended up just parting them out. Also when parting out a TJ your money is in the Hard Top and full metal doors.
:rip:

 

Rusted center, rear repaired and body mounts also rotting? I would part it out. Even if you patch it, the cost to get it up to spec and knowing rust will likely continue, why bother? I understand sentimental value, but chasing rust isn’t cheap and its such a headache.

Maybe it’s worth looking around for a high mileage, good condition base Jeep and swap the engine and some odds and ends from your current, then sell the remaining as a parts car?


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I guess it boils down to if you want to keep the jeep or just get rid of it.

You can't neutralizer frame rot or de-lamination. Surface rust is very easy to treat but if a frame is ate up with rust, its far worse than surface. Also, it does not need to be painted and that may worsen the situation. Rust converters, frame encapsulation is snake oil.

Sounds like with the situation you are in, weld patch the best way you can, for as long as you can, and drive the heck out of it. Other option is to let it go at a fire house sale price because it sounds like it has little value.

I feel your pain. My best friends boy, searched and found a particular toyota truck he wanted. If you think jeeps are the worse for rust, you have not seen a toyota truck! He paid top dollar because from the wheels up, it was immaculate. He failed to crawl underneath to inspect. When he went to intall the lift, there were areas of the frame he could have removed chunks with a hammer.

lesson learned.

 

Just sold my 2002 TJ "X"...bought it for $6 grand 5 years ago...ran it into the ground! Still, it looked great and has new Cooper STT's on it...frame rusted out and cracked in 6 places...sold it for $1200...basically sold the tires and gave him the Jeep! He is parting it out on Craigslist now...shame. Frames are the achilles heel on Jeeps...always have been.

 

Great info all. Thanks. On my way picking up the Jeep now in VA. Towing it back to IL. Does have hard top and full metal doors. Plus I have 2 soft tops. Body's in good shape,, only body rust is front fender tops, which I somewhat patched, and a little rust where the tailgate mounts.



Going to try and get it patched up and run it as long as I can.

 

If you are serious about keeping the Jeep, you missed a place in Virginia that could do it. Fantom Works in Nofolk does all sorts of restorations, from a ground up body off full concours restoration to minor upgrades and refreshments. You might give them a call. They have worked on several Jeeps.

It would be cheaper to get a replacement frame and do a frame swap than to keep patching. A good replacement frame (1997-2002 and 2003-2006 are slightly different) can be cleaned up and powder coated before attaching all the running gear and then installing the body. Frames are $600-$1000 and the swap would cost antother $1500-$2000. But, by all means, use a reputable shop.

 

OMG, 2k ONLY? Here, in Jersey, one shop quoted me “around 5k”. [emoji52]



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I'm using numbers from another thread that a member paid in that range. They probably didn't do much to the frame, just swapped it over. I think the member provided the frame as he was going to do it himself.

There is another thread I wish I could find. The member had an LJ with a bad frame. Found a wrecked LJ (rolled) with a straight frame. It had been partially parted out, but the member bought the donor Jeep. Then removed everything the body and running gear from the new frame and moved all of his stuff over. He did this by himself in a two car garage. It took him a while. He did get help from friends when it came to removing and replacing the body. The axles and wheels were sold, the engine was kept as a spare.

This thread is definitely worth reading if anyone is thinking of frame replacement or restoration. It shows what can be done:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f282/tub-off-what-preventative-should-i-do-1902298.html

 

Yah, the 5k was to swap everything over from one frame to the other. No cosmetic or alterations to the ‘new’ frame.


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Seems high, but then they are using a higher labor rate, it is New Jersey. They could also be saying in a way that they don't want to fool with it without actually saying it.

I know I asked one body shop what ballpark figure it would take to paint my TJ. They told me that they had too much work to just do a paint job.

 

So I'm back from Richmond with the Jeep on a trailer. I'll be dropping it off the
Welder tomorrow.

It's clear the Center Frame section is in pretty bad shape. Being a 2001, my daughter was right, it's getting a bit tired. Not sure I'm going to keep it regardless.

I swapped vehicles with my daughter so I need one quick. For me the The TrailHawk Elite seems to be a better all a round ride with the towing I want to do.

Any idea what I fair price is for this?

2001 Wrangler Sport
I6 with 125K miles.
Hardtop with 2 Softtops.
Full size doors
Decent new wheels/Black
Relativity new Heater core and brake lines
Full size new Spare
Body in pretty good shape.

 

If I was in the market I might pay about $1500
If you sell it as a junk ur gonna take a bath...
You could probably part it out for about $3500

 

Eureka!!! looks like towing it back to IL was the right call.

My local welder says there's plenty of metal to salvage the frame.

$250. And does not need any frame kits..

 

CONGRATS!!!

That beats the heck out of junking it!!