Starting an ambitious project. My 87 Jeep YJ like most Jeeps is a rust bucket! Some brainiac at Jeep decided to NOT put any drain holes in the lower frame rails so all kinds or moisture and rust problems occured. (the metal for '87 was probably crap too!) I would have liked to find an older Jeep but the prices are way too high so I've decided to stick it out with this one.
The previous owner had welded plates over certain parts of the frame and while it's strong, my inspection guy wasn't real thrilled about them. He said they don't like to see any frame patches in general. He's been real lenient with me and has been passing it for a few years now but I get real nervous around inspection time and want to do something about that.
Every year I've been doing more and more frame repairs either to make the existing ones look better or to fix NEW rust! But... it's been bugging me! I'm nowhere near a perfectionist but I'd like to do this right since I'm keeping it.
I decided to make a whole new rear frame assembly! In just a few days, I've gotten as far as shown. It's been really fun too! I've been Tig welding it all the way so I'm getting tons of practice in. (welding little scraps was driving me crazy) I'm getting real comfortable with the Tig process.
Today I should have this one fully welded up if I don't run out of argon. I've already started cutting some of the other frame rail (identical) pieces out. I'm lucky that my steel supplier just added a bunch of cut off pieces so I'm only paying .65 cents a pound for all the material. (so far) In case you were wondering, the reason some of the rails are pieced together is due to using "drops" instead of buying a full sheet. I'm not worried about strength so much as this will be FAR more stronger than what's on there now.
I will be making new body mounts & gas tank cross member as well as a new rear bumper. (the bumper is really just a rear cross member) I will wait until I cut the old frame off in the spring before attempting those so I get the dimensions correct.
I will be putting many drain holes in but none on the sides like original frame would have. I see no reason to give rust anymore opportunities than it already has.
The previous owner had welded plates over certain parts of the frame and while it's strong, my inspection guy wasn't real thrilled about them. He said they don't like to see any frame patches in general. He's been real lenient with me and has been passing it for a few years now but I get real nervous around inspection time and want to do something about that.
Every year I've been doing more and more frame repairs either to make the existing ones look better or to fix NEW rust! But... it's been bugging me! I'm nowhere near a perfectionist but I'd like to do this right since I'm keeping it.
I decided to make a whole new rear frame assembly! In just a few days, I've gotten as far as shown. It's been really fun too! I've been Tig welding it all the way so I'm getting tons of practice in. (welding little scraps was driving me crazy) I'm getting real comfortable with the Tig process.
Today I should have this one fully welded up if I don't run out of argon. I've already started cutting some of the other frame rail (identical) pieces out. I'm lucky that my steel supplier just added a bunch of cut off pieces so I'm only paying .65 cents a pound for all the material. (so far) In case you were wondering, the reason some of the rails are pieced together is due to using "drops" instead of buying a full sheet. I'm not worried about strength so much as this will be FAR more stronger than what's on there now.
I will be making new body mounts & gas tank cross member as well as a new rear bumper. (the bumper is really just a rear cross member) I will wait until I cut the old frame off in the spring before attempting those so I get the dimensions correct.
I will be putting many drain holes in but none on the sides like original frame would have. I see no reason to give rust anymore opportunities than it already has.