Fixing a rusted truck frame can be a costly process. Depending on the vehicle's make and model, expenses can range from $2,000 to $3,000, and sometimes even more. The primary driver behind these high costs is the labor, as repairing a rusty frame can be incredibly time-consuming.
A frame swap is a 40 hour job, more or less and will usually require several bodies. 40 hours (assuming just one person) times $70 is $2800 and that is a minimum! You need to look at the work involved in QUALITY body work.
Steps To Repair A Rusted Truck Frame
- Evaluate The Rust Damage.
- Remove Pieces Welded To The Frame.
- Remove The Rusted or Broken Face Of The Frame.
- Re-Align The Frame & Weld In Repair Pieces Inside Of The Frame.
- Weld Repair Piece On Bottom Rail.
- Template & Cut Patch.
- Weld In The Patch.
- Cosmetic Work & Finish Paint.
”If your car frame has excessive rust on it to a point where holes start to appear on the frame, or some parts of the frame are missing, this means that the rusting has affected the structural integrity of the frame and it is no longer safe to drive your vehicle.”
Another reason that Jeep Wranglers are especially susceptible to rust is the way in which they are used. Because it is one of the most capable off-road SUVs, many Wrangler drivers regularly take their vehicles off paved roads.
They are entire pieces that you have to weld in to the frame. You cut out most of the stock frame in doing so. They are fine repairs (most of the time) but you should never buy a Jeep knowing you have to do that repair. It is best to just buy a clean rust free Jeep.
This warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair or replace any sheet metal panels that get holes from rust or other corrosion. If a hole occurs because of something other than corrosion, this warranty does not apply. For more details on what isn't covered by this warranty, see 3.6.
How to Keep Jeep Wrangler Door Hinges from Rusting and Sticking
- Use LIQUID WRENCH Penetrating Oil on the hinges.
- Once you've got those pesky doors off, enjoy the open air driving for a couple of days.
- When you go put the doors back on, use a little LIQUID WRENCH White Lithium Grease inside the hinge.
Registered. The JKs will not rust as easily as the YJs auto stamping coil has come a long way since then. They will still rust eventually.
Don't undercoat with traditional undercoatings if there is any rust at all. Have fluid filmed or another similar product applied. TerryC6 is correct, traditional undercoating would only promote more rusting. You need rustproofing oil at this point.
It's a putty type metal they used in the factory. It's not rust. But I will say all Jeeps are rusty. Look at any JK or JL and you'll see all the screws and bolts are rusty even on the dealer lot.
Where to Look For Rust on a Jeep TJ Frame. If you own a Jeep Wrangler, there are generally a few places where you can look to see whether your Jeep has been affected by rust. It mainly appears on the frame near the wheels and on the lower parts of the frame where water collects.
If you are, however, determined to have your truck frame welded, you are looking at an average of 10,000 dollars depending on the severity of the damage. Payscale states an average welder rate in the USA is $18,27p/h, but each job, welding style, and materials have variable prices.
Drill drain holes in the rails and access holes in the rear crossmember. Make an air gun that can get deep into the frame rails to blow them out. Use a sewer jet to bombard the remaining compacted crap the air gun misses. Use a pressure washer to spray in a good automotive degreaser.
Arrange the S-hooks under the bumper mounting brackets of the front and rear bumpers, attaching one rope to each bracket on each side of each bumper. When connected correctly, there will be one rope attached to each corner of the Jeep body tub. Raise the hoist, lifting the body tub off the frame.
Jeep-Short Wheelbase > Weight of TJ frame? the frame with all the brackets, without the steering box is about 135 pounds.
Jeep Wrangler (YJ)
| Jeep Wrangler YJ |
|---|
| Wheelbase | 93.4 in (2,372 mm) |
| Length | 1986–89: 152.6 in (3,880 mm) 1989–92: 153 in (3,900 mm) 1992–95: 151.9 in (3,860 mm) |
| Width | 66 in (1,700 mm) |
| Height | 1993–95: 71.9 in (1,830 mm) 1986–1992 soft-top: 72 in (1,800 mm) 1986–1992 hardtop: 69.6 in (1,770 mm) |
The YJ tub will actually go on the TJ frame pretty easy. you'll have to get just a little creative with 2 of the mounts in the rear, and you will need to have a smal body lift, but it's not bad at all.
