The Jeep is going under the knife.....

You can talk about anything here
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

Well, after driving it around, getting out and having fun with y'all, and then having the bad news of a rotted frame. I have finally gotten things moving this winter.

So for those that have seen her, she will not look like that for much longer.

She left on a trailer today to go meet the maker. She is getting a major frame repair to start with, this should make her safe to drive again and allow me to start actually wheeling her. With any jeep project thou what started simple has blown up into a massive set of upgrades. :music-rockout:

Pictures of the work will be posted along the way but the current plants are.....

Frame repair
New rear heavy duty spring buckets
Rocker protection
Rock sliders
D44 Axles
Axle Trusses
Front and rear lockers
5 or so inches of lift
Long arm suspension upgrade
Front bumper
Winch
rear bumper will prob get done along with a spare tire holder

Im sure there will be other items added to the list once thought about but with a bunch of things just coming together and a great sale from Jeff, my beast is about to be born. :music-rockout: :bluesbros:

Im excited about it, and happily scared for the future of what I will do in her. I certainly want to do some other upgrades, which will include updating the stereo and building a parts box for trailing, and other small items along the way. :music-guitarred:
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
RalphTomaccio
BSJ 101 Planning Commitee
Posts: 1251
Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:50 am
Jeep Year: 2012
Jeep Model: JK Wrangler
Location: Slatersville RI

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by RalphTomaccio »

Hey Jim,

Looking forward to seeing the progress photos. You have just entered the Just Empty Every Pocket zone!

Good luck.
User avatar
Kurt
BSJ Member
Posts: 4209
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:53 am
Jeep Year: 1992
Jeep Model: YJ Wrangler
Real Name: Kurt K.
Location: Pepperell, MA

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by Kurt »

Wow!
Sounds like it going to be a great build. :banana-guitar:
Looking forward to seeing the progress pictures and updates!
"Build It, Run It, Break It, Improve It, Repeat!"
NEA Treasurer 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
BSJ Treasurer 2020
User avatar
Hoodoo Man
BSJ 101 Planning Commitee
Posts: 3799
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:29 am
Jeep Year: 1970
Jeep Model: C101
Real Name: Jeff Cambray
Location: Westford MA

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by Hoodoo Man »

Jim I forgot to tell you the rear D44 is already set up for Coilovers. that is the fat bracket / anchor point in the rear behind the coil buckets. you can easily go to coilovers in the rear right now instead of buying springs and shocks.... Also if not mistaken you may be able to go with a bad as$ strut like Kurt has on his beast... 8-)
1970 Jeepster- stock
2003 Jeep Rubicon 2" BDS Spring lift 35s and MCE fenders
2012 Jeep JKU 2.5' Terafkex spring lift, Rock Hard Bumpa, skids, BodyArmor4x4 sliders..
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

RalphTomaccio wrote:Hey Jim,

Looking forward to seeing the progress photos. You have just entered the Just Empty Every Pocket zone!

Good luck.
lol oh yeah we are def i that zone....but its fun! love having so many options to work with for her.
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

Kurt wrote:Wow!
Sounds like it going to be a great build. :banana-guitar:
Looking forward to seeing the progress pictures and updates!
Thanks Kurt, Im sure you will get to see her, as there is certainly going to be some work to do after all the work is done to make it all trail ready and Ill be always accepting of a hand or 5 with it.
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

Hoodoo Man wrote:Jim I forgot to tell you the rear D44 is already set up for Coilovers. that is the fat bracket / anchor point in the rear behind the coil buckets. you can easily go to coilovers in the rear right now instead of buying springs and shocks.... Also if not mistaken you may be able to go with a bad as$ strut like Kurt has on his beast... 8-)
you had mentioned it. Not sure what is going to happen really, gotta talk more with the master on that one.
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

Well the jeep was delivered to the surgeon and has already been started. The frame has been repaired on the drivers side already!

Here is the drivers side cut out.
Attachments
Frame cut sized.jpeg
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

Here is the welded in new steel after all the bad metal was removed.
Attachments
frame welded sized.jpeg
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
Frank
Frankie BSJ Member
Posts: 4145
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:54 am
Jeep Year: 1974
Jeep Model: CJ5

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by Frank »

And It Starts ! Every year I said it works good , leave it alone. Uh Huh Did I listen , nooooo ! Dude :) Its gonna be fun watchin you wheel the newer rig. Let me help you scratch her up a bit. By the way , Whos gonna take my picture if your out havin fun. FjR68
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

This is gonna be fun, you can certainly have some fun behind the wheel, and hey, my roll bards still have padding! lol.

I will be asking for some help once it is done as there will still be work to be done once the temps are a bit more friendly.
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
Frank
Frankie BSJ Member
Posts: 4145
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:54 am
Jeep Year: 1974
Jeep Model: CJ5

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by Frank »

Nice frame repair done right ! Instead of just adding metal to the rotted stuff. The guy did a nice job. FjR68
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

Frank wrote:Nice frame repair done right ! Instead of just adding metal to the rotted stuff. The guy did a nice job. FjR68
He came with that reputation, granted more expensive than some places but the work shows that its certainly quality.
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
User avatar
Frank
Frankie BSJ Member
Posts: 4145
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:54 am
Jeep Year: 1974
Jeep Model: CJ5

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by Frank »

I cant believe Chrysler isnt being called on this. In the late 80s early 90s Toyota had to replace frames on their trucks as they did the same thing , every one of them. Such a shame . You TJ guys should get a class action suit goin ! Youd have millions of backers. FjR68
User avatar
pirahnah3
BSJ Member
Posts: 1318
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 pm
Jeep Year: 1997
Jeep Model: TJ Wrangler
Real Name: Jim

Re: The Jeep is going under the knife.....

Unread post by pirahnah3 »

It is surprising Frank but the problems are much less outside of the New England/Snow area, so yeah we would get a bunch but probably not enough to get them to do it as most of these older ones are now being made into trail rigs anyways. But this is a conversation for an entirely different thread.
'97 thats been chopped up and put back together, and ready to take on the trails.
Post Reply