the rust i've been ignoring finally decided it wanted some attention. no pics yet (soon!) but i hit a bump going a bit fast and my entire rear crossmember and about 2-3 inches of the frame bent about 45 degrees under the weight of my tire carrier. the spring shackle hanger is about half exposed... i turned around, threw it in first gear and took 2 hours crawling back to pavement, checking periodically to make sure it wasn't getting any worse. i made it home, but after you see the pictures i fully expect to get called stupid for driving with it like that.
so, coupled with the very bad rust i have in the rest of the rear section of my frame and a little bit up front, i may be in the market for a new frame. at the very least i need to get the back section repaired/replaced before i'll be driving it again.
i am posting this here because i think i'll get better replies than in the YJ forum, but i have no welding/fab skills myself, and i think a frame is a pretty bad place to learn.
the new replacement frames (throttle down kustoms) i've found are around $2400, so that's sort of a worst-case option. however, i do plan on having this jeep for a long time so i wouldn't be opposed to a slightly-custom frame (built-in recovery hooks, maybe taller shock hoops or something?) if the price is right.
(i have been and will continue to watch craigslist for a good used frame but so far i haven't found anything)
i like the idea of the hot-dip galvanizing, but i've heard you can't weld on that. is that so big of a deal, especially for someone who doesn't weld anyway?
what are my options other than replacing the entire thing?
and i don't have the space (let alone the tools and knowledge) to swap in a new one once i get it... what kind of price tag does a job like that come with? or is there anyone in the area who would like to help?
might i be better of buying a stock jeep and just starting over? that doesn't sound like a lot of fun either. i just want my jeep back!
so, coupled with the very bad rust i have in the rest of the rear section of my frame and a little bit up front, i may be in the market for a new frame. at the very least i need to get the back section repaired/replaced before i'll be driving it again.
i am posting this here because i think i'll get better replies than in the YJ forum, but i have no welding/fab skills myself, and i think a frame is a pretty bad place to learn.
the new replacement frames (throttle down kustoms) i've found are around $2400, so that's sort of a worst-case option. however, i do plan on having this jeep for a long time so i wouldn't be opposed to a slightly-custom frame (built-in recovery hooks, maybe taller shock hoops or something?) if the price is right.
(i have been and will continue to watch craigslist for a good used frame but so far i haven't found anything)
i like the idea of the hot-dip galvanizing, but i've heard you can't weld on that. is that so big of a deal, especially for someone who doesn't weld anyway?
what are my options other than replacing the entire thing?
and i don't have the space (let alone the tools and knowledge) to swap in a new one once i get it... what kind of price tag does a job like that come with? or is there anyone in the area who would like to help?
might i be better of buying a stock jeep and just starting over? that doesn't sound like a lot of fun either. i just want my jeep back!