Jeep Updates - Before & After Photos

"Bandit" (2bandit)
08/23/2020 at 15:23 • Filed to: tj, Jeep

There’s been a lot of work being done on my fathers super rusty Jeep TJ. I used it as an excuse to buy a welder and then I got to work.

Before: there was pretty much no frame left, I stepped on the gas and broke one rail into two pieces.

After: New frame cut down to thick good metal and new patch plates welded in. This was way more work than I anticipated. Body mounts still need to be repaired, and I’m going to bridge any remaining holes between patch panels with some flat stock.

Fenders were rusted through entirely so we installed new fenders. They are crazy cheap Chinese stampings that are oddly really nice in quality. To come is a full paint with smooth white bed liner.

There were some big holes in the body corners and arches so I cut patch panels out of the old fenders. Not great, but grinding and thick bed liner paint will hide my lack of skill.

Also not pretty was a full floor pan I welded in, the rust exceeded the area covered by the new floor pan so I had to use metal cut out of the old tailgate as a bridge patch. Luckily this will all be hidden by dynamat and carpet.

Jeep goes to the mechanic this week for all new brake lines and rear drums, also probably new steering tie rod ends.

DISCUSSION (16)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Bandit
08/23/2020 at 15:42

Error 404 Jeep frame not found.

jminer > Bandit
08/23/2020 at 16:08

That’s a seriously ambitious repair- nicely done!

LongbowMkII > Bandit
08/23/2020 at 16:49

Wooo that’s a lot of project.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Bandit
08/23/2020 at 17:02

Rust is the bastardest of all bastardly bastards. Good work.

sony1492 > Bandit
08/23/2020 at 18:04

dynamat turns something that looks hacked up into a, "professional" job

Brickman > Bandit
08/23/2020 at 18:40

I applaud your efforts.

I would have find a rust free frame from a rolled over Jeep or new, and go from there.

razorbeamteam > Bandit
08/24/2020 at 10:10

Good work! I’ve spent my fair share of hours doing rust repair work, so I can relate. It is really tough work, and yours actually looks pretty decent. Are you using seam sealer over the welds also?

David Tracy > Bandit
08/24/2020 at 10:21

Seemed fine to me

Bandit > Brickman
08/24/2020 at 10:48

Unfortunately that costs a lot of money and probably would require a lift!

Bandit > David Tracy
08/24/2020 at 10:59

Honestly I’m amazing at the primitive of the engineering on this car. As an OEM engineer for not Chrysler I couldn’ t believe the amount of engineering and manufacturing design shortcuts that were taken in designing the platform. Really makes you question how much carryover design/content is from the AMC days. Floor pans welded directly to the back of the body side A-Surface, no e-coat or paint between fenders and body tub, a lack of stamped drain holes in the frame, sheet metal sandwiches in the fenders that aren’t sealed or protected from water in any way, etc.

Bandit > razorbeamteam
08/24/2020 at 11:00

Using a heavy coat POR-15 and then either undercoating or truck bed liner.