2005 Jeep LJ frame repair

[Covecrawler]

I just picked up an old man owned 2005 LJ. It failed inspection for frame rot. It needs repair from the front trailing arms to the rear trailing arms.

Who is everyone’s go-to for the repair parts? Safe-T-Cap, Rust buster, Pocono Metal Craft?

There are super cheap ones on EBay and Amazon, but not for the extended frame that I can find.

It’s around $900 through Pocono, $1150 for Safe-T-Cap. Am I missing any others?

 

[The Freeak]

The guys at Pocono are local to me, and seem to have their shit together. I'd give them the nod.

 

[Covecrawler]

The guys at Pocono are local to me, and seem to have their shit together. I'd give them the nod.

Thanks for the vote for Pocono, went ahead and ordered them.

 

[Covecrawler]

Ordered from Pocono yesterday at 11:00, I received the order today at 1:00. I’ll post some pics of them installed.

 

[[memphis]]

I just picked up an old man owned 2005 LJ. It failed inspection for frame rot. It needs repair from the front trailing arms to the rear trailing arms.

Who is everyone’s go-to for the repair parts? Safe-T-Cap, Rust buster, Pocono Metal Craft?

There are super cheap ones on EBay and Amazon, but not for the extended frame that I can find.

It’s around $900 through Pocono, $1150 for Safe-T-Cap. Am I missing any others?

That tub doesn’t look bad! Crazy that the frame is toast!

 

[Covecrawler]

That tub doesn’t look bad! Crazy that the frame is toast!

The tub is perfect. No rot in the torque box, no surface rust. Brake lines, fuel lines, everything is perfect except the frame. It’s a bummer, but to be honest I can’t afford an LJ with a good frame.

 

[rockmup]

The tub is perfect. No rot in the torque box, no surface rust. Brake lines, fuel lines, everything is perfect except the frame. It’s a bummer, but to be honest I can’t afford an LJ with a good frame.

So how much is an LJ with a bad frame ?

 

[Covecrawler]

On a scummy car lot still $10-15k

This one failed state inspection, so $3000. He named the price, not me.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

On a scummy car lot still $10-15k

This one failed state inspection, so $3000. He named the price, not me.

You stole that thing, even with a bad frame.

 

[rockmup]

On a scummy car lot still $10-15k

This one failed state inspection, so $3000. He named the price, not me.

I'd pay that all day long

 

[NDCjeepsmith]

Mine was double that with a rebuilt title from being laid over in ditch, complete with crappy repairs to roll bar, cowl, and yellow overspray everywhere. They also decided the yellows didn't match so they spray bombed it black on the outside over all the flares, trim, weatherstripping, etc.

Does only have 41k miles tho


Still a deal I will admit

 

[blthomas]

On a scummy car lot still $10-15k

This one failed state inspection, so $3000. He named the price, not me.

Damn I'd give 3 all day from what you've described.

You stole that thing, even with a bad frame.

Agreed.

I'd pay that all day long

Me too. I've been hunting, and they're all really over priced in my area. Stupid high.

 

[Covecrawler]

Driver’s side complete.
The Pocono Metal Craft frame repair parts took a lot of work to make fit semi-correctly. They’ll work. I can’t imagine how much work the $30 Amazon patches must take to make work.

It’s been so long since I’ve installed saf-T-caps I’m not sure if the fit is better or worse.

 

[The Freeak]

Can you elaborate on your statement? I won't recommend them again if they suck.

 

[Covecrawler]

Can you elaborate on your statement? I won't recommend them again if they suck.

The driver’s side center cap, it was welded up as a parallelogram, not square. The body mount notches are off by 1/4”. The sides we welded with the inside pushed forward 1/4”, which made it short where it mates to the rear control arm patch.

You also have to notch the front control arm patch and center patch to mate together. Not a big deal, just more work.

 

[blthomas]

Driver’s side complete.
The Pocono Metal Craft frame repair parts took a lot of work to make fit semi-correctly. They’ll work. I can’t imagine how much work the $30 Amazon patches must take to make work.

It’s been so long since I’ve installed saf-T-caps I’m not sure if the fit is better or worse.

Working on my wife's TJ. Bought Pocono metal craft parts.

I'm doing rear control arms and center skid sections. I've used sat t caps at a shop I was a part timer in. Don't remember fitment issues. We did alot of repairs.

These Pocono parts are ok, but I've got some measurement issues between what I took, and how new stuff lines up. I'm chasing 1/8" pushing 1/4" on skid holes lining up. Several of the body mount cuts are against the body mounts, will have to open them up I guess.

Saf t cap makes a one piece that is skid sections and rear arm sections together. Really wishing I had bought that, I think it would be easier to fit and less work overall.

Maybe I'm over thinking it.

 

[Covecrawler]

I don’t think we both are. Glad I’m not the only one.

 

[Covecrawler]

Control arm mounts are annoyingly too wide. 3/8” on the upper and lower. Bends the mount considerably when tightened down. Rear upper control arms also hit the mount on top, trimming required.

If you’re on the fence go with something else. Pocono Metal works parts are sloppily put together, and need more work than I would consider acceptable.

 

[NDCjeepsmith]

Geeze, thanks for the heads up.

I was considering a frame from baseline 4x4 or just going motobilt front and back halves

 

[Covecrawler]

All fixed up, licensed, even got a Toyota license plate.

 

[Covecrawler]

Geeze, thanks for the heads up.

I was considering a frame from baseline 4x4 or just going motobilt front and back halves

I can’t imagine buying a used frame for $3500 when a new one through Throttle Down is $3999. That is unless I’m missing something.

I plan at some point to get this piece and do the swap.

2004-2006 LJ Wrangler Jeep Frame - Throttle Down Kustoms

2004-2006 LJ Wrangler Jeep Frame from ThrottleDownKustoms. Every product we make is hand fabricated in Moore, Montana, USA.

throttledownkustoms.com

 

[NDCjeepsmith]

I just sold one that if I had kept I would put a frame under but I would have went motobilt front rear for 1500 and about 100 in rect tube to fab the center. That in my mind can't be beat

 

[wvjeepguy81]

I can’t imagine buying a used frame for $3500 when a new one through Throttle Down is $3999. That is unless I’m missing something.

I plan at some point to get this piece and do the swap.

2004-2006 LJ Wrangler Jeep Frame - Throttle Down Kustoms

2004-2006 LJ Wrangler Jeep Frame from ThrottleDownKustoms. Every product we make is hand fabricated in Moore, Montana, USA.

throttledownkustoms.com

Yeah ...I was going to mention TDK also. I was lucky and found a good TJ frame in a junkyard for $450.

 

[blthomas]

Control arm mounts are annoyingly too wide. 3/8” on the upper and lower. Bends the mount considerably when tightened down. Rear upper control arms also hit the mount on top, trimming required.

If you’re on the fence go with something else. Pocono Metal works parts are sloppily put together, and need more work than I would consider acceptable.

I decided to use the pocono parts.

I finished welding in my passenger rear and noticed same on control arm mounts.

Did you do anything to rectify lower being so wide? Mine looks exactly as yours. Haven't put the upper arm in its place yet.

Really really wishing I had bought saf-t-cap products.

 

[Covecrawler]

I decided to use the pocono parts.

I finished welding in my passenger rear and noticed same on control arm mounts.

Did you do anything to rectify lower being so wide? Mine looks exactly as yours. Haven't put the upper arm in its place yet.

Really really wishing I had bought saf-t-cap products.

Uppers fit the same. Just sent the bolt home with an impact. They work, just could be a lot better.

 

[blthomas]

Uppers fit the same. Just sent the bolt home with an impact. They work, just could be a lot better.

Right on. Disappointing for the money.