Im going to be doing the same on my D30... the axle seal to the passenger side is kaput... basically all the sheet metal around my rear lower control arms is disintegrated... on the passenger side it goes all the way up to the upper control arm...

box it in and it would pass inspection... but im just not sure how structurely sound it is... going to have to take more apart to find that out...

it still rides great though

 

oil change
swapped out the front noisy drive shaft for a brand new one.
next is installing 4 new shocks. got 4 Skyjacker Hydro 7000's waiting to go in.

 

shocks installed!

 

shocks installed!

 

Yeaaaa,,, im really questioning the repair, i know i can make it structurally sound again, the issue is the work that is involved... the mounting bracket itself is solid, as well as the frame around 6" either side of the hole...

i think its getting parked for a while, then attempt the repair...

 

That's rotted. I personally wouldn't waste my time on a 98 with 400k on it.

 

yeah im thinking the same... there is actually solid metal about 3 inches away, it wouldn't be a huge patch, but making it structure again is the battle... i could patch it up enough and keep it for out in the woods back at the camp... but theres no way this thing is hitting public roads (even though the inspection is good for 6 more months)... hence the 2012 Wrangler Unlimited that im looking at...

Im in the process of ripping out a few of the upgrades i put in there from my WJ... 63mm throttle body, air intake can be adapted to my little cavalier lmfao, going to take off any new parts, keep the coils from the front (so if i get another ZJ i can do a front to rear swap and just add spacers for the front)

already called and can get $300 for scrap... wooh! first payment yea!!

 

I hear that, it's no worries for a trial rig, just wouldn't wanna do 100+ in it on the highway. Plus ZJ are dirt cheap after the winter. I have always liked the idea of Wranglers. It's kinda of like driving a grown mans go-kart. I just wonder how drafty and noisy they would be on the highway since everything is made to be taken off on the Wrangler.

 

that's one of the first things i noticed in the 2012! and the doors had never been off... hit highway speeds and it was like the blower motor was going... but it wasn't, it was just the wind wipping by (suppose that would happen when you have the aerodynamics of 2 bricks stacked on top of eachother)

I've always had a XJ, WJ or ZJ... it'll be my first wrangler... had to get 4 doors because of my space concerns, 110lbs co-pilot diesel that cant stay in one spot... lol and our 3rd (my first) kid on the way... New GC's are too radically different than the older models im all too familiar with... i want something i can work on

 

To work on newer cars it takes more costly tools to do the work.