Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

Saw this article recently, local paper

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html



On Apr 14, 12:25 pm, SnoMan <a...@snoman.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:51:26 GMT, "Mark Corbelli"
>
> <m_corbe...@verizon.net> wrote:
> >Sad story...
> >My beloved '88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, my trusted friend for the last 18 years,
> >apparently has a terminal case of frame rust that won't pass inspection. In
> >the past, my mechanic has fixed this by welding in patches but he now says
> >that the frame has to be replaced, it's so bad it cannot be repaired. I'd
> >love to keep this vehicle. I know it's hard to answer this because you don't
> >have all the details, but has anyone dealth with a frame restoration? How
> >involved? Expensive?
>
> >Thansk in advance.
>
> There is a classic rust weakness area in the frame used under that
> vehicle. Usually it is in front of rear axle were it rusts to the
> point it breaks. Jeep used a thinner alloyed frame that was strong but
> prone to rust. J10', fullsized Cherokees and Wagoneers were prone to
> this problem. J20's were not because they had a much heavier frame. It
> do not think it would be too hard to find a frame because the same
> basic one was used for over 20 years. It can be done but I would
> suggest that if you replace it sandblast and paint frame you plane to
> use before installing it. If you want to get extreme, you could look
> into using a J20 frame and shortening it to proper length. This is
> extra work and cost but if cleaned and paint it would easilly out last
> the rest of vehicle. Personally if it is in good shape I think it is
> worth it because it is a real classic and was ahead of its time.
> Sturdy vehicle too.
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com

Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

Saw this article recently, local paper

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html



On Apr 14, 12:25 pm, SnoMan <a...@snoman.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:51:26 GMT, "Mark Corbelli"
>
> <m_corbe...@verizon.net> wrote:
> >Sad story...
> >My beloved '88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, my trusted friend for the last 18 years,
> >apparently has a terminal case of frame rust that won't pass inspection. In
> >the past, my mechanic has fixed this by welding in patches but he now says
> >that the frame has to be replaced, it's so bad it cannot be repaired. I'd
> >love to keep this vehicle. I know it's hard to answer this because you don't
> >have all the details, but has anyone dealth with a frame restoration? How
> >involved? Expensive?
>
> >Thansk in advance.
>
> There is a classic rust weakness area in the frame used under that
> vehicle. Usually it is in front of rear axle were it rusts to the
> point it breaks. Jeep used a thinner alloyed frame that was strong but
> prone to rust. J10', fullsized Cherokees and Wagoneers were prone to
> this problem. J20's were not because they had a much heavier frame. It
> do not think it would be too hard to find a frame because the same
> basic one was used for over 20 years. It can be done but I would
> suggest that if you replace it sandblast and paint frame you plane to
> use before installing it. If you want to get extreme, you could look
> into using a J20 frame and shortening it to proper length. This is
> extra work and cost but if cleaned and paint it would easilly out last
> the rest of vehicle. Personally if it is in good shape I think it is
> worth it because it is a real classic and was ahead of its time.
> Sturdy vehicle too.
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com

Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

Saw this article recently, local paper

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html



On Apr 14, 12:25 pm, SnoMan <a...@snoman.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:51:26 GMT, "Mark Corbelli"
>
> <m_corbe...@verizon.net> wrote:
> >Sad story...
> >My beloved '88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, my trusted friend for the last 18 years,
> >apparently has a terminal case of frame rust that won't pass inspection. In
> >the past, my mechanic has fixed this by welding in patches but he now says
> >that the frame has to be replaced, it's so bad it cannot be repaired. I'd
> >love to keep this vehicle. I know it's hard to answer this because you don't
> >have all the details, but has anyone dealth with a frame restoration? How
> >involved? Expensive?
>
> >Thansk in advance.
>
> There is a classic rust weakness area in the frame used under that
> vehicle. Usually it is in front of rear axle were it rusts to the
> point it breaks. Jeep used a thinner alloyed frame that was strong but
> prone to rust. J10', fullsized Cherokees and Wagoneers were prone to
> this problem. J20's were not because they had a much heavier frame. It
> do not think it would be too hard to find a frame because the same
> basic one was used for over 20 years. It can be done but I would
> suggest that if you replace it sandblast and paint frame you plane to
> use before installing it. If you want to get extreme, you could look
> into using a J20 frame and shortening it to proper length. This is
> extra work and cost but if cleaned and paint it would easilly out last
> the rest of vehicle. Personally if it is in good shape I think it is
> worth it because it is a real classic and was ahead of its time.
> Sturdy vehicle too.
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com

Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

Saw this article recently, local paper

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html



On Apr 14, 12:25 pm, SnoMan <a...@snoman.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:51:26 GMT, "Mark Corbelli"
>
> <m_corbe...@verizon.net> wrote:
> >Sad story...
> >My beloved '88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, my trusted friend for the last 18 years,
> >apparently has a terminal case of frame rust that won't pass inspection. In
> >the past, my mechanic has fixed this by welding in patches but he now says
> >that the frame has to be replaced, it's so bad it cannot be repaired. I'd
> >love to keep this vehicle. I know it's hard to answer this because you don't
> >have all the details, but has anyone dealth with a frame restoration? How
> >involved? Expensive?
>
> >Thansk in advance.
>
> There is a classic rust weakness area in the frame used under that
> vehicle. Usually it is in front of rear axle were it rusts to the
> point it breaks. Jeep used a thinner alloyed frame that was strong but
> prone to rust. J10', fullsized Cherokees and Wagoneers were prone to
> this problem. J20's were not because they had a much heavier frame. It
> do not think it would be too hard to find a frame because the same
> basic one was used for over 20 years. It can be done but I would
> suggest that if you replace it sandblast and paint frame you plane to
> use before installing it. If you want to get extreme, you could look
> into using a J20 frame and shortening it to proper length. This is
> extra work and cost but if cleaned and paint it would easilly out last
> the rest of vehicle. Personally if it is in good shape I think it is
> worth it because it is a real classic and was ahead of its time.
> Sturdy vehicle too.
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

On 15 Apr 2007 12:21:49 -0700, "Howard" <howard@energytactics.com>
wrote:

>Saw this article recently, local paper
>
>http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html


There is another guy that has built a big bussiness out of buying,
refurbing and reselling them too for top dollar and has no shortage of
buyers. As I recall he is somewhere around texas.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

On 15 Apr 2007 12:21:49 -0700, "Howard" <howard@energytactics.com>
wrote:

>Saw this article recently, local paper
>
>http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html


There is another guy that has built a big bussiness out of buying,
refurbing and reselling them too for top dollar and has no shortage of
buyers. As I recall he is somewhere around texas.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

On 15 Apr 2007 12:21:49 -0700, "Howard" <howard@energytactics.com>
wrote:

>Saw this article recently, local paper
>
>http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html


There is another guy that has built a big bussiness out of buying,
refurbing and reselling them too for top dollar and has no shortage of
buyers. As I recall he is somewhere around texas.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

On 15 Apr 2007 12:21:49 -0700, "Howard" <howard@energytactics.com>
wrote:

>Saw this article recently, local paper
>
>http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...olling_on.html


There is another guy that has built a big bussiness out of buying,
refurbing and reselling them too for top dollar and has no shortage of
buyers. As I recall he is somewhere around texas.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

I have a bit more information...my mechanic says the main reason it won't
pass now is that the frame is rusted where the support for the gas tank is
and that has to be fixed to so the gas tank is supported properly. He has
enough good metal that he can tack weld pieces of good metal in places and
pass it for another year, but after that he doubts he can fix it any
further. He says if I can find a good frame somewhere, it's about a 30 hour
job over three days @ $70 per hour to completely remove every piece off the
old frame and rebuild it on the new frame. I have decided to park the car
for now until I can research and find out if I can reasonably expect to find
a decent frame somewhere. The car has about 90,000 miles on the engine,
180,000 on the car. I've had it since it was 2 years old. Otherwise it runs
well, and most everything still works.

Re: '88 Grand Wagon frame rusted
 

I have a bit more information...my mechanic says the main reason it won't
pass now is that the frame is rusted where the support for the gas tank is
and that has to be fixed to so the gas tank is supported properly. He has
enough good metal that he can tack weld pieces of good metal in places and
pass it for another year, but after that he doubts he can fix it any
further. He says if I can find a good frame somewhere, it's about a 30 hour
job over three days @ $70 per hour to completely remove every piece off the
old frame and rebuild it on the new frame. I have decided to park the car
for now until I can research and find out if I can reasonably expect to find
a decent frame somewhere. The car has about 90,000 miles on the engine,
180,000 on the car. I've had it since it was 2 years old. Otherwise it runs
well, and most everything still works.