Just bought an 88 that was rear ended. It drives files and what not but there is obvious stress on the leaf spring and the frame is crumpled pretty bad... how would you guys go about fixing? I was thinking a bfh and patience and then get angle iron welded after it sits better... this jeep may end up as my DD...

 

Looks like the jeep is perfect candidate for parts

 

YUP...

 

its trash.

 

Yep its gone. Be great to Lift, Chop, Cage and abuse.

 

That's honestly not a bad fix. Time consuming replacing the quarter properly but the frame is not that bad. If it were me I would make it a mud/trail/rock rig though.

 

I mean it's gonna end up down the road as just that. A beater... my current DD is starting to fall apart and I need to get it gone though. I don't give 2 ****s about the panel more so the frame. I won't be able to do anything with the leaf springs until it sits right. That's why I think I'm going to just smash it back into place and reinforce it. When/if I go to lift I'll relocate the shackle boxes.

 

Oh and by the way... I only spent 200 dollars on it. It's been driven as is for about 5 years now. It runs really strong and has a very smooth shifting trans and a perfect seeming 242. Not bad enough to be a parts truck... yet.

 

Best bet then is to pull carpet from cargo area, drill out spot weld, and cut the cargo floor out. Unbolt leaf spring, take measurements from drivers side as to where the leaf shackle mount is. Throw some heat on that rail and beat away until its as close as you can get it. Plate it and weld your floor back in.

 

I'd chop the entire back half off of it, cage it, link it and drive it.

 

it upsets me how hack everyone is with XJs nowadays. if it was a nicely built up rig that got damaged, yea, put some effort into it. its not worth fixing some POS you picked up off of the street.

 

Since the motor, trans, and tcase are so nice just find something with a blown motor and swap them over.

Probably be the same amount of time spent, and you'll have a clean rig thats not for trails only.

 

Id have to agree.

 

It's not a random driveway find it's a good friend of my dad's who has taken exquisite care of this thing. He stopped worrying about the rear end obviously, but other than that this thing has been very well taken care of. I may do somewhat of a restoration on it down the road. I saved this thing from going to the scrap yard so and saved the previous owner from having to put his favorite car of 18 years through a shredder. I don't intend on hacking it to pieces. if anything a moderate lift and agressive tires/wheels. MAYBE cut fenders. I've got 8 grand into my other XJ, I'm not about to start all over from square one when my main one isn't even done.


This is most likely my plan exactly. I need to invest in a welder but once I get a few more paychecks in the bank I'll be getting 220 run to my shed and buying one and a decent compressor. I may end up chopping the rear but TBH I never liked the look on the 4 doors so probably not.

 

You can fix it and it can be done. What i would do (and have) is chop that section out. Take a measurement from a good point in front of the bend back to a good point that will be the same on both sides. Either hit a jy or get some 2x4 steel and rebuild it. Then plate the **** out of it and be done. If it has a hitch you might take a great precaution but park the jeep with the e brake engaged and pull the rear back straight with a hi lift, buddies winch, or anything strong enough. If the jeep is in good shape and runs good like you say, id suggest to fix it and be done. Ive replaced my unibody from spring hanger back, after everyone said it wasnt worth it. I figured if anything i could use it as a buggy if it didnt work out. I beat the **** out if to this day and have no cracks, stress marks or anything showing weakness.

It can be done, and if you have the tools id say do it.