My Jeep frame

The other side of the frame. Termites got a bit busy here. Fortunately a 49" section will cure.

I wonder how the rear spring was riding? Not too well I think. Bit of work but will live.



Got to love that classic Bubba repair. Right at the spring hanger. Ouch

I wonder if the angle one sees inside the side chassis/frame rails is original? I tend to think it was added later. Anyone seen it before on theirs?

Mine is obviously a CJ3A/B frame so not original. Which is OK in a way due to a thicker guage of steel

I am taking the opportunity to convert my frame to the earlier type of bumper gussets appropriate to the 1946 year as I have to replace the front rails anyway and the bumper on mine is so butchered as well.

Plus other appropriate detail changes to suit such as the torched rad supports and grill mount.  Apart from those laminations on top. Definitely a real rust trap. And keeping the steering bellcrank as per later as well as the offset engine mounts as i do have a CJ3A engine plate. The CJ2A one I have is mutilated to the extreme.

Anyone got an easy way to remove rivets? I was going to drill through the centre and hit them with an air chisel to remove the heads and punch out the hollow part left over (if any). Not something I have done before ie remove and install solid rivets.

By the way the place which shall remain nameless I sent the frame for repairs wanted to do it their way on their time scale which meant thousands of dollars with full box in. I demanded it returned to me. They still haven't returned it as yet so its kind of hostage for now. At least it got a good sandblasting.

Reasonable frames are not exactly available even if mine is a CJ3A or early B frame so very annoyed. I learnt one thing, you must watch out where ones frame goes to for repairs. These large parts are almost irreplaceable being nearly 70 years old and to lose it would be a real shame. Not to mention a real setback for the project.

I also now have the parts to begin repair on it myself. If this can happen to a professional mechanic how much more so for the unsuspecting amateur. I got caught cause I hate rust repairs and will do almost anything to avoid them.

We must remember that in restoring a historic vehicle that many of the businesses out there are out for the money and are simply not interested in our type of project. they will happily take the money but do little in return.

I have heard of worse. The frame has gone off for repair and never been seen again. Or it comes back so destroyed it needs a total rebuild.

Same goes for the Willys engine which has a couple of very unusual design ideas. I have heard of many engines that come back as little more than scrap.

Today they have promised to return my frame. Mind you they took the money for freight a week ago. Plus charged me $450 for sandblasting and only did that after me chasing them for weeks. I would say thats rather expensive and very slow.

I will do the lot myself after that even if I have to buy some equipment to do it. I certainly have the skills to do most repairs.

Been busy with the frame. First part was to remove all the fittings such as engine mounts, spring mounts etc. This pic shows what I am up against. The rivets I simply centre punched them, then drilled a 4 mm hole followed by a 9 mm drill. Then simply cut the head off with a sharp chisel. Had to grind a few welds off. Even with the Bubba repairs the frame measures straight in all directions.

One spring mount as can be seen is rather bad. Like not there at all. However the top of the rail is good so leaves a bit behind for dimension and squaring purposes.


am up against

Next I simply cut the frame rails both sides with a 4" angle grinder and cut off wheel. Notice I have also bolted in place the transmission mount (CJ3A style) to hold the lot together. Fits well also.

No turning back now. The frame rails including the front cross member are off. The idea was to fix the front part first then attend to the rails. Seems to work without using anything fancy.

Bravo  You make me feel guilty for scrapping the frame on my 48 and going with another.  Compared to yours it looked pretty good!

I have done a bit more. I cut out the bad part of the right frame rail and cut a piece of  rectangular tube with the plasma cutter. I made it just a fraction narrow (unfortunately) than the front frame. So I will have to fix that up. (A slight taper will do the trick plus the strapping).

 It wasn't easy. Lining up the spring mounts isn't easy either. if they were the same width  it would be great but it is not. Plus as I discovered the frame is wider at the rear than the front. Might I add by the thickness of the spring mount.

Next will be the worst side. Not that this one is any good. Look at the unjoined crack and hunk of bolted angle iron that was used to "repair" it.

Finally I will put in fish plates to reinforce the vertical cuts. And once I have my springs I will weld in the spring mounts and rivet them.