Cracked frame

[Sierra Valley]

Two part question.

My frame has a few cracks on the driverside front where the rear spring perch attaches.

Need to re-inforce it: What size metal plating should I use?

Where can I get the metal to do this?

[MR.ROCKAPE]

Two part question.

My frame has a few cracks on the driverside front where the rear spring perch attaches.

Need to re-inforce it: What size metal plating should I use?

Where can I get the metal to do this?

3//16 OR 1/4 !!!ISNT YOUR RIG AT SAMBOS???HE HAS METAL!!!

[Sierra Valley]

3//16 OR 1/4 !!!ISNT YOUR RIG AT SAMBOS???HE HAS METAL!!!

My rig as home, sam is done. He offered to do it but that costs mo $$$. I have a few friends with welders at home that will do it for beer. I guess I can hit him up for some metal though.

[Sierra Valley]

rock ape should I drill a hole at the end of the cracks to stop it from going further?

[MR.ROCKAPE]

rock ape should I drill a hole at the end of the cracks to stop it from going further?

YOU CAN,I NEVER DID!!!I JUST WELDED IT UP,GROUND IT SMOOTH AND PLATED OVER IT!!!(ON BOTH SIDES IF I COULD!!!JEEP CJ FRAMES ALWAYS CRACK!!!)

[Dirty Harry]

I believe that Mark (RareCJ8) has these:

http://www.mountainoffroad.com/catalog/FramePlates/framep.htm

You could probably have Shawn plasma (or oxy acetylene) cut you out something similar.

[Sierra Valley]

Thats what I was thinking was something like that to run the entire front on both sides, maybe some angle iron? Then a big plate on the side of the frame.

[RARECJ8]

aah, CJs and crack... a marriage made in the rox. My crackage issues were generally on the driver side, as that side bears the brunt of torque from the I6 motor. I had the MORE plates but junked that idea and sold them to Tony down at 4 wheel parts. A shackle reverse design for the front will also increase chances for crackage.

instead i made a stronger set-up. When u see a crack in the vertical wall of a CJ frame, 9 times out of 10, the crack started at the top of the frame rail and worked its way down with repeated trail torture. I added a 2" wide metal strap of 1/4" thick material, contoured it to the top and bottom the frame rails and welded them into place. In short, my experience w/ the 81 CJ says the verticlal cracks are a symptom of the broken top, not the sole issue. Simply plating the sides will offer strength but not stop the progression of cracks. They'll just appear somewhere else down the rail, generally at the end of the plate. if u go w/ side plates, be sure the ends are cut at 45 degree angles, not 90 degrees. Side plates will stiffen the frame, not allowing it to flex as designed, so beware of that. Leave occasional gaps in the bead to absorb any new crack run. Top plates still allow flexation of the frame to a degree and in my experience have stopped the spread of crack. Drilling the end run of a crack might help, but fill it deep and burn it good w/ clean welds. Oh yeah, don't flog ur heep and then be suprised when new cracks suddenly appear. Common areas are near where the motor mounts bolt to frame, near the steering box mount, near the (especially drivers side) shackle mounts for the front leaf pax. If u jump it hard, near where the body mounts meet the frame will over time fail and ur heep will look like a an old mares sway back, dipping in the middle, altho its more likely u'll first rip the body bolts from the tub rather than the other way around.

Face it, a CJ will crack the frame over time. Preventative maintenance (huh? WTF is that?) and a pre-run and careful post-run inspection will identify problem areas. Better to discover them now, in the relative safety of a garage at home than in the dirt/mud/snow/rox trailside.

GL keith.

mb

[NVScouter]

Where at in Sierra Valley are you? I own the Post Office in Chilcoot. I have enough plate to fix that. You just gotta bring beer.

[Sierra Valley]

Ya I know where your at, your the scout man in Chilcoot. I just re-welded it for now, just got my engine mounts in today and am putting a 360 in my heep. So I figured when the engine is pulled I can fix it properly.

I live over by the country cookin. We should do some wheelin when Im back up and running. There are a few locals in the area so it would be fun to get a group together.

BTW, my brother is dating one of the twins.

[NVScouter]

BTW, my brother is dating one of the twins.


Tell the man to RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
Meg or Mal?


Yeah when I get my new rig done(enough to wheel until post X-mas pocketbook drain is over) in a month or so lets go!

[Sierra Valley]

Tell the man to RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
Meg or Mal?


Yeah when I get my new rig done(enough to wheel until post X-mas pocketbook drain is over) in a month or so lets go!

Mal, and I cant stand her. I wish he kick her ass to the curb.

I will be down for a month or so to. Waiting on a few more parts to come in. Mainly my new flywheel then I can get to tearing it down.

I'll have to stop by sometime and have a beer.:Big Grin:

[NVScouter]

Mal, and I cant stand her. I wish he kick her ass to the curb.

:laughing:

I'll have to stop by sometime and have a beer.


Sure thing on the beer, just make sure you bring it...I'm a Scotch fan!

Scotch, Scotch, Scotch, I love Scotch.

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