Newbie Attempting a Frame-Off Resto (79 CJ5) Has Questions

coronasup

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2013
Location
Charlotte, NC
Starting a frame-off resto of a 1979 CJ5. Less expensive solution for cleaning and painting the frame and all the parts underneath??? Guy wants over $1,000 to sandblast and paint. Also, buddy told me about a shackle lift??? to save money over suspension lift. Want to get on 33's if I can. Would body lift be enough? Will not be rock crawling but will occassionally be off road. This one is more for my wife. Thanks!
 
Not knowing the condition of rust on your frame, You could pressure wash it to get all the dirt, grease and oil off everything. Then go to town with a grinder and wire wheel. But that would be a WHOLE LOT of wire wheeling. might be better off having him sandblast it and then there are several paint options that you can do yourself.

This of course assumes that either there is no frame rust repair, and you can just paint, or you can weld and fab the parts to fix any rust.

As for shackle lift. Ya, it's an easy cheap lift, but too much shackle lift is frowned upon due to changes in pinion angles, suspension geometry, Steering geometry and added body sway that shackle lifts cause. Body lifts are also cheap, but dear god, do not do a 3" body lift! one it looks goofy as hell, and you also have to factor in anything that connects between the frame and items mounted to it and the body. i.e. Fuel filler hoses, Wiring, Shift linkages, Steering shaft, brake lines and the list goes on. When it comes down to it, a simple leaf spring suspension lift is the least headache.

from my experience, a simple 1" body lift and some 31's is a nice look, ride and capability for riding around town and simple trail riding. as soon as I went bigger with my CJ5 I had. I spent less time in it than under it or sitting in it making vroom vroom noises in the yard.
 
I know this is the newbie forum, so I'll go easy. Frame off and inexpensive are worlds apart.

Why the frame off? If you want to do it just to do it, that is fine but realize you will spend tens of thousands to do a true restoration. I'm in the middle of a frame off on a 77 bronco. I've spent 17k so far and it is in a million pieces still...

If cost is your main concern I'd address a few things just to make it a nice driver
 
Awesome. Thanks. Yeah was looking at leaf spring lifts such as the Budget Boost. Said he would just sandblast the frame for $500. From there I am guessing I would have to repair any rust then paint. Am I looking at maybe just a black rustoleum or do you suggest something else? Do I do the same to all the front end parts and everything else under there? Buy a glass bead machine for the small parts? Thanks again!
 
Excellent advice so far..... skip the shackles and go with the suspension lift, 31" tires are plenty for the stock running gear. Invest in a pressure washer and some rattle cans for the frame, I wouldn't worry about the frame off deal unless it was going to be a show piece or had severe frame/body damage. A 1 - 2" body lift is fine if done right, it makes the undercarriage easy to clean and easier to work on. Keep it simple and enjoy the wheeling and skip all the headaches. I see you're talking "restore" and "cheap" in the same post LOL, believe me they don't go together. Good Luck and keep us updated!
 
Im sorry. Maybe I wasnt clear or maybe used the worng terminology. The frame was off when I bought it so I am having the body work and paint done. At the same time, I want to clean and paint everyhting on the rolling frame. What do you think?
 
Ok. It is making more sense now. I do frame offs and it is basically like rebuilding the vehicle back to new. Skip the sandblasting if you are going to use rustoleum. It'll be a waste of money. Buy a 4-1/2" angle grinder and a few cupped bristle brushes for it and go to town. It won't last forever but will look decent for a year or so. To do it right you need to spend some $$ on quality products.

The only thing I'll say on the springs is to do your research and get a set that ride the best. Spend some money on those.
 
for Leaf springs, Old Man Emu is about as good as it gets. Best ride and your wife will enjoy it not beating her kidneys to death. There are cheaper springs out there like Rough Country... and ROUGH is definitely the right description for the ride.

If it was my frame, I'd pressure wash it, take a wire cup wheel to the bad places. repair as needed and do a roll/brush on bedliner on the frame. One of the smoother more high gloss ones.
 
I'll go one step further and say "cheap" and "jeep" don't go together. Every one I've had or have has cost me $$, except the one (1) that my wife dd and was 100% stock. There is always a mod or upgrade needing to be done even if you say "this is it.". Take a poll and ask how many owners are done or satisfied with their current ride and you'll be hard pressed to find a yes answer

For the record, there are 2 jeeps in the stable now.
1 running but must be trailered
1 somewhere between done and the scrap yard

Just bough a bigger truck to drag said jeeps

Etc etc etc

Scrap it now, save money and maybe a marriage.
 
Good advice here so far. Spring choice is important. I was talked into a set of 'heavy duty' 2.5" lift springs on my first CJ7 and the ride would almost jar your teeth out. I also agree with everyone about fixing any rust and just drive it. You can get undercoating in a spray can.

Edited to say GotWood is right on the money. I've dropped tens of thousands of dollars in jeep mods and still not been satisfied...lol. Don't tell my wife please!
 
If your going to take the axles out to do a lift you might as well pull the engine/tranny and just have the frame powder coated. I believe my powder coater said it's about $600 to do a frame.
 
Get most of the rust off, clean it good, and check out a product like Rust Bullet.
 
If you would rather spend time and energy over money you can strip the frame/springs/axles using a wire wheel in a drill, a grinder with a flap wheel, and a hand brush. I took everything off my frame, pressure washed all the big stuff off, sprayed the entire surface with full strength super clean, and then pressure washed it a couple hours later. I used a flap disk in my angle grinder to remove most of the crap/dirt/grease/undercoating that the super clean didn't get. I used a wire wheel in the corners and a hand brush in the tight spots. I pressure washed it one last time and then let it dry for a week. I checked for cracks that needed to be repaired (mine is a pre 76 open channel frame and already had all the repairs done) and then coated the boxed portion of the rails with Eastwood internal frame paint (Nasty ass stuff but it works great). I then painted everything with MasterChem hammerite. I don't recommend that product if you are not working with new or blasted metal. You would be better off using something else more forgiving and top coating it with an easy to touch up spray paint. You should be able to buy the flap disks, wire wheels, and brushes at harbor freight on the cheap. The super clean is $10 a gallon at advance auto. The cleaning step should be able to be complete for under $50 if you don't mind the elbow grease.
 
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