50 years ago i installed a few front frame sections for g.m.vehicles..(anybody remember those?)i went to the factory(auto rust tech) in cranston r.i. and purchased the 131 rails for a 99 t.j...these did not fit just good.. they fit perfect!..if you line up the hole were the rear strut bolt goes into with the old one ,your good!best aftermarket part i ever used..heavy and good quality steel..prep correctly!
After my 4.0 swap is finished in the next few weeks, i will be doing SafeTcaps on my TJ. This is by far one of the best help videos for frame repair on UA-cam. Thanks guys!
@@BtwilliasGarage Do you have have any tips for setting the perfect alignment? so the control arms stay centered on both sides. do you just measure off of one of the body mounts?
@@Yeff_Yeep it will be really close no matter what due to the little slits that go where the body mount is. Ours actually seems still to be aligned well after this job, but we will likely get it aligned properly to be sure on a Hunter machine to help save the Michelins. I have heard that other competitors to Safe T Cap do not fit as well and require modification in most cases. Good call going with them. The owner Jerry is a veteran and really cool guy.
@@Yeff_Yeep you have ujoints not control arms. Its a solid axel not independent suspension/cv axel set up. You have tie rods and a pitman arm. You don't really have control arms. As far as alignment I think it's slightly simpler setting it than a independent front suspension.
I'll offer my .02 here. When I did my Jeep with the full length pieces I drilled a 1/2" hole every 10" so I could plug weld it to the frame (where the frame was still good) I am about to do another one and I think I will cut about a half inch off the length of the inside to make it easier to weld up next to the body. I can say this, they are a great product (I have no affiliation with them) and I think the frame was stronger than new when done. Used frames are getting harder and harder to find and they want crazy money for them now and it's a lot of work swapping everything over. Thanks for showing this job with a nicely done video. How do you like that plasma cutter?
That is a great idea on the plug welds. Ours is still holding up perfectly. We have driven it thousands of miles and taken it out on the beach sand, etc with zero issues. Oh and I still love the Primeweld plasma cutter! Amazing product for the price
Hell yea def add some plug welds.did you kit come stitch welded or was it welder throughout the length?once I get mine attached I'm gonna jump around and stitch a foot here and there
Awesome video! My wife and I are actually going to buy our daughter a 2001 wrangler with severe rust problems tomorrow. Ive got a friend who does welding, particularly rock crawlers, and he is going to repair the frame , while letting me help(so pumped about this!). Pretty high level stuff he does. So we really were able to buy someones project and turn it in to a jewel. I have zero clue what I should anticipate replacing while under the vehicle but since we will be doing so much, I feel like we should. Any chance you could let me know the things I should pro-actively buy and replace?
On the inside trail arm where the the upper control arm mount is located, how do you weld above it? There is not enough room. Do you just weld what you can reach in that area and just leave those two or three inches alone?
What are the differences between the 2002 and 2003 frames? I have a 2003 that was built in July of 2002. I have been noticing that many of the connectors are of the older style, so I'm kind of wondering if I actually have a 2002 that was sold as an 03.
How do you reconcile the 110 acres inside the fenced area mentioned on the initial site plan in note #9 with the 76 acres of panels consistently mentioned at all local presentations to both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors? The SUP for the Dogwood project in paragraph 4 requires that the project be in substantial conformity with the site plan submitted as part of the application. The PBR site plan shows a coverage area of 146 acres. How is a 33% increase from the 110 acres indicated on the original site plan in substantial conformity? How and when will local Fire and EMS services be trained and equipped to respond to any onsite emergencies? How are planning to screen this project from view of the road and neighbors? How will you minimize land disturbance? How many acres will be disturbed/graded at one time? Explain the 12,3MW Capacity Interconnection Rights versus the 20MW nameplate capacity, versus actual projected MW production levels. Why are panel arrays covering known sinkholes? How will you protect panel run off from potentially contaminating ground water? Can you guarantee that your solar panels are not manufactured by slave labor in China? Robert Staples Luray, Virginia
We do not do work for the public, just for UA-cam and our own vehicles. However, SafeTCap has an approved vendor list on their website. Check them out. Good luck!
Definitely in need of this done on my 01 jeep tj, can anyone recommend a shop that will do this kind of restoration in or near Chicago or Midwest area?
See my issue with the plug and patch set up is, will it last? 2. What happens in the event of an accident? 3 what if the frame continues to rust beyond the welds and they break?. All questions that I'm not willing to find out. What I would say is if your frame is bad. I would bite the bullet and just get a new frame. It will end up costing more if you total your jeep and god forbid your frame snaps when you go off roading.
I have an '02 Wrangler with the same frame rot problems. Do you leave the gas tank in while making the repairs? Looks like its still in the Jeep in the video!
Thank you for the reply. I am getting ready to start doing my TJ and quadratic offer both kits but I wasn’t sure which one to get. I’ll go with safe t cap
Are you asking to see an exterior frame weld shot of the inside of the frame? I can email one to you if I didn't cover that. Just send me a picture to btwillia8990@gmail.com of the spot you want to see and I'll show you
It seems to me that it would be a lot easier if a company just made the rear half of the frame. Make the replacement so it would slide into the existing frame like pipe exhaust. I realize it would cost more to purchase but the time savings would be tremendous. When you have to start cutting off brackets and welding 5' of the bottom half of frame in why not just replace it all. Just my 2 cents worth.
Well considering a whole frame cost around $2-3k you'd be looking at about $1-1.5k for the rear trailing arms which is what I'm sure your referring to.
Hey! We are in central NC, but are not open to the public. Just a father/son operation on nights and weekends. We are always so busy with our own projects it is hard to commit to paid jobs. However, we attempt to show people how to do them when we have time to film. I recommend that you check out the SafeTCap website for a local vendor in your area. Best of luck!
@@BtwilliasGarage Yeah i cant weld at all. There is a lot of nice wranglers out there that can now be fixed. I live in Vermont and we use a lot of salt on the roads. We have one of the toughest inspection law in the Country.
4k is entirely way to much! A new frame and install is a little less than that. This is why people opt for this process. $1800 is more in line for this even with a little more rust than this video shows.
I'm really not sure. Maybe $2k total? The parts alone are $700 and it's a heck of a job. I would guess at least 10 hours of labor to do it halfway correctly. You should get a local quote. The SafeTCap website has recommended installers for most states. Check it out and please let me know what you are quoted
Hate to say it, but this is not a repair. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig. It’s only prolonging the inevitable. Used this same kit on my tj less than 2 years ago. The repair parts did not rust out, but the rest of the frame rusted out around it. Now I am almost done building a completely new frame. Not to mention if you end up in my position the installed repair parts make it much harder to remove the problem areas. But I guess some people like the taste of hot sparks from the receiving end of cut off wheels and a plasma cutter. I did this repair on 2 diff tjs an both failed the same. Save your $ and do it right. Replace them rotted frames and stop putting lipstick on a pig. It isn’t worth the future problems you will encounter.
We took detailed steps to use a rust convertor, etc etc, so we shall see. I hope it last longer than that, but I guess time will tell. Hate to hear that happened to you. Fingers crossed
Would love to see a follow up video on how it looks today with a scope inside the frame rails. Gotti I think the issue here is that water goes between the old and new frame rails on the inside and anytime you trap water between two pieces of metal, it’s going to rust at some point. I think I’m looking at these videos some people have good results years later as they prep much bette then others, real quality self etching primer and following up with a4k primer after welding and soaking the welds and some have even take a frame wand and soaked the inside of the frame afterwards to try and get some 4K up between the old and new frame rails.
Yeah the frame on my jeep is shit. If I'm doing anything it's a complete frame off and a new frame. Everything on it is rusted to the point that even the top might not structurally hold the safety cap. So I don't want to start cutting an welding something that's not suitable. I'll drive it for a couple years until I can afford a complete frame and I'll remove the tub and the internal drive train components. As well as removing the axels and probably replacing the clutch while I'm there.
50 years ago i installed a few front frame sections for g.m.vehicles..(anybody remember those?)i went to the factory(auto rust tech) in cranston r.i. and purchased the 131 rails for a 99 t.j...these did not fit just good.. they fit perfect!..if you line up the hole were the rear strut bolt goes into with the old one ,your good!best aftermarket part i ever used..heavy and good quality steel..prep correctly!
I've been pining for a TJ. This is sure making me think twice. Your vid isn't the only one about TJ's rusting out.
Check it well before you buy. They will all do this if exposed to any salt
After my 4.0 swap is finished in the next few weeks, i will be doing SafeTcaps on my TJ. This is by far one of the best help videos for frame repair on UA-cam. Thanks guys!
Thank you Jeff! We really appreciate that! Good luck with the repair!
@@BtwilliasGarage Do you have have any tips for setting the perfect alignment? so the control arms stay centered on both sides. do you just measure off of one of the body mounts?
@@Yeff_Yeep it will be really close no matter what due to the little slits that go where the body mount is. Ours actually seems still to be aligned well after this job, but we will likely get it aligned properly to be sure on a Hunter machine to help save the Michelins. I have heard that other competitors to Safe T Cap do not fit as well and require modification in most cases. Good call going with them. The owner Jerry is a veteran and really cool guy.
@@BtwilliasGarage Sounds great!! Thank you again!!
@@Yeff_Yeep you have ujoints not control arms. Its a solid axel not independent suspension/cv axel set up. You have tie rods and a pitman arm. You don't really have control arms. As far as alignment I think it's slightly simpler setting it than a independent front suspension.
Thank you guys awesome tips and work
We appreciate the kind feedback! Glad to help!
I'll offer my .02 here. When I did my Jeep with the full length pieces I drilled a 1/2" hole every 10" so I could plug weld it to the frame (where the frame was still good) I am about to do another one and I think I will cut about a half inch off the length of the inside to make it easier to weld up next to the body. I can say this, they are a great product (I have no affiliation with them) and I think the frame was stronger than new when done. Used frames are getting harder and harder to find and they want crazy money for them now and it's a lot of work swapping everything over. Thanks for showing this job with a nicely done video. How do you like that plasma cutter?
That is a great idea on the plug welds. Ours is still holding up perfectly. We have driven it thousands of miles and taken it out on the beach sand, etc with zero issues. Oh and I still love the Primeweld plasma cutter! Amazing product for the price
Hell yea def add some plug welds.did you kit come stitch welded or was it welder throughout the length?once I get mine attached I'm gonna jump around and stitch a foot here and there
I need this done too. Thanks for the video guys.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and let us know! Best of luck with your project!
Looks great, like new again. How to you make sure the read end is aligned properly on both sides to the front?
Awesome video! My wife and I are actually going to buy our daughter a 2001 wrangler with severe rust problems tomorrow. Ive got a friend who does welding, particularly rock crawlers, and he is going to repair the frame , while letting me help(so pumped about this!). Pretty high level stuff he does. So we really were able to buy someones project and turn it in to a jewel. I have zero clue what I should anticipate replacing while under the vehicle but since we will be doing so much, I feel like we should. Any chance you could let me know the things I should pro-actively buy and replace?
If you look up Jeep tj autorust and find the video with the blue tj that’s mine getting the safety cap section put in
Good choice using their product! Ours is still on the road and doing perfectly
On the inside trail arm where the the upper control arm mount is located, how do you weld above it? There is not enough room. Do you just weld what you can reach in that area and just leave those two or three inches alone?
Great video!
Thanks 😁
What are the differences between the 2002 and 2003 frames? I have a 2003 that was built in July of 2002. I have been noticing that many of the connectors are of the older style, so I'm kind of wondering if I actually have a 2002 that was sold as an 03.
I'm really not sure on that. Maybe someone can chime in. Thanks for watching!
I'm really not sure on that. Maybe someone can chime in. Thanks for watching!
I'm just about to start this project. Not a welder but I bought a 220v mig for it. What did you have the welder set for?
How do you reconcile the 110 acres inside the fenced area mentioned on the initial site plan in note #9 with the 76 acres of panels consistently mentioned at all local presentations to both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors?
The SUP for the Dogwood project in paragraph 4 requires that the project be in substantial conformity with the site plan submitted as part of the application. The PBR site plan shows a coverage area of 146 acres. How is a 33% increase from the 110 acres indicated on the original site plan in substantial conformity?
How and when will local Fire and EMS services be trained and equipped to respond to any onsite emergencies?
How are planning to screen this project from view of the road and neighbors?
How will you minimize land disturbance? How many acres will be disturbed/graded at one time?
Explain the 12,3MW Capacity Interconnection Rights versus the 20MW nameplate capacity, versus actual projected MW production levels.
Why are panel arrays covering known sinkholes?
How will you protect panel run off from potentially contaminating ground water?
Can you guarantee that your solar panels are not manufactured by slave labor in China?
Robert Staples
Luray, Virginia
Wrong video lol
What size wire are you using
I have a jeep wrangler this is in need for this kind of work, where are you located?
We do not do work for the public, just for UA-cam and our own vehicles. However, SafeTCap has an approved vendor list on their website. Check them out. Good luck!
Why not take front wheels off?
Whats the time commitment like this? I have all of the tools and do a lot of fab work, but never done a set of these
We did everything overboard with prep, but you could do it with 3 half days or so without the overthinking and what not
Definitely in need of this done on my 01 jeep tj, can anyone recommend a shop that will do this kind of restoration in or near Chicago or Midwest area?
See my issue with the plug and patch set up is, will it last?
2. What happens in the event of an accident?
3 what if the frame continues to rust beyond the welds and they break?.
All questions that I'm not willing to find out. What I would say is if your frame is bad. I would bite the bullet and just get a new frame. It will end up costing more if you total your jeep and god forbid your frame snaps when you go off roading.
I have an '02 Wrangler with the same frame rot problems. Do you leave the gas tank in while making the repairs? Looks like its still in the Jeep in the video!
Hey, yes we left the tank in
Approximately what does a frame repair like this cost?
I'm not sure, but I would guess around $3-$5k?
What is the difference between the safe-t cap and the rust blaster kit?
I'm not familiar with rust blaster, but have found Safe T Caps fitment to be second to none
Thank you for the reply. I am getting ready to start doing my TJ and quadratic offer both kits but I wasn’t sure which one to get. I’ll go with safe t cap
@@robertomulas407 best of luck! You won't be disappointed with their product
No one shows welds inside of the frame where body is in the way lol?!
Are you asking to see an exterior frame weld shot of the inside of the frame? I can email one to you if I didn't cover that. Just send me a picture to btwillia8990@gmail.com of the spot you want to see and I'll show you
I'm curious what is the red cover over the roof?
+Tom Marco It's a welding shield to keep the glass from getting damaged
It seems to me that it would be a lot easier if a company just made the rear half of the frame. Make the replacement so it would slide into the existing frame like pipe exhaust. I realize it would cost more to purchase but the time savings would be tremendous. When you have to start cutting off brackets and welding 5' of the bottom half of frame in why not just replace it all. Just my 2 cents worth.
Well considering a whole frame cost around $2-3k you'd be looking at about $1-1.5k for the rear trailing arms which is what I'm sure your referring to.
Where are you guys located, I really need you right now? I'm Lendon
Hey! We are in central NC, but are not open to the public. Just a father/son operation on nights and weekends. We are always so busy with our own projects it is hard to commit to paid jobs. However, we attempt to show people how to do them when we have time to film. I recommend that you check out the SafeTCap website for a local vendor in your area. Best of luck!
How long does it take to fix
How fast can you weld? Kidding! Took us probably 15 total hours
@@BtwilliasGarage Yeah i cant weld at all. There is a lot of nice wranglers out there that can now be fixed. I live in Vermont and we use a lot of salt on the roads. We have one of the toughest inspection law in the Country.
@@BtwilliasGarage Nice work where are you out of.
Understand, I am honestly not sure what folks charge. I would expect $1200-$3k on avg
How much would this repair cost the end user? I'm shopping for TJs and just ran some pictures past a frame guy and he said $4k.
I'm honestly not sure man on the labor. We did if ourselves and we are not a shop open for the public. Just me and my dad and our tools. Best of luck!
4k is entirely way to much! A new frame and install is a little less than that. This is why people opt for this process. $1800 is more in line for this even with a little more rust than this video shows.
Didn't say anything about how you measured and got the belly pan to match up to the holes from side to side.
How much would this cost to have done?
I'm really not sure. Maybe $2k total? The parts alone are $700 and it's a heck of a job. I would guess at least 10 hours of labor to do it halfway correctly. You should get a local quote. The SafeTCap website has recommended installers for most states. Check it out and please let me know what you are quoted
Btwillia's Garage thanks for the advice!
Jeep will never do what Toyota did. New frames
Might as well throw some disc brakes on the rear while you’re at it,
The music gotta go.
You gotta go
awful music!!! Have turn the volume to zero to watch the video
Sorry Bryon. Hope the video helped
Hate to say it, but this is not a repair. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig. It’s only prolonging the inevitable. Used this same kit on my tj less than 2 years ago. The repair parts did not rust out, but the rest of the frame rusted out around it. Now I am almost done building a completely new frame. Not to mention if you end up in my position the installed repair parts make it much harder to remove the problem areas. But I guess some people like the taste of hot sparks from the receiving end of cut off wheels and a plasma cutter. I did this repair on 2 diff tjs an both failed the same. Save your $ and do it right. Replace them rotted frames and stop putting lipstick on a pig. It isn’t worth the future problems you will encounter.
We took detailed steps to use a rust convertor, etc etc, so we shall see. I hope it last longer than that, but I guess time will tell. Hate to hear that happened to you. Fingers crossed
Would love to see a follow up video on how it looks today with a scope inside the frame rails. Gotti I think the issue here is that water goes between the old and new frame rails on the inside and anytime you trap water between two pieces of metal, it’s going to rust at some point. I think I’m looking at these videos some people have good results years later as they prep much bette then others, real quality self etching primer and following up with a4k primer after welding and soaking the welds and some have even take a frame wand and soaked the inside of the frame afterwards to try and get some 4K up between the old and new frame rails.
Yeah the frame on my jeep is shit. If I'm doing anything it's a complete frame off and a new frame. Everything on it is rusted to the point that even the top might not structurally hold the safety cap. So I don't want to start cutting an welding something that's not suitable. I'll drive it for a couple years until I can afford a complete frame and I'll remove the tub and the internal drive train components. As well as removing the axels and probably replacing the clutch while I'm there.