1998 TLC UZJ100 frame off resto build log (1 Viewer)

[rampantwolf]

So I pulled the motor and tranny today.

Back story: Picked up this 98 TLC with 157k miles on CL for $3k last week. Ad said a pulley was stuck and the battery didn't work. The wife wanted it out of the driveway. Turned out to be a frozen alternator. Took off the accessories belt and drove it up on the uhaul trailer.

Here is a time lapse (Helped by good friends Bobby and Patrick):

 

[rampantwolf]

sprayed purple power degreaser on the engine bay and throughout the undercarriage last night. About to pressure wash it. Need to see what we are working with.

 

[rampantwolf]

After degreasing yesterday I finally had a look at the underbody. The underbody looks pretty good. Some of the factory welds had starting rusting as well as most hardware (nuts and bolts). Removed the transmission heat shield/blanket. Anyone know if this can be removed and what the ramifications are of doing so?

Put the TLC on the 2post lift and hit the underside with a wire wheel. Then helped Patrick prep his 1969 C-10 frame and prepped both TLC drive shafts for paint.

Got some dirt in my eye too

 

[rampantwolf]

BTW... the metal prep is called POR-15 Metal Prep. It is a mixture of Phosphoric Acid and zinc. Rust turns from Iron oxide to Iron Phosphate with a coating of zinc which will create the cathodic protection for the frame until it is painted.

Patricks c-10 frame will get a coat of Por-15 followed by a top coat of Chassis Black DTM (direct to metal). Instructions says it is important to top coat the Por-15 or it will degrade with exposure to Ultra Violet light in sunlight. Turns the beautiful POR-15 coat into a black powder. I can confirm this from having painted a flat bed on a pickup with POR-15. The shine lasted about a month then turned a dull black. If you touched it your clothing would have a thick smudge of soot. Live and learn.

 

[bucfl]

Impressive work!

 

[rampantwolf]

I have my friends to thank for that. Good team work.

 

[rampantwolf]

Wanted: used transmission cross brace for a 99 uzj100

If anyone has a line on a non-corroded used transmission cross brace I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

Checked the parting out section but no luck so far.

 

[rampantwolf]

Epoxy primed Patricks c-10 frame and the two Land Cruiser axels after metal prep treatment.

Bobby started painting the 33' gooseneck trailer with POR-15.

Everything will get a top coat of Chassis Black DTM paint.

 

[rampantwolf]

Long over due update:

The old 98 frame is very rusted however the body is in great shape.

Do these uzj100 frames corrode easily? When stripping the new frame paint just peeled of off bare metal with a power washer. No metal prep in sight

We sourced a new frame from a 99 LX470 with air ride parts for $450 from a yard near College Station. Only an 80 mile drive but boy was it worth it.

 

[rampantwolf]

Stripped new frame of all air ride parts, brackets and parts to get it ready for cleaning

Will post extra parts on Craigslist. Not sure they are in demand but what tha heck doesn’t hurt to try.

 

[rampantwolf]

The body is in good shape. Paint is ok for now.

 

[rampantwolf]

The new frame cleaned up real well. Have ordered the epoxy primer, chassis black top coat and internal frame paint from Eastwood. Hope to have this done this weekend.

 

[rampantwolf]

Been trying to source a good powder coated around Austin but with up to a 4 week turn around on the frame I will just save the $1000 and spray epoxy instead. Any advice here guys? Has anyone had success with epoxy?

 

[tedzap]

Powdercoat looks better but POR15 holds up better in my experience.

 

[AllLC]

I believe i can smell the paint. Keep em coming. I love to see the progress. it is inspiring.

 

[Rolocado]

How did your frame bushings look? How hard is it to pull a body off?

 

[rampantwolf]

How did your frame bushings look? How hard is it to pull a body off?

The old frame bushings were in bad shape. The rubber bushings from the donor are in good shape and I will reuse them.

The frame swap isn’t hard just time consuming. Everything has to come off the frame. In my case I pulled the motor and tranny first but kept discovering more rusted parts so I just kept going.

Also, it helps having two good friends working on it when I’m at work

 

[LEX]

I think this is the first "frame off" restoration ever on a 100 series. Nice work.
C10 fan here, too. Had a '70 short wide.

 

[rampantwolf]

I think this is the first "frame off" restoration ever on a 100 series. Nice work.
C10 fan here, too. Had a '70 short wide.

I thought it was standard practice

 

[rampantwolf]

Started paint stripping frame last night