71 FJ40 Frame Issue

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Passenger side:
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Rear Sections:
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Based on chatting with @nelsonto and how he plans to use this truck - keep at his new lake house to putz around in, run short errands, etc., doing a frame swap seems like not the best use of funds. The entire truck has rust (some worse then others) but would serve the purposes above just fine with the frame patched (and the other baselining like brakes and fluids he mentioned before). This is one that doesn't necessarily need 'saving', but having it's useful life extended!
 
It doesnt look that bad. I will patch it but not for that amount of money.
 
Based on chatting with @nelsonto and how he plans to use this truck - keep at his new lake house to putz around in, run short errands, etc., doing a frame swap seems like not the best use of funds. The entire truck has rust (some worse then others) but would serve the purposes above just fine with the frame patched (and the other baselining like brakes and fluids he mentioned before). This is one that doesn't necessarily need 'saving', but having it's useful life extended!


I agree. Looks like the rear has already beed patched. I do not see any issue patching this and making it safe. I have seen a lot worse repaired.

Brakes and trans swap is pretty straight forward. My 75 daily driver back in the day stopped fine with 4 wheel drums. They just have to be adjusted properly. I have a customer with a 68 and after I adjusted them it stops straight without holding the steering wheel.
 
Based on chatting with @nelsonto and how he plans to use this truck - keep at his new lake house to putz around in, run short errands, etc., doing a frame swap seems like not the best use of funds. The entire truck has rust (some worse then others) but would serve the purposes above just fine with the frame patched (and the other baselining like brakes and fluids he mentioned before). This is one that doesn't necessarily need 'saving', but having it's useful life extended!

Good on you Jon for doing this. I was thinking along the same lines just based on experience.

@HawkDriver has a build thread where he showed how he cut pie wedges out of some channel steel to make a box reinforcement for his frame. IMO, Something like that would be sufficient for these purposes.

IIRC, Kevin did some reinforcement on @DSRTRDR frame that cracked at this particular point. They could probably provide some input on how long the patch piece should be to handle the particular stresses of that location.
 
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8k sounds high, but that's about the going rate for a frame swap. The shop I'm at charges 150/hr. A frame costs about 60 hrs in labor. 1000 bucks doesn't buy u much these days. All those rusted bolts are not going to exactly want to come out like butter. That cruiser is really rusty. Looks like the floor is rotted too.
 
Not sure if this you tuber is on mud but I have a similar frame issue and this video gave me hope and couch confidence.... I still haven’t taken the plunge after many many months but seeing this at least shows me I can get it back on the trail/road if I could just find some diamond plate... pretty creative and pragmatic... very much in line with the get-r-dun approach I’ve been taking with my problem child
 
I would not put much money in that truck. Weld it up. Get it safe to drive and enjoy it.

Number on thing I would do is try to start working on it yourself.

With the age of You Tube there is an instructional video for every thing you need to do.
 
Interesting. This was towed into my shop about four weeks ago for an inspection and repair estimate.View attachment 1869378

It may be illegal to cut VIN, but, with these vehicles a frame repair becomes necessary things must be considered. I had a friend repair a frame. He cut the front frame rails off, ( still had the VIN number on it), and welded a donor frame to the rails. So, 90 % was a different frame attached to the old rails. If that is reasonable, then cutting out the vin section , and attaching a new frame to the vin section, really is the same. It seems gray here , but, I believe all these laws are really aimed at thieves and deception, not frame repair.
 
Yeah the chance of anyone comparing VIN from body to frame outside Kalifornia is pretty low as well. Do what you have to to save them all :)


Right up until the point in time you have your 40K$ truck insured and get into a situation where the insurance companies get involved.


I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin' Nolan...


:meh:


Vehicle inspections are far more common outside of CA than you think Brother.


:beer:
 
Right up until the point in time you have your 40K$ truck insured and get into a situation where the insurance companies get involved.


I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin' Nolan...


:meh:


Vehicle inspections are far more common outside of CA than you think Brother.


:beer:

True. It’s just a whole lotta madness and randomness in this thread.

My favorite is the “ship it to Georg” from Virginia.

I’m staying tuned in though. It’s fun.
 
here's what Mark (@65swb45) was referring to: Recommendations for a reputable shop to do frame repair - East Valley? - scroll to the second and third pages to see more pictures


I know Kenvin did a great job but would rather have gone with a frame replacement in the Southwest. For the amount of work to repair it verse switching VIN on the work would have gone that route or get replacement plaques for current body and go the bonded title route. Up until 3/69 one one plaque held on with screws. The plaque under hood wasn't even riveted until the 78 model.


Right up until the point in time you have your 40K$ truck insured and get into a situation where the insurance companies get involved.


I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin' Nolan...


:meh:


Vehicle inspections are far more common outside of CA than you think Brother.

:beer:

AZ doesn't seem to be one of those states that care. In 96 when I titled my FJ45 from CA in AZ the guy inspecting the it mark VIN in only one location even though I pointed out the second location on the frame. In 2008 when I titled my mom's VIN in AZ they inspected the vehicle. In 2014 when I title a vehicle I bought from a military family from OR I parked in the area for a inspection and waited. After a while when went inside and told them I needed a inspection. Looked at me like I was crazy and said you just need to get in line inside and transfer the title to my name in AZ.:meh:
 
@65swb45

Yeah the chance of anyone comparing VIN from body to frame outside Kalifornia is pretty low as well. Do what you have to to save them all :)
Right up until the point in time you have your 40K$ truck insured and get into a situation where the insurance companies get involved.


I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin' Nolan...


:meh:


Vehicle inspections are far more common outside of CA than you think Brother.


:beer:
I know Kenvin did a great job but would rather have gone with a frame replacement in the Southwest. For the amount of work to repair it verse switching VIN on the work would have gone that route or get replacement plaques for current body and go the bonded title route. Up until 3/69 one one plaque held on with screws. The plaque under hood wasn't even riveted until the 78 model.







AZ doesn't seem to be one of those states that care. In 96 when I titled my FJ45 from CA in AZ the guy inspecting the it mark VIN in only one location even though I pointed out the second location on the frame. In 2008 when I titled my mom's VIN in AZ they inspected the vehicle. In 2014 when I title a vehicle I bought from a military family from OR I parked in the area for a inspection and waited. After a while when went inside and told them I needed a inspection. Looked at me like I was crazy and said you just need to get in line inside and transfer the title to my name in AZ.:meh:



This conversation is getting way too interesting not to throw this Juicy Wild Card into the mix .................:eek:


im particularity interested in @Poser 's input :)


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