Rocker Panels rusted out pretty bad. Forward section of the rear wheel well looks like swiss cheese. XJ wife's DD but is about to be Replaced by a Grand Cherokee. Plan on keeping the XJ for weekend fun and snow vehicle for me.

Posted some pictures below. Is the rust too far gone, or is it something that can be replaced with new rocker panel or doing the 2x6 rocker panel mod I have seen? Currently don't have a welder but have been meaning to buy one to work on the XJ and my CJ.

XJ only has 167k plus and engine is still running strong but needs new oil pain and exhaust along with this rust repair. Been tempted to just swap the engine into my CJ.

 

Have you pulled the carpet to check for floor pan rust? If the only rust is the rocker panels, I'd definitely get a welder and go to town beefing them up. But don't forget you'll need to trim the door bottoms with this mod

 

That's not bad at all for an XJ ....

 

fixable if you want to fix it

time or money, pick one

 

Fixable if you are handy with a welder.

I am not, and would dump it.

 

Mine was much worse, ended up doing the 6X2 rockers and replacing the quarter panels. Also had to do some patch work on the fenders, floor, and wheel wells To me it was worth the time and money to fix it.

You do not have to trim the doors to do the 6x2 rockers, don't cut higher than the bottom of the doors.

Not the clearest picture, but I did not touch the bottoms of the doors and maintained the factory gap between the bottom of the door and the 6x2s

 

Without seeing the rest of it and assuming its in decent condition I would fix it and at the least make it an excellent trail rig for you and the wife. Or at least fix it up a bit lift kit and tires/wheel's and sell it, but with a good drive train I would keep it for myself JMHO.

 

If I was going to sell it, I wouldn't put another dime in it.

For a snow/trail rig, I would leave it alone and not spend another dime on it. Wheel it until it breaks in half. Both halves will bring the same dollar amount in scrap metal as a whole one would. Weight's the same.

 

I haven't pulled the carpet yet. Will do that once the carseats have been transferred over to the "new" Cherokee.

Always have more time then Money.

Never used a welder either but guess it is time to learn.

Thanks Fred. Already has a lift kit we put it on about a year or two ago when the rear leaf springs were shot. Mechanic that did our last state inspection told us he won't be able to pass us again because of the rust. Said the engine and drive train was solid and come to him first if we wanted to sell.

With just me driving it I would lean this way myself but probably would be tooling around with the kids in it on the weekends. Plus won't pass inspection as it is right now.


Thanks for the input guys. Think we are going to keep and start working on it as we can. It being a third vehicle will be able to take my time at it.

Time to start doing research about welders and cutters I guess.