Just bought a 1998 Jeep xj with 134k miles



and some nice aftermarket parts. Needs some stuff like sway bar, manifold, exhaust, u joints, etc nothing too expensive or junk yard worthy. BUT there is a pretty significant bend/dent/twist in the frame that I’m worried about. Also it looks like the Jeep was previously stiffened with the little fins welded on in that area? I still don’t know if it will pass inspection. Is it passable and ok for inspection and please don’t hold back and tell it straight lol. Thanks will be almost everyday driver and wheeling rig.

 

What state are you trying to get it inspected in?

 

Pennsylvania

 

I don't see any holes there, that'd be your biggest issue. If there's no holes and it's still solid, it should pass just fine. Though it doesn't look like it will much longer the way it is.

The only thing that gets specifically stated for inspection is that the frame is solid. Mechanics get some discretion as to what they think is and isn't solid.

 

I don't know about Pennsylvania. But from what I hear, It all depends on how the shop feels that day. You might just try it and see what they say.

 

Not sure about Pennsylvania but when I lived in New Hampshire many years ago they used the "screwdriver test" on structural parts - if they could poke through with a screwdriver it would fail, if not then it would pass.

To slow further deterioration you can spray the underside with an oil coating or something like Fluid Film. (I spray the latter under my Jeep each fall.)

 

Yep, they do the same here in PA.

Here's a link to the PA inspection manual if you need to reference anything (It can be very helpful if a shop says you need a BS repair, more than once I've pulled out the manual and called shops on their crap), refer to Subchapter E (pages 28-42) for cars and light trucks: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dv...ons/PUB-45.pdf .

Also note any repairs to structural components must be at least as strong as the original (so make sure any patches are steel plate at least as thick as the original frame component being patched).

 

That thing looks like it's been rear ended.

 

It seems like its sturdy with the stiffeners, but I noticed when I turn slowly and start accelerating around the turn there is a banging noise and a shaking jolt. Idk if it’s from this or because it has a rear lunchbox locker and it only does it once in a while.

 

Those look like airbag brackets. Definitely looks like frame was crunched and straightened at some point in the past. Probably not the cause of your bang/shaking jolt. That is more likely to be the locker, or perhaps a leaf spring eye that is fractured (the fracture can hide up in the leaf spring mounting bracket).

 

There is no floor crack and the bend starts right where the gas tank sits on the end. So I’m starting to think it might not be that bad and decently sturdy because it seems from the rear it’s about 10 inches in from the end of the frame and straightened. But I have seen them coming apart on the trail at certain flex positions. Also if it ever got rear ended again it would be unfixable.

 

Mechanic may not notice it, who knows. You could take it to a fab shop and have a guy just weld a short stiffener over it. Then you probably wouldn’t have to worry about it passing. At least not for that.