Cherokee rear frame rail rusted

[sinkrun]

Anyone on here ever replace a rear frame rail on a Cherokee?  They guy welding it said it needs A whole rail he patched what he could. I would not even worry about it however it just turned 100,000 miles and has a new machine work and all engine in it. Really hate to see it junked. Its where the fuel tubes go thru he said even where its good it to thin to weld in places. And if I do this I will be looking for a rust free rail if someone has one.

[desbennett004]

Cherokee's don't have frame rails. Maybe a frame stiffening kit might work?

 

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[neohic]

I had some major rot in my XJ when I started working on it. Ended up cutting templates and making up my own patches.

 

[gogmorgo]

Yeah. The "frame" isn't really a separate unit. It's just stamped sheet metal spot welded to the body as reinforcement. I doubt there's anyone still producing the section. Although I can buy them online for my Lada so you never know. But as such it would be pretty thin even before the rust.

A good body or fab shop should be able to make a new piece based on the old one, but it'll be a lot of work to drill out all the spot welds and then redo it all. Frame stiffeners are metal plates cut and/or formed to weld onto the outside of the frame. Since they're readily available from the aftermarket as a common upgrade for more hard-core wheelers and only require prepping the surface they're welded to, it's almost definitely more cost-effective to use them.

[sinkrun]

I had some major rot in my XJ when I started working on it. Ended up cutting templates and making up my own patches.

 

Thanks Rob for the pics this is just like mine. If fact the out side work looks just like what we did when he stopped. I will show him these pics I am sure he can do it he is a awesome welder just never did anything like this. I wish you were closer you would have a job.