The frame was CRACKED all the way through! CJ5 frame repair and bumper reinforcement 👨‍🏭⚡️

This was an extremely efficient project. Sure, Luke and I could have banged this job out in a driveway with a MIG welder we found on Facebook Marketplace, but being able to do this in our friend Enzo's shop was just too dang easy. I can't say thanks enough to him for letting us come in and make a mess of the place.
With the front end of Cream Puff up in the air, we were able to take a closer look at that giant crack above the spring hanger, and also inspect the rest of the suspension and steering. What we discovered is that this Jeep also has a pretty good bend in the tie rod and the hubs are super worn out. I think the front end play going down the road is more a result of the hubs than anything else, and that crack we fixed developed from the lateral stress of the death wobble.
So, with that said, is the Jeep really fixed?? NO. It's not. There's more work to do once Luke decided whether to go for a Dana 30 narrow track or press on with rebuilding this Dana 25. I think the deciding factor will be figuring out the gear ratio in that rear axle and then seeing if we can even find a Dana 30 with a matching ratio. Wouldn't that be nice...
If we do decide to rebuild the Dana 25 though, I'm sure that would make for some interesting content. Out of everyone I know, Luke would be the guy to rebuild a notoriously weak front axle with hard to find parts. He loves old junk. If it were me, I think I'd try to get a setup that I could add some HD steering to and start a chain reaction of spending money and replacing things until the transmission, transfer case, and rear axle were also gone. I'm obviously flawed in my own ways...
This is on the list of things to address before TDS because this Jeep needs to be road-worthy, so either way, we'll let you all know how it gets fixed up!
-Jarrett

[@Vintagejeepcj5]

I love that jeep !!!

[@CRAWLTV]

It has so much character!

[@SevenSlotSociety]

IN LOVE with CreamPuff! Impressive flex for the ol girl!

[@CRAWLTV]

Honestly Cream Puff gets me excited more than any Jeep ever has.

[@JCB-Jeeps-Camping-Bourbon]

I have a super-duper kickass idea: you should bring Cream Puff to this year's Jeepstock at SMORR in September! You might even be able to say hello to some Midwest Jeepers from years gone by... -Kuhn

[@CRAWLTV]

I love that idea!!! Unfortunately I’ll be at a wedding in Montana during Jeepstock, but I would love to plan to make it one of these years! It would be great to see the whole Midwest family again!

[@moabwheeling1305]

Cream puff is coming along quite well . The frame reinforcement looks great and will give him the peace of mind that is not going to break. Looking forward to your next video and wishing you the best on your upcoming surgery . Take care my friend.

[@CRAWLTV]

Yeah! Hopefully this stiffens it up a little bit. Once we get the play in the axle and steering taken care of, it should drive down the road considerably better than it did the day we test drove it. And thanks! Surgery was fine. I’m more worried about trying to sit still for the recovery because I’m not known to ever stop moving. 😅

[@charlesboetel1324]

My bros and I always had early cjs, a plate on the bottom of the frame between the shackle hangar and the frame that transfers the twist load to the box tube bumper prevents the crack coming back. When you set the knuckle, set it on the tight side of the spec.

[@CRAWLTV]

Great tips! So what do you think? Should we rebuild the Dana 25 or find a narrow track Dana 30/44?

[@PaulKaiser42]

That little Jeep is in great shape👊🏻. My rear frame rails are rusted through 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ so that’s going to be a project….i hate the salt in the north east!!! Lol

[@CRAWLTV]

We are SO lucky with the Jeeps available here in So Cal! There’s virtually no rust on any of these jeeps! Mine is the worst with some holes in the floor pans.

[@dainwilson4523]

I am loving Cream Puff. Can’t wait to see how it wheels on the Rubicon. I love the old junk as well.

[@CRAWLTV]

I really think Cream Puff may be my favorite Jeep out of our group, but we still have one more to unveil. I think it’ll do great out there.

[@rorocustoms]

That top on cream puff is so cool it’s almost like a dj5

[@CRAWLTV]

It’s very similar! The doors that go with it are designed to slide backward on rails.

[@charlesboetel1324]

Convert from lnuckle to spindle bolt to model 30 studs and nuts.

[@albertpobre7101]

great video bro👍👍💪

[@CRAWLTV]

Thank you! It was a productive day!

[@scuzzjumper]

I don't even want to look too closely at my 1980 CJ5.

[@CRAWLTV]

Sometimes it’s best to just pretend those things aren’t there 😂