Restoring My KJ?

[KJ zGal]

So here's the deal...I have an 02 Renegade 5-speed that I love to death and which owes me nothing. It's at 186,500 on the body and engine and 116k on the transmission. It's been for sale for a while now because I picked up a job 43 miles from home and flat out can't afford to drive it there every day. I bought myself a civic to save me some gas money (it's been doing its job at 37mpg!)

I've been back and forth about selling the Jeep because, quite frankly, I love the thing and really don't want to see someone else drive off in it. I wondered if anyone has ever attempted to repair rust spots themselves or how much it would cost a body shop to repair them? How do I tell if the frame is going to hold up? Is there any real way to tell if a vehicle's engine is going to crap out short of it making horrible noises?

I guess what I'm asking is what would be involved in restoring a vehicle that for the time being doesn't have any major issues but is aged and high mileage, and what can I expect to pay for rust repair? What would you be examining or fixing first? Am I being unrealistic and financially stupid to fix her up as a toy instead of just buying a new vehicle? I suppose I feel like I already have my dream car if I can tweak it just a bit. Might I also mention that I come from a family of car collectors...so this could just be some sort of genetic flaw xD

I've included the link to the sale video so you guys can see the vehicle in question lol

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vbpRzq1q60w

 

[LibertyTC]

I really just scanned the video and only noticed the drivers door, opened, are all the doors rusted like that? If so, I think the word restoring= going to find some newer doors and exterior repairs/painting. Is it worth it to do....on a older higher mileage vehicle from the Rust belt...I would say no. Body shop guys are not cheap, probably thousands of dollars in work? I think I would be afraid to put it on a hoist for inspection.
I would rather find another KJ that is not rusted out and start over. I understand in winter it is difficult to wash, however a solid power washing all over twice a month, & even a bucket of warm water and a cloth wipe, then an oiling, or rust prevent spray, a few times a week to the doors and rockers, should have prevented this.
In other words don't leave salt forever on the jeep, and expect it to look pretty for long.

 

[renegade 04]

You can fix it!!! The process to fix rust is not hard at all Just use the amazing POR 15 and use there process to prep and paint. I have used the POR 15 on my engine oil pan as well as on the bottom of every door except my tail gate and all I have to say is that POR 15 is amazing and will save your jeep. I know that napa carries POR 15 and you should also pick up the catalog as well because it explains how to use it and how it works, also I have completely painted a 1974 dodge challenger with this product and it saved the quarter panels.

 

[4x4kayak2112]

Yeah and if theres any holes just put bondo or fiberglass in it.

*head explodes*

 

[renegade 04]

In the spring time I could give you a hand in fixing the rust on the doors, I am only in albany. The rust looks worse than it is, the doors can be fixed and it is not hard to fix the rust on the bottom of the doors, just wire brush the rust and prep according to the POR 15 catalog and paint with POR 15 than top coat and you are done, than it will NEVER RUST AGAIN.

 

[KJ zGal]

I'm always open to help! It seems to be the worst on that driver door, the passenger door is more spread out and I didn't notice anything on the back doors. I also don't think the frame is rusted at all because I BELIEVE it was coated before I got it, but I have no way to get under there to really look at it. If you are ever free before spring to at least take a peek at it and see what you think can be done that would be helpful as well. If not I will probably take it to a body shop just to see what they say. I work in Albany five days a week so I'm always around somewhere lol

 

[cplchris]

if you want to keep it for a long time, I suggest you get over to elmo's autobody in scotia or harts collision in east greenbush. yes, rust can be repaired. but the correct process for repairing and preventing rust is quite involved.

on the topic of POR-15:
I would not use the rust converting formula of POR-15. they do make a lot of products that I like but the rust converting POR-15 is not one of them. too many times I have seen people prep it exactly how POR-15 says to do so, paint it under ideal conditions, do everything else right, and less than one year goes by and there is rust and rot again.

if you want to "fix" rust, you absolutely need to remove all of it, then prep and paint the bare metal properly. then once the rust is gone and the new paint is fully cured, move on to undercoating, (I like to use sem undercoat), fluid film, and cavity wax.

the last three products combined with weekly stops at the car wash to blast the undercarriage as well as the body will prevent corrosion.

 

[KJ zGal]

Thanks cplchris--I have always taken it to the car wash regularly and done the underbody washes with every one so I really don't think the frame is going to be an issue. The doors were bubbling up when I bought it way back in 07 and I just never bothered to take care of them. It's mostly a matter of cosmetics at this point, and trying to get the engine issues figured out. I guess I feel like in another few years it could be a nice play thing and having the Civic means I don't have to run up the miles so quickly anymore. The insurance is so low on it right now too that I might as well just keep the thing as an emergency vehicle if I need it lol