I'm starting on a project to put one-ton axles under a CJ5. I've read the posts about folks wishing they'd gone with a custom frame from the start of their projects. I have to ask, though, since I have more time than money, is it even worth trying to strengthen a stock 1975 CJ5 frame for rock crawling? I have access to a YJ frame for cheap. Would it be better to strengthen one of those and drop the CJ tub onto it? Or should I just not screw with it and build a frame from scratch? Fab isn't an issue, it's just a matter of $$$ :D

The final build will be about 107" wheelbase with one tons and a Ford small block drivetrain with a doubled tcase sitting on 42's.

Do it right from the start and build the frame yourself.

It depends on how much more time than money you have. Tubing for a frame would be around $250.00 around here, which isn't bad, and is better than bracing a YJ frame.

I built the rear 1/3 of my frame on my TJ and wasn't hard. The toughest part was splicing it into the factory frame rails.

Build it from scratch.

If I were doing it all again, I would definitely build a new frame from scratch.

No question.

Agreed. Don't waste your time trying to make something marginal good. Besides, building a frame is relativley cheap anyways.

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like what I expected. I just wanted to ask one last time before making final decisions.

You can always box the frame in and run new beefed up crossmembers. That frame will take a pounding then.

Built my own...not to hard.

I spliced my TJ frame and never felt comfortable with it, so I scrapped it and built one from scratch. Having the existing frame will make building a new one a lot easier. I used 3/16" thk 2x4 sq tubing. It takes a while, but IMHO, WELL WORTH IT!!! Here is what it cost me:

~$300 - 2x4 sq tubing steel (3 sticks 22' long)
~$100 in plate for skid plate, gussets, mounts, etc
~$600 sandblasting and powdercoating (included all my arms and cage)

So roughly $1,000 minus tools and time.

I stitch welded a 3/16" sheet of steel to the ouboard side of my CJ5 frame all the way back to the firewall just like I read about. I did this 3 years ago and it's held up to some hard usage. You can't even tell it's there unless you look real close.
But I still don't feel comfortable with it and I just know thas one day it'll break.
Look, if you have time but not bucks, just don't get in a hurry and do it right.