I am kind of at a crossroads and I need someone to help sway me one way or the other. I built a completely new frame for my TJ and got the link mounts and motor mounts all welded in. I didnt notice until I went to put the body on that the frame bowed into a smile shape after all of the welding. I havent started on the cage yet, so I have a choice I need to make. I do not think I can get the frame straight as I do not have a good point to measure everything off of. I also have no real way to clamp everything down and had to build this on the floor.

I have been thinking about just making a tube frame and scrapping this frame as I still have to make the cage. I really do not want to throw away all of that work so what problems am I looking at if I simply left the frame the way it is? Help me out guys, how much is far enough to really be worried about?

I assume that looking at the second pic, from the side is where the frame is smileing front to back. I would not jump the gun just yet.
I cannot tell in the pics that it is bent, I would do your best to measure how far out of square it is and what will be the following consiquences with the rest of the build.
It is very hard to build a perfectley square frame on a shop floor without a jig so dont kick yourself yet. I would get some numbers first then decide.
If it is not warped side to side I would not worry as much.
It is possible but dificult and takes very precise work and carefull planing to build a frame within a 1/4" square without a jig.

Not being an ass just straight forward, what makes you think that building a tube frame will come out better than this one. You may have the same issues.

Its actually on both sides and some how both sides are still perfectly parallel. How it came out that way I will not know as the bending is different on each sides. Based on the best measurements I could get without removing the engine, it is around 1/2-3/4" off from being perfectly straight along the entire length and also being square corner to corner. When I put the body on, the grill was 1/2" to the left from being center with the body being square on the rockers. I really want to just leave it, but I am kind of a perfectionist and this is really eating at me.

There really is nothing different I could do with the tube frame except build the cage and frame completely before final welding everything. Before I welded the link mounts and crossmember plates the frame was 1/8" from being square.

Just to add to make sure I am explaining everything, the frame is warped side to side. So the warp is pictured in the first picture and not the second, although you cannot really see it in that picture.

a couple chains and a port-a-power will become your new friend. As whiteman said this is pretty common. Anytime you weld, as the metal cools it will shrink/contract. A frame bed or heavy welding table works really nice, but most of us don't have one. However you should be able to find a cheap port-a-power at harbour freight.

I know this is a little late but try tacking cross braces to your project before poring the heat to it, should a little.

a couple chains and a port-a-power will become your new friend. As whiteman said this is pretty common. Anytime you weld, as the metal cools it will shrink/contract. A frame bed or heavy welding table works really nice, but most of us don't have one. However you should be able to find a cheap port-a-power at harbour freight.

The thing I am worried about is that I am not sure I can bend the frame and do more harm than simply leaving it. I can eyeball it but at this point it is very difficult to get a good point to measure from with all of the link mounts and motor mounts welded on. So at this point I am trying to figure out if I should try and bend it back, simply leave it, or at the very extreme start over and scrap this frame.

So are you saying that the body is your only point of reference? The body shown doesn't appear to have much left to keep it from becoming a polygon. Maybe its more rigid than it appears, maybe i'm confussed... but could the body be affecting your measurments?

So are you saying that the body is your only point of reference? The body shown doesn't appear to have much left to keep it from becoming a polygon. Maybe its more rigid than it appears, maybe i'm confussed... but could the body be affecting your measurments?


Well I took the measurements before I cut all of the body apart. I only really measured from the front to the cowl. I also took some measurements with a big ass square and tape. So the body is not my only point of reference. The frame is also visibly warped if you look at it from the front or back.

What about a good collision shop with frame press pull thing?

Remember, there are no rules in building custom. If one body mount is a 1/4 inch longer on one side then the other, so what. Are you going to show it or wheel it? I just completed my new frame and one rail is a little bowed in on the pass side. I thought about trying to fix it, but it was more work than it was worth. I plan on being very hard on this rig not showing it off. Doesnt mean it cant be nice, just wont be 100% perfect. You will be the only one who knows your frame isnt perfect. No one is going to measure your rig for straight. Dont sweat it and just build it. Thats one of the things I love about building rigs, there is no rules or strict plan to stick to. Keep us updated and Im sure it will turn out great.

Remember, there are no rules in building custom. If one body mount is a 1/4 inch longer on one side then the other, so what. Are you going to show it or wheel it? I just completed my new frame and one rail is a little bowed in on the pass side. I thought about trying to fix it, but it was more work than it was worth. I plan on being very hard on this rig not showing it off. Doesnt mean it cant be nice, just wont be 100% perfect. You will be the only one who knows your frame isnt perfect. No one is going to measure your rig for straight. Dont sweat it and just build it. Thats one of the things I love about building rigs, there is no rules or strict plan to stick to. Keep us updated and Im sure it will turn out great.

X2.....I Just recently built my frame and I have OCD :shaking: causing me wasted time trying to correct the 1/8" to 1/4" here and there. In the end, it really does not matter, you will be the only one who knows that its a little off, unless I was to meet you in person, then i'd point it out :flipoff2:

If you start over with tube you are going to run into the same problem or worse.I'd buck it up and fix what you started.When you decide what your going to do try this.

Tack the shit out of your joints.
Check every measurement then do it again.
Weld about 2 inches at a time skipping from one joint to the next.
If you go fast have a beer and let things cool before doing it again
On your next round ,try to counter the shrinkage from the previous weld
Basically you need to confuse the stresses so you don't warp and there are a thousand ways to do it but this way is slow and sure.When you go to tubing it's going to be 10 times as bad.
my two cents.

I have a TJ frame that I stretched to LJ length and I cut the crap out of it in the rear and the front. NOTHING on my frame is square anymore. In fact it is not level either.:eek:

Good thing is I can get it aligned and it drives straight and smooth and it does what I want. No one can tell but you so stop sweating it and keep on with the build.

It will not affect the performance of a Jeep. It will affect the performance of a Ferrarri :flipoff2:

yea no one will know its tweeked except you well and the entire hardcore comunity :flipoff2: but like everyone else has said you live and learn. It wont affect the performance run with it.

Updates? Been searching for TJ specific frame stuff. Will be building my own for better fitment link travel. Just curiouse as to how you ended up.

Any measurements on your frame, width, rise in front/rear etc... Any thing you'd do different.

I understand the OCD, I pitched a fit last week because the deck I just had built was 3/4" out of square over 24' it took me 3 days to calm down over that...