Let me know what you think about this TJ

[stylo328]

As many of you read in my last thread, I had a challenge with a TJ purchased on eBay. Fortunately I was able to return it to the seller for a refund and was only out $1400 for shipping. I had a beat on another jeep on eBay but let it go at the end, opting to find something local instead.

I have found a 98 TJ just over three hours away. I’m going to post a description from the seller and all the photos he sent me. I intend to purchase it this week based on your feedback.

Description:
I6 4.0
200k on the body, around 80k on the motor
Dana 44 rear end
Geared at 4.56
Onboard air and lockers
4 inch pro comp lift
Smittybuilt rear bumper
Smittybuilt fenders
35" tires
Ice cold A/C
Line x entire tub
Newer battery, alternator, starter, water pump, rear main seal, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket.
This jeep is very clean for its age, no dents. Paint is okay
All new fluids in diffs, transmission, transfer case.

I asked him about the replaced motor he said that his friend blew the previous engine while he was deployed and when he got back he found one with 60K on it, changed out all the gaskets, flushed it and installed it; that was 20,000 miles ago.


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[Rob5589]

Hmmm, without pics, hard to say.

 

[stylo328]

I am trying to load them, but something is wrong with the site interface. I just sent an error report to the site administration. I’ve got about 30 of them. I’ll post them up as soon as I can.


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[stylo328]

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[lowranger]

Any pictures of the frame and engine?

 

[stylo328]

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[stylo328]

Seller wants $10k

Let me know what you think.


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[glwood]

35" tires take a lot of things having been done right (read: usually more expensive) in order for a TJ to be able to get out of its own way, so to speak, at least on the highway...

You seem set on buying a TJ with a lot of modifications already done - while that could save you some mod money up front, you could risk issues down the road with fixing things if whatever was done to fit 35s was not done right. Just thinking out loud.

Tires are pretty worn, so that will be another expense.

 

[JeepNWilly]

From the pics it looks like a nice rig. ARB lockers are awesome and expensive so that fact that it already has one its a plus. Make sure it works.

 

[stylo328]

35" tires take a lot of things having been done right (read: usually more expensive) in order for a TJ to be able to get out of its own way, so to speak, at least on the highway...

You seem set on buying a TJ with a lot of modifications already done - while that could save you some mod money up front, you could risk issues down the road with fixing things if whatever was done to fit 35s was not done right. Just thinking out loud.

Tires are pretty worn, so that will be another expense.

You are absolutely right. Given my schedule, serious wrenching will be a challenge. I am holding out hope to find a good TJ with the bulk of the work done so I can just enjoy it. Otherwise all likeliness is that however I buy it is how it will stay.

I’d like to join a local Jeep club and do some of the local trails with the group.


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[Serbonze]

Just my personal opinion here...

I would never buy a vehicle sight unseen, especially a TJ. There are too many possible issues that are impossible to identify through pictures alone. You can't tap the frame through a picture.

I would never buy a previously modded out TJ unless I knew the person that was selling it. You have no idea what corners were cut and what will need to be completely replaced.

 

[JeepNWilly]

Caloosa Jeepers are a bunch of good guys in South West Florida.

http://www.caloosajeepers.com/

 

[CodaMan]

At least the frame looks good. Everything else needs a lot of TLC. The ARB lockers are an asset if they were installed correctly and actually work. The TC drop is a negative and will cost you a some $$$ to eliminate. The interior is a little rough. As far as the "replacement" engine, I put zero value in it because you just don't know. So to me that rig has 200,000 miles on it and that makes the price high.

Personally I don't buy modified Jeeps. I don't trust the mods someone else has done and I don't know how they used the Jeep for play. I want MY Jeep to be built the way I need it built and with the parts I want installed. I would think you could find a completely stock TJ with less miles for less money. You just need to be patient.

 

[tworley]

Looks like only one locker, the rear.

 

[Serbonze]

Where in Southwest Florida are you located? I’m pretty good friends with the owners of Southwest Florida 4x4, in fact Will did most of the work on my Jeep when he was up here in Tampa and I recently drove all the way down there for some additional work.

I just called him and he agreed to do a pre-purchase inspection of any Jeep that you may end up buying. Just let me know....

 

[CodaMan]

Where in Southwest Florida are you located? I’m pretty good friends with the owners of Southwest Florida 4x4, in fact Will did most of the work on my Jeep when he was up here in Tampa and I recently drove all the way down there for some additional work.

I just called him and he agreed to do a pre-purchase inspection of any Jeep that you may end up buying. Just let me know....

Jeepers helping Jeepers. You gotta love this community.

 

[Chris]

Just my personal opinion here...

I would never buy a vehicle sight unseen, especially a TJ. There are too many possible issues that are impossible to identify through pictures alone. You can't tap the frame through a picture.

I would never buy a previously modded out TJ unless I knew the person that was selling it. You have no idea what corners were cut and what will need to be completely replaced.

X2.

When buying an out-of-state vehicle, I'd ask for as many photos as you can, but I wouldn't ever commit to buying the vehicle until you inspect it in person, drive it, and get a feel for how it was cared for.

This one looks mostly rust free (which is good), but I'd have a local forum member go check it out for you. With as many people as there are on here, I'm very certain someone would go check it out for you if you just paid for their gas or something. If it was local to me, I'd check it out for you! We like to help our fellow Jeepers.

 

[stylo328]

Where in Southwest Florida are you located? I’m pretty good friends with the owners of Southwest Florida 4x4, in fact Will did most of the work on my Jeep when he was up here in Tampa and I recently drove all the way down there for some additional work.

I just called him and he agreed to do a pre-purchase inspection of any Jeep that you may end up buying. Just let me know....

I am in the Fort Myers area, but this Jeep is up in Spring Hill, just north of Tampa.

This really is a great forum.


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[Rob5589]

I would pass. Too much home mechanic stuff IMO. Ridiculous tc drop, bald tires, stock steering with that much lift and 35's, interior janky and dirty. You can do much better for 10K. I get that you want something with some mods but a stock rig is generally a safer buy. That way you know that is has not been hacked and you can do what you want to it. And 35's take a good deal of money to do it right. And that one is not it.

 

[Serbonze]

There are a lot of better Jeeps out there. I just scrolled through the last few days of posts on the Tampa Jeep Krewe yard sale group and found these. This is literally a two minute search of just one group.