Good luck today! You might have found YOUR Jeep. Take your time looking it over and all the things mentioned above. Let us know how it goes today.
Let me know what you think about this TJ
- Thread starter stylo328
- Start date
So I just spent about 45 minutes crawling around underneath the jeep. The frame has no rot and very little surface rust, but is full of sand on the inside (an inch of sand in the frame towards the rear) I guess that’s from being off-road here in South Florida. All of the front steering components have surface rust especially the brake calipers and the spindles. The weeping at the differentials is not at the diff cover, but where the shaft and Thursday did, just behind the U joint.
The interior was super rough, it’s kept topless year-round. The exterior of the paint had some scratches and did not look nearly as good in person as it did in photos. The shifting of the tranny was interesting as I had a grind down-shifting from 3rd to 2nd (before you ask I drive stick regularly and have for many years). The interior is rhino lined on the floor only and the wheel tubs are exposed with a lot of scratches.
The rear main seal must be leaking as there is a build up of oil mixed with gunk above the rear of the oil pan. There was also remnants of oil between the steel plate and the transmission. Finally the expansion tank for the radiator was empty and when the jeep was running it smelled faintly to me of radiator fluid.
I did not find any rust on the tub top or bottom but as I shared a lot of surface rust on components underneath. I offered the seller $7000 cash and he wasn’t willing to go below $8000. I felt for $8000 it was better to walk away for now.
Maybe my expectations are just too high for a TJ, but I thought better to be safe and walk away then make a mistake.
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The interior was super rough, it’s kept topless year-round. The exterior of the paint had some scratches and did not look nearly as good in person as it did in photos. The shifting of the tranny was interesting as I had a grind down-shifting from 3rd to 2nd (before you ask I drive stick regularly and have for many years). The interior is rhino lined on the floor only and the wheel tubs are exposed with a lot of scratches.
The rear main seal must be leaking as there is a build up of oil mixed with gunk above the rear of the oil pan. There was also remnants of oil between the steel plate and the transmission. Finally the expansion tank for the radiator was empty and when the jeep was running it smelled faintly to me of radiator fluid.
I did not find any rust on the tub top or bottom but as I shared a lot of surface rust on components underneath. I offered the seller $7000 cash and he wasn’t willing to go below $8000. I felt for $8000 it was better to walk away for now.
Maybe my expectations are just too high for a TJ, but I thought better to be safe and walk away then make a mistake.
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I think you did the right thing, seriously.
It takes a lot of guts to walk away from something like that, but I think it was the right thing to do. I would expect the interior to possible need a cleaning (mine did when I bought it), but being rough to the point of not cleaning up well would be a no-go, as would the poor condition of the paint. The shifting of the transmission alone would be the cherry on top though. I wouldn't touch it with that issue, as you're going to need to drop at least $1500 to have the transmission rebuilt.
This is how it goes though. Many of us had to spend 6 months or more looking for the perfect TJ, but eventually you find it (and oddly the best things seem to come when you're not looking for them).
It takes a lot of guts to walk away from something like that, but I think it was the right thing to do. I would expect the interior to possible need a cleaning (mine did when I bought it), but being rough to the point of not cleaning up well would be a no-go, as would the poor condition of the paint. The shifting of the transmission alone would be the cherry on top though. I wouldn't touch it with that issue, as you're going to need to drop at least $1500 to have the transmission rebuilt.
This is how it goes though. Many of us had to spend 6 months or more looking for the perfect TJ, but eventually you find it (and oddly the best things seem to come when you're not looking for them).
Alvin A
Member
I am considering selling my 2006 TJ Sport, ONLY because I really wanted a Rubicon and found one that fits the bill. Wife doesn’t want me to sell the Sport but I’m working on her. Most definitely know by next weekend.
2006 TJ Sport, automatic, clean, 99,975 miles Stone White, never been lifted.
Just an FYI
2006 TJ Sport, automatic, clean, 99,975 miles Stone White, never been lifted.
Just an FYI
You made the right decision.
Limiting yourself to white is going to severely narrow the options, but I think you know that. Give it time and the right one will come along. For comparison, I bought my 2001 Sahara with 101,000 miles, not a spec of rust, with Dana 44 rear, and in proper working order from a small mom and pop car lot for $10,500.
We looked for about five months.
Limiting yourself to white is going to severely narrow the options, but I think you know that. Give it time and the right one will come along. For comparison, I bought my 2001 Sahara with 101,000 miles, not a spec of rust, with Dana 44 rear, and in proper working order from a small mom and pop car lot for $10,500.
We looked for about five months.
As you found out owners descriptions may vary from actual fact!...good move on passing. If you don't mind an auto I would look at Alvin A above if they are letting it go.
Thank you all.
Alvin A, my preference would be a manual, but if you do decide to sell, please let me know.
I found another potential on craigslist. Here is the ad and here the pictures the seller has sent me so far.
https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/d/jeep-wrangler-sahara-rough/6608390138.html
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Alvin A, my preference would be a manual, but if you do decide to sell, please let me know.
I found another potential on craigslist. Here is the ad and here the pictures the seller has sent me so far.
https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/d/jeep-wrangler-sahara-rough/6608390138.html
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Seller says no patchwork or bondo anywhere on the vehicle. Full respray inside and out.
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Alvin A
Member
The frame looks clean. I'd put carpet back in it as it will be loud with no carpet, but that's easy enough to do. If it's been repainted, I'd check the quality of the paint unclose. There's a huge different between a quality paint job and a Maaco paint job.
TJ2
TJ Expert
The white one is a Sahara version which is good. The skid plate spacer is not appealing for me, cheap'o.. it is also older than 2003 and so mileage is crucial for anything more than 150k needs a lot of maintenance due needed. If that is mine, 2001 is the only rig I like in those early TJ years. If I am desperate, 1999 is just okay for me. 2005 they have the German transmission which is a tank. Dana 44 also is a plus if you like to trail ride.
Without seeing it, I’d pass.
Cheap lift.
No indication of the rear axle.
*edit* looks like a Dana 35 rear axle.
Was it geared properly for the 33s?
Why was it given a textured paint job instead of a standard paint job. It’s probably covering something up.
Was any rust properly taken care of prior to the exterior and interior texture? You can’t tell because it’s all covered.
Looks like there’s is an oil leak at the front of the pan.
Are there any extended front bump stops for that 4” lift?
I’m on my phone right now so tough to see.
Cheap lift.
No indication of the rear axle.
*edit* looks like a Dana 35 rear axle.
Was it geared properly for the 33s?
Why was it given a textured paint job instead of a standard paint job. It’s probably covering something up.
Was any rust properly taken care of prior to the exterior and interior texture? You can’t tell because it’s all covered.
Looks like there’s is an oil leak at the front of the pan.
Are there any extended front bump stops for that 4” lift?
I’m on my phone right now so tough to see.
TJ2
TJ Expert
If I see a clip Walmart like that on the radiator hose, I suspect the guy who owns it is not really a mechanically inclined person. Sorry guys, this will hit a lot of people. That is a No-No to me
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