TJ or JK

So you guys don’t see any problems with putting $10k or more into a TJ with 235k miles on it?

Some food-for-thought on one end of this conversational spectrum: I went to a
((( BIG ))) Jeep garage in Ohio a few times (Pataskala Ohio) a few years back, will working a project there, to buy a few odds-n-ends. At any given time these guys had a dozen or more Jeeps in the shop, being repaired or modded, sometimes more. They did excellent work, and had Jeeps coming to them from all over the place. One day I was talking to one of their senior mechanics, who said it was not uncommon to see TJ, WJ and XJ 4.0L's pull-in with 300K to 400K miles on them, and with an occasional 4.0L exceeding the 500K mark - all of which left the garage running strong.

The 4.0L, to me, is amazing, with respect to longevity - combined with its willingness to endure abuse.
 
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Some food-for-thought on one end of this conversational spectrum: I went to a
((( BIG ))) Jeep garage in Ohio a few times (Pataskala Ohio) a few years back, will working a project there, to buy a few odds-n-ends. At any given time these guys had a dozen or more Jeeps in the shop, being repaired or modded, sometimes more. They did excellent work, and had Jeeps coming to them from all over the place. One day I was talking to one of their senior mechanics, who said it was not uncommon to see TJ, WJ and XJ 4.0L's pull-in with 300K to 400K miles on them, and with an occasional 4.0L exceeding the 500K mark - all of which left the garage running strong.

The 4.0L, to me, is amazing, with respect to longevity - combined with its willingness to endure abuse.

I believe that the inline 6 is an engine that if taken care of can last a long time and when it eventually needs rebuilding that it's worth rebuilding.

Yes I do see the logic in selling both jeeps and then buying one with less miles on it but I also see the logic in keeping what I have and replace items over time. By putting the money in this one I can make it my own from the ground up instead of buying someone else's build. Plus before I went and spent $15k buying a TJ it would probably make more sense to keep my JK with only 70k on it.

I have $4700 in the TJ at this time, purchase price plus what I've done to it so far. Even if another TJ will have less miles it will still have some years on it. Bushings, seals, joints and the like will still need to be changed at some point. I have a really low starting price with this build. Yes I am talking about putting $10k plus in the TJ that has 235k on it. Body and frame are in very good condition. Not worried about the engine. Transmission is working fine but can be rebuilt when needed. A 4" lift plus a few more parts then the front end and suspension are almost new. Does this make sense?

I really appreciate all the input. It is very helpful.
 
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If your frame is in good shape on the TJ, then I think putting $10,000 into it is not such a bad option. You can do necessary repairs and maintenance first, and then buy a lot of good, quality upgrades/mods for it to suit your taste (you said it was basically stock, if I recall, correctly). By the time you've spent that money on all the bitchin' mods, you'll be so in love with your rig that dealing with something less glamorous (tranny repair, for example) will just be "one of those things". That's my take on it, anyway.
 
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I am going to put almost that much into an LJ that was wrecked, granted it has less miles but I have no idea what has been done to this jeep and it has a salvage title. I am not doing this for value, its because I can build it the way I want it...and so I can enjoy it. Tim
 
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If that TJ doesn’t have rust you should hold on to it tight. I spent about 9 months and a lot of driving looking for a rust free one. I ended up settling for a JK because I found a killer deal and no rust. I do love the JK and I’m glad my hunt ended the way it did. But the TJ is just way cooler.
 
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I spent about 9 months and a lot of driving looking for a rust free one. I ended up settling for a JK because I found a killer deal and no rust. I do love the JK and I’m glad my hunt ended the way it did. But the TJ is just way cooler.
That's news...last I read, back in July, you were on the hunt for a TJ...I guess the red X didn't pan out after all...post some pics of your Jeep!
 
It doesn't have no rust. It has some rust but not anything I'm concerned about. It's 14 years old with 235k on it, it's going to have some rust. The rust that's there is just surface rust that's going to take a long time for it to become a problem especially here along the NC/SC border.
 
Cliffish
We have the same jeep. Both of my jeeps are orange with the TJ being a darker orange then the JK. Side by side my wife and I prefer the darker orange of the TJ. Mine should end up looking very close to yours except for the doors and I'll eventually have black wheels. Do you have any pictures of yours in a thread someplace? I would like to show the wife what mine will eventually look like.
 
sure here is a few: on the side by side my jeep is on right, a stock one on left
new wheels.JPG
wrangler tj 4.JPG
2 jeeps 2.JPG
 
So you guys don’t see any problems with putting $10k or more into a TJ with 235k miles on it?
I don’t think I would put 10k into it with that many miles, I doubt you could ever get it back out. With that being said with the mileage you’re driving per year in your Jeep I would look at maybe unloading both and maybe ponying up 10-15 for a TJ with decent miles. You’re in NC, right? The other day I saw a sweet 2003 X that was super clean with 57,000 miles on it. Location was Asheville I believe. The Wrangler was listed at 12,900...not much above the 10k you’re looking to put into this one.
 
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If it were me I’d ask a few questions to decide:

1. Of the two, which do I trust to start every time I get in it?
2. Of the times my car won’t start, which can I do anything about?
3. What’s the total cost of ownership of either? (Including payments)

Like others said, the answer could be neither and selling both for a lower mileage TJ may be a good choice - though my goal on mine is 500k miles. No idea if I can get there, but that’s my target.