The only problem is it takes me a minute to figure out it's you. It just throws everything out of balance. I expect rules and committee stuff from the red A. Now i finally know you have a white jeep with old school yellow smilies. Then i see that wrong colored jeep and i don't realize it's you until I've already read the post. I used to know what to expect when I saw the A.Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Would you buy this TJ?
- Thread starter tennant
- Start date
OP
Remember,YOU are stuck with that salvage title once you pay for that Jeep. Also keep in mind any mods you may want to do will never work right if the frame or axle is tweaked. Youāll also never get your money back out of it because of the title. No one wants a branded title. As many others have said, be patient. I bought my LJ with 79k on it for $11,500. Stealership was asking $14k.
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Iād buy an unmolested stock TJ if at all possible. You know what lift, wheels and tires? What lift do you want? What shocks? What trackbar?
I understand you live in a salt state and its hard to find a good white one, probably impossible. So look south and come get it. Require frame pics all around the Jeep.
Do you want a Rubicon? A Sport? A Sahara? An X? What do you plan to do with the rig? Is this a DD or an off-road rig?
Gilbert Jeeps , Athens ,Alabama . Go to his website . He tries to sell nice ones . 13,000 is not a good deal at all , and the seller is a little delusional thinking is is . It looks mint because it is repainted likely .
Ppd7207
Member
OP
Ok ill keep that in mind. If you have any other websites let me know. Looking for a range 2002-2006 stone white manual, rubicon or sport preferred, but ill look at X.
OP
Ok. Do you find the stock TJs to be the same price as one with a lift and 33s, etc.
I'm looking nationwide, and willing to travel for a clean stone white TJ. I am not set in stone on the trim. A rubicon or sport would be preference. Not really familiar with the X, but id be more inclined to look.
My goal is to find a stone white TJ (whatever trim) with lower mileage, no rust. year between 2002-2006, don't care where the location is.
This will be a second vehicle, for fun, leisure drives, maybe mild off-roading.
Stock TJās often demand a premium, but not always, there are deals to be had. Usually people who have modified their TJās want more for them (sef-included), unless they are trashed.
If you want one for mild off-roaring, leisure, fun, the thing to look for will be a stock TJ IMHO. Put a mild 1ā BDS or 2ā OME lift and some Rancho 5000X shocks and 32ās on it and go have fun. Thatās a great build. If itās a Rubicon itās even better because youād have lockers and could go a ton of places. If you donāt you might consider a Jeep that has the Dana 44 in the rear, some Sportās and Saharaās. Otherwise, if youāre never going beyond 33ās and your never going to wheel it hard, find the best one you can with a Dana 35 in the rear and get it. It took me 6 months to find mine. Itās nice that you have some time and this is not a daily driver, otherwise youād be pressed.
NO !!
Way too many stories.
I paid $13,800 8 years ago for my TJR, mint, 60K miles. NO stories.
She'll be lucky to get $8K.
02SteelBlue
TJ Enthusiast
A note on the X trims: no cruise control, no tilt steering, 3.07 gears with Dana 30/35 in the front and rear respictively... maybe other things I'm forgetting.
If you're going offroad, the axles and gear ratio may be important to you. I don't and they work fine for me.
If you're going offroad, the axles and gear ratio may be important to you. I don't and they work fine for me.
FYI, my X had tilt steering, it was an option. It also had 3.73 gears, it was also an option. For the OP to know what options an X comes with, all he has to do is run the VIN and get the build sheet.
Yep, and many of the special editions are based on the X and had extra features. My 05 RME X has a Dana 44 rear with 3.73 gears. It also has tilt steering and body paint matched fenders like a Sahara.
02SteelBlue
TJ Enthusiast
Well screw you guys and your fancy X trims! I'll tough it out with the base X. (Quietly wishes for tilt steering and cruise control)
I could go for cruise too. Another $200 will get me there! Isn't it always another $200
02SteelBlue
TJ Enthusiast
OP
Dang that's a lot of options! Do you know a lot about X? Ive seen a few in pretty good condition. I'm attracted to the sport and rubicon but really up for anything.
Thoughts on a 3" lift with 32s or 33s?
Yes I have time, but I'm becoming inpatient! I will most likely need to travel to find one. If I buy one stock, how much would you think adding the above recommendations you provided would cost including installation?
OP
If you plan to do some mild off roading, what would you recommend for axle/gear ratio then?
It's fine to do it here. Lots of people have these types of questions. It benefits others.
I know a lot about the X because I've got a 2005 for almost 2 1/2 years now. I've built it from stock without having ever done more than change my oil a few times about 25 years ago. This has been a new adventure for me, and a rewarding one.
A 3" suspension lift will clear 32's with about 2" of bumpstop. It's a very solid setup. All you would need would be the springs, perhaps a spacer to get it just right, depending on what springs you go with, shocks, possibly an adjustable front trackbar and a rear trackbar relocation bracket and some extended rear sway bar links. If you're even mildly mechanically minded, you can do all this yourself.
I went with OME 2" 2934 and 2942 springs (with 10mm spacers), Rancho 5000X 2-3" shocks, a Metalcloak adjustable trackbar, OME rear trackbar relocation bracket, Rubicon Express rear extended sway bar links
Priced out the springs are $360, Shocks $200, MC adjustable trackbar $180, OME trackbar relocation bracket $20, extended swar bar links $30, bumpstops $30. The total there is $820. Install is free if you do it (and you can). Will it be hard? A little testy, but give yourself a day and a half and you'll have it all done. I've installed several suspension lifts now. Shops charge $100/hour or so. A good shop could get all this done in 5-6 hours. But get a quote before for sure. I do work for $60/hr, but I have no overhead.
I've gone much farther than this now, so I'm on 33's (view my profile if you want to see). But to get where you describe the above is a very solid build as many on this site can attest.