LJ purchase—this guy deserves a nod

[AndyG]

@ALScott wants an LJ, finds a guy that has several for sale , and here's the deal- we texted and I drove out to see the LJ he had a deal going on today.

Most everything on the lot has higher mileage, is built fairly extreme, gearing unknown , mixed mods, painted frames, wheeled hard, beat on, the usual stuff....except one.....it sits alone, tube bumpers,wide flares, no lift, stock as can be, 93,000 miles, street tires that would fit a vw bug.... unmolested.

Wisely, he walks past the others, pays a little, and gets this one.

He can drive it like it is, mod it like he wants, and take care of some small things, then make it what he wants, when he wants.

The others- those turn into parts hunting, trying to fix death wobble, what's that noise and does anybody know who made this lift threads.

There's a lesson in what this guy did. The girl next door is usually the safe move than the one with all the aftermarket parts.

He will not have a nightmare experience like we've seen a few times, but rather a quiet journey to where he wants it to be, and an LJ that needs a little attention will turn into a head turner in a few months...he's already thinking ahead and ordering the right parts.

This was cool to see. Someone doing their homework and using their head.

 

[L J]

lay it on thick

 

[Jmr17320]

I found the OP statement to be true. I just picked up a heavily modded TJ. My original plan was to part it out, but then I started to get “attached”.

I have been doing the “what is this lift”, “where is this wire supposed to go” dance for the last two months.

so I totally agree, go with the stock version and build from there.

BUT with this Jeep I have learned so much and with the support of this forum, have been able to make great progress.

2 paths, pros and cons to both

 

[TheBoogieman]

If you know what to look for when buying/driving a lifted Jeep, you won't have issues. I've bought three. I got $500 knocked off the price on one by knowing the dpa was the cause of the handling issues. Cost me $25 to fix. I sold that Jeep for a $2,000 profit.

p.s. I'm going to look at this 06' today if he will budge on the price.

 

[John Cooper]

@ALScott wants an LJ, finds a guy that has several for sale , and here's the deal- we texted and I drove out to see the LJ he had a deal going on today.

Most everything on the lot has higher mileage, is built fairly extreme, gearing unknown , mixed mods, painted frames, wheeled hard, beat on, the usual stuff....except one.....it sits alone, tube bumpers,wide flares, no lift, stock as can be, 93,000 miles, street tires that would fit a vw bug.... unmolested.

Wisely, he walks past the others, pays a little, and gets this one.

He can drive it like it is, mod it like he wants, and take care of some small things, then make it what he wants, when he wants.

The others- those turn into parts hunting, trying to fix death wobble, what's that noise and does anybody know who made this lift threads.

There's a lesson in what this guy did. The girl next door is usually the safe move than the one with all the aftermarket parts.

He will not have a nightmare experience like we've seen a few times, but rather a quiet journey to where he wants it to be, and an LJ that needs a little attention will turn into a head turner in a few months...he's already thinking ahead and ordering the right parts.

This was cool to see. Someone doing their homework and using their head.

@ALScott seems like a great guy, he doesn't mind asking questions or for help. Glad you were able to help another new Jeeper out!!!!!

 

[AndyG]

If you know what to look for when buying/driving a lifted Jeep, you won't have issues. I've bought three. I got $500 knocked off the price on one by knowing the dpa was the cause of the handling issues. Cost me $25 to fix. I sold that Jeep for a $2,000 profit.

p.s. I'm going to look at this 06' today if he will budge on the price.
View attachment 229356

that is a good post and I think another safe way of saying it is if you don't know what to look for look for a stock as possible... Because you know the factory didn't mess it up.

 

[AndyG]

lay it on thick

No I just like to give credit where credit is due.

I saw a guy buy one once that was modified for about 9,000 and I think he ended up at around 16,000 to get it drivable. He could have bought one for $13,000 and been rolling.

 

[John Cooper]

No I just like to give credit where credit is due.

I saw a guy buy one once that was modified for about 9,000 and I think he ended up at around 16,000 to get it drivable. He could have bought one for $13,000 and been rolling.

I purchased mine for 6k, I knew there were things I was going to have to address.

Track bar
Crown heavy duty steering
RC control arm bushings
OEM pitman arm

I am still under 7k unless I include the tires. Then I am just a shade over 7k

I still need shocks and they are my next purchase.

I knew alot of what was needed going into the deal.

 

[AndyG]

I purchased mine for 6k, I knew there were things I was going to have to address.

Track bar
Crown heavy duty steering
RC control arm bushings
OEM pitman arm

I am still under 7k unless I include the tires. Then I am just a shade over 7k

I still need shocks and they are my next purchase.

I knew alot of what was needed going into the deal.

Brother In law deal...but that's a good post...you have enough mechanical aptitude to evaluate one.

 

[John Cooper]

Brother In law deal...but that's a good post...you have enough mechanical aptitude to evaluate one.

And friends to text and call

 

[Chris]

I've owned 5 TJs and never once had a nightmare scenario or any real issues with any of them I've owned.

Just buy one that is clean and well taken care of. If it has higher end modifications, generally that means whoever owned it had money and took care of it. If it screams "teenage kid", run.

 

[AndyG]

I've owned 5 TJs and never once had a nightmare scenario or any real issues with any of them I've owned.

Just buy one that is clean and well taken care of. If it has higher end modifications, generally that means whoever owned it had money and took care of it. If it screams "teenage kid", run.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell...and one of the snags I ran into is I didn't know what high-end modifications were... I found out later mine weren't ...

 

[Chris]

That's pretty much it in a nutshell...and one of the snags I ran into is I didn't know what high-end modifications were... I found out later mine weren't ...

Yep! It says a lot in most cases when a TJ is equipped with a Skyjacker lift versus a Currie lift. Not saying that everyone needs a Currie lift, but you get the general idea of what I am saying.

 

[AndyG]

Yep! It says a lot in most cases when a TJ is equipped with a Skyjacker lift versus a Currie lift. Not saying that everyone needs a Currie lift, but you get the general idea of what I am saying.

Oh man I paid about 6 or 7,000 for my lift education...

 

[AndyG]

Oh man I paid about 6 or 7,000 for my lift education...

You know the biggest mistake I made was the fact that mine was sort of a lifted time capsule... It had been set up like in 2003 04 and had spent a lot of time just sitting in a man cave... It was sort of somebody's little trophy... But I'll tell you right now it was not first place.

Which reminds me of the guy I know that got a trophy wife and he didn't get first place either.

 

[John Cooper]

You know the biggest mistake I made was the fact that mine was sort of a lifted time capsule... It had been set up like in 2003 04 and had spent a lot of time just sitting in a man cave... It was sort of somebody's little trophy... But I'll tell you right now it was not first place.

Which reminds me of the guy I know that got a trophy wife and he didn't get first place either.

Mine is basically the same way, the RC kit on mine hasn't been sold in over 10 years. So I figured it was installed between 2002 and 2010, lots of shops in this area used RC exclusively back then. Some still do.

 

[never monday]

I purchased mine for 6k, I knew there were things I was going to have to address.

Track bar
Crown heavy duty steering
RC control arm bushings
OEM pitman arm

I am still under 7k unless I include the tires. Then I am just a shade over 7k

I still need shocks and they are my next purchase.

I knew alot of what was needed going into the deal.

TJ or LJ?

 

[Midtenn]

Mine is basically the same way, the RC kit on mine hasn't been sold in over 10 years. So I figured it was installed between 2002 and 2010, lots of shops in this area used RC exclusively back then. Some still do.

here is where I am.

 

[B00mb00m]

After knowing what it costs to build a highend LJ and what a highend build is, and what a used LJ sells for I don't think I would ever consider a stock LJ. Costs too much dang money in parts. Course it would be cheaper to not do mods 3 times learning the way but that's the price of education.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Mine is basically the same way, the RC kit on mine hasn't been sold in over 10 years. So I figured it was installed between 2002 and 2010, lots of shops in this area used RC exclusively back then. Some still do.

I bought an 05' with the same setup. The guy told me, "he just wasn't a Jeep guy" after he bought it. It rode like crap and wandered all over the road at 35mph and up. I got him to drop his price by $1500 (after looking under it). I took it home and swapped out the old style RC shocks for Zone hydro ones, removed the dpa and tcase drop. All was well after that. It had brand new tires and wheels and only 57,000 miles. The guy I sold it to bought it without even driving it or looking underneath. He took my word for everything. Good thing for him I'm not a politician.