How much rust is too much rust?

MutantNinjaTJ said:
Then why are you asking our opinion? We all say pass on it and you defend your decision to buy it, so buy it! There are plenty of posts on this site on how to deal with rust, have fun and welcome to the detour to your retirement!
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He stated that after ONE person's opinion and then a bunch of opinions followed. You seem to think he stated that after several opinions. He didn't.

To the OP: The underside of the Jeep looks okay, but that damn rocker sucks. Rust will continue even in So Cal, BUT you CAN stop rust from continuing with products like Fluid Film. Problem is that rocker needs replaced. You can buy the entire panel, but I honestly don't know enough about that job.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...Ef6CWb2BoGg01syd4fSrDwSFmfJx9vE8aAh1DEALw_wcB
I don't see any big issues under that Jeep though, but it will need to be sprayed once a year in your area. I spray mine twice a year and the underside is good. I live in Pittsburgh which is a horrible place for any vehicle. I don't drive much in the salt however as it is just too hard on cars. Spraying with Fluid Film is a messy job and it smells bad for a day or two. Mechanics don't like it much as the entire underside of my TJ is full of sheep fat and they hit t heir hair on it or deal with touching the underside it is a mess. lol. Nonetheless, my TJ is a clean one as far as rust goes. It is a pain to keep it coated around here as it rains and lousy weather often.

I would pass on it though. You live in a great area for clean cars.
 
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TRE3TOP said:
You can find an LJ without rust for 16k, maybe not in SoCal but they’re definitely available.
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Can confirm.

$15k. 4.0, auto, hard top, 82,000 miles, zero rust

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@TJJeepGregg Just for reference, I'm about to spend ~$1K on repairing this on my truck. That's with a friend (restoration shop) doing the work and a $100 repair panel already purchased. A good local collision shop priced it at $1,500.

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The money that you're "saving" buying that corroded LJ will quickly become another 1/3 to half of what you're spending to get it up to snuff. I would absolutely walk away from that. Not just because of frame rust but the body rust too.

I'd only consider it if was @ 8 to $10,000. Plus, as others have stated: you're in the best place to find a clean TJ or LJ. Cost to own in our current time will not be cheap.
 
fourpointzero said:
The money that you're "saving" buying that corroded LJ will quickly become another 1/3 to half of what you're spending to get it up to snuff. I would absolutely walk away from that. Not just because of frame rust but the body rust too.

I'd only consider it if was @ 8 to $10,000. Plus, as others have stated: you're in the best place to find a clean TJ or LJ. Cost to own in our current time will not be cheap.
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A couple of years ago we had a guy get one with a “little rust”. After about $10,000 and a frame swap, he was able to go shop for tires.
 
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TJJeepGregg said:
Thanks everyone. I'm going to keep looking 👍🏻
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In case anyone sees this in the future - ANY rust on the rockers is really really bad.

That spot in the middle is where the floor pan flange and rocker come together. If it is showing rust on the outside, the lap joint/spot welds are going to be completely shot inside.

The other common spot in at the rear corner underneath the flare. I bet if you take that flare off then it is completely rotted underneath the back tub corner. Sort of like the cab corner on a pickup truck. There's a whole bunch of stuff spot welded and connected back there that has no structural integrity (including roll bar mount) once it rusts out.

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TJJeepGregg said:
Thanks everyone. I'm going to keep looking 👍🏻
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I’m gonna say this to anybody that’s looking for one- I have yet to get my hands on one that did not need a few things done to it- you have things that are maintenance On all used vehicles.. you have things that are specific to jeeps/4Wd , like axle u joints , - Then you have another category of things that have to be dealt with with a vehicle that has rust- plus it makes everything aforementioned harder.

They manufactured just under 1 million of these- they are out there. Get familiar with what to look for so that you’re confident moving when you need to-
 
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Moglocker said:
Same with the ops lj,you don’t know what is under those tall rocker guards,all he would have to do is cut the rust out,treat it and do what this guy did.the ops lj is not bad
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I've since removed the rocker guards that were on it when I bought it and installed Fishbone sliders. Underneath the old guards was 10/10, no rust. I worked at a body shop sanding and prepping cars in my early 20's. Some would come in, usually older white Chevy trucks, with some rust spots here and there. It wasn't until you took a big wheel to it and took it down to bare metal could you really get an idea of how bad it was. It's a losing battle in the long run and I think OP understands that.
 
AndyG said:
I’m gonna say this to anybody that’s looking for one- I have yet to get my hands on one that did not need a few things done to it- you have things that are maintenance On all used vehicles.. you have things that are specific to jeeps/4Wd , like axle u joints , - Then you have another category of things that have to be dealt with with a vehicle that has rust- plus it makes everything aforementioned harder.

They manufactured just under 1 million of these- they are out there. Get familiar with what to look for so that you’re confident moving when you need to-
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A million TJs, about 56000 LJs, but you’re looking for the same issues between either of them.
 
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TRE3TOP said:
A million TJs, about 56000 LJs, but you’re looking for the same issues between either of them.
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I think 965,945 was the total production number- We have a guy here in North Alabama that sells basically only LJs- And I hear there are some guys in Georgia that are pretty much running the market.

We had an incredible green LJR a pop up with about 30,000 miles that was completely ate up...Kind of broke my heart
 
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AndyG said:
I think 965,945 was the total production number- We have a guy here in North Alabama that sells basically only LJs- And I hear there are some guys in Georgia that are pretty much running the market.

We had an incredible green LJR a pop up with about 30,000 miles that was completely ate up...Kind of broke my heart
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Yeah I don’t know what it is, but it seems all the rare colors are rusted. I can’t tell you how many impact orange LJ’s I’ve seen with rust.
 
SouthernLJ said:
I've since removed the rocker guards that were on it when I bought it and installed Fishbone sliders. Underneath the old guards was 10/10, no rust. I worked at a body shop sanding and prepping cars in my early 20's. Some would come in, usually older white Chevy trucks, with some rust spots here and there. It wasn't until you took a big wheel to it and took it down to bare metal could you really get an idea of how bad it was. It's a losing battle in the long run and I think OP understands that.
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Oh sorry,I thought you were showing a generic (for sale) pic but ya when tjs start to rust,it’s a losing battle,time to install cover up armor.
 
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I paid $4200 more than that for a rust free LJ with 112k last Feb. pay now or pay later ether way you are going to pay. Once rust starts even here in SoCal it will continue to decay. Removing bolts will be a nightmare. If I lived in the NE I would probably buy it but here in the West it is a definite pass at that price.
 
gg1 said:
He stated that after ONE person's opinion and then a bunch of opinions followed. You seem to think he stated that after several opinions. He didn't.

To the OP: The underside of the Jeep looks okay, but that damn rocker sucks. Rust will continue even in So Cal, BUT you CAN stop rust from continuing with products like Fluid Film. Problem is that rocker needs replaced. You can buy the entire panel, but I honestly don't know enough about that job.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...Ef6CWb2BoGg01syd4fSrDwSFmfJx9vE8aAh1DEALw_wcB
I don't see any big issues under that Jeep though, but it will need to be sprayed once a year in your area. I spray mine twice a year and the underside is good. I live in Pittsburgh which is a horrible place for any vehicle. I don't drive much in the salt however as it is just too hard on cars. Spraying with Fluid Film is a messy job and it smells bad for a day or two. Mechanics don't like it much as the entire underside of my TJ is full of sheep fat and they hit t heir hair on it or deal with touching the underside it is a mess. lol. Nonetheless, my TJ is a clean one as far as rust goes. It is a pain to keep it coated around here as it rains and lousy weather often.

I would pass on it though. You live in a great area for clean cars.
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those are for a CJ . there are no L/H side panels available for a TJ, only used. I know i just had one replaced and used was $500
 
Yoda said:
Here in MA brand new Jeeps look worse than that leaving the dealer lot!

Just kidding....but I would consider that "above average" condition here in MA. Not sure how much being an LJ increases the value but that is probably a $10k TJ here in MA if the rest of the body is solid and it hasn't been hacked by previous owners. Maybe$12k if the rest of it is absolutely perfect.
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Where are you in MA?
I'm in Fairhaven and you aint kidding about rust leaving the dealer maybe not brand new but I have seen 2010 up to 2017's jeep JKs completely rusted out frame still asking 10-12K with high mileage.
 
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