Hi all - new to the TJ, currently have a JLU. Looking at possibly buying a TJ for the kids first car. This is a 97 with low miles. Been a MD/PA vehicle. Frame looks like it’s in good shape. Runs and drives well, no odd noises, no death wobble/shakes. Clutch grabs/no slippage. Attaching some pictures as there is rust on other components. Can you all let me know your thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Possible purchase - looking for thoughts
- Thread starter radiantc
- Start date
Frame looks to have rust too just painted over. I get PA might be tough to find a clean one and for kids cheap with some rust might not be bad idea but it is not a clean frame from what I see. You check inside the frame holes, might be able to use rust as a negotiable point. Most will say pass and they might be right but that is your decision.
Good luck and welcome
Good luck and welcome
The apparent condition of that frame does not match up with the other rusted components. Something is not right. Appears to have been coated over with some product. I'd be very sceptical the frame is anywhere near as good as it is presented. Check it very carefully, they rust from the inside out.
that first photo of the frame shows major pitting, put your fingers in each of the access holes & chances are very good you're going to find a great deal of that frame in flake form piled up in there is my guess. There's rust everywhere, the top rear spring mounts look pretty bad. I don't think I'd stick my kid in that thing.
Where in PA are you, if close by I'd be happy to help you out & show you what's what, I have a boroscope too for looking inside the rails to see exactly what's going on.
Where in PA are you, if close by I'd be happy to help you out & show you what's what, I have a boroscope too for looking inside the rails to see exactly what's going on.
Checking inside the frame will tell you all you need to know. Surface rust is easy to remove. Most people that live in rust states, coat their frames to help prevent bad rust. I've seen frames that were fine and coated with rubberized undercoating. I've also seen perfect looking frames that were FULL of rust chips.
p.s. If you go look at it, pull the carpet up and check out the floor pans too.
p.s. If you go look at it, pull the carpet up and check out the floor pans too.
Last edited:
Thanks for all the tips and offers for help, much appreciated. I’ll check in the access holes and under the carpet when I go take a look at it.
The visible amount of rust on the rear axle tube and the brackets where the lower control arm and shock mount along with the rear driveshaft look to be rust belt typical. The rust on the front of the oil pan also looks rust belt typical to me. None of those three things are scary bad themselves but they are enough to wonder about the more important areas.
Now looking at the black coating on the frame you can tell that it's at least somewhat textured which may hide some rust. In the last picture it may be hiding some rust around that oval slot but looking there the frame doesn't look like it has gotten thicker from rust or even thinner from the flakes falling off. FWIW, I have seen both thinner and thicker on the same frame more than once, neither is good.
What seems strange in a good way is that I see no obvious rusted out sheet metal in the couple of pictures that include body parts, especially the last picture where the body mount is right behind the front wheel well where I'd be expecting quite a bit. In addition to checking under the carpet and sticking your finger (or whatever) inside the frame, feel around in all the round holes in the torque boxes under the floor.
It seems like that TJ's condition is coming from two directions and I'm just kinda rambling on about what my brain would be thinking while I looked at it in person.
Now looking at the black coating on the frame you can tell that it's at least somewhat textured which may hide some rust. In the last picture it may be hiding some rust around that oval slot but looking there the frame doesn't look like it has gotten thicker from rust or even thinner from the flakes falling off. FWIW, I have seen both thinner and thicker on the same frame more than once, neither is good.
What seems strange in a good way is that I see no obvious rusted out sheet metal in the couple of pictures that include body parts, especially the last picture where the body mount is right behind the front wheel well where I'd be expecting quite a bit. In addition to checking under the carpet and sticking your finger (or whatever) inside the frame, feel around in all the round holes in the torque boxes under the floor.
It seems like that TJ's condition is coming from two directions and I'm just kinda rambling on about what my brain would be thinking while I looked at it in person.
Similar threads
