Update: Was secretly hoping to find a Dana 44 in the back but I just used the VIN to check the build sheet, and it's actually got 3.07 gearing. I'm not planning to go any bigger than 31" tires--so I should be fine ... right....?
Thoughts on this Sahara?
- Thread starter t00th
- Start date
This is probably the best Jeep for your situation. Hardtop = slightly harder to steel. It appears mostly clean and unmolested. Since you will use this as a partial DD I think it's fine with the 3.07 and 31s. If you really want to wheel it down the road you'll need upgrades. Prices have gotten really wonky since I got mine in May. I'd likely pay $4-5k more than I did in todays market.
Yeah I'm not planning to take it too far, build-wise. My last jeep was at 2.5" lift and 31" tires, with discos next on the list. Capable for light wheeling and exploring, still practical as a semi-daily. That's where I'd plan to put this one. Hoping to not even need to regear. But time will tell I suppose. At this point, I feel like the promise of longevity from that clean as hell frame makes the less than ideal gearing worth it.
2 things you should consider. 1) Hidden kill switch for security 2) If the frame is clean get it treated to keep it that way. Once I finish my lift I am taking mine to Joe at LockN Loaded in Collegeville for frame treatment.
Absolutely--I already spent a few hours last night reading and watching vids about kill switch installation. I have limited wiring experience (fog lights, dashcam, CB) but I think I can pull it off. I also plan on a wired-in GPS pinger or at the very least one that plugs into the OBDII port. I hear they have ones that alert you on your cell when your car starts, which is extremely appealing to me. For the price of a pizza per month, I'd say that's beyond worth it.
As for the frame treatment--the current owner took it down to bare metal in all the surface rust spots and rustoleumed it. I wonder if it'd be worth it somewhere down the line to strip the paint and have it professionally treated--what does a treatment usually consist of? Would you be willing to share what you were quoted for the job--to know what I might be up against?
Worry about the inside of the frame more than the outside. The process I am getting done includes cleaning out and sealing the inside of the frame with Eastwood paint.
Look, if you buy it, just have it fluid filmed very well every late fall, around thanksgiving. Find a place you trust and make sure they do it inside and out. Plus they'll do bottom of floors, suspension, etc. in the spring, bring it to a self use car wash and pressure wash all that crap inside and outside the frame. Next year: Repeat. If it has SKIS (Grey Key) don't worry so much about a kill switch as this is basically the same thing. If it doesn't, yeah, a kill switch would be a good idea.
Whatever you do, don't do any rubberized undercoating. If you find someone who does a good job with fluid film (just the clear, not the black, don't want to hide anything) this is probably the best you can do. I've been doing it on several of my vehicles, one for 15 years and its been holding up very well. If you have a place and can do some of this yourself, you can spray fluid film inside the doors and pretty much all the little places that a garage won't do.
She looks good. The gears suck. Mine has 3.73 with 31s and I wish I had at least 4.10s. You can live with it for a daily, especially if it's an auto (I didn't look).
Good luck, let us know what you decide. She looks good!
Edit: I see it's a manual. Still, if it's mainly a street rig, I don't think you'll have any issues. As for light off roading, I'm not an expert, but the tcase should suck up alot of the crappy gearing with the 2:1 underdrive. If you're rock crawling, that's a whole 'nother story tho....
Whatever you do, don't do any rubberized undercoating. If you find someone who does a good job with fluid film (just the clear, not the black, don't want to hide anything) this is probably the best you can do. I've been doing it on several of my vehicles, one for 15 years and its been holding up very well. If you have a place and can do some of this yourself, you can spray fluid film inside the doors and pretty much all the little places that a garage won't do.
She looks good. The gears suck. Mine has 3.73 with 31s and I wish I had at least 4.10s. You can live with it for a daily, especially if it's an auto (I didn't look).
Good luck, let us know what you decide. She looks good!
Edit: I see it's a manual. Still, if it's mainly a street rig, I don't think you'll have any issues. As for light off roading, I'm not an expert, but the tcase should suck up alot of the crappy gearing with the 2:1 underdrive. If you're rock crawling, that's a whole 'nother story tho....
Well, I bought it. $7500 bucks. Frame was clean as a whistle outside but had a little bit of un-ideal-ness near the holes inside. Money I saved is gonna go toward new rubber and a hardcore frame treatment before PA lays down salt. And little here and there shit to make it mine in the meantime—handles, dash tray, Tuffy drawers and trunk, utility BS and a trunk full of tools. And obv security. A club short term, kill switch long term. New headlights.
truly appreciate all the help and advice I got from everyone that led to this. All said and done, three weeks without a vehicle ain’t all that bad.
truly appreciate all the help and advice I got from everyone that led to this. All said and done, three weeks without a vehicle ain’t all that bad.
sahara2000
TJ Enthusiast
Congrats. That is a great deal. I've got a Tuffy underseat locking drawer I am planning to remove and sell if you are interested.
I actually would be very interested, anything I can grab under retail is a win in my book. Is it the smaller one for the fold and tumble seat or the full size?
Hey man that's awesome, congratulations! Hopefully you got the grey key so you have the SKIS system. If not, yeah, even more investment in security would be a good idea. Have fun with her!
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