Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

What do yall think about this potential XJ buy?

thekidwithquestions

thekidwithquestions

Acquiring Jeep funds...
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NC, Wake Forest
So my lil bro (15 y/o) is following in my footsteps of buying a Jeep to work on, but he is gong the XJ route instead of TJ due to prices....


He found this 2-door, 4x4, manual, XJ with 96xxx miles for $8000.
What are yalls thoughts?


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IDK why that pic is upside down :/

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or that one :/

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Low miles, clean interior, doesn't look like the PO screwed it up modding without knowing what they're doing. Idk if that's a reasonable price but looks like a decent Jeep.

God that dash cluster is weird though
 
I'd get an older Isuzu Rodeo. They have a frame and better axles by most accounts and are stronger in just about every way out of the box. Get a manual with the Isuzu V6. Those XJs are over valued by a mile. At $4k sure, at $8k it's nuts. No point in riding that wave, you'll have the same fun in the other. Obviously not Jeep blah blah blah, I don't care much for that deal.
 
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srimes said:
Love it until I saw the price. It's a different world now.

For crawling the automatic is better. The AW4 is fantastic.
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Mike_H said:
Looks like a decent jeep, but 8k (or even 7) Holy Crap!
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Are yall saying that the price is a good thing or a bad thing? because we only could find one other to compare to this one and he was asking 10k
 
thekidwithquestions said:
Are yall saying that the price is a good thing or a bad thing? because we only could find one other to compare to this one and he was asking 10k
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Bad thing. The market has changed though...I think TJ prices have driven people to buy XJs and that, in turn is driving prices up on those. 5 years ago, XJs were dirt cheap. Something like that was probably a 4000 dollar ride. Most were selling in the 2500 range.
 
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Looks like a nice Jeep, with a bad price. With fuel prices going up, I'd bet there will be some hitting the market soon at a better price and at 15 he's got time to wait for them to hit the market. Also, expand your search a little. Here's what I found;

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/d/hampton-1998-jeep-cherokee-60th/7453279667.html $3,500 (miles and some rust)

https://athensga.craigslist.org/cto/d/athens-1997-jeep-cherokee-door/7455625753.html $4,995 (miles no rust)

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/d/fuquay-varina-1999-jeep-cherokee-xj/7451606971.html $6,500 (miles and some "mods")

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/d/cleveland-1998-jeep-cherokee-se-door-2wd/7448217954.html $6,995 (124K miles)
 
BlueC said:
Looks like a nice Jeep, with a bad price. With fuel prices going up, I'd bet there will be some hitting the market soon at a better price and at 15 he's got time to wait for them to hit the market. Also, expand your search a little. Here's what I found;

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/d/hampton-1998-jeep-cherokee-60th/7453279667.html $3,500 (miles and some rust)

https://athensga.craigslist.org/cto/d/athens-1997-jeep-cherokee-door/7455625753.html $4,995 (miles no rust)

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/d/fuquay-varina-1999-jeep-cherokee-xj/7451606971.html $6,500 (miles and some "mods")

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/d/cleveland-1998-jeep-cherokee-se-door-2wd/7448217954.html $6,995 (124K miles)
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The only stock one (which my brother wants) there with 4x4 (which my brother wants) has almost 300000 miles
 
BlueC said:
I assume he's going to want to "mod" it, so why does he want a stock one? What are his ideas for this Jeep?
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He wants to do the mods himself so he can get to know the suspension parts as well as know that the mods are quality and installed right.

I think he's shooting for 33s.... I'm trying to convince him to go for 31s tho
 
thekidwithquestions said:
He wants to do the mods himself so he can get to know the suspension parts as well as know that the mods are quality and installed right.

I think he's shooting for 33s.... I'm trying to convince him to go for 31s tho
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I think you're on the right track. 33s are at the point that trigger other mods and like TJs the costs start to go up. I have 31s on my XJ with a 2" lift. I drive it daily (almost) and use it for camping and towing my tear drop and adventure (dumb word) trailers. My off roading is mild and the combination works fine for me.

People's preferences vary but the 2 drs. are generally sought after. The 96s are considered a bit of an odd year. The 2nd gen 97s were clearly coming and they incorporate some of the changes that were planned. I don't think anyone would turn down a 96 for that reason; there's really nothing wrong with them. That one is a base model but it appears to be in great shape. As for the price, I've seen worse ones go for the same.

Here's my 89 2 dr. Limited (31s & 2" lift). It's a RENIX era XJ (87 to 90) which has it's engine control quirks compared to the later models but I think they're great.

21-11-13 2.JPG
 
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