Looking at an older CJ

NDWRANGLER · 10-10-2008, 04:38 PM

so i'm completely new to jeeps looking to get myself a daily driver project vehicle. i found a wrangler with a chevy V8 in it not sure what size over all the vehicle is not in that bad of shape the owners want $1000 for it just throwin a thread out there to see what some people with experience with the vehicles think about my idea.

Thanks ahead of time for any advice

jpdocdave · 10-10-2008, 05:58 PM

welcome to the forum. the title says older cj, but you saw a wrangler? $1000 for a running jeep is great. check for rust, a lot of them are rotted out. let us know what year you are looking at, and we'll help ya with what to look for.

NDWRANGLER · 10-16-2008, 02:02 PM

k so i got a phone call today from the guy and it has a 283 chevy small block and the transmission case is cracked and he will take 750 for it. It is rusted out but i'm not to worried about it because i went to school for autobody and have the tools and know how to replace the pretty much flat sheet metal it already has 31 inch tries and we just got about 8 inches of rain up here and he left it sitting outside and i went and checked it out the day after and the soft top did not leak at all

jpdocdave · 10-16-2008, 02:39 PM

check the frame, they tend to rot out towards the back and at the body mounts.

NDWRANGLER · 10-16-2008, 11:08 PM

thanks i'm going to look at it tom i have the money and plan to buy it i found a tranny i can have for free so if other than the frame being rusted out what else should i look for i'm plannin on redoing the whole thing including a 350 small block. anything else i'm mechanically smart so i'm not worried about fixing things as they go wrong to

jpdocdave · 10-17-2008, 10:08 AM

just make sure the thing is worth the work, if the frame is rotted it usually isn't. check the body out real well, floor boards, rockers, windshield frame. beware of diamond plate covering, usually hiding something.

Piet · 11-04-2008, 07:24 PM

Look for frame rot by the spring shackle mounts.
If therre is.... walk away.... unless you love to weld..... alot.... and alot

lost · 11-04-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piet

Look for frame rot by the spring shackle mounts.

x2!

and check the body mounts
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...y/CIMG1182.jpg

**jgano23** · 11-04-2008, 10:03 PM

CJ's are freakin great. i love mine it takes a lot of abuse on the trail. FYI CJ's are notorious for the guages not working, especially the fuel guage. just keep that in mind when you are looking at it cause you'll probably have to fix 'em.

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10-10-2008, 04:38 PM	#1
NDWRANGLER Newb Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3	Looking at an older CJ so i'm completely new to jeeps looking to get myself a daily driver project vehicle. i found a wrangler with a chevy V8 in it not sure what size over all the vehicle is not in that bad of shape the owners want $1000 for it just throwin a thread out there to see what some people with experience with the vehicles think about my idea. Thanks ahead of time for any advice

10-10-2008, 05:58 PM	#2
jpdocdave Guilty of Malpractice WF Supporting Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: beach park, il Posts: 2,923	welcome to the forum. the title says older cj, but you saw a wrangler? $1000 for a running jeep is great. check for rust, a lot of them are rotted out. let us know what year you are looking at, and we'll help ya with what to look for. __________________ got jeeps?

10-16-2008, 02:39 PM	#4
jpdocdave Guilty of Malpractice WF Supporting Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: beach park, il Posts: 2,923	check the frame, they tend to rot out towards the back and at the body mounts. __________________ got jeeps?

10-17-2008, 10:08 AM	#6
jpdocdave Guilty of Malpractice WF Supporting Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: beach park, il Posts: 2,923	just make sure the thing is worth the work, if the frame is rotted it usually isn't. check the body out real well, floor boards, rockers, windshield frame. beware of diamond plate covering, usually hiding something. __________________ got jeeps?

10-16-2008, 02:02 PM	#3
NDWRANGLER Newb Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3	k so i got a phone call today from the guy and it has a 283 chevy small block and the transmission case is cracked and he will take 750 for it. It is rusted out but i'm not to worried about it because i went to school for autobody and have the tools and know how to replace the pretty much flat sheet metal it already has 31 inch tries and we just got about 8 inches of rain up here and he left it sitting outside and i went and checked it out the day after and the soft top did not leak at all

10-16-2008, 11:08 PM	#5
NDWRANGLER Newb Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3	thanks i'm going to look at it tom i have the money and plan to buy it i found a tranny i can have for free so if other than the frame being rusted out what else should i look for i'm plannin on redoing the whole thing including a 350 small block. anything else i'm mechanically smart so i'm not worried about fixing things as they go wrong to

11-04-2008, 07:24 PM	#7
Piet Newb Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta, CANADA Posts: 5	Look for frame rot by the spring shackle mounts. If therre is.... walk away.... unless you love to weld..... alot.... and alot __________________ Peter 1988 Golden Eagle

11-04-2008, 10:03 PM	#9
jgano23 Jeep Chick WF Supporting Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,713	CJ's are freakin great. i love mine it takes a lot of abuse on the trail. FYI CJ's are notorious for the guages not working, especially the fuel guage. just keep that in mind when you are looking at it cause you'll probably have to fix 'em. __________________ Yes, I'm a GIRL. Get Over It. So...Get In, Buckle Down, Hold On, & Shut Up!! Mine: '05 TJ X 4.0L, 2" BB, 31" Kumho Venture AT, +More '83 CJ7, 4.2L, 4spd Manual, 31" Dean MT.........To Be Continued His: '06 XK Commander, 2" BB, 32" Kumho Venture AT, +More '90 YJ Islander, 4.2L....In pieces all over the garage.

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