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Thoughts on this 2000 TJ

4K views 26 replies 19 participants last post by  GeneralIssueTJ 
#1 ·
6 cyl manual
140k miles
Coated frame about 4yrs ago
essentially garage kept used as a weekend toy

Here are a few pics of the frame

Thoughts please. Going to look at this tomorrow AM if think it's worth checking out.

Thanks!!
 

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#4 ·
With that tub fender rot given that frame saw same life exposure I would suspect sig rot inside frame and a coat of black won’t fix that
Brims a fiber optic camera from harbor freight and see what is what


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Sure looks like there could be some issues under that top coat/inside of frame. NE is brutal/looked at several that had huge flakes and some you just put ur finger in and you could feel the frame was full of sand/dirt etc.

Hard to tell but it looks like DS control arm mount may have been welded/repaired.

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#3 ·
Ps definetly better looking than ds just from the pics. The spot on the fender is common.

Not easy finding a clean one around these parts.

Looked at quite a few/at least half a dozen before my son found his. Higher mileage but frame was in super shape.

Checking it out can't hurt but be prepared to walk away if the frame is bad.[emoji106]

Take a small screw driver with u/u shouldnt be able to poke any holes[emoji2]

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#5 ·
Top pic looks like its been repaired..frame that is..
 
#7 ·
Asking $4000 for this one. I've looked at several so far and they've been pretty beat to be truthful.
One in Staten Island asking $6600 but that's a solid 2hr drive just to look at it.
Also one in NJ about 2hrs away so far firm at 7k.
So, for 4k I am hopefully this one works for me. It'll be a weekend fun car and specifically purchased to pull 2 jetskis that I don't have yet!
 
#9 ·
I know it would be inconvenient but if you're truly wanting a rust free or close to rust free TJ you really should look further south or west. Up to you and your money, time.

This one already needs a new fender, paint Rust to that extent I imagine there's probably several other bad spots not seen in the pictures. $4000 seems cheap.
 
#14 ·
I'd be leery of that, I'm with the rest on better taking a long ride south for one. I drove 6 hours for my hardtop for my LJ and good price. Heck it would be better to catch a plane ticket to South for a clean TJ and drive it home. I have a clean TJ for sale not 2 miles away from me N. AL. You can about trip over them here.
 
#17 ·
Even at $4000 I'm pretty sure I am going to pass on going to look at it. 4cyl, 36" tires, 140,000 miles, high idle (says $40 sensor) and subwoofer not working.

I'm trying to be realistic, this will be used very rarely and my main goal is to pull 2 jet skis. Hard to justify $8000 for a Jeep if this $4000 would work.....but I am not having great feeling on this particular Jeep.
 
#18 ·
Even at $4000 I'm pretty sure I am going to pass on going to look at it. 4cyl, 36" tires, 140,000 miles, high idle (says $40 sensor) and subwoofer not working.

I'm trying to be realistic, this will be used very rarely and my main goal is to pull 2 jet skis. Hard to justify $8000 for a Jeep if this $4000 would work.....but I am not having great feeling on this particular Jeep.
 
#20 ·
A $4000 jeep can become a crappy $8000 jeep real fast. I bought a $7500 2004 Rubicon with just a hint of surface rust on the underside of the body and 161000 miles. Its already a $8500 jeep and I haven't passed inspection yet. I live in Central Texas though where cars are clean but usually have a ton of miles. I have flown to the DMZ between rusty shit box land and clean to buy a F250 that was both clean and had low miles. If I'm in New England, I think I would consider a long road trip with a trailer.
 

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#22 ·
Another big issue on '00-'01 TJ's is the 0331 heads. Those first 2 years had problems with the heads cracking between the #3 and #4 cylinders. Jeep revamped that design in '02 and fixed it.

The head cracked on my '00 XJ and my buddy's '00 TJ cracked as well. Seen it on multiple jeeps. You generally won't know the head has cracked until you notice that the oil pressure is dropping and the coolant level is low, while the oil level is high and looks like a milkshake.

With the rust and the potential head issues, I'd pass on that one...
 
#23 ·
My '87 YJ is pretty much rust free. I've had some issues with frozen fasteners, but no frame or body rot. It's an original Colorado vehicle. It was about #6 or #8 that I looked at. I don't remember rejecting any for rust. Usually the Wranglers in my price range were poorly maintained or cobbled up by a kid with big ideas and no budget.
The one I ultimately bought was from the second owner and had a lot of deferred maintenance, but the bones were good and the price was right. He hadn't driven it in several years and was planning on "fixing it up some day". I think he needed money to finish an addition to his house. It wouldn't pass emissions, but I live in a non-emissions county, so it ended up a good deal for me.

Check out the Denver Craigslist for some idea of what's available in non-rust belt areas.
Phoenix or Albuquerque are good dry places too. In SoCal, everything is more expensive.

Good Luck, L.M.
 
#25 ·
hate the salt

Yeah Virginia puts salt on the roads here. I have that rust spot on the passenger side fender. Drivers side is perfect. Its weird.
I have been using that Rustoleum rust preventative stuff since 2010 and the only spots I worry on the frame is back at the rear spring mounts. You brush it on, but you have to take previous off if it gets a nick in the seal. Time consuming but has worked well.

I go back and forth on selling my 98 TJ, I don't drive it in the winter anymore because of the salt on roads. I think I'd buy a kia-sophia if I had to drive in winter crap.
I like the Jeep to much for it to rust away. My wife has to drive to work, so I got her a toyota camry for that, she thought she was going to drive the new JK when we got it in 2016. Hell no, only in summer honey, LOL

Good luck on your search !
 
#26 ·
OP - that TJ has also been painted. TJ's of that era would not have the clear coat gloss that that one has.

Garage kept - what for the last two weeks? That fender rust is from the underside and as others have said - the frame would have been exposed to more.

Frame coated 4 days ago - just in time so it would look good for some one looking for a cheap Jeep. As one member said, get your self a smart phone endo scope. Amazon has several that use blue tooth to connect to your smart phone. Then you can check the inside of the frame. But, I would keep looking.
 
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