tips for buying a CJ?

  • My mom wants a Jeep, but just a toy for driving to the beach and goofing off when she's back home once or twice a month. I'm thinking a CJ for the simplicity and general lack of electrical stuff. Any tips on what to look for? I know rust, but... what else?

    Jerry / Whatevah

    2020 Gladiator Mojave - 33" Falken mud tires, LoD side steps, Zroadz bed rack, Quadratec QRC winch bumper, Superwinch EPi 9.0, Kleinn on-board air, Kleinn air horns, lots of lights, Yaesu ham radio with GPS tracker.

    Gone- 2012 JK Rubicon with stuff. Long gone- Long-arm 2001 Cherokee with stuff.


  • If you can deal with Square headlights I'd look for a YJ instead. Fuel injection might add electronics but it sure makes drivability better. YJ's are pretty simple anyway and TJ have become more rust buckets than YJ's now.


    YJs have a Galvanized bodies and dont rust as bad. But as everyone knows, Square head lights... blech.


    If you are set on a CJ, Looks for a 258 (6 cyl) Jeep, 82 -86 (Wide Track axles) Look carefully for frame and under body rust. Look for corroded body mounts and floor boards. Peel back carpet look for rust.


    If you find a nicely restored CJ, go for it, they will hold or increase in value. Expect to pay, 5-10k for a real nice one.


    Goodies to look for, Special Editions, Levis, Tuxedo Park , Renegade, Tilt Wheel , clock, 5 Speed. Extra tops, full doors, half doors,


    Carefull of lifted / molested cjs, can be good , can be bad. . 3" body lift , walk away.

    Nobody belongs anywhere, nobody exists on purpose, everybody's going to die. Have a beer.


    Jeeps Owned... 89YJ, 81CJ-8, 99XJ, 93XJ, 00WJ, 05LJ, 22Bronco Badlands !

    Edited once, last by deadfeat ().

  • There has been a black CJ7 for sale locally. Last time I saw it was at Home Depot across from the hospital.



    You will probably be looking for something already restored I'm guessing. If not, I'd go with an early '70's CJ so you don't have to worry about emissions. I happen to know where a '68 (I think) is with a plow. Probably needs frame up restoration but that isn't too bad.

    Member since 2000

    Jeeps Owned'79 CJ5:

    Specs-

    - 258 I6

    - '93 Cherokee fuel injection and HO head,

    - bored 30 over

    - with 4x4 cam

    T18 tranny with granny low / Dana 18 t-case

    Dana 44 front and back from late '70s Wagoneer, both locked and loaded with 4.88 gears

    SOA on modified YJ springs with shackle reversa

    Fiberglass tub with 6 point cage mounted to the frame


    2015 Grand Cherokee Limited
    Spec-

    Quadratec Floor mats

  • I'll maybe suggest it, but... no square head lights! :) We'll see... a friend of ours had a hardtop YJ for sale a while back, maybe she still does.


    Thanks guys :)

    Jerry / Whatevah

    2020 Gladiator Mojave - 33" Falken mud tires, LoD side steps, Zroadz bed rack, Quadratec QRC winch bumper, Superwinch EPi 9.0, Kleinn on-board air, Kleinn air horns, lots of lights, Yaesu ham radio with GPS tracker.

    Gone- 2012 JK Rubicon with stuff. Long gone- Long-arm 2001 Cherokee with stuff.

  • I always thought that it would be awesome to buy a basket case cj, then buy a new frame and body, basically build a new cj.

    Nobody belongs anywhere, nobody exists on purpose, everybody's going to die. Have a beer.


    Jeeps Owned... 89YJ, 81CJ-8, 99XJ, 93XJ, 00WJ, 05LJ, 22Bronco Badlands !


  • My CJ is available for sale if interested


    Still? Yikes... I'll send my mom a link. :)

    Jerry / Whatevah

    2020 Gladiator Mojave - 33" Falken mud tires, LoD side steps, Zroadz bed rack, Quadratec QRC winch bumper, Superwinch EPi 9.0, Kleinn on-board air, Kleinn air horns, lots of lights, Yaesu ham radio with GPS tracker.

    Gone- 2012 JK Rubicon with stuff. Long gone- Long-arm 2001 Cherokee with stuff.

  • alright, sounds good. I sent her a link... she only comes down once or twice a month, so it might take time if she decides to go for it.

    Jerry / Whatevah

    2020 Gladiator Mojave - 33" Falken mud tires, LoD side steps, Zroadz bed rack, Quadratec QRC winch bumper, Superwinch EPi 9.0, Kleinn on-board air, Kleinn air horns, lots of lights, Yaesu ham radio with GPS tracker.

    Gone- 2012 JK Rubicon with stuff. Long gone- Long-arm 2001 Cherokee with stuff.


  • I'll maybe suggest it, but... no square head lights! :) We'll see... a friend of ours had a hardtop YJ for sale a while back, maybe she still does.


    Thanks guys :)


    Swap hood and grill off a CJ and bam, no square headlights. I'd still take fuel injection over round lights tho. Especially if it sits at all.

  • http://www.jeepforum.com/forum…-cj5-225-project-3428954/

    I just picked this up a few months ago and haven't gotten to do too much to it yet but I have a chance on a possible job lined up in AZ and I am not going to be able to move it with me so I am putting it up to see if anyone is interested. Its an in pieces project 69 CJ5, factory 225, 3 speed, originally built in Canada. The body is pretty rough but savable, some repairs have been started by the PO and I have been welding up some spots and grinding down rust when I can. Its definitely not mint but not terrible by east coast standards. The frame and running gear were already redone by the PO and have been painted and its currently rolling on new 30x9.5x15 mud tires on wagon wheels, factory Dana 27 and 44 with 3.73 gears and Warn hubs. The engine had been rebuilt at some point in the past and it now has a Weiand intake and Edelbrock 4bbl carb. It turns over by hand fine but I have not had it running as it is on an engine stand now. I did a compression check and the numbers were good. Trans and transfer case seem ok as well. Everything else is apart and I think most of its there but I'm sure some things are missing. The windshield frame has some rust but is fixable, glass is usable but some wiper blade scratches. Gas tank is here but needs to be cleaned and coated probably. Fenders are pretty bad but would be good for cutting into tube fenders. 2 seats but don't think they are originals, Lots of other parts in boxes and possibly most important a good NJ title ready to transfer. I am just looking for what I paid $1000. Located in Cranford NJ right off exit 136 off the parkway.
    Here are some pics if anyone is interested.......

    http://s78.photobucket.com/user/dhar...tml?sort=3&o=4
    http://s78.photobucket.com/user/dhar...tml?sort=3&o=5
    http://s78.photobucket.com/user/dhar...tml?sort=3&o=6
    http://s78.photobucket.com/user/dhar...tml?sort=3&o=2
    http://s78.photobucket.com/user/dhar...tml?sort=3&o=7
    http://s78.photobucket.com/user/dhar...tml?sort=3&o=1

    Your life is made up of 2 dates and a dash... make the most of the dash!

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