Help: Potential LJ Purchase
- Thread starter dmr22
- Start date
There's some rust, but doesn't look too bad from the pics you posted. Need some more pics from underneath, better look at the frame and everything else.
Checkout the engine and trans. Take it to a mechanic and have it inspected if you don't know what to check for.
Checkout the engine and trans. Take it to a mechanic and have it inspected if you don't know what to check for.
I'll be sure to crawl around it really well and see if there is anything super concerning. What is everyone doing now to treat frames, still using fluid film?
What year? How old are the tires? 133K miles are at the upper end of life. As said the condition of the frame is important especially if you’re going to dump big $ on a build. You’re far enough South that salt should not a big issue. KBB says 04 Unlimited with 133k in very good condition and no bells and whistles is valued at $9K or less in your area. It’s an Unlimited but nothing special.
That's a rare color for an LJ, since it was supposedly discontinued in 2004. I've never seen one that color. 
Grind the rust down, put a nice frame paint (I used Krylon Rust Tough) on it, and coat it in FF or Surface Shield. Surface Shield lasts longer. A good coating of SS or FF would probably suffice, but on 20 year old Jeep frames, being thorough isn't exactly a bad thing.
KBB says 04 Unlimited with 133k in very good condition and no bells and whistles is valued at $9K or less in your area.
Here are 73 unlimited for sale across the USA.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ca?endYear=2006&searchRadius=0&startYear=2004
From a rust bucket for $4685 to $75000 for one that has been modifed.
Here are the 16 from that list LJ Rubicons
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ca?endYear=2006&searchRadius=0&startYear=2004
Here are 73 unlimited for sale across the USA.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ca?endYear=2006&searchRadius=0&startYear=2004
From a rust bucket for $4685 to $75000 for one that has been modifed.
Here are the 16 from that list LJ Rubicons
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ca?endYear=2006&searchRadius=0&startYear=2004
I had my wonderful 99 nicely built TJ rust away just from driving in 3 Illinois winters with salted roads.
My $.02 Frame will rust on you from inside out based on the pics at some point as well as the torque boxes.
Not sure if Eastwood’s internal frame paint would help but guessing it wouldn’t hurt if you do end up buying the LJ as it is pretty rust free for us stuck in Illinois.
Sorry to be a downer but my LJR is my 4th Jeep and has never seen a salted road and never will as long as I own it.
My $.02 Frame will rust on you from inside out based on the pics at some point as well as the torque boxes.
Not sure if Eastwood’s internal frame paint would help but guessing it wouldn’t hurt if you do end up buying the LJ as it is pretty rust free for us stuck in Illinois.
Sorry to be a downer but my LJR is my 4th Jeep and has never seen a salted road and never will as long as I own it.
It is a 2004. Not sure on the age of the tires and I am not overly concerned as I will be swapping the tires/wheels out. Thanks for the info!
Yeah, it is my thoughts as well. I am going to inspect it really well. I definitely don't want to dump a bunch of money into something that is just going to rust away. I am not in a hurry to purchase one, I would rather find something I don't have to fight rust on.
Took me months of both my Wife and I looking multiple times a day to find mine 800 miles away. Flew to Denver on Fri rented a car, bought it on Sat and flew back Sun. The Wife got a shopping trip in Denver and I got my rust free TJRU that I wanted. My Son and I went up the next week with a trailer and brought it to its new home. Happy as a clam with it.
2005 TJRU 6sp, hard top, conservative build and 112K miles for $22.5K. It had a Gobi rack that I sold for $800 and have put around $300 in maintenance. Cast a wide net and don’t settle.
2005 TJRU 6sp, hard top, conservative build and 112K miles for $22.5K. It had a Gobi rack that I sold for $800 and have put around $300 in maintenance. Cast a wide net and don’t settle.
Whatever price you two come to an agreement on.
The external rust is an easy task. Time consuming but easily handled. Inside the frame is more difficult and you will never cure the rust issue if it has started but you can certainly slow it's effects down.
Nope already had return flight and had to supervise the Wife’s purchases in Denver. That alone cost me a about a grand. Had a nice Father Son trip bringing it home and we spent a few hours in Moab testing it out.
I’m weird. I bought the teardrop I pull behind it in Daytona. Spent a few days with friends, got to go to the 500. The Wife flew out and we had a nice long roadtrip back home. Cost savings from what I could find here more than made up for the cost of the trip. It helps to be retired and have the time and money to do these things.
I’m weird. I bought the teardrop I pull behind it in Daytona. Spent a few days with friends, got to go to the 500. The Wife flew out and we had a nice long roadtrip back home. Cost savings from what I could find here more than made up for the cost of the trip. It helps to be retired and have the time and money to do these things.
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