Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

New old guy sends greetings

cb4017

cb4017

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Northern NV
Hi Folks,
I'm a long time Jeep owner. Everything from a CJ5 to a JT Gladiator. In between was a TJ, XJ, KJ, JKU and a JLU. I'm currently driving a 23 Colorado ZR2 but have a hankering for a small TJ to go with it.

A nearby dealer has a 2002 Wrangler Sahara on the lot for $9,999. It has just under 160,000 miles on it but looks pretty clean. Seems pretty clean and well equipped with a Dana 44 rear axle with Trac-Lok. Automatic transmission so I'm guessing that would be the 32RH. A good thing?

Probably going to look at it tomorrow. If I get it, I'll be around.

Cheers!
Cliff

IMG_2816 (Medium).jpeg
 
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cb4017 said:
Hi Folks,
I'm a long time Jeep owner. Everything from a CJ5 to a JT Gladiator. In between was a TJ, XJ, KJ, JKU and a JLU. I'm currently driving a 23 Colorado ZR2 but have a hankering for a small TJ to go with it.

A nearby dealer has a 2002 Wrangler Sahara on the lot for $9,999. It has just under 160,000 miles on it but looks pretty clean. Seems pretty clean and well equipped with a Dana 44 rear axle with Trac-Lok. Automatic transmission so I'm guessing that would be the 32RH. A good thing?

Probably going to look at it tomorrow. If I get it, I'll be around.

Cheers!
Cliff

View attachment 587940
Click to expand...

The 32RH is easily considered the best transmission put in a TJ.
Be sure to do a thorough frame inspection!
 
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Thanks for the suggestions on the frame. I planned to bring a moving blanket to lay on the ground and a flashlight to look underneath.

It looks like this Jeep spent almost 3 years in South Dakota then has been in Nevada ever since. I'm hoping there won't be any rust issues.
 
South Dakota can be hit or miss. We live next to South Dakota (Wyoming) and there's a lot of clean cars but also a lot of rusted cars. They don't salt the roads, so where the rust comes from is these heavy winters just packing on ice and snow underneath the vehicle and people never bothering to pressure wash the underside of the vehicle.

I take my F150 after every major snow storm and go to the self-serve washes around here and spend 30 minutes completely cleaning the underside out as well as inside the frame. The amount of crap that comes off is staggering to say the least!
 
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Went to look at the Green Sahara this morning. Pretty much all original. Kinda high mileage at over 170,000. Drove and shifted okay. It has the usual leaks. Something in front, maybe trans cooler line, and probably a rear main seal. A/C and heater seemed to work. No codes with my reader.

The left front fender has rust on top. Looks like over the years the windshield washer fluid would splash out of the bottle filler. I think it's beyond repair so it would need replaced.

The Jeep spent most of it's life in Nevada so rust underneath was minimal.

It didn't tell me to buy it now but I still might make an offer in a day or so.
 
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Ok, here is the next one on my radar. An 06 with 4.0L and manual transmission. Just under 130k miles. Anything I need to be aware of on the later production TJs?

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The 05/06 have a different computer from the earlier years that is known to have some issues but nothing that wranglerfix can't deal with should you run into that. Also OPDA issues, again a relatively easy fix. Ask the seller if either of those two problems happened and what was done to address them. Otherwise, look for the usual stuff stuff previously mentioned, ESPECIALLY frame rust from the inside out.
 
Mac57 said:
The 05/06 have a different computer from the earlier years that is known to have some issues but nothing that wranglerfix can't deal with should you run into that. Also OPDA issues, again a relatively easy fix. Ask the seller if either of those two problems happened and what was done to address them. Otherwise, look for the usual stuff stuff previously mentioned, ESPECIALLY frame rust from the inside out.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll ask the seller about those. This was a Nevada/California Jeep so hopefully rust should be minimal. It's currently in Truckee, CA. Winter is here so I have to wait for a few nice days before I can go up the mountain to look at it.
 
Well, here is one that popped up locally. 2002 Sahara. I got a quick look at it in the dark. 138K miles. Manual transmission and looks like a Dana 44 rear axle. It spent a few years in Ohio and Kentucky before coming to NV. Frame has some rash but otherwise seems solid. I'll be taking a closer look at it tomorrow morning.

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cb4017 said:
Well, here is one that popped up locally. 2002 Sahara. I got a quick look at it in the dark. 138K miles. Manual transmission and looks like a Dana 44 rear axle. It spent a few years in Ohio and Kentucky before coming to NV. Frame has some rash but otherwise seems solid. I'll be taking a closer look at it tomorrow morning.

View attachment 590968

View attachment 590969

View attachment 590970
Click to expand...

That looks really clean and not messed with. Makes me miss my Sahara, was great until my son decided to use it as a submarine:(
 

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