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Should I buy this donor XJ?


87Warrior
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I am needing to get a donor 97+ XJ for my Comanche project. Gonna do the the engine, tranny, t-case, and interior from the newer XJ to the MJ. Here is a relatively local rig (1 hr away) I have found. He said he will take $500 for it.

 

98 jeep cherokee sport, damaged right front. 4.0 6 cyl, 4WD, auto. Has complete drive train, all windows good except windshield cracked. Seats & misc interior parts gone. 111,140 miles, had regular maintenance. Will not run & front wheel down. for sale as is for salvage. Several good tires & wheels.

It has AC, cruise, 2 door power windows and locks (I have the front 2 doors from a 4 door), no title, Air bags deployed, no bucket seats or carpet (picked up gray buckets last weekend), with the back end in good shape. It is sitting on all 4's with a busted drag link and tie-rod. They bought it via govdeals.com from the Lenexa (KC area) Water One municipality.

 

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I am not to worried about the internals of the motor or drive line. Not sure what to think about the possibility of cracks that may have occurred at the t-case or what not. Never looked at or bought a wrecked rig before. Anything in particular I should check for before throwing down the 5 beji's?

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assuming everythings good its worth 500 but maybe you can question it and knock it down to 3-400

 

from the pics it doesn't look like it was a hard enough hit to crack the case and i'd say the transmission is good for sure but you never know, weird stuff happens during wrecks.

 

good luck whatever you decide! that'd be a good donor.

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$500?

 

That's a STEAL. Frankly, if I were the owner and I had said I'd take $500 for the complete vehicle, if you came back and tried to get me down I would throw you off my property. Why do so many Jeep people go out of their way to be insulting?

 

Get real. The axles alone are worth $500. The tranny and transfer case alone are worth $500.

 

Look up some prices for parts on a new body style Cherokee on www.car-parts.com.

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I agree that the price is good. I have seen it for sale before and think he is having a hard time getting rid of it for what ever reason. Very few wrecked XJ's get sold in this neck of the woods, typically go to the salvage yard.

 

I am heading to check it out on Monday afternoon with the ability to haul it home.

 

Because I am hunting for the drivetrain I want to pick something up that will work for me. The fact the air bags deployed make me nervous. Seen many rigs wreck and roll with no bags. I do understand the air bags deploy by a decelerometer.

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For $500 I can buy a running, driveable 4.0/auto/4x4 Cherokee here. Although it'll be a rusty one.

 

For one as badly wrecked as that? All depends on what parts I'd need from it.

A '98?

 

Cheapest I've seen any new-style XJ for around here was $2,975, and I just spotted that one this evening when we went out for dinner.

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I'm with Sam on this one. I think there is way too much damage to it, especially since the parts you want are some of the damaged/ missing ones. And that is just what you can see from the pics. A hit that hard could mean driveline damage as well.

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it had to get hit hard. i can't see what happened on the front, but you have to be careful of xj 4.0's hit in the front. if you've ever had the water pump off, you see cylinder 1 is very close to the front, its very easy to have damage to the motor in a front collision.

 

also what good is the interior for you in that one, air bags deployed and all.?

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Thanks for the comments guys. It is clear this vehicle hit hard and will never be on the road again. The unibody buckle shows that.

 

There are several pre 97 XJ's for sale around here. Usually rusted, busted, and selling for $800. Those rigs won't have much of anything I need for the driveline/interior swap.

 

also what good is the interior for you in that one, air bags deployed and all.?

I do have the dash from another 98 I picked up early this year. Have a good passenger bag, missing the driver bag. I also have the fenders, header panel, and head light harness.

 

Having everything intact and attached to a donor rig is really what I am after. Less guess work needed to find those little parts. It was recommended to me to have a donor XJ sitting there when starting the swap.

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I would stay away from that one. That clockspring is probably shot and it will cost you $$$$ for a new one. They are really hard to find used too.

 

I would look for a nicer one to get for a donor. You want one that runs and drives so you know everything in the wiring is good.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well I passed on that non running 1998. Just to many unknowns.

 

Now searching for advice on another XJ. It is a 2000 Limited, runs and drives, wrecked front and rear corners (see pictures). Went and looked at it in person while helping my younger sister move into a house at Pitt State. It has 70K miles on the clock and runs smoooooooth. AC is cold, heat is hot. Has the 242 which is awesome. Salvage title rig. The owners said he replaced the front CA's, drag link, tie rod, and two of the wheels (cracked in accident). He has it advertised for 2,500 but will take 1,800 (firm, bottom offer). Has had had it for a month and a half.

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I am fairly certain the price is extremely fair for a 2000, limited, with 70K on it. The coil rail ignition is also a big selling point for me. I have been thinking that if I grab this XJ, I might take the MJ off the road/insurance and replace it with the XJ. WHY? you ask: The MJ is destined for the body shop. He is slow, as am I. I have an extra header panel and turn signals to make it all legal. Will also save wear on my Rubi with 35's as the MJ is my current DD. Then when the time comes, probably next summer after the body work is done, start the swap.

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