New to forum, need input on determining an MJ's Value

[paps64]

Hello all! From NC here, owned three XJs and have always had the Jeep bug. I recently sold my lifted XJ and I know I want to go the MJ direction. Thus, I have been lurking these forums and Craigslist to gain knowledge on these awesome trucks. I was too late to the first one I found that I really wanted. But of course, I just found another!

 

It is curious because it is a very nice appearing 89/99 full XJ swap. Grill, hood, fenders, engine, auto tranny, both axles and the entire interior. It appears very clean. White in color. Lifted 6" with 35s and regeared 4.88. Locked front and rear. Nice aftermarket bumpers and winch.

 

Minus the body and engine swap, it's basically all I wanted to do to a stock MJ. Engine has 130k and the body over 210k..

 

What should I look for when I check it out, both in relation to the swap and with MJs in general?

He said the cluster isn't working, in particular the oil and gas gauges. What would that entail?

Finally, he is asking $9000. Without seeing pictures, would you guys pay even $8000 for the lifted MJ of your dreams? I'm thinking that's as high as I would consider...

[Eagle]

Hello all! From NC here, owned three XJs and have always had the Jeep bug. I recently sold my lifted XJ and I know I want to go the MJ direction. Thus, I have been lurking these forums and Craigslist to gain knowledge on these awesome trucks. I was too late to the first one I found that I really wanted. But of course, I just found another!

 

It is curious because it is a very nice appearing 89/99 full XJ swap. Grill, hood, fenders, engine, auto tranny, both axles and the entire interior. It appears very clean. White in color. Lifted 6" with 35s and regeared 4.88. Locked front and rear. Nice aftermarket bumpers and winch.

 

Minus the body and engine swap, it's basically all I wanted to do to a stock MJ. Engine has 130k and the body over 210k..

 

What should I look for when I check it out, both in relation to the swap and with MJs in general?

He said the cluster isn't working, in particular the oil and gas gauges. What would that entail?

Finally, he is asking $9000. Without seeing pictures, would you guys pay even $8000 for the lifted MJ of your dreams? I'm thinking that's as high as I would consider...

 

You are looking at a 27 year old truck that has been extensively modified by someone whose work you know nothing about. The basic rule of all Jeep people is: When they are buying, it's worth $500, tops -- when they're selling, it's worth $10,000 minimum. There's no blue book on 27-year old, extensively modified Comanches. It's worth however much you are willing to pay for it.

 

Personally, I will never again buy a Jeep that someone else has lifted. I made that mistake once, and it cost me dearly.

[Minuit]

I agree. The problem with pre-modified trucks is you have absolutely no idea if whoever did the work was a hack or a perfectionist who took care of every little detail. If the cluster isn't working, that points very strongly to the "hack" end of the scale. A properly done swap would be 100% functional at $9000. The 97+ swap is something that tons of people want to do, but very few have the patience and skills to do properly. Personally I'm very suspicious of other people' work, but that's just the way I am - but if you're considering dropping thousands on someone else's project, you should be too. Like Eagle, I would never buy a truck that someone else has done a lift on. There's too many things that can go wrong and end up killing someone.

 

There's no objective way to value a Comanche. It's worth what it's worth to someone who's willing to pay for it.

[64 Cheyenne]

I've seen a few reeeeeaaalllllll nice stockish 2wd MJs for +/- 3k, and a few even better for 4 to 5k, add 3 to 4k to build or pay to have built the way you want and something you can trust.

[glundblad]

For a fleeting moment, I considered selling mine.  It is a stock '87 4.0 5 speed 4wd.  I was asking $6k.  I say stock but it has been repainted.  The mechanicals and suspension are all stock though. Had I lifted it, I doubt it would be worth half that on the open market.   I sense that the stock ones are starting to go up in value.  Not very fast but they are still going up.