Let's discuss this truck-now discussing a different truck, see page 2.

[89 MJ]

Here is a link to the Craigslist ad on the truck:

https://rmn.craigslist.org/pts/d/spring-valley-87-jeep-comanche-metric/7224926556.html

 

It doesn't look to bad for a MN truck. It is definitely a little bit beat, but it doesn't look overly rusty. The big thing with this truck is that I want a red metric ton, and I don't want one super nice like my blue truck is.

 

I do think the price is a little steep, but its been posted for a while, and I think I could talk him down. I am familiar with the rust issues on this truck, I would need to make sure it is 4wd, I should try to get to the bottom of the spots that look like red oxide primer, and I should find out why it has been parked.

 

Here is the description in the ad:

Rare jeep metric ton.sitting inside for years all there good not much rust. Had mice but wiring looks good all lights work.starts with gas down throttle body pump not running 3000 obo

 

Here are all of the pictures from the ad:

 

I am thinking around $1,800-$2,200 seems like a fair deal, providing that it is 4wd. What do you all think of this truck?

I am not looking for a perfect truck, I am just looking for one that I could use to drive year round with a little bit of work. Before you get worried, the truck would get washed a lot in the winter.

[Jesse J]

looks a lot like mine . 2k seems fair but on the high end. 4x4 swap a a thing keep in mind.

[89 MJ]

I should add, I will not buy this truck at the above price if it is not 4wd.

[Jesse J]

that's probably the right choice. I was under the impression most metric tons were 4wd. its pretty rouh missing a tailgate and the tow mirrors are gone or something

[89 MJ]

2 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

that's probably the right choice. I was under the impression most metric tons were 4wd. its pretty rouh missing a tailgate and the tow mirrors are gone or something

It is pretty rough, which is kinda why I want it. And I do have an extra tailgate that wouldn't take much work to install. And the rear bumper would bet removed for a Fey rear.

 

As for the mirrors, I would need to buy some of those.

[Pete M]

based on the pics and the fact that it's been sitting for years and had mice, that's a sub-$1500 truck to me.  anything more than that requires a test drive to convince me I'm not going to need another 3 grand just to make it reliable.  the fuel system, the interior, the harness, even the engine could all be trash. 

[Jesse J]

yes 100% agree with pete. it would make a great work truck keep the paint so you don't care if you ding it up. how far is it away from you?

[89 MJ]

1 minute ago, Pete M said:

based on the pics and the fact that it's been sitting for years and had mice, that's a sub-$1500 truck to me.  anything more than that requires a test drive to convince me I'm not going to need another 3 grand just to make it reliable. 

Thanks! What about the pics is a turnoff for you?

The truck is dirty and not empty, and there are no pictures of the front or interior, but is there anything else that jumps out at you as an issue with the pictures?

[eaglescout526]

Something about that truck doesn’t say $3k. Now if it was say a barn find, intact with all parts and just sat protected then I could justify that. 
 

What engine does it even have?

[89 MJ]

Just now, Jesse J said:

yes 100% agree with pete. it would make a great work truck keep the paint so you don't care if you ding it up. how far is it away from you?

That last bit is the reason that I haven't given up on it. Its about an hour and a half away from me and it would for sure be a beater/work truck.

[89 MJ]

1 minute ago, eaglescout526 said:

Something about that truck doesn’t say $3k. Now if it was say a barn find, intact with all parts and just sat protected then I could justify that. 
 

What engine does it even have?

I definitely agree that it does not look like a $3k truck, but maybe, just maybe it is a $2k truck. I believe it is a 4.0 because it is a metric ton.

[Jesse J]

Just now, 89 MJ said:

That last bit is the reason that I haven't given up on it. Its about an hour and a half away from me and it would for sure be a beater/work truck.

I would drive out (in your mj so he knows you arent clueless abt these trucks) and look it over. its surprisingly not all sqautted with all the wood in the bed, those five pack leaves are pretty sweet. my guess it the interior is horrible something about it sitting and those glazed windows.

[89 MJ]

Another negotiating trick that I have up my sleeve is that I do a lot of appraisals at my work, with the supervision of a certified appraiser. I think I could use this as my benefit to say that the truck is not really worth that. Would that work? I don't know, but I do think it would be worth a shot.

[Jesse J]

Just now, 89 MJ said:

Another negotiating trick that I have up my sleeve is that I do a lot of appraisals at my work, with the supervision of a certified appraiser. I think I could use this as my benefit to say that the truck is not really worth that. Would that work? I don't know, but I do think it would be worth a shot.

anything to get him down I say

[eaglescout526]

I mean if it had everything like the missing tailgate, intact bumper and what not then I could say it’s a $2k truck. Now just because it’s a metric ton doesn’t mean it will have a 4.0. Remember you could order these trucks how ever you wanted. It could be a 2.5L for all you know and maybe the owner put in a bastardpack for the leafs. Who knows what the trucks history is and what has all be done to it. 

[Jesse J]

4 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

I mean if it had everything like the missing tailgate, intact bumper and what not then I could say it’s a $2k truck. Now just because it’s a metric ton doesn’t mean it will have a 4.0. Remember you could order these trucks how ever you wanted. It could be a 2.5L for all you know and maybe the owner put in a bastardpack for the leafs. Who knows what the trucks history is and what has all be done to it. 

thats excactly why he should run out and look at it. thats sometimes the frustrating thing about these old sellers is they don't tell you anything

[Pete M]

it's not necessarily about what those 3 pics show, as much as what they don't show.  interior, underside, engine bay, etc.  it might be a great truck!  or it could be a basket case. 

[derf]

Honestly, that truck is a "no go" for me if you're looking at trying to drive in short order.

 

1. Mice.  Who knows what's they've gotten into and/or left behind.
2. Not Running.  Sure, if they pour gas down the throttle body it will run for a bit but you're probably looking at a lot of parts (pump, lines, injectors, wiring, maybe even tank) to get it going
3. General state of the truck.  The mirrors are gone, the tailgate is gone.  Who knows what else is missing/broken.
4. Rust.  Everyone says "no rust I can see" but no one actually looks for rust.  It's probably got a fair bit of hidden rust that you won't find for a while.

If you were looking at buying it and building it up as a project, it might be worth $2-500.  That's assuming there's not too much hidden rust.  This truck is going to require a ton of work.  It's possible you could luck out but it's not worth a gamble without some further information and better pictures.

 

Sure, I bought an MJ that was a total basket case.  But my intention was always to gut the thing down to the body and replace basically everything anyway.  So I'm not throwing away anything "good" that's broken or missing.  But my intent was never to make it into a daily driver either.

 

Best piece of advice I was ever given when looking at buying a vehicle:  Don't look at the truck you want it to be, look at the truck it is right now.

[89 MJ]

9 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

I mean if it had everything like the missing tailgate, intact bumper and what not then I could say it’s a $2k truck. Now just because it’s a metric ton doesn’t mean it will have a 4.0. Remember you could order these trucks how ever you wanted. It could be a 2.5L for all you know and maybe the owner put in a bastardpack for the leafs. Who knows what the trucks history is and what has all be done to it. 

I do have a good tailgate, and I would probably just buy a Fey bumper for it. Is there any way to tell whether or not is a Metric Ton by the VIN? If so, I might get that to have that run.

[89 MJ]

4 minutes ago, Pete M said:

it's not necessarily about what those 3 pics show, as much as what they don't show.  interior, underside, engine bay, etc.  it might be a great truck!  or it could be a basket case. 

That makes sense. I would definitely ask for more pictures before driving out to look at the truck.

[eaglescout526]

Get the VIN. Depending on if it’s an 86-88, I can check. If it’s 89-92, @fiatslug87will be able to tell you. 

[Jesse J]

2 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I do have a good tailgate, and I would probably just buy a Fey bumper for it. Is there any way to tell whether or not is a Metric Ton by the VIN? If so, I might get that to have that run.

Ill sell/trade you my chrome rear bumper if you want might be a little fancy for a work truck though

[89 MJ]

3 minutes ago, derf said:

Honestly, that truck is a "no go" for me if you're looking at trying to drive in short order.

 

1. Mice.  Who knows what's they've gotten into and/or left behind.
2. Not Running.  Sure, if they pour gas down the throttle body it will run for a bit but you're probably looking at a lot of parts (pump, lines, injectors, wiring, maybe even tank) to get it going
3. General state of the truck.  The mirrors are gone, the tailgate is gone.  Who knows what else is missing/broken.
4. Rust.  Everyone says "no rust I can see" but no one actually looks for rust.  It's probably got a fair bit of hidden rust that you won't find for a while.

If you were looking at buying it and building it up as a project, it might be worth $2-500.  That's assuming there's not too much hidden rust.  This truck is going to require a ton of work.  It's possible you could luck out but it's not worth a gamble without some further information and better pictures.

 

Sure, I bought an MJ that was a total basket case.  But my intention was always to gut the thing down to the body and replace basically everything anyway.  So I'm not throwing away anything "good" that's broken or missing.  But my intent was never to make it into a daily driver either.

 

Best piece of advice I was ever given when looking at buying a vehicle:  Don't look at the truck you want it to be, look at the truck it is right now.

My parents have enough vehicles for me to drive, so I'm not overly worried about buying it and having it driveable in a week, but I am just looking for something I can go through and tinker with on the nights and weekends. I am definitely concerned about rust, and that would be the big thing that I am looking for. As far as the mice, most of the truck would probably get gutted because the floors I'm sure would need some love. I'm not overly concerned about the broken/missing things because I have a decent sized stockpile of parts and I am on a pretty good forum of MJ owners.

 

I would at least need more details before I were to drive out there to look at it, and I would want some pictures.

 

I do like that advice.

[89 MJ]

7 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Get the VIN. Depending on if it’s an 86-88, I can check. If it’s 89-92, @fiatslug87will be able to tell you. 

Thanks, if I can't talk myself out of the truck, I will definitely be doing that.

 

6 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

Ill sell/trade you my chrome rear bumper if you want might be a little fancy for a work truck though

I'll keep that in mind. It would be nice for a work truck, but I've always wanted chrome bumpers and a chrome grill on my blue truck.

[Jesse J]

Just now, 89 MJ said:

 

 

I'll keep that in mind. It would be nice for a work truck, but I've always wanted chrome bumpers and a chrome grill on my blue truck.

yeah or put it on your blue one. I would trade for a reproduction rollbar