I've a p/u truck guy all my life. That being said, i love 4 wheelin and playin in the outdoors. I dont know much about jeep but i'm lookin to buy one and do some work on it and build it up over the next couple of years. i'm wanting to spend about 3 to 5000 and will using it instead of my diesel hog to get around town. Where should i start?

Actually you will get better milage with the diesel,more so since you are planning to wheel the jeep. you have to figure in size of tires adds alot of weight,and requires the engine to work harder to turn them.
With that being said if your set on the 2 to 5 k your best bet would be a yj.I'm not sure what years they ran,but they are the only wranglers with rectangle headlights. if you are lucky you may find an older tj around the 5k mark.
One thing is for certain do not get anything but a 4.0 liter, it will save a ton of heartache and problems.

not to concerned about the mileage, its that my truck is starting to get up there in miles (165000) and i want to give it a rest,i need it for my camper. also it gives me an excuse to get another toy. Whats a yj?

the jeeps after the CJs but before the TJs (basically, the one in between the round headlights) here -

this is a YJ



this is a TJ (mine - 1998 2.5L 4cyl.)

differences? more creature comforts in the TJs plus coil spring suspension vs. YJ leafs (all around) - if it's a beater, guess it doesn't make a difference but if its going to be a daily driver as well, go with a TJ - the coils make it a softer ride <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

a guy i know has a 98 4.0 that has about 130,000 miles, the body and interior are in good shape, seems to run fine. Iborrowed it last summer when my truck was down and the linkage in the tranny broke,other than that it seems pretty solid. i 'm not sure what else to look for on a jeep. he wants about 3500.00 for it,how does that sound?

That sounds like a darn good price for one in good condition around here. Blue book private party value for my area is $4775 fair cond. $5485 good cond. $6000 excel. Cond.

Of course you're supposed to negotiate down a bit from there. Look it up.

Kelly Blue Book Value

Just for a reference (there is a pattern going obviously):
CJ 1976-1986
YJ 1987-1996
TJ 1997-2006
JK 2007-2016?

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

And to add a bit of trivia and a slight correction, the Yj's were from 87 to 95 and the first Tj was a 97.
There are no 96 Wranglers. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I sold my brother a 1967 cj5. I hope he can get it registered even though they didnt make cj's until 76 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

The first CJ was I believe 1955-56. Had the F head 4 back than. Around '66 -67 they but the Dauntless (Buick) V-6 in them as an option. Those V-6 rigs are awesome if you can find them.Much easier to work on yourself, light, shorter wheelbase, parts easy to find at good prices.The newer 4.0 rigs are great also. The mileage you mentioned on the diesel has just barely broke it in. Twice as much is no big deal. The Toyota pickup/Fourunner is another choice for a pickup man. The 'Runner had SFA till '85 if I remember right the truck I believe changed a year earlier.