I'm looking into buying a cj 7 w/some body rust on it ( I will look this weekend to see how much), but my question is how much is too much when buying a jeep? I know you can do the fiberglass bodies and all, but then to me it isn't a jeep anymore. How expensive does all that body work get when getting rid of rust damage? Also what would you check in the undercarriage for rust, just the frame? Where else has rust on jeeps been known to be bad?

Thanks,
Duece

Rust on a jeep can be anywhere, and in places you can't even see until you take it apart.

Go check out the jeep, look it over as best as you can (climb under, lift the carpets, etc.) That will give you a pretty good idea. It's good to run a magnet over the body to check for previous Bondo/bodywork. If you see bubbling coming through on the outside of the body, just remember that it's worse beneath it.

Typically, if it has excessive rust issues, you either have to be able to weld in new metal, or be willing to learn. The cost of having a bodyshop do all your bodywork will be very expensive. You can buy new $teel bodypart$, as well...

When you buy an older jeep, you have to be able to do a lot of the fixin' yourself, unless you have very deep pockets.

That's where these forums come in VERY handy.

rust is not limited to the body, you may want to check the frame out too....a bad frame and body is not worth fixin....parts only.

I did not buy the Jeep, probably should have but didn't. It had some rust, but nothing I would consider terrible. Thanks for all the advice though.

Duece