Extreme Terrain
4x4Wire Trail Talk Forums: Jeep, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Pajero, Isuzu, Kia, 4WD, 4x4, SUV, Off-Road and OutdoorWire Forums


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
things to look for before buying '97 tj #737790 07/16/06 07:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 90
R
rjn78cj7 Offline OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Hello. Well the engine in the cj, i guess is done. Instead of denting the bank acct w/rebuild - i am looking at a '97 tj. Supposedly never been off-roading. All that has been done to it(as far as i am being told or can see) is a 1" body lift. It has a 6 w/107k miles on it. 5-speed, 44 rear. Seems to drive very nice. I am used to driving the cj though! No visible oil leaks or evidence of burning. Now i need to know is there anything i should look for or check before dropping almost 5k. I have never owned a tj. And with my luck, i don't wanna buy this thing and the jeep puke on itself in a week or 2. Any little tips, warning signs, thanks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


almost there! So close, yet so far away!
1978 CJ-7 w/whatever i can make work to keep this piece on the road!
Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj [Re: rjn78cj7] #737791 07/16/06 09:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,817
F
Fred Blackstone Offline
Body Damage is Cool
I'd buy it! No major problems with 97 Wrangler --- with 107,000 miles it probably has had the exhaust manifold changed by now. 6 cyl.,AX-15, NV231 and TJ Dana 44 ... $5000 is a good price.


94 YJ, SOA, 2-1/2 Alcans, ARB-front, Detroit-Rear, 4.56:1 gears, Oasis Trailhead compressor, 4:1 Terra Lo, 37x12.50x15 SSR's, 8000 lb Ramsey, & etc.
Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj [Re: Fred Blackstone] #737792 07/17/06 04:22 AM
Anonymous
Unregistered
Buy it! With a 44 for 5k, buy it! But dont sell the CJ.

Like Fred said though about the manifold, check it for cracks, and still buy it> replacing that isn't so bad.

Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj #737793 07/17/06 04:47 AM
Anonymous
Unregistered
BUY IT!!!

5K for a poor TJ is a good price...

Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj #737794 07/17/06 06:13 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 692
B
Bigbird79 Offline
Rock Warrior
Damn, thatÆs what I paid for the 99XJ with similar mileage and set up. Here in CT a TJ with the 5 speed and 6 cyl, you would be talking closer to $10K and that would be with all the rust that needed fixing. Wish I was down south when it comes to vehicles.

I'd say, like everyone else has, if it drives decent, Buy it!

Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj [Re: Bigbird79] #737795 07/18/06 07:38 AM
Anonymous
Unregistered
Once again, BUY IT! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj [Re: Bigbird79] #737796 07/18/06 07:46 AM
Anonymous
Unregistered
Once again, BUY IT! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

What's the guys name and number I'll buy it> JK

Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj #737797 07/18/06 01:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 209
O
oldgreen Offline
Wheeler
I,d heard that the 97 was a transition year and shared some parts with some previous models and when ordering parts sometimes it could be a bit confusing. Buy it though, you,ll like the ride compared to a CJ, but you might find you want a bit more ground clearance if you take it off-road.


84 CJ7 304 HEI 35 BFG,s rear dana 60 with detroit locker,Viar compressor, fibreglass body, 2 1/2 spring lift, TF999auto, Warn 8000 winch, Plus a cool little trailer on 35,s. JEEP stands for just empty every pocket
Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj [Re: rjn78cj7] #737798 07/19/06 04:04 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 90
R
rjn78cj7 Offline OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
I guess this guy was B.S. me the whole time! I called him and told him i was bringing a certified check over. He told me he couldn't sell the jeep for less than 8k. There was not a 44 under the rear either, its a 35. I also has a reconstructed title. I guess this means its been totaled somewhere along the line, and rebuilt? I don't know! Guess i'll just keep looking and saving. Better luck next time. Ya know, i already got enough pos's sittin around my yard!


almost there! So close, yet so far away!
1978 CJ-7 w/whatever i can make work to keep this piece on the road!
Re: things to look for before buying '97 tj [Re: rjn78cj7] #737799 07/19/06 04:53 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,768
BigJim Offline
Web Wheeler
Down here we call this "going off from 1/2 cocked"!
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />


professional bovine relocation specialist

Moderated by  4x4Wire 







4x4Wire Social:

| 4x4Wire on FaceBook |


OutdoorWire, 4x4Wire, JeepWire, TrailTalk, MUIRNet-News, and 4x4Voice are all trademarks and publications of OutdoorWire, Inc. and MUIRNet Consulting.
Copyright (c) 1999-2019 OutdoorWire, Inc and MUIRNet Consulting - All Rights Reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission
You may link freely to this site, but no further use is allowed without the express written permission of the owner of this material.
All corporate trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3
(Release build 20190728)
PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 2.907s Queries: 15 (0.003s) Memory: 0.6216 MB (Peak: 0.7273 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2026-05-29 17:06:49 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS