[pleverr]

I promised to post pics of my jeep that I purchased for $500 with a rebuilt engine. From first thread:


Here's what I received for my $500: Wrangler body, no rust (except for golf ball sized piece by drivers side door) rebuild 4.0 (In-line six cylinder is 4.0, right?) with about 2k miles on it, 33in. scorpion tires with custom rims and a story that checks out. By that I mean the jeep was parked in front of a 34 y.o guys house who has gotten married and a child in the past 2 years and lives about 1.5 hours from his parents house where the jeep was located. he has owned the jeep for about 8 years, got the engine rebuilt 6 years ago for $2000 and it's been sitting in front of his parents since then. So I bought it.

So now I feel like it's my ugly child but I think she has promise. I will do the brakes next week and document the whole procedure. I don't think I can post pics yet but here they are on Kodak:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=au1zr2p.8bfikjft&x=0&y=h37s8h

Not much to see. When I take the tires off that's when the fun starts.

[red87yj]

are you asking how to do the breaks, or just showing off pics of the jeep? if the thing runs and you dont see daylight though your frame/ body, it sounds like you got one hell of a deal. congrats on the jeep.
later
Zach

[schwim]

Unless something way bad comes to light, you got a rocking deal, man. I hope everything goes without a hitch... How's the underside, any bad rust?

thanks,
json

[ovrlnd]

cool on the jeep purchase but wtf? it looks like he spray painted the pedals????

[bamato]

She's ugly, but good find. Lots of good parts sittin there Hows the frame, suspension..... chasis?

[pleverr]

Sorry, should have referenced other threads: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/noob-crisis-downgraded-managable-problems-428833/

Frame is just fine. No holes. Engine sounds loud and gurgley. The suspension is undetermined. I had explained a problem of a thump thump as fast and as slow as the wheels went 'round. People had suggested it might be the tires. It may be but they would wobble, right? The guy that followed me from the place of purchase to the (1st) mech watched as I had specifically asked him to look to diagnose the problem. He said nothing wobbled leading him to believe it was the U joint. They looked and he says it wasn't the U joint. I don't buy it 100% but he may be right. I also asked the wrecker driver how it felt with the back 2 wheels on the ground. Surely he would hear the thump thump if it were one of the back tires. He did not.

The paint, alas, looked like it was sprayed by a special kind if idjit.

I need to go get some tools this weekend. Should I get metric? I need to get wrenches, c- clap(s) brake fluid cleaner, maybe a vice grip or some. Oh and a brake tool kit, right? Any other things? I may swing by a few yard sales to see if I can pick up some tools this weekend too. Otherwise, to Sears I guess. Someone suggested some place in woodbridge for tools too highway something.

BTW, In return for letting me do the work there I posted a few cars on craigslist for him. If you know any mercedes people there is a 72 300 sel 4.5L V8 that needs a paint job that someone may really like. It says 5k but I'm sure he'd take less. He needs the money.

Thanks again all.

[Ares]

Nice find. $500 you got a killer deal

I'm about to paint me jeep this upcoming week...seeing yours makes me worried

[JGBrown]

I have the same thumping from my rear end I'm trying to track it down, I've been told it can also be the ring gear(cracked tooth) the drum brake being worn out, and moving around, or the wheel bearings.

[schizm99]

Front brakes need torques wrenches. Don't remember what size... Good find for the money you done well!

[Slapahoe]

My best recommendation would be go out and buy a Haynes Manual. Forget Chiltons, get the Haynes. That will be your Jeep Bible.

You know what would be neat if you ever got to tackle your paint job. Rhino line the outside. It would deffinatly be a affordable consideration. I got my outside done for $600 at a local shop. Better then a $1200 paint job you would spend at a paint shop.

in regards to your brakes, I would imagine your rotors will need to be resurfaced. You might also want to consider checking for leaks in the rubber and metal lines.

The thumping you hear could be a couple different things.

When a vehicle sits in one place for a long time, because of th weight of the car, "flat spots" will form where your tire meets the ground. Thus, when you drive, it would be a "thumpy" ride. Those of us with HUGE soft tires on our jeep can see this happen quite often.

Another idea is your wheel bearings need to be repacked. If they havent been greesed in a while, they could dry out and cause that sound/feeling.

As for tools/etc., dont bother with a brake fluid cleaner, just buy two big bottles of DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, and run it through. The drum brake tool kit was a big help for me when I had drum brakes. Other wise, forget the bleeder kit. All you need to do is have someone step on the brakes while you bleed the air out of the lines.

Jeep does not use metric size stuff, just stick with the standard stuff. Wratcheting wrenched do wonders!

good luck man.