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Advice on Potential Scrambler Purchase

W

Weimerfly

Basic User
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
I recently found two scrambler's for sale near where I live. I have been a basic member of this site for almost a year and have been searching for a solid scrambler to keep and work on until my son is old enough to drive. I am a newbie when it comes to Jeeps and working on cars but I figure I will teach myself and son along the way (he's only 3 months old so I have time to learn). Last fall I bought a scrambler from a used jeep dealership in Georgia over the internet unseen only to be burned by a rusted out POS when it arrived. I sold it back to the place with a loss of around $1200 but with the peace of mind that I recovered most of my money from the sour deal. Now I am looking to purchase a manual scrambler with the original V6, Laredo package with somewhat low mileage to restore.

I found the following two near me and am hopefully going to see them in person next weekend. I would like to know any good advice on what you think of the pictures and the prices. Anything particular I should look for besides the obvious rust and make sure everything is in good working order? Is the Laredo package really worth extra money? Any and all help would be appreciated.

SORRY THIS IS PROBABLY IN THE WRONG FORUM BUT I WANTED PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY VIEW IT AND AFTER I GO SEE THEM IN PERSON I WILL SHARE THEIR LOCATION SO SOMEONE ELSE CAN BUY THEM

First jeep - 16k
1981 Fully Optioned Laredo Package Survivor Owned by the same guy for 20+ years will 20k miles being towed behind his RV 96k original miles factory air
25 gallon fuel tank upgrade
top off bed liner throughout
original bimini top and bed cover
original purchase records and service records upgraded bumpers and poly bushings and reshocked and sprung in 2000 no rust

IMG_4010.PNGIMG_4009.PNGIMG_4008.PNGIMG_4007.PNG

Second Jeep - 13k
1981 V6 125k Miles
new clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing no power steering new paint job rancho shocks and new steering shock

IMG_4011.PNGIMG_4012.PNGIMG_4013.PNGIMG_4014.PNGIMG_4015.PNG

Thanks for the help
 
I can't see pictures......Can you post links to the listings?
 
I feel like the first one is over priced a little. A similar scrambler sold on ebay a few weeks back for 11,600. The body was similar maybe not quite as good but the interior was better.

Hard to tell much on the second one from the pics. Would want to see pics before paint.
 
I have moved this to a more appropriate area and it should get plenty of views/replies.

First, be patient, the right Scrambler is out there for you. Educate yourself on Scramblers and read a lot of the sale threads and see what people are saying about other Scramblers for sale. It will give you a lot of insight as to what is original and what isn't, common problem areas, and an idea of going prices. As for the Laredo package being worth the money, that is for you to decide and really dependent on what you want to do with the Scrambler. The Laredo (SL) is the top-of-the-line package so it is sought after. However, with that being said, it is only an option package that included special seats and a stripe package. All the other options could also be ordered on the SR (Scrambler Renegade) or even the Base model. The Laredo parts can be hard to find and very expensive to replace if you want it to be all original. If originality is not as big of a deal to you, I would just look for a nice Scrambler that you feel will fit your needs and not worry about what package it is. Also, just for reference, Scramblers have straight 6 engines, not V6's unless one has been swapped in.

As for the first Scrambler you posted (Laredo model), it is overpriced. It is a $10k-11K Scrambler at best (in my opinion). The Second one (SR model) is more inline with price vs. what has been done to it.
 
I think Jerseyjeeps has gotten enough screaming deals lately. i.e. a POSTAL JEEP for $1750 OM f-king G are you kidding me!!!!!!!! I both hate and love you right now!
 
I'll take dibs on what looks to be 15x8 rims with center caps :)
 
redking11 said:
https://easttexas.craigslist.org/cto/5093596671.html I wouldn't exactly say that east TX is "near ABQ"
Click to expand...

This looks like a good starting point....Kind of depends what you want to do with it. Daily drivers? Extra car cruiser? Trail rig?

In addition to the rust concerns that you already know about; anything with "loosey goosey" steering or death wobble when you drive it at 65 mph. If it has this it should be appropriately discounted for the 6 or 8 things that may need to be replaced to fix it properly (could be caster, steering box mount, steering box, frame, steering shaft, knuckles, home-made steering setup, ect.). I would always be a little scared when someone lists that they added a new steering stabilizer; many owners and shops that don't know where to start troubleshooting use that as a band-aid fix (that doesn't fix anything).
 
Ditto Tower210. You need to have somewhat of a "mission statement". I specifically searched for a rusted out POS with the intentions of doing a frame off rebuild. Others may want one "ready to go". Still others are looking for a "trail rig" and the aesthetics are allowed to suffer. Are you just going to roll around town on the weekends? Do you want a daily driver? Do you want a mud ridin' monster?
 
I think that jeep is perfect the way it is. Ito would be a waste to turn it into a crawler or mudder. I like the classic look. It should be a great daily driver and easy trail jeep. Someone put a lot of work restoring it to an original look.
 
DirtyB said:
Ditto Tower210. You need to have somewhat of a "mission statement". I specifically searched for a rusted out POS with the intentions of doing a frame off rebuild. Others may want one "ready to go". Still others are looking for a "trail rig" and the aesthetics are allowed to suffer. Are you just going to roll around town on the weekends? Do you want a daily driver? Do you want a mud ridin' monster?
Click to expand...

I want a clean scrambler that I can drive around on the weekends and in 3-4 years start a full restoration. No trail rig or daily driver but I don't want to start with a rusted POS.
 
redking11 said:
I think that jeep is perfect the way it is. Ito would be a waste to turn it into a crawler or mudder. I like the classic look. It should be a great daily driver and easy trail jeep. Someone put a lot of work restoring it to an original look.
Click to expand...

I wasn't suggesting he should change it, just asking what he is wanting it to be... Most of us have slightly different missions for our scrams..... That might be a poor choice if he's looking for a mudder or a Daily driver (I'd want fuel injection and AC on a DD)....


 
I guess I am asking advice on the two jeeps shown...does it seem like a good deal for the price? If not, what would be a good price and which one is a "better" value? I understand they are not the same and one is Laredo and one is basic with no power steering. One has a nice outside and inside and the other is original but worn? In the long run which (in your opinion) would be the better buy for a weekend scrambler, no mudding, just a second vehicle for nice weather days to fix up with my son and enjoy...I'm open to all opinions. Right now I am leaning towards the Laredo.
 
Well I tend to have opinions different from most. If you limit yourself to the two you posted, I'd probably recommend the second one and plan to add power steering to it.

The Laredo package doesn't do a whole lot for me, and I'm a firm believer that lining the cab/tub is a BAD idea. Mine was lined and looked great, then as I started the restore not planning to pull the liner, I noticed a loose spot at the back corner near the tailgate. Cut it planning to just respray that area, and ended up pulling it all up to deal with the rust underneath the liner (including water that was under the liner).

From what I can tell from the pictures, I think the price of the second one is more inline with the condition of the vehicle than the first one is (personally I think they are both high, but I'm cheap). Ultumately is is your money and what you think and want can be very different from the rest of us. My Scrambler is undergoing a full frame off resto that I'm doing myself, to make it my daily driver. Not many folks would want even a restored carburated vehicle as a daily driver, but I do. We each have our oddities, I just happen to revel in mine ;)
 
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