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Advice on Potential Scrambler Purchase

It sounds like I bought my scrambler for many of the same reasons you want one. I wanted a weekend driver that I could also take camping or hunting but not interested in mudding or crawling, just light to moderate 4wd on trails. My end goal was to have a jeep that looked mostly original but had more modern reliability and performance. I bought and 81 with a 4.3L vortec V6, fuel injected. I love the engine! It is the exact opposite of what I did not like about my last scrambler with the inline 6 and fuel injection. My old jeep was slow, gutless, bad on gas. All this was probably due to the aftermarket fuel injection put on it, but I didn't know that at the time. My 81 with the 4.3L V6 has good acceleration, goes 75 down the freeway with no problems and is good on gas. When I bought it I though it was mechanically good to go. Almost true. I am in the process of putting in a larger radiator, looking for a hydrolic (sp) clutch leak and trying to figure out why there are air bubbles in my fuel filter and wondering if that is what makes the fuel pump so loud. I though I was only going to have to focus on cosmetic upgrades. I paid $8,500 for mine btw. In the end, I didn't care about original matching numbers or original patina. I wanted a good engine that was professionally installed with a rust free body and gearing that made it a highway vehicle. Those were the three most important things to me, and I will argue that for a restoration project a rust free body should be priority numero uno.

I got what I wanted for the most part and I have the rest of my life to put on the gadgets and paint and chrome that I want.
 
only buy the survivor if you eat, sleep, and breathe about an all original survior and your mission is to return it to its glory days.

if you want a cruiser...get something in that 10-12 range and drive the wheels off of it.
 
As for the 2nd one, It's 90% finished IMO. buy it and drive it. Or put a new engine in it!
 
Kinda depends on your timeline too. We as a board come across a stellar deal about every 4-6 months and some lucky "cash in hand jeeper" gets a real gem.....

A quick search of search-tempest and this would be my winner for a trip to check out......

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/5084016411.html

Jeep Scrambler for sale - 1981 Looks and Runs Great! - $10950 (Colorado Springs)

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Well, the light tan scrambler sold while I was in Dallas a day after I looked at it. The bottom was pretty rusted and the dude selling it had added some stuff to the engine but he claimed he was mechanically inept. It drove ok but without power steering or a decent history of the jeep (he got it in a Harley trade a year ago) and the rust and body damage not evident in the pictures, I decided not to pursue it. I think I really want a Laredo package but the owner of the dark brown Laredo won't go any lower than 15k. He received an offer for 12k and declined and I offered 12.5k. Seems like 15k is his bottom line...what do ya'll think? I agree 17.5k (what he was asking) is too much but what about 14k? 15K still seems high for other stuff I have seen on the internet that may not be Laredo package, or its black instead of brown. The negatives after seeing it, bedliner, some body damage (dents and scrapes), some surface rust spots on the rear panels, and the interior condition. He also said the front brakes locked while he was pulling it and the front chrome rims have a charred look to them. The positives, he has owned it for 20+ years, bought it from a guy who had meticulous records and he maintained them, low miles with 25k being pulled being a motorhome, its Laredo package with everything still installed and working (minus clock and gas gauge) and I actually got to see it in person and drive it. The body is in great shape (minus the small surface rust) and all the components are there to make it great.

I guess my question would be is it worth the additional money for the jeep depicted? I don't mind spending money after I buy it to make it what I want I just don't want to start behind the power curve by paying too much for something that isn't "worth" it.

Thanks for all the help - still have scrambler envy
 
Don't be in a rush to buy. It may take a few months, even a year, but you will find the right one for you at the right price. And it sounds like the right one for you is a laredo package. It sounds like in a few years you want to do a full restoration and for that much work and money it's a good idea to invest it in a laredo. I agree 15k is too much for that jeep, original is nice but it's more important that it is in good shape and that one is very worn.
 
Well after a few years of searching, I finally ended up deciding against purchasing a scrambler (for now) and instead will be spending my money fixing up this 1982 Jeep J10 Laredo. It's not too shabby for a free truck, AMC 360, V8, everything is original except the 3" body lift, tires, and extra lights on the grill and roll bar. Pretty good shape and happy with the choice. Here are some pics and with that its time to join the FSJ Forum. If anyone has any good contacts within a good Internet forum to get advice please pass their info. I'll post another pic after the restoration is done, don't hold your breath, thanks for the help.
 
A nice 1982 J10 is a solid way to go too! Don't see the pictures?


Weimerfly said:
Well after a few years of searching, I finally ended up deciding against purchasing a scrambler (for now) and instead will be spending my money fixing up this 1982 Jeep J10 Laredo. It's not too shabby for a free truck, AMC 360, V8, everything is original except the 3" body lift, tires, and extra lights on the grill and roll bar. Pretty good shape and happy with the choice. Here are some pics and with that its time to join the FSJ Forum. If anyone has any good contacts within a good Internet forum to get advice please pass their info. I'll post another pic after the restoration is done, don't hold your breath, thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
 
PICS




 
Have to be premium to post hosted on the site.... You can host on third party like shutterfly and link.


 
Would love the see pics! Many members here also have FSJs. Feel free to start a build thread in the non-Scrambler build section that way you don't have to leave here! Good FSJ forums are:
www.ifsja.org
www.fsjnetwork.net

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G850A
 
Looks like a great starting point

Looks like a great starting point!!

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if youre still looking for a scrambler, there was a decent one up in Angle Fire not long ago, much less than the prices being mentioned and looked like it might be ok, I didnt go look at it but the pics didnt look bad, I think I posted the CL ad in one of the forums for that sort of thing

Ive had a couple J 10s and would love another one, in fact I often think if i could find the right one Id trade my scrambler for it, but the right one hasnt shown up yet.

Good luck
 
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