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New buyer advice

Blackbirdaerial said:
Are you confident on trans? I’m not sure the owner knows
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I agree with mwqpd11, that's not a T4 shifter. But it does look like my old T18 I had years ago. I would need better pics.

I'm glad to hear the engine actual has some miles on it. Nothing scares me more than when an add says "fresh rebuild, zero miles." I've rebuilt a good number of engines like that for customers because of people that don't know what they are doing. It's amazing how many times I would find incorrectly gapped piston rings, the wrong sized rod bearings, etc. One time I had one where the "builder forgot to even install the piston rings on one of the pistons! Come to find out later he was drunk when building it! If they run at all the problems usually will present themselves in the first few hundred miles.
 
Ron84cj said:
I agree with mwqpd11, that's not a T4 shifter. But it does look like my old T18 I had years ago. I would need better pics.

I'm glad to hear the engine actual has some miles on it. Nothing scares me more than when an add says "fresh rebuild, zero miles." I've rebuilt a good number of engines like that for customers because of people that don't know what they are doing. It's amazing how many times I would find incorrectly gapped piston rings, the wrong sized rod bearings, etc. One time I had one where the "builder forgot to even install the piston rings on one of the pistons! Come to find out later he was drunk when building it! If they run at all the problems usually will present themselves in the first few hundred miles.
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I just screen grabbed this from a video he sent me
 

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Blackbirdaerial said:
Brand new paint job finished 2 weeks ago.
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Is that an Aqualu body?

The reason I ask is from the few pics you posted it doesn't look like my '83.
The trans tunnel looks more squared off.
The floor pans look flat.
The rear wheel wells look more squared off on the edges.
The rear quarter panel doesn't have a seam between the side panel and the rear corner.

That being said, with the exception of not being sure about the drivetrain the engine compartment looks clean, and if the frame needed to be replaced in the future they are available.

Really need a pic of the tailgate hinges to know for sure how well the build was done. :evil::rotfl:
 
FLCJ8 said:
Is that an Aqualu body?

The reason I ask is from the few pics you posted it doesn't look like my '83.
The trans tunnel looks more squared off.
The floor pans look flat.
The rear wheel wells look more squared off on the edges.
The rear quarter panel doesn't have a seam between the side panel and the rear corner.

That being said, with the exception of not being sure about the drivetrain the engine compartment looks clean, and if the frame needed to be replaced in the future they are available.

Really need a pic of the tailgate hinges to know for sure how well the build was done. :evil::rotfl:
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Blackbirdaerial said:
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Sorry, that was an inside joke about the hinges determining the quality of build, but they are upside down.
The tailgate will open level and even with the bed if they are flipped.

Also, do you know what fuel tank was used for the build?
The fill on this one is where the license license plate usually resides.
 
FLCJ8 said:
Sorry, that was an inside joke about the hinges determining the quality of build, but they are upside down.
The tailgate will open level and even with the bed if they are flipped.

Also, do you know what fuel tank was used for the build?
The fill on this one is where the license license plate usually resides.
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I will ask. The FJ40 guys determine by how the front bezel is fitted (a lot are upside down as well)
 
Blackbirdaerial said:
Yeah he said aluminum body. Is that a positive or negative?
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It depends on what you want for an 8.
Obviously it isn't stock with the 304 and unknown drivetrain. However I wouldn't have any problem owning that tub versus a repaired original.
 
Blackbirdaerial said:
I just screen grabbed this from a video he sent me
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That screams T18 to me which means it likely will have a Dana 20 Transfer case. They are very heavy duty but shift like a dump truck. I sold mine and installed an AX15 instead. The Dana 20 and Dana 300 are both great transfer cases.
Blackbirdaerial said:
Yeah he said aluminum body. Is that a positive or negative?
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The aqualu tubs are absolutely amazing. I consider that a huge positive.
 
Ron84cj said:
That screams T18 to me which means it likely will have a Dana 20 Transfer case. They are very heavy duty but shift like a dump truck. I sold mine and installed an AX15 instead. The Dana 20 and Dana 300 are both great transfer cases.

The aqualu tubs are absolutely amazing. I consider that a huge positive.
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Thank you! I don’t mind dump truck if that’s strong
 
I consider the aluminum body a plus when talking about this Jeep. Not close to original. Won't have to worry about rust on the body.
 
barrys said:
I consider the aluminum body a plus when talking about this Jeep. Not close to original. Won't have to worry about rust on the body.
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That was my thought, but wasn’t sure if I was just justifying the purchase or not haha

The original ship has sailed. I want reliability and usability.
 
One other question to ask is how other metallic parts were attached to the aluminum body.
There is specific steps that need to be taken to assure you don't end up with oxidation due to dissimilar metal in contact with each other.
(I've seen nice paint jobs ruined at connection points of compartment hinges to bodies on fire apparatus)
I believe there is information on the Aqualu site.

Again, not a deal breaker by any means, it was just put together.
 
FLCJ8 said:
One other question to ask is how other metallic parts were attached to the aluminum body.
There is specific steps that need to be taken to assure you don't end up with oxidation due to dissimilar metal in contact with each other.
(I've seen nice paint jobs ruined at connection points of compartment hinges to bodies on fire apparatus)
I believe there is information on the Aqualu site.

Again, not a deal breaker by any means, it was just put together.
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Good call!
 
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