Rebuild original motor or replace with a remanufactured Jasper motor.

[drwstanton]

I am asking advice on the value of rebuilding the original matching # engine versus replacing the original engine with a remanufactured Jasper engine. I have a '84 CJ8 Scrambler.

 

[FLCJ8]

I am asking advice on the value of rebuilding the original matching # engine versus replacing the original engine with a remanufactured Jasper engine. I have a '84 CJ8 Scrambler.

Not sure how original your 8 is or what your plans are but...

if it were me I would consider a quality stroker motor and store the original engine if you are concerned about any resale down the road.
The future buyer could decide if they would want to rebuild the original motor, run the stroker, or do some other type swap.

In the meantime you could enjoy your 8 and preserve the originality by allowing for a fairly simple swap if needed/wanted.

 

[drwstanton]

Thanks, that is how I am leaning

 

[ag4ever]

Jeeps are not “numbers matching”. As long as the date code is close to your build date, original engine or replacement engine won’t matter. If your jeep has normal wear and tear from being 40 years old, as long as the original type engine is in there it won’t hurt resell value even with a wrong date code, it might actually help it if the engine is fresh and runs great.

Now, if you have an original 5,000 mile Jeep that was stored in a climate controlled warehouse, having the original engine could be a huge value. Short of this scenario, Jeeps were meant to be used hard and their value reflects that.

 

[Chipster1990]

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[drwstanton]

Jeeps are not “numbers matching”. As long as the date code is close to your build date, original engine or replacement engine won’t matter. If your jeep has normal wear and tear from being 40 years old, as long as the original type engine is in there it won’t hurt resell value even with a wrong date code, it might actually help it if the engine is fresh and runs great.

Now, if you have an original 5,000 mile Jeep that was stored in a climate controlled warehouse, having the original engine could be a huge value. Short of this scenario, Jeeps were meant to be used hard and their value reflects that.

Thanks, good information and perspective

 

[gr8dain]

As said above, unless you have a pristine “survivor”, don’t worry about a motor swap. I have pulled two tired 4.2s out of mine and am currently running a 4.0 from an XJ. Depending on how you use it and how soon you want to deal with blow by again (assuming you have it now, I would not bother putting another 4.2 in. But that was my experience using mine as a daily commuter driving 2 hours each way to work. The 4.2 does not like that. While I love my 4.0 and hope it lasts forever, a V8 will go in next.

 

[bigwalton]

Exactly what @gr8dain said.

In general, unless you have a pristine, factory-condition, all-original CJ, the best advice you can take from this site is "Do not worry about value."

These are not collectors cars like you're thinking with a question like that. They're not worth enough to bother debating the value merits of one thing versus another. Do exactly what you want with YOUR Jeep and just enjoy it.

With that said, know that as much as with any other car (and maybe even more with a CJ) you'll never come close to getting back money you put in.

Keep those two things in mind and you'll be a happy CJ owner with a lot less mental gymnastics regarding decisions.

 

[gr8dain]

Goodness, I would not even think about getting back what I have put into mine. I have done as much of my own labor as possible and I still don’t think about the amount I have put i to it. And I am a cheap SOB.

Exactly what @gr8dain said.

In general, unless you have a pristine, factory-condition, all-original CJ, the best advice you can take from this site is "Do not worry about value."

These are not collectors cars like you're thinking with a question like that. They're not worth enough to bother debating the value merits of one thing versus another. Do exactly what you want with YOUR Jeep and just enjoy it.

With that said, know that as much as with any other car (and maybe even more with a CJ) you'll never come close to getting back money you put in.

Keep those two things in mind and you'll be a happy CJ owner with a lot less mental gymnastics regarding decisions.

 

[Chamba]

I doubt I could sell mine for what I bought the axles for, let alone the drive train. But then neither my Silverado nor my Tahoe are worth anywhere near what I paid for them. The difference is that they are both boring as batshit to drive where my 8 puts a smile on my face every time I sit in her.

Cars are seldom 'investments' which return a profit; buy shares or real estate for that. But cars can have tremendous intrinsic value which is irreplaceable. Go for the memories, joy and pure happiness of driving a car from your youth which doesn't think for you.

 

[bigwalton]

Go for the memories, joy and pure happiness of driving a car from your youth which doesn't think for you.

This right here.

 

[Belizeit]

I probably could have gotten my money out of mine, before my complete drive train rebuild, it was still running well, but not now. I really don’t care either. It’s all about the fun while I can drive it before I am done one way or another. My only concerns are keeping it going now, and whether I will be buried in it or my daughter wins out and puts me in an urn on the shelf and gets to drive it after me.

 

[Chamba]

I probably could have gotten my money out of mine, before my complete drive train rebuild, it was still running well, but not now. I really don’t care either. It’s all about the fun while I can drive it before I am done one way or another. My only concerns are keeping it going now, and whether I will be buried in it or my daughter wins out and puts me in an urn on the shelf and gets to drive it after me.

I say make her keep the urn IN the glovebox as a condition for her inheriting it. Then she gets the Jeep and you get to keep riding in it. Win/win.

 

[drwstanton]

Exactly what @gr8dain said.

In general, unless you have a pristine, factory-condition, all-original CJ, the best advice you can take from this site is "Do not worry about value."

These are not collectors cars like you're thinking with a question like that. They're not worth enough to bother debating the value merits of one thing versus another. Do exactly what you want with YOUR Jeep and just enjoy it.

With that said, know that as much as with any other car (and maybe even more with a CJ) you'll never come close to getting back money you put in.

Keep those two things in mind and you'll be a happy CJ owner with a lot less mental gymnastics regarding decisions.

Thank you, appreciate your responses