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Bent Unibody?

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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 10:21 PM
  #1  
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default Bent Unibody?

This jeep was Hit and I was interested in it but do You guys think from the hit the unibody would be bent? It doesnt look to be that hard of a hit, but I do not know. I may go check it out tomorrow.

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1658130811.html
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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 10:32 PM
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From: Indianola IOWA
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id buy it
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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 10:34 PM
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it looks sweet too bad 2wd, it looks fixable but try to work on a $500 price. I would say 1000 for sure if it was 4x4.
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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 10:37 PM
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From: westland mi
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the front axle might be bent but thats an excuss for a 4x4 swap and you can use this tell them $600 and see what they say
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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 10:38 PM
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From: Jacksonville, FL
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Originally Posted by tj40
it looks sweet too bad 2wd, it looks fixable but try to work on a $500 price. I would say 1000 for sure if it was 4x4.

True I am going to try to work on the price. I need a new one mine it wrecked in the rear. Thanks for the advice. I plan on building it up and doing the 4x4 swap if I get it. This way I can buy it cheaper and slowly build it as money permits. I have a lift and everything I will swap from mine so that cost it gone.
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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 11:54 PM
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Year: 97
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One way to check the unitbody would be to use a tape measure and check wheelbase on both sides and see if they match. Should be 101". My old ZJ was off by 2" after the roll.
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:33 AM
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From: New Jersey
Year: 1996
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My buddy's Waggy was declared totaled when the unibody was bent when it was hit by a drunk driver. We tied it up to a tree and gave it a few good tugs and pulled it out. It wasn't the best fix, but it straightened it out a lot. He sold it like that and got $800. It would've been good to add some unibody stiffeners, but he just wanted to beat the crap of it offroad, then sell it.
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:35 AM
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From: Britt, MN
Year: 1998
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id be all over that thing. i would love to have a super low mile 4.0
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:40 AM
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Almost definatly bent. The bumper is pusher over at least a foot and the bumper is directly tied into the "frame". That mean the steering box is also out of position. Might work as a parts car or on offroad toy but not roadworthy without some serious work.
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:45 AM
  #10  
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From: Britt, MN
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check out some cheap cherokee episodes some TRUCKS on the powerblock on spike tv. you can watch shows online. their cherokee was beat up about the same as this one but on the passenger side. they were able to get it straightened out. yea they had spendy equipment tho.
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 12:37 PM
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Make new friends at a body shop and buy the wreck. You can get a lot of work out of a body guy with just a 12pack of beer and some steak every now and then.
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by My375hp302
Almost definatly bent. The bumper is pusher over at least a foot and the bumper is directly tied into the "frame". That mean the steering box is also out of position. Might work as a parts car or on offroad toy but not roadworthy without some serious work.
pushed over a foot? are you serious? it looks like it MIGHT be pushed over an inch, MAYBE two, and that amount of movement could certainly be just the mounts.

that really doesnt look like to bad of a wreck. I doubt that there is any structural damage. new front end parts and maybe some BFH work to line the core support back up...

i would go look at it and try to get the price under $750 at least. the super low miles are going to be their holding point though and they are probably going to try to stay at $1000. i know a guy that sold a similar mileage WJ 4.0 engine for $500 by itself...
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 12:47 PM
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From: Britt, MN
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Originally Posted by Bustedback
Make new friends at a body shop and buy the wreck. You can get a lot of work out of a body guy with just a 12pack of beer and some steak every now and then.
we need a post "LIKE" button
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by My375hp302
Almost definatly bent. The bumper is pusher over at least a foot and the bumper is directly tied into the "frame". That mean the steering box is also out of position. Might work as a parts car or on offroad toy but not roadworthy without some serious work.
you gotta understand those factory bumpers are really flimsey! and the factory mounts on the bumper aren't strong either. My bet is the body isn't bent at all.
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Old Mar 25, 2010 | 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by dougy_fresh
pushed over a foot? are you serious? it looks like it MIGHT be pushed over an inch, MAYBE two, and that amount of movement could certainly be just the mounts.

that really doesnt look like to bad of a wreck. I doubt that there is any structural damage. new front end parts and maybe some BFH work to line the core support back up...

i would go look at it and try to get the price under $750 at least. the super low miles are going to be their holding point though and they are probably going to try to stay at $1000. i know a guy that sold a similar mileage WJ 4.0 engine for $500 by itself...

An inch? Really? It's at LEAST 6-8 inches and remember that your point of reference (the fender) is also smashed in making it seem not as bad as it is...



As for the bumper being flimsy, they are, and so are the "frame rails" they are attached to. The bumper mounts are actually made of thicker steel than the "frame rail" they are bolted to. I guarentee the unibody is tweeked and because the tire/wheel probably took a hit too the control arms and track bar are also probably bent. Our beloved Cherokee's are made out of sheet metal people, it doesn't take much to bend them.
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