Not sure this is the best subforum to ask this question, if so, mods please kindly move to appropriate section

It's been a while I've wanted a jeep as a second vehicle, mostly for camping. I'm still a student, so my budget is strict, but I'm a good DIYer not scared of taking things apart.

1998 XJ sport 4-door 220k km asking price 1250$ (4.0L auto)
242 transfer case
dunlop rv xt 31x10.5 50% wear
recent 3" RG lift with an AAL <3000km
new suspension, all new rear brakes <3000km
4x4 works, clean interior

It sounds good, but the driver rocker panel is rusted out, and the driver floorpan. It needs an alignement since the lift, and driver seat frame rail is supposedly broken.


I didn't go inspect the car yet, but I'm thinking if the floor damage isn't too bad, and there's no other mechanical or structural defects, it'd be a good buy.

opinions?

 

I would pass, there is more rust than what you're seeing there.

 

This is how i bought my 98 xj, rust sucks. I wouldnt pay more than 1500 for it.

 

I'd consider it with that asking price after taking a long look underneath. With the rocker gone so far you really do have a LOT of rust to deal with. You're looking at replacing the rockers, backing plates, and floors on both sides at a minimum. Since the rocker cavity also goes up into the unibody you may find corrosion starting to work its way up the A and B pillars. If that's happened then the unibody is next to toast. Subframe and the transmission tunnel will also need inspecting. Honestly, with damage like that, unless you can afford (time/effort/money) to potentially replace quite a bit I would want to see under the carpet. The passenger side looks normal from here but the driver's side is really concerning.

 

I would stay away. I have two 96's with completely solid rocker panels. After pulling up carpet the floors have rusted out areas behind the rear wheel wells and under the front seats. If the rocker panels are gone on this car theres a chance the floor pans are severely rusted out. The broken driver seat frame rail may actually be the seat frame rail going through the rusted out floor. 220,000 km is only 136,000 miles so the drivetrain probably has a lot more life to it but the rust scares me.

 

It's worth the asking price. Check where the leaf springs mount to the body along with the frame rails. If you see a ton of rust run away. Otherwise you can probably make it work.