i just bought a 1997 jeep and it was wrecked it needs altnator, radiator and belt. the frame is bent on driver side its not bad just about 6 inches right about where steering box is and the drop pitman arm is pointed down a little should i invest money into the radiator and altnator or you think its totaled?



1997 cherokee 4 door, auto, 4x4, chrystler 8.25, 160k miles, blue in color.


Picked it up for $400 cash and $80 in gas

 

Pics would help, but it sounds pretty tweaked.

 

Get an estimate on having the frame rail straightened. If/after you have that done, then buy your altnator and radiator.

 

Part it out man. You can get at least 100$ for the rear axle so thats a 1/5 of your money.

 

Steering box area is weak anyways, it's probably

 

^This. Having the frame straightened will likely be the largest cost, so only makes sense to find out what that will cost before doing anything else (find a good local body shop for this, dealers overcharge ridiculously and places like MAACO do lousy work). If it doesn't cost too much to fix the frame your best bet is to repair it and either keep it (if you want it) or sell it at a profit. If the frame damage is extensive and expensive to fix then you should at least be able to get your money back and probably make a small profit parting it out.

 

...what frame??

 

Nice price!

 

good point, what frame?
the xj is a uni-body so there is no frame.

i think u will be better parting it out.

sorry.

 

People say that straightening the frame on our jeeps is pointless. Go on and on about it being a unibody. It can be fixed, not cheap but a good shop can. Every car for the last 20 years has been a uni body and when they get I. A wreck there fixed all the time.

 

Oh yeah, it can be fixed sure! But there is a reason 90% of unibody 'frame' damage claims with insurance companies (even on newer vehicles) end in a totaling. Frame repairs are mainly made on large trucks with high values and under certain state laws regarding 'repair vs replace'. We're talking about a wrecked XJ here, with a running XJ having a KBB value of maybe $1-2k. Paying out the *** for that repair is retarded unless you either have the hookup or really love the jeep. Otherwise, either part it out and make a small profit and buy a running jeep, or buy a non running jeep and swap parts over, or make profit and buy something else.

Sad to say, I love my '91 XJ but if it was wrecked and required much repair and was totaled, I'd consider my expense and likely use the check to buy another and swap my parts.

 

posted picture of the damage

 

Picture is too small.........

 

Click on it

 

Got few ppl told me if I straighten it out to where it's even and put a bumper on it Abd new steering box spacer with a good alignment it will be fine

My plan is to drive it around town, and offroad it and if I need to drive it 45 mins away