caged

just picked up a rocky mountain edition for 50 bux.
has rusted out rockers and gas tank skid and throwing evap codes.
gonna blow smoke in the purge tube to see where it's leaking and hopefully i have the parts on the spare jeep that came with it.

this may just be my cheapest jeep yet. lets hope it doesn't take much to put on the road.

94zj318

What you've got there is actually a Freedom Edition, someone replaced the 'Freedom' emblems with 'Rocky Mountain' emblems, unless it says 'Rocky Mountain' on the seats (the Freedom didn't say anything on the seats, and the seats weren't two-toned in the Freedom like they were in the Rocky Mountain... still great regardless! And you got it for $50? Sweet deal! I really do hope I can get as good of a deal as you one day.

Does she run and drive? Where did you find such as great deal?

The EVAP codes (I suppose you're talking P0442, P0455, and P0456) are pretty easy to fix if you take it and have a smoke test done (I had to do that when I bought mine to pass inspection). The tech at the Jeep dealer just replaced some hoses that had holes in them.

For the rocker rust, I would suppose you could replace the rockers and have a good Jeep.

Good luck, and great project!

-Vince

Cleman Simpson

50 bucks?? Was the previous owner on drugs or something I'll give you a hundred for it today and fix the problems myself, LOL.

caged

i drive tow truck and we buy scrap vehicles. this rocky mountain edition (i live in canada) and a plain 02 wj came up for scrap. the 02 is pretty much just a parts jeep but this one is pretty clean. it has the two tone seats with Jeep embroidered on the seat back. it was pretty dirty but after cleaning it for four hours, it looks pretty good again.

the rockers are roached, but i'm just gonna bend some tin and weld them in. they are covered with the plastic covers anyhow.

yeah, it's not every day you get a running/driving jeep with brand new tires and a half tank of gas for 50 bux, but when you find them, you don't even question it.

we have an impound yard and you wouldn't believe how many people don't want to pay their bill and just leave you their vehicle.

my boss scored a 2013 dodge charger just because the guy lived in india and had someone else driving it who got pulled over for doing 50kph over the speed limit. that's an automatic 10 days impound at 55 bux per day, plus the 250 dollar tow bill. the car was here for 3 months before the owner and bank gave in saying it just wasn't worth it. lol. he sold it and bought another flatbed tow truck.

we get deals like this all the time. just not always a jeep.

94zj318

Ah. You live in Canada. Yes, this was your version (the exporer version) of our Freedom Edition, so it's exactly the same except for badging. We didn't get the Rocky Mountain until the WK's came out in 2005

I should get a job at least selling the impound vehicles for a local tow lot... I guess I could score a lot of deals that way, especially since I'm into "flipping" them for a profit like you seem to be.

dave1123

Most of them around here wind up at the auctions.

caged

yeah, since i live on the trans-canada highway, there are a lot of people just passing through, many are speeding and or falling asleep at the wheel, and since they live out of province, it's not easy for them to come back to the middle of nowhere to retrieve their vehicle. therefor we end up with some nice ones and some not so nice. lol.

but this isn't the only good scrap deal i've picked up. last summer i grabbed a running/driving 06 mazda 3 for 30 bux. her complaint was the trans pan was rusting out and a small hole in the floor.
this one went to our other driver for his son. less than 100 bux and a bit of elbow grease had it safetied and on the road.

i just happen to get first crack on any jeeps, and this one wasn't making it to scrap. even the parts jeep is decent if it wasn't missing too many dash pieces and sensors. but i have it for a parts jeep as everything else is in good shape. i may even use the seats in one of the cherokees.

by no means am i moving on from my xj's, this one is just gonna be a nice comfy daily winter driver, and may end up going to one of the kids later.

Fred/N0AZZ

I owned several towing companies in CO. in the 70's and acquired quite a few cars. trucks, suv's for my storage lots, I towed for 9 police agencies in the metro Denver area up to the Tunnel on 70 and Central City area.


One of the better Jeeps I kept for a tow and storage bill was a 1 yr old CJ that slid into a curb on the snow and flipped, the driver hit his head and was DOA. Only damage was a small tear in the soft top and bent wheel, went unclaimed for 6 mo. and I filed with the state for title.


If you start DD it you may never get rid of it because of all the comfort and extras it has. I DD mine and the XJ is for play only but it not for sale either now at least.

caged

yeah just sitting in it while cleaning it and just kinda enjoying it somewhat, the seats are freakin comfortable. even more comfy than my heated leather in my highline golf wagon.

my last dd, the 99 red xj was supposed to go to one of the girls, but i ended up needing it for a bit cause i stopped driving my 99 tj. but since then i sunk it and now needs some extensive work, but should be done over the winter if i tinker.

you're right, i may just keep this one. i'm gonna put a temp plate on it to test drive it for 10 days before i get it safetied to see what else comes up.
it's an unkown as to why this guy would want to scrap it.

caged

oh, and i actually just had an old ford snowfighter with plow come in to the yard. nice set of dana 60's that will be going under the big blue xj, then maybe put the d44/9" under one of the other xj's.
i also have a few sets of 60s from late 90's f350's which i may put into our f450 wrecker and use the divorced case out of the snowfighter.

Fred/N0AZZ

Get a build sheet on the WJ you may be surprised on what options it has. I really was when I did for mine I had every option Jeep offered except for Nav, and I'm adding that.

caged

yeah, i should do that.
i do know it has a/c, cruise, power sunroof, power seats, tilt, 242, 4.0L, tow hooks, skid plates, driving lights, tow hitch, lift gate with lift glass. it has an aftermarket pioneer flip down cd deck.
i'm not sure on the gearing yet, but it seems quite torquey, so i'm thinking maybe 3:73. but a build sheet will confirm that.

it even has a brand new never used spare tire and new michelin tires on all 4 corners. and a half tank of gas, which alone is worth more than i paid for the jeep. lol.

i drove it today just down the private road behind my house. it drives great so far that i can tell.

and the engine light went out. maybe it was just on because i just put a battery in it. the key sequence comes up with a p1391 code, but a code reader throws an 0442 and 0455 with the 1391. but maybe those will be gone now too since the engine light went out, will put the reader back on it tomorrow.

dave1123

I've got to warn you about that rear liftglass. If you don't use it much, the hinges get corroded and you can bust the glass trying to open it. When mine got stiff, I just forgot about that option!

caged

yeah, lucky for me, this one opened once i found where the button was. lol and it's still in one piece.
i'm not sure if the parts jeep has that option. will have to check.

andrewmp6

The opening back glass was optional on the zj and wj.Its cool for loading small stuff in the back.But i doubt most use it as much as the whole lift gate.