Another one from Utah.
 

Howdy folks.
As of this morning, I am the proud new owner of a 2004 Grand Cherokee Limited, 4.7L. I think I got pretty lucky on this deal. I have been perusing FB marketplace and KSL Classifieds (Salt Lake City) for a couple years for just the right vehicle (when I had some money at the same time) to make a backcountry fishing and camping vehicle for myself. Being a confirmed DIYer, purchase price was more important to me than condition. I kept waffling between something that was a total beater, but running, and one that had decent cosmetics, but needed mechanical work.

Yesterday I looked at a 1988 XJ that had so many patch panels in the floors that I think the unibody was being held together by buger welds and bubble gum. But, the engine ran and it came with an extra transfer case and a freshly "rebuilt" transmission. They were asking $850. I offered $350. We settled on $400 after I was on my way home. I told him I'd sleep on it. I was already thinking about whether to order prefab floor panels or make my own.

Then last night, as I was considering the XJ, I made one last pass through FB marketplace. My unbelieving eyes landed on a 2004 Grand Cherokee Limited that had several upgrades and accessories, but had engine problems: coolant in #2. The seller had been advertising the Jeep for $5,500 for more than a month, but had suddenly dropped the price to $1,000 OBO. I could hardly sleep last night, worrying that I would be too late. This morning I texted the seller, asking if he had the title and if $500 would buy the Jeep. He responded that he already had a $500 offer and was hoping to do better. Well, I knew I had him, since that wasn't an outright refusal. I offered $700 and said I would Venmo half and pay the other half when I picked it up. He agreed and we proceeded.

I picked up the Jeep this afternoon at the shop where the engine trouble was diagnosed. They said there was no compression in cylinder #2 and they found coolant in the cylinder as well. Possibly a dropped valve seat, maybe a cracked head, well, we'll see. I was unfazed at that, as I can handle even a full engine rebuild, and the rest of the car exceeded my expectations! Being the Limited edition, it has power everything, including dual powered and heated front seats, sunroof, upgraded "Infinity" 7-speaker stereo, adjustable pedals, leather interior, etc. Everything, including the A/C actually works! No dents in the body, paint was excellent, glass is good. It has a nice roof rack, a 3" lift installed, Bilstein 5100s all the way around, and 33" tires with decent wheels and over 90% tread. It has aftermarket Magnaflow cats and muffler. Even the headliner is in excellent condition and no cracks in the dash. I'm in heaven! The wheels and tires alone are worth more than what I paid for the vehicle. It's pretty obvious this vehicle has been babied by the three previous owners, at least the body. Possibly a little lax on the regular maintenance, though, given the engine trouble, likely caused by improperly bleeding the cooling system.

On the downside, there is some rust-out in the underside of the rocker panels, but I intend to cut those out anyway for rock guards. The front bumper is cracked on the passenger side, but that's going away as well. Tow hooks on the front and a receiver hitch on the rear. The underside looks great and no obvious leaks. The Jeep has 190K miles, but the engine was rebuilt at about 130K (receipts included), so I have hopes that I might get away with cleaning up one head. I was able to start it and drive it onto my trailer. It starts right up, but has an obvious miss...as in no compression in #2.

Still, I'm pretty excited. This is going to be a luxury overlanding vehicle for my fishing/camping trips! Just right for a retired old fart! Not too shabby for $700!
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Nice job!! Welcome.

Rebuilding an engine is one thing, working on 4.7 in a WJ is something altogether different.

Hope it's a as simple a fix as you believe it might be & that you don't live to regret passing up that XJ.

In view of your intended use, more important than the tow hooks & front bumper is protection for that oh so vulnerable radiator, certainly before you even turn down a country road, or all your engine work will have been in vain.

Yep, fully aware of the low radiator. Already thinking about front and rear bumpers and probably a fuel tank lift. First thing, though, is to get it running.

It's not just that it's low but it's exposed. Why WJ's didn't have proper lower grilles is beyond me - &, afaik, there's no aftermarket protection available either.

There are several after-market solutions to protect the radiator, in the form of skidplates. I'll probably make my own. Thanks for the concern, though. Also looking at a "tank tuck" for the fuel tank. Just can't see that low-hanging tank as a good idea for off-roading in Utah.

Just to follow up on my thread... I paid $700 for the above 2004 WJ. I put about $800 into parts, including new head gasket, valve stem seals, upper timing chain guide, new timing chain cover gasket set, oil change, new OEM thermostat, new G0-5 coolant, etc. The replacement head I pulled from a parts car provided by a buddy of mine. I cleaned it up, replaced the valve stem seals, lapped the valve seats for good measure, and put it on. Fired right up and ran beautifully. I drove it around for a few weeks, then decided the vehicle was just too nice for me to beat it up and start cutting and welding on it, so I sold it. Got $4,500 for it.

So, this morning I bought a 2002 WJ, 4.7L Laredo for $600. It has 207K miles, body in good shape, interior good, will make a good project vehicle. The PO had a shop rebuild the heads for him and replace some other things. Now it won't start. From what he says, the shop broke the upper timing chain guide, replaced it and the timing chain, then couldn't get it to start and saw low compression on that side. I suspect they didn't set the timing chain properly when they reinstalled it. Who knows. Maybe I'll get lucky again. He spend $600 on the head rebuild job. Even if I have to rebuild the motor, I'm playing with house money!