How much is this junk worth?

Hey guys! I'm looking at buying this junked CJ from a junkyard and need to know how much it's worth. Let me begin by describing it...

- Body is in better condition than mine, but still isn't worth fixing up (shows you how bad mine is, huh?)
- It has a "running" Buick V6 in it, but nothing behind it (no tranny or t-case)
- It has an incomplete power steering conversion, includes pump, box, steering column, etc...but after the box it seems to have had some redneck engineering done to it (and I can say that cause I'm from Kentucky)
- I think the frame is okay, but I'll have to check again to make sure

I was wanting to swap my Dana 27 out for a 30 with disc brakes, and they've also got one of those, but not on this Jeep. The axle would need new bearings throughout and brake parts. Any idea on what this junk is worth? The guy at the 'yard said he'd sell the old CJ for $300. We haven't agreed on a price for the axle yet.

 

Just judging by the description, I was gonna say $300 - $500. Sounds like a good deal.

 

I'm going back to look at it some more tomorrow... I might be able to get some sort of package deal for the jeep and axle. Cool thing is that he discounts the parts if you take them off yourself. So I might be able to get the axle fairly cheap.

Another thing...and I hate to divert attention from my own subject...but you guys might want to know. There's also an M38A1 down there. And a CJ-3A with an aluminum half-cab top. The A1 is in pretty rough shape, but the 3A seems decent. I tried to get him to give me a price, but he said it belongs to a buddy of his who parked it there a few years ago. My guess it that it'll sit there for several more years to come...

 

Like I said, depending on what shape the Jeep is in you should be good on the package deal price up to $500. Offer him around $350 and see what he says.




As for the other Jeeps, ask him if he knows whether or not his buddy has a title to them. If not, I might go gett'em one night.

 

I don't know, sounds like all you'll really be getting for your $300 is a questionable motor and a frame, maybe a few other odds and ends. The 3A is interesting, though.

 

But you said the body was better than yours. How much better?

 

The body is trash, much like the one on my Jeep right now. I guess the only difference is that this one has less rust and more bondo, versus the massive amount of rust mine has. I was going to experiment with an aluminum tub once I gather up some cash, anyway.

Rondog, I think you're right. All I have for proof that the motor runs is the guy's word. I really like that power steering stuff, though. The thing is, I don't think the guy wants to sell the rest of it by itself. But I'm not going to rush into this just yet. I haven't been able to do a thorough look-over of the Jeep; I plan on doing that tomorrow.

I'll let y'all know tomorrow what I find out for certain. Oh, mcscott, you'll need a crane to hoist the Jeeps from their locations...that place is packed. R)

 

Sounds like too much to me, but generally you won't get anything really cheap from a commercial junkyard. They can let stuff sit for a while... and most would rather scrap it than sell cheap. I'd only buy from a commercial yard if I needed something really specific, and even then you have to bargain.

They make their money by selling pieces of cars, not the whole thing. If he wants to sell the hulk to you, he probably considers it picked over. For example, I bought two very good front fenders, a factory rear step bumper and two taillight lenses for my pickup for $220. Nowhere near a whole truck, but a good price for hard-to-get pieces in good condition. My friend who went there with me bought the tailgate for $50, but only after we sat in the office for a while, and then started to leave.

You're much more likely to get a deal if you buy private party.

 

I think the price sounds high. There are just too many junk CJs out there to be buying from a salvage yard that thinks it's gold. For about the same price, for example, kamel (on this site) has a decent CJ6 body, fenders, frame, and axles in TN. That would give you more of a starting point, if you really wanted to go the complete rebuild route.