Looking at buying a FSJ

[HollywoodXJ]

Hey guys im a student at Kansas State University and found a 88 Grand Wagoneer for sale dirt cheep we are talking $100-$200. i took it for a test drive and it stumbles when accelerating. the only way i can describe it is like a dead zone in the carburetor. it also had a bit of a hard time idling and would die when stopped sometimes. only had it running for about 5 min but it had a hard time driving in high range he lived on a dirt road so i used 4 low most of the time. im guessing it needs the carb rebuilt. dose anyone else have an idea about it?

this has the 360 (has some lifter noise), auto trans, D44 front AMC 20 rear.

quarters are rusted quite a bit but the metal cover over the gas tank has a huge hole in it no leaks but im sure the first rock i put into my gas will be everywhere.

is there any problem areas that i should look into im a poor college student and im looking for a cheep truck to take up wheeling/DD if it needs to be. is this it or will it cost to much to get running again?

Thanks for your help!

[Jeepstress]

Check this link out before you make any commitments:

http://www.ifsja.org/tech/misc/buyfaq.html (http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/../../tech/misc/buyfaq.html)

These beasties are rusty and trusty, but fickle depending on previous owners care. You may have more work cut out for you on a college budget, BUT if you are handy with tool, have patience and post up here you'll be able to do most repairs yourself. Shucks, I'm just a girl and I can do it. ;) That's not a dare, dear..... do not buy an FSJ if you can't afford the time, tools and parts that are needed. The price is great, but it suggests a beater that has been rode hard and put away wet.

Print out the above link and take it with you and really inspect the jeep. Then report back here and you'll get good honest advice.

[Chevelleguy]

'86 1//2-91 have a DANA44 in the rear also. If this one does have an AMC20 in it, the previous owner changed it. Krista is correct about the college budget thing. The carb is easy to rebuild but the last time I priced a kit they were about $65.

[HollywoodXJ]

well i dont have as much time as i would like to work on my jeeps . i got a good collection of tools and i can use the shop at my school if i stay out of everybody way. i know how to weld and i have done all the work on my cherokee my self. (lift, Lockers, high school shop class skids) i got a job so i got a small cash flow.

one of the reasons its so cheep is there is a problem with the title. at first the guy says there was no title. now he says he has it but the guy that owned it before him didnt sign it or something like that. im going to bother him a bit more and see what exactly needs to be done to get this street legal.

[babywag]

well i dont have as much time as i would like to work on my jeeps . i got a good collection of tools and i can use the shop at my school if i stay out of everybody way. i know how to weld and i have done all the work on my cherokee my self. (lift, Lockers, high school shop class skids) i got a job so i got a small cash flow.

one of the reasons its so cheep is there is a problem with the title. at first the guy says there was no title. now he says he has it but the guy that owned it before him didnt sign it or something like that. im going to bother him a bit more and see what exactly needs to be done to get this street legal.

Run like hell, even though it's cheap it sounds like a used up POS.
If the gas tank skid plate is that rusted, the frame is probably just as bad.

Save your money, and your time. FSJ that isn't driveable = EXTREMELY poor college student.

[FSJ Guy]

Finding and getting a LEGAL title will be WAAY more headache than it's worth.

RUN AWAY!! RUN AWAY!!!

[710 Burner]

Yeah, being a Kansican, you need to look at rust very closely.
The stumbling engine is very likely all of the vacuum operated emission control devices leaking on an '88.

[HollywoodXJ]

Yeah, being a Kansican, you need to look at rust very closely.
The stumbling engine is very likely all of the vacuum operated emission control devices leaking on an '88.

where can i look for the emission controls that cause this? or just fix all the vacuum lines (there are a couple).

the only way i would buy it is if i can get a legal title for it first. im still thinking of buying it but i will take a good long look on the underside for rusted frame rails. i won a bit of cash about a month ago and im getting the check soon. so if it needs some money put into it that wont be to big of a problem.

[Tom Lovinggood]

I live in Kansas City and I have owned 3 Grand Wagoneers. Rust is by far and away the worst problem you can have. If your beast is rusty, it will cost you a boat load of money to refurbish it, and it will still be a problem. However, they are fun to drive and are absolutley unstoppable in snow and mud--good luck

Tom Lovinggood
"So many Jeeps, so little time!"

[HollywoodXJ]

ok a little update on this. the first owner was a lawyer and drove it to work every day and took to brigs jeep jamboree one time. second owner bought it planed on building it never got to it sat in a field for 5 years. guy that has it now is one of my professors and all he did was drive it around his property.

took a look under the hood looks like it has a fair amount of blow by. hooked up a vacuum line that fell out runs a lot better. let it warm up and a bit of full throttle operation and it idles good now. the AC is even colder then my 97 cherokee!

on the underside minimal rust on floor pans. passenger frame rail is in good shape still has most of the paint. drivers side is a little worse got some pealing and bubbling of paint nothing a bit of sandpaper cant fix. the axle looks original no signs of new u bolts shocks look stock.

now for the title. he has the original title the first owner printed his name and signed it on the back where seller is listed. thats it. im assuming that i can fill out all the blanks find someone to notarize it and call it good.

is the gas tank held up by the skid plate or are there straps on it?

im betting this wont work but can this t-case go into 2low? i dont want to try it and find out it dosent work by listening to explode.

Edit: 140000 miles

[FSJ Guy]

Gas tank IS held in by the skidplate. But a LOT of that skidplate has to be gone in order for the tank to fall down.

[AlsChopShop]

make sure the frame near the tank skid is not rusted through. hit it with a hammer to be sure!

Al

[tar313]

Just so you know, the title does not have to be notarized, KS dropped this requirement a few years ago. I just bought a vehicle 2 weeks ago, and both parties signatures was enough. The date of the original signature may be an issue, or may not. They may want to stick you with back taxes for not registering it for 5 years, I am not sure how that works.

GO KSU WILDCATS!!!:thumbsup:

[69J3700]

Here's another way to look at it. Any 4WD in reasonable shape is worth say $3000. So if you're getting it for $200, it'll probably cost $2800 to get it into shape.

One quick thing you can do is a compression check. Poor compression is rarely easy or cheap to remedy. This will also give you a chance to look at the spark plugs, they'll tell you a lot.

Ditto on make sure you can get clear title.