My dad and I are talking about building a Wrangler trail rig on the cheap. I'll probably start looking for one with a blown engine for an LS swap (will likely do a 5.3). Looking to keep the price under $1k for the Jeep, preferably closer to $500. Any particular years that are better or worse than any others? I know next to nothing about these.

 

We had a CJ5 and that's the kind I've always liked.
Looked a lot like this one

 

I really like the older toyota FJ40s.... they make off the shelf chevy VB swap kits for them... My brother in law had a wrangler and as I remember the parts were really expensive for some reason...

 

Wrangler stuff is expensive because yuppies love the damn things, that's one of the many reasons I sold my TJ. There are a lot better off road vehicles out there, but if you're going with a wrangler on the cheap, pick up a square headlight 4 banger. With any kind of extra power combined with bigger tires, you're going to have to pony up some dough for axles, no matter what year or engine they have.....

 

Well I really like the short wheelbase and the small size of the Wrangler. From what I've been able to gather so far, it looks like I'll want to get either a YJ or a CJ. I'm thinking YJ will probably be the best. TJ is too new and will be too expensive, and if we get something new I know that we will be worried about scratching it or banging it up on a trail. CJ's seem like they might be getting to the point where the value starts to go back up, but I haven't looked real good yet. So for now, I guess it's either CJ or YJ.

 

http://www.revver.com/video/263228/t...llister-hills/

 

I always wanted to put a solid front axle under by s10 blazer. I have a Cherokee out here with one under it, but in my condition I can't ever get around to working on anything.

 

the words cheap and Jeep do not go together.

buy a brand new big billy badass 4 wheeler and save tons of money!!!!!!

ive been helping a buddy build his heep over the last few years. it now has 5k worth suspension and another 6500 worth of axles that we are installing next week. wenches, transmissions, transfer cases, bumpers, fenders, the list goes on.

 

I want a crawler...damn, I should have been born a trillionaire (inflation ya know )

 

I dont know about wranglers but the best year for wagoneers was when danny tanner turned 30 and bought himself one for the midlife crisis.