Cheap Jeep - A Rare Find at the Salvage Yard

[@PullapartAuto]

Hi Everyone - to reinforce Matt's comment, here's the background behind buying vehicles for parts (Parts Cars) vs. buying vehicles to be resold (Used Car Sales) - when we buy a car for parts, we have to submit that information to several government groups (like the state DMV). When we submit the information on the car, the VIN number is then listed legally as ‘scrap’ or in other words, it’s no longer an operating car in the eyes of the government. Therefore we’re not able to sell a whole car purchased for parts without breaking the law. It’s also one of the reasons why we now sell Used Cars at most of our locations. When we find good road worthy vehicles (like Matt’s Jeep for CheapJeep), we can buy those in a different way so we can sell them legally. Hope this helps! ... and it's always tough to see some of the good ones go (like the MJ), but on the flip side - it's good knowing that any remaining quality parts will be reused vs. going straight to a crusher.

[@towboatjeff]

That jeep may have died but it probably kept quite a few Comanches on the road with it's parts.

[@acey4994]

I wish we had wreckers like this in Australia. everyone here charges more than new some times even more than the local Jeep dealership.

[@Noflo_diego]

I am blessed for the guys I've bought my 2 mj's off of. The 87 was 600 bucks with a blown 2.5 and the 89 (my daily driver) for 1200 with EVERYTHING working, that includes ice cold ac!

[@jerryenebak204]

Thanks for taking me with you to pick and pull. For the last three years I have lived too far away from one to just run over and see what they had. When I did live close to one (10 min drive) I would go by just to see what was new in the yard. On one of those excursions they had just set a 48 flat fender in the line. Still had the Spicer 18 transfer case in it, same as the one I've been running in my 53 wagon for the last 38 years. I grabbed it! I love those treasure finds. Good thing I did, short time later mine chipped a tooth and it got between the gears and busted the case right in half. Did I mention I only paid $25 for it. So I rebuilt the whole case for less than $100. That will last until I'm gone for sure. I love the vintage Willys Jeeps. going to put some pics of it up soon.

[@tractormanmike1830]

I had an 88 Comanche sport truck when I was in high school. That truck was a blast to drive both on and off road. I put a 4" suspension lift and 32" rubber on it, quite a chore for the 2.5 litre engine. Thanks for sharing.

[@Axeminister]

I own the bumper and seats out of that truck. Cleaned up and covered they look great!

[@aidanmakinster922]

Nice score!

[@Twojeeps8596]

I carry an old 760 cap with me in my toolbox. That way, when I'm looking for axleshafts, I can take that cap out and compare it to the u-joint that is in the parts car.

[@joshuaodowd9107]

There should be no such thing as a 2 wheel drive jeep

[@bleepinjeep]

true^

[@KgiMedia601]

Joshua Odowd It was marketed as the *drift jeep* lol

[@animalproductions3188]

Joshua Odowd, i slid into a ditch with one and it got out just fine,

[@adamJeepstuff]

Untamed Rider damn, now I want to get one for a drift build....

[@bruce-df9nu]

Joshua Odowd there should be no such things as a jeep

[@CCCommander]

Wow, this video hits so close to home... My daily is a 5.9 ZJ that was in phenomenal rust-free condition when I bought it, except for the typical blown 46RE, failing 249 case, bad axle shafts, etc. etc. And I've pilfered parts from many a ZJ in the Cleveland, OH Pull-A-Part. When I had the trans rebuilt, I had the transmission shop source and swap in a "242" but instead I got a 231. The shop had to swap the tail shaft from the 249 to get it to work. I later swapped it again on my own with an actual 242 and I can confirm that 249 to 242 is a simple bolt-in job. As for the shifter, I swapped that for a correct 242 shifter and bezel as well. You are right that the 249 shifter will work correctly with a 242, but it lacks the stops/gates between the 4wd ranges and between N and 4 Lo if that's important to you. If you run a 231 in your ZJ, remember that some earlier 4.0 Laredos (like, 93-95s) did in fact come factory with 231s, and thus, you can find the correct shifter assembly and bezel...and it snaps right in to your 96-98 console. I've even seen a few in my Pull-A-Part yard. Lastly, if you're really ambitious you can flip a wire harness behind the VIC and it'll even light up the correct ranges too.

[@omegarugal9283]

10:30 As a comanche owner, all i can say is... YOU MONSTER!!!

[@LOUDFARTNOISES]

I was pissed. Just started liking his vids.

[@cadenmcgowan5161]

whats so bad about taking a tailgate off

[@wigit2216]

@@cadenmcgowan5161 he was taking alot of hard to find parts that are very valuable. In the Comanche community tailgates and taillights are worth way more than they should be, a perfect set of taillights often go for 500 bucks

[@cadenmcgowan5161]

@@wigit2216 I know I own a Comanche

[@XXMUZZELFLASHXX]

identical to my first Jeep Comanche lol. the best rig I ever owned. nice find!

[@EmeraldEnchantments]

i did a 249/231 swap on my lifted 94 zj 4.0. only thing you need to look for is input shaft length. they can be different and only by a small amount but it matters. mine was the same length going into the trans. shifter can stay. i did have to extend my rear control arms to fit the drive shaft. worth the swap tho. i love donuts!! great show.

[@laineywright2696]

I wish we had a cool car wash like the one at the end of the video, especially with a buff-n-shine finish. Ours has been out of service for 5 years, although it says OPEN all the time.

[@bleepinjeep]

For all those shedding a tear for the MJ: I would have loved to buy it, but it's impossible. I'm not sure exactly how it works but it has to do with govt. blah blah...by the time the vehicle makes it to the PAP yard, it can no longer be sold, the VIN has already been registered with the govt. as scrap and can only be parted out. No more VIN, no more registration, no more legal vehicle... I'm going to get the "you should've taken the whole jeep" comment forever;(... woulda if I coulda!

[@boneil607]

BleepinJeep been there before.. they had the cleanest mj ive ever seen in the junkyard by me with a blown motor and it was a shame it couldnt of been boughten..

[@cg80847h]

BleepinJeep I have a super clean 1989 mj 4x4 4.0 with no rust and I love it, it's staying with me for a while

[@christianrosarioRC]

its always sad to see classics in the yard. you know the saying they don't make them like they used to. in the Comanches case they don't make them at all 😢. but hopefully FCA will change that and bring us a new jeep "pickup" I really hope its worth the wait

[@mikehancock832]

Christian Rosario the cash for clunkers was a great time for parts pickers but a shame for perfectly good vehicles being demolished for no good reason.

[@christianrosarioRC]

Yeah very true my dad cashed in a really nice second gen ford explorer to cash for clunkers, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it and my dad regrets trading it in. He regretted it so much that he went out and bought another second gen explorer just one year newer 97 to 98. Its a shame how many good cars we lost to cash for clunkers. Thanks Obama.

[@StansAuto83]

Wow Knoxville Pull-A-Part. One off my many places I go

[@riverbear2441]

We are lucky here! All the PAP yards here in Nevada I've been too, are all nicely concreted! I only been to one that was dirt, and they layed concrete in a few months after the one time I went when it was dirt!

[@noahdobson8470]

Matt, I have owned my Comanche for 3 years after searching for over a year and got one Rust Free and I'm from Iowa. I've seen lots of Comanches and can say that would be a good deal. 1. You don't have to deal with renix problems since it's the H.O. and it should have the better wiring harness. 2. Rust free from what I saw and probably still has that factory undercoating like mine. 3. I haven't seen a rubber bed mat for these trucks or the bed cover. That's a rare combo. I've done the 4WD swap and I think you can do it. Truck has lots of potential. 4. Comanche Club is the best forum and you need to join.

[@bleepinjeep]

can't, see pinned comment^

[@fordcobraone]

I'm an Explorer not a Jeep, but you have sparked my interest in going to PullApart for diffs/axles/transfer case!! Thanks alot!

[@nicholashollow9410]

You should put a cash counter on the screen in all the videos to show where the budget is.

[@kingmabb]

The NP242 is my favorite for my ZJ daily driver, highway and slick or off-road conditions. We have a Wrench-a-part here and I wish it was half the store those Pick-a-Parts are. But you are right there are over 20 ZJ's out at the yard to pick from here at ours as well.

[@richt8297]

That Comanche is in pretty good shape. I used to work for AMC Jeep back in the day. 85 to 2001

[@cpt.moroni3092]

I loved the 242 transfer case in my ZJ. When the LS goes into my XJ I hope I can figure out a similar transfer case.

[@wildbill23c]

Yep plastic bumper covers, and not much in the way of structure behind it either. CV axles work fine when taken care of, had 232k on my 96 ZJ's original CV axles. Yep the fake leather cracks all to hell in them, if I ever get another jeep it will NOT have leather LOL. The NP242 T-Case was a great setup especially if you live in snow country where road conditions are constantly changing. Part time and full time 4WD is a nice feature.

[@daathseverus]

The only real problem with the 231 swap can be input shaft lengths. I'm really enjoying this even tho I have a fully built Wj with the D231hd swap. Now that was a pain in the butt! Lol

[@kevinknabe7252]

the reason we keep the cv shafts is because you can make it home with a broken one. a broken u joint you wont be able to drive it out of the woods. cv axle shafts are cheap as hell online new also. i would keep the abs since this was supposed to still be a daily driver zj.

[@dannickelwarth9102]

have a 86 comanche 4x4 with 2.8 v6 i built runs strong was going to sell it decided to keep it and build it little at time got to sell a couple of 84 corvettes first i also have complete wiring diagrams for comanches

[@spenserak]

There's a Comanche here in town (Juneau, AK) that is in extremely good condition, built up, etc. It came up for sale shortly after I bought my current XJ, and it took a lot for me to keep myself from figuring out the financials to make it happen. I see it a few times a week parked in its driveway... still want it... will always want it....

[@realmaindrianpace]

For all MJ fans, there are six on the Phoenix craigslist, everything from stock 2wd to exocaged rock crawlers. Happy shopping.

[@unclefreddieDied]

my god man....that junkyard is immaculate!!!!

[@ChuckEllis]

Glad you grabbed all the good stuff (other than the bedliner). The split rear window that one has is very desirable as well. My 86 MJ has it, and the roof visor. The rear bumpers are highly desirable as well, so you may want to grab it on your next trip. Cool find! Wish I could be so lucky.

[@desbennett9839]

those MJ taillights are worth their weight in gold. You should grab all the parts off it, sell them and add to your budget.

[@Joel-ew1zm]

funny thing about the old XJ / MJ interior. Most modern seats, the cloth tears up quick, the leather cracks quick, the foam disintegrates. I have a 94 abused cherokee with a quarter million miles with the same style interior as that MJ. Funny thing is, teh cloth and foam are both in pretty solid shape, no tears, foam is nice and squishy and even. Where they failed is the metal seat frame engineering. The left side of my driver's seat has basically collapsed and i have seen that on other XJ's of the same era. Might have been trying to save too much weight and engineered the strength out of them.

[@codymoncrief2128]

Awwwwwww its like a baby J-series truck. On a side note on engineered to fail, my J20 has all factory original (1976) calipers, bearings, and u joints and not a single one even has slop from wear.

[@Catfish2255]

Dude..Grab stuff like that top window visor and grill pieces that are clean..EBAY them..I was looking at one for my GC Laredo..Expensive like $200.00..You could snag that one for probably $20..Good clean profit and you're working for yourself..Great video by the way.

[@bradleyrogers6896]

sway bar links are different from one another from 96-97, 96 and earlier had the longer style w/o the ball joint on it, 97&98 had the balljoint style, I've had 4 zjs and done all sorts of things to them and learned a lot

[@njinthemj52]

I picked a MJ over the weekend. Got there late, almost everything gone behind the cab. I still got the brake proportion valve and e brake pedal assembly tho. Took the brand new distributor and wires too.

[@d.sm.4146]

If you mean height sensing prop'valve connected to the rear diff' your a lucky duck. If you took it out of the engine bay you only grabbed a distribution block, which is unique to the mj.

[@njinthemj52]

@@d.sm.4146yes, it was the mechanism that attaches to the axle. I also managed to get the solid rear window glass out in one piece (1st time ever pulling glass), with the seal. Guess I was pretty lucky lol.

[@Str8sixfan]

I liked the Magnums myself too...all but the front clip. Felt like the 300 or Charger front was a little better. But between a Comanche and a Magnum...I'd have to go Comanche! Huge fan of those.

[@jaywade6443]

I'm not even a Jeep guy, I'm a Toyota guy, tundra driver, but I dig this channel, good content man!

[@automan2164]

The visor is for an XJ. You can tell because it is tilted down towards the windshield. MJ's have a higher roof line, so they have a specific visor PN. Also, even though it was 2WD, it still could have the factory D44 rear axle. Especially being a longbed truck, makes it a little more possible. Based on the graphics, that thing is also a 91 or 92... A time when they often just tossed the D44's in to burn up stock. Feel free to direct message me with any questions. I have a factory Diesel MJ and a 87 Metric Ton from CA I am restoring.

[@darkrocker246]

You'll only find a 231 in an I6 Grand Cherokee. Also u-joint axle shafts tend to be more common on the 93-95 years.

[@MrGuitarguyadam]

go with a 241 transfer case out of a chevy 4wd. very strong transfer case and not difficult to adapt.

[@austinaubinoe]

I am so happy you took that MJ tailgate and taillights. high dollar items. Hold on to them because you'll have one eventually. Is that pull a part flat rate? Also, I know people Pin the viscous couplings in the NP229 in the full size Wagoneers essentially making it a part time case. If you can do it in a 249 that would be a real cheap Jeep modification, because most ZJs seem to have the full time case.

[@Sadler2010]

Get the Np 242 for sure it is my first choice on Cherokees.

[@jackdooley8732]

Wow, the salvage yard you are at looks like a paradise compared to the Pull and Pay(s) here in Denver. Pull And Pay looks like an A- Bomb hit it them (possibly at the same time).

[@MikeBeeman]

i hear you about the Jeep WJ seats. i have a 2000 grand cherokee Laredo the the driver side seat frame is broke in about 10 places. i cant move the seat forward or backwards. i need to find new ones or junk yard seats.

[@diyjeepguy7713]

I crashed my 91 Comanche last winter, she is still on my driveway waiting to be fixed, I have always wanted one so I'm not getting rid if it, should be an easy fix, the frame forward of the front axle is the only damaged part aside from the grill and stuff.

[@jackiecarpenter7747]

I go to pull a part in Knoxville some.. maybe I'll run into one day.

[@jasontanner5656]

I'm digging the music and the car wash

[@tootall5559]

What engine do you prefer in your Jeeps? when I was working a car rental lot in Aspen, Colorado, we had a lot of trouble with the V8's not performing well in the cold weather. The 4.0 straight sixes however, performed great, always started, and had plenty of power. Of course at the time they were all brand new fresh off the truck jeeps. I think this was back in the 80's. I've liked their straight six ever since. I also found out the hard way that skinny tires work much better on snow and ice than wide tires do. They tended to dig down and through, while the wide tires would sit on top and just spin.

[@jayzauto18]

dude that's a 92 the last year of them they only made like 500trucks that year

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

I got my 8.8 with LSD and got a G80 for a Danna 30 nothing beats 120 bucks for the rear and 40 dollar G80 locker for TJ XJ

[@jameswmatthews]

As for the swaybar, I would just get jks easy disconnects or any ebay brand that works. They aren't that much and are a easy cheap jeep part that helps out a lot. The average builder can buy those and install them. As for the transfer case, I'd go with the 242. Tom Wood's makes SYE and great after market parts for the 242. Not that you are doing that, but for the viewers. That's who I used. As far as the shafts go, U joints are great and you can get them and carry spares if you break them. CV's are nice, but you do run into the problem of the boot's breaking and you can't add outer shaft seals with them. I did the swap to Ujoints and haven't looked back. You do need to look at shaft length though because not all shafts are the same. The Dana 30 that's in there has a variloc or similar lsd carrier. The shaft lengths are different than those of an xj by about an inch.

[@Nathaniel2Smooth]

You can always tell what owners had no friends when the driver side is destroyed but the passenger seats are perfect 👌

[@jaydawg3303]

a few questions why did you want to switch from the 249? they both have the same low range? also your pull a part is much nice than any locations i have near me

[@Ryanisawesome123]

242/231 swaps with the v8s most likely need the input shaft swapped. i know 93-95 had a 249 specific really long shaft and would need to be swapped into the other t case. not sure about 96-98. bunch of forums on it

[@badlt.5189]

Haha! I love it Matt. I always come home with something from the junkyard that I didn't go there for.

[@bleepinjeep]

me too about 99% of the time

[@jeepcollector91]

That MJ bench would be nice in an XJ.

[@dillonkoch72]

wow it's hard to believe they cost so much I'm looking at one on Craigslist it's an 89 with 200,000 it looks like it's had body work with a baby blue paint job for $2500 it's really clean it's only a 2WD though

[@frankpryor8308]

That's one clean KEWL Bone Yard👍

[@wyattg6804]

You can switch it to cv by putting cv axle shafts in

[@ClaytonSensiba]

Tyler might need that bench seat for his overlander jeep!

[@Stangzillaw302w]

Liked for the puppies at the beginning :)

[@markkennedy4055]

I have an MJ....just sitting blown V6 Engine, automatic transmission. 4x4 matching camper shell

[@jaredmb585]

Would have loved to see how to remove the 242 TC and convert it.

[@alleyoop4465]

Those are collectable?!? I need to learn about some Jeeps. I know where there are a couple of those in some back yards around here.

[@bleepinjeep]

everything is collectible when they get rare!

[@ramonserrano2590]

Where is that Comanche at I would love to have that bed liner and the bed cover

[@chrishood5937]

I pulled some connectors off that same cherokee at the beginning last week

[@bradbrabson4475]

seen an mj today at my local bone yard while scavenging a xj front drive shaft.

[@beamer6136]

Im lazy at my pull apart you can rent golf carts.

[@spencerharrell9576]

You should totally get an mj. I love mine!

[@jesuscontreras8802]

My 93 zj still has the seats and all the interior in original condition with almost 280k

[@gosportjamie]

That MJ had taken quite a hard hit low down on that corner. My guess would be that the hit bent the frame, and with the truck not being in tip-top condition that would make it a write-off in economic terms. Could something have been done with it? Without a doubt, but insurance companies don't look at whether something is rare or unusual on standard policies, only on collectors policies, so they just look at the bottom line...

[@peters4144]

Amazing clean and organized yard!!

[@homeroraymundo1572]

I need a tip to how to move a electric seat in a grand Cherokee 2004, where’s the power for the seats come from? Is from the control under the central console?

[@shubamama1]

I'm really enjoying Operation cheap Jeep! I'm looking forward to learning more about a kind of Jeep we haven't seen much of in your videos. Also next project...operation MJ? Weekend warrior MJ built better than a budget build but without the budget of the Scorpion Crawler? Think Zombie Jeep?

[@JMR70]

I don't know why the obsession with changing the transfere box other than better access to better parts but I would go with the 249 until it breaks it probably won't. cheap jeep! I have an ls2 running through gm 4 speed auto and it was no bother. I have changed to the xj 242 for rear wheel drive fun and you can just bolt it in props and linkage just go straight on. just remember the shift pattern of the 242

[@bleepinjeep]

from what I hear you cant run a locker or spool with a NP249?

[@JMR70]

you can run a spool I recon you can get away with a locker in the rear just not the front. the 249 has a diff(center) but uses a viscous coupling to spread the drive for and aft. mine had been run with odd size tyres and the viscous was nearly locked. after an hours drive it would very nearly lock and tight turns in car parks consisted of a lot of scrubbing of tyres. still never broke anything. I guess big tyres are the problem here.

[@blakemason317]

a gravel junk yard would be awesome we've only got a dirt one & it rains along lothe struggle is real lmao

[@ironcross420]

I miss my MJ. Was to be my first truck (also my initials), some drunk illegal totaled it on his way to get more beer. The dude back up, rammed it again, backed up and pulled into to 7/11 and drove off. He left his front license plate in the side of the truck. Cops refused to arrest him because they can't prove he was driving. 4 priors for DUI. Got court order for garnishments, got 60 bucks and that was it. Never saw a dime and no insurance covered it. So it was a total loss. It was a 1988 Comanche 4.0 5spd 4x4 long bed. I want another one. It was white with tan interior. None of that red or blue stuff.

[@brianpardee1281]

saving the mj would have been great but not all of them are savers

[@quintin288]

mines worse but i am going to try haha

[@5c0H]

i like how he pulled the tail lights from the MJ. The same tail lights from a 1st and 1.5 gen dakota.

[@d.sm.4146]

Nope, the dakotas are a hair too big.

[@warren9962]

Where is that pull-a-part in particular? I'm sure they are gone by now but ive been looking for that style of door panels for ever. With the handle that also has an arm rest.

[@bleepinjeep]

knoxville

[@warren9962]

Ok, thanks!

[@aronkovacs1386]

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living? You seem like a pro with mechanics and welding.

[@rustybottoms8859]

Great find on the MJ parts. Wish I had that bed mat for mine. MJ tai lights and straight tailgate =$

[@derekthetoolguy9533]

are you going to the pull a part in between north Vernon and Seymour Indiana or louisville kentucky the surroundings look familiar and the land looks like indiana or kentucky.

[@noot9360]

my dad has the first year or 1985/1986 jeep comanche (its the mj) 4x4 with the long bed option

[@allinmota4787]

That MJ was sick.

[@adamJeepstuff]

both of my wjs seats are in great shape lol. love the channel. awkward being a guy who favorite Jeep is the wjs tho lol.

[@artistrage1480]

which pull a part is that one. I've been looking for axle shafts in tn. I was going to meet someone in crossville from craigslist sometime but never herd back from them. I'm sure they were busy. I know I've been.

[@ianlaverty1583]

hell yeah glad i found your chanel my dad has a 5.2 GC and i have a 5.9 been wanting to do the 242 swap on my niner

[@grantdubridge7995]

a really cool find would be the full-size. I think they were J10 and J20.

[@eyesalooking]

I have a rust free J10 waiting for a paint job and install of a rebuilt 258 I6 engine with fuel injection (has not been converted yet). After watching so many of the XJ videos I am starting to think about buying a Golen 258 or 4.0 Stroker . I also have a CJ8 chassis in a metal building and the tub in a loft that could use the 258. We just had a XJ without title given to us with a working engine and transmission. It is 2WD so I guess we need to look for a 2WD Cherokee in need of a transplant. The only thing missing is the money to do all of this.

[@arrondentinger2086]

I have an MJ and I would love to have found that tailgate and visor!

[@Kyle-wt4fi]

hey would you be able to check to see if that visor would fit on your zj? ive been looking for visors for mine but are hard to find

[@ihaveahugesofa]

wicked score on the visor!!!

[@jerimiahcrider3862]

Where near Knoxville are you located I'm in beanstation TN and currently building my first 4x4 it is a suzuki sidekick but I bought it real cheap and hopefully one day be able to.get a jeep

[@nickdifrancesco1607]

id love to have that rear bumper for my MJ. along with that bed cover! i havent seen a bed cover like that for a long bed before.

[@bradleyrogers6896]

thats the knoxville tn pull-a-part, ive spent tons of money there lol

[@bleepinjeep]

me too!

[@als484]

On the seats bottom they unbolt from mount and it’s same left and right

[@robertf4645]

Holy crap where are you from? Those "junkyard" undercarriages are perfect condition!

[@TheTechnicalWizard]

Dang I would have bought that bed liner and cover asap lol