Tuesday, September 25, 2007 by Myself
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Monday, September 24, 2007 by Myself
It started out on Friday night, I was perusing craigslist for jeep parts for the CJ. Someone had just posted a soft top in good shape for $100. Even better they were in Stillwater. I inquired and was the first to respond, so I scheduled to take a look at it around 9:30 ish. It turned out to be in really good shape (almost new). These things are about $500 to $650 new and go for $300 - $400 used. He even threw in the bikini top for the jeep (piece of cloth that just covers the driver and passenger from the sun, leaving the backseat for cooking). Since it was missing 2 steel bars that go from the roll cage to the windshield, he knocked $20 off the price. I really wanted a soft top for the summer, but was not going to buy one for $500. I was planning on buying the bikini top this summer since they are $50 and from what I have heard, you will roast in a jeep in the sun. The above picture is of a stock photo with the soft top on, only I have full soft doors (like they will be on in the summer) instead of the 1/2 steel doors pictured.
Later on Saturday, I was looking at the used tools on Craigslist and someone had a small hobby welder on sale for $25. It only does 1/16 inch steel, but I need to learn somehow (the CJ needs some welding done). It is much cheaper to figure out welding on a $25 welder that uses 110v, than a $300 welder that I need to run 220V to the garage to use. April kinda thinks it is just another toy, but really it is just an extension of a toy I already have, the CJ7.
Labels: Jeep CJ7
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Thursday, September 20, 2007 by Myself
So does that look like $7200 in damage?
According to the insurance company it is. Yesterday I got word that they are going to total my Jeep Cherokee (not worth $7200). I cleaned out the last of my stuff and said good-bye to my first Jeep. They offered to let me buy it back, but the last thing I need is to add another thing to do... but that new engine and seats would have been mighty nice in the CJ.
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Saturday, September 15, 2007 by Myself
Last Sunday, I bought a 1980 CJ7 with all the rust of a 27 year old jeep, but only 103K miles. It is really going to be a learning project. But while I am learning (provided I do not learn the hard way too many times) it will be a usable vehicle. In fact, my plan for the next few months is to use it to get to work. The CJ has a 4 cylinder in it so it actually gets close to 20mpg. I have some really fun plans for this jeep, but most of them will happen after the body fails or the engine blows.
I know this is not a real practical vehicle for driving across the twin cities every day. I figured that I would be OK pretty much what ever happens. In the worst case I have to sell the CJ to help pay for a vehicle that can get me to work every day, and I might end up with a couple of days off for vehicle failures. This really did not sound too bad. The guy I bought it from got non stop calls about it till I paid for it and he removed it from
craigslist. So I could even make money on the jeep. Best case I drive it for 6-12 months and save for another car to take to work. In say 9 months I buy another vehicle and I now am free to work on or upgrade the CJ as my wallet sees fit (JEEP really stands for
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket) without impacting my ability to get to work. In the process I learn more than I could have otherwise and I get a 3rd fun, cool vehicle. So really I had chances for big positives and some chance for something not so bad.
Labels: Jeep CJ7
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Friday, September 14, 2007 by Myself
If you read the previous post you will see that the cherokee has had a hard summer. Right now I am not sure it is going to pull through. The insurance company for Laidlaw (the company that owns the 15 pass van that rear ended me) is really slow. They are going to try to get an adjuster out there on Monday. In the mean time I have convinced them I needed a loaner car. I have a 2007 Mustang to drive for a few days. It is fun, but I doubt it is worth $25K.
Today I took the insurance $$ from the previous wreck, and bought a 1980 Jeep CJ7
It is not perfect (it is 25+years old what did you expect?) but it does have some potential. It also will be fun to drive. I plan on using this jeep to get some experience with car repairs. I also plan on using it for fun and going to work for now. I have not brought it home yet due to an issue of finding a bank I could cash a check at. I will post more and have more pictures once it is home.
Labels: Jeep CJ7
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007 by Myself
The people at work have taken to calling me "crash". I think that has something to do with my latest eventful drive to work, combined with some previous vehicle misadventures. Today on my way to work, I was in the 62/35W commons. As traffic does all the time, it was going, then it stopped. So I stopped. The problem starts when the van behind me did not stop. Hence the nickname crash. I am pretty sure the jeep has driven its last mile. The bumper got bumped and is now hidden under the door. The whole rear end got a 2-3 in lift. I always wanted one, I guess my thought was to get one without causing the fender to rub on the tires. It is not officially gone yet, that is up to the other insurance company if they fix it or total it. Even if they do fix it, I think I will sell it, I think it is jinxed.
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