I drive a 1980 CJ7.
As far as what's a good deal, that is very tough to describe.
I paid $2600 for mine last year. But that came with the 4.0 that needed to be rebuilt, along with the old 4.2 that was in it. It alsi came with a couple of replacement panels that (still) need to be put on the jeep in place of a couple that have rusted out. It also had a brand new suspension lift and 4 new tires and wheels.
My jeep is ugly, just rattle can painted black. I am working on changing out the panels and I am going to paint it right.
Things to check for:
Rust on the frame. Old Jeeps are notorious for rusting. If there is some rust on the frame, it can be repaired, but make sure you know about it before you buy it.
Drive it around and see if its running rough. If its a carb issue, that can be a pretty cheap fix.
Look at oil pressure. The pressure on the old 4.2 can be pretty low and still be in normal range, but if its really low, that could indicate a worn out engine.
Oil leaks. Again, cj's are notorious for leaking oil, and usually its from the rear main seal, which is a simple, yet time consuming and annoying fix.
rust on body, especially behind rocker panel guards. Another thing that can usually be patched or fixed, just need to be aware of the issue.
I looked for mine for 2 yrs before buying. No matter how bad of shape its in, you really won't find one for less than $2500.
If it has been taken care of, and is in great condition they can be priced as high as $10-15k. You just have to go look at them. There are deals to be had.
Don't be afraid to get one that needs some TLC. That is the easiest way to get one without spending an arm and a leg. They are easy to work on and its kinda fun.
Like I said, I'd never even changed oil before I bought this one, and now I have rebuilt and swapped an engine. I did it all on my own (father in law helped on swap day) after watching youtube and reading up on the internet.
[This message has been edited by Gigemags05 (edited 10/8/2013 12:35p).]
