Salvaging a drowned jeep

[orangeTJ]

An important thing to remember, it's not like these jeeps were driven into a lake. Flood water is contaminated with all sorts of nasty stuff from industrial waste, vehicular fluids and raw sewage. Getting the moisture out is one thing, getting the crud out with it can be an entirely different task. It can be done, but will it be worth the time and effort?.

Grit, sand, mud, dirt will get in to every nook and cranny, and ruin nearly every electrical component, and likely most of the drive-train too.

Even if I had all the time in the world to complete a total rebuild, I still wouldn't do it. I could accomplish it with the exception of the engine and drivetrain, but I just won't want to devote the time and effort to try to make it run again.

 

[1stDeuce]

This was up and running in 3-4 hours..

but then its a Nissan Patrol and not a jeep !---even the engel worked afterwards !

That's awesome, but as I said, that's NOTHING like reviving a flood damaged vehicle. Let that truck sit windshield deep for a few days, then drag it out, roll the windows up tight and let it sit in that field for about two months... I'd like to see you get it running in a few hours after that, and then I'd like even more to see it run and drive for more than a few minutes. BTW, I see it's got a snorkel, what was the problem?? It looks like it should still be running!

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

flooded vehicle

Years ago I bought a 95 blazer. 2 dr. when doing some work I pulled the carpet back and found1/2 inch of silt every where underneath the carpet. Dam I thought this thing was flooded out. Ot was sold to me by a dealer, they didn't disclose any of it. but the funny thing is it drove just fine, for 225 000 miles when I sold it for more than 1/2 what I paid for it. for what evert thats worth.

 

[unkamonkey]

Years ago a neighbor worked for Standard Oil. He drove a Jeep and towed a Jeep from Toledo to CO. He did trade off the tow vehicle on occasion so both broke in equally. They did drive them through a few rivers in the field, went back to camp at the end of the day, drain the gearboxes and refill them.

 

[njtacoma]

I think the key is what 1stdeuce said.

It is one thing to sink your jeep in a creek, pull it out, drive to camp, and fix it up. It is a whole different animal to sink it for a few days, drag it home and let it sit for a few months so everything can percolate (corrode), now try to fix it up.

Now factor in waste and ick that exists in flood water, um, I'll pass.

According to my friend in the Insurance industry, in some floods they will dictate the cars be shredded following the event. Not sure what determines that.

 

[twiisted71]

Buy it, strip EVERYthing, drop in a V8 with standalone harness and manual tranny, rebuild/regear axles, comfy aftermarket seats, aftermarket gauges, and be tickled with your "new" built JKU for $10-12K.
Some might think this is high for this type of build, but you're going to have to go through/replace everything but the body/frame. Off the top of my head the fuel system, fuel tank, fuel pump, brakes, master cyl, booster, body harness, U-joints, steering column bearings/joints, steering box, tie rod ends, PS pump, battery, wiper motor, washer pump, and all lights will all be suspect. You will be BUILDING a vehicle and won't be able to trust re-using any of the factory parts.
I'd do it but I enjoy this type of stuff. Not sure if its really economical to buy a sunk vehicle for more than scrap price if you intend to go this route. Its worth too much in parts after this type of damage

As you can tell from my current build, I'm almost fanatical about having the least electrical stuff in my rig. To me the more wiring a vehicle has the more areas to have potential problems. And those are problems that can crop up without warning and leave a typical vehicle dead in its tracks.

 

[94Discovery]

Buy it, strip EVERYthing, drop in a V8 with standalone harness and manual tranny, rebuild/regear axles, comfy aftermarket seats, aftermarket gauges, and be tickled with your "new" built JKU for $10-12K.
Some might think this is high for this type of build, but you're going to have to go through/replace everything but the body/frame. Off the top of my head the fuel system, fuel tank, fuel pump, brakes, master cyl, booster, body harness, U-joints, steering column bearings/joints, steering box, tie rod ends, PS pump, battery, wiper motor, washer pump, and all lights will all be suspect. You will be BUILDING a vehicle and won't be able to trust re-using any of the factory parts.
I'd do it but I enjoy this type of stuff. Not sure if its really economical to buy a sunk vehicle for more than scrap price if you intend to go this route. Its worth too much in parts after this type of damage

As you can tell from my current build, I'm almost fanatical about having the least electrical stuff in my rig. To me the more wiring a vehicle has the more areas to have potential problems. And those are problems that can crop up without warning and leave a typical vehicle dead in its tracks.

What he said X2
If it is a fun project go for it if it is to save a buck forget about it you will spend allot of time and money and you will never be satisfied

 

[91AzXJ]

Just a few things to consider going into something like this:
!) If the insurance companies will sell them, they run 50% of retail value for salvage but most of these vehicles will not be sold, just scrapped out for parts.
2) If you do buy one, it will have a salvage title which means if you go to sell it, most people won't pay over 50% of a non-salvage vehicle.
3) If you were to do this, under federal law, you must disclose that this was a flood vehicle and is salvaged
4) Even if it is a six month old 2015, no dealer will work on it and there is of course no warrantee on it.