Thanks everyone for the replies...I have decided wholeheartedly
against buying, as one put it, a "problem child". Yeah, I don't know
what I was thinking...I guess I was blinded by thinking I could save a
buck.

I decided to go with a 2003 Sport...I like the power of the 6, and
there are some great deals I've foudn on them since there are so many
'04s on the lots now. I thought I'd mine as well go new...I really
don't have the time and/or patience for any headaches - and I already
have enough projects right now.

Thanks again!

"Walt & Lynda Johnson" <waterbirds@usadatanet.net> wrote in message news:<3fae3883_5@127.0.0.1>...
> It may well be rebuildable, but for the dollar, you can get a 1998 off a
> used car lot
> for less than the $5400 and rebuild costs. The 1998 is coming up on 6 years
> old,
> and the SE was only a $16000 car to begin with. Leave it in the lot for
> parts.
>
> Walt Johnson
>
>
> "Phillyguy" <fordandvw@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:bea150.0311071730.6a193fd@posting.google.com. ..
> > There's a salvage lot about 3.5 hrs from me with a 98 TJ SE 5 spd.
> > with 39K miles on it. There are pictures on the web and it doesn't
> > look too bad. I talked to the lot owner and he said it was a "soft"
> > rollover and it runs/drives, and he wants $5400 for it. Is this worth
> > it? From the photos, it seems like the soft top, the windshield and
> > windshield frame, the top of the driver's side door and the driver's
> > side fender have damage. It seems clean other than that, with alloys
> > no other mods. Do TJs have some kind of shutoff valve for the engine
> > when it rolls over? If not, wouldn't the engine get severely damaged
> > if it kept running during a rollover due to lack of oil? Is there
> > anything I should really be looking for regarding damage, or should I
> > avoid this Jeep altogether??
> >
> > Also, is a 98 a decent year, or are the later models 'better'? I'm a
> > newbie TJ enthusiast, and I'm looking for some advice.
> >
> > Thanks!