Hello... I think this is my first post here, but I have been a lurker for a long time, envying your tight nit Lightning community. I have a 1998 5.9 Litre Grand Cherokee. It runs mids 14s with the mild bolts on I have on it, I had dreams of stroking and supercharging it to get over 600 HP and an 11 second Jeep, but that is really not practical for me. Right now I'm sitting at 300 HP and 400ft/lbs... A zero to 60 time in the high 5s, so I could POTENTIALLY keep kinda even with a stock L or harley to about 60 if they got a bad launch, since I have full time 4WD, I dont really have to worry about my launch. I'm a member of jeepsunlimited.com, there have been some arguements in the past of some of the heavily builts 5.9s and other jeeps running with Ls between Jeepsunlimted and this forum in the past, but that's beside the point. We both have a love for power, so we are all the same.

A client of my mother's runs one of the biggest dealer auto-auctions on the west coast somewhere outside Portland.. (not sure what city) However, I got to see the confidential book which listed the cars sold in the last few months, but it is dated now back to July or so. There were Tons of F150s, does not specify Lightnings, but some of them were quite a bit more then others, so I think a few might have been Ls. But the prices are damn good. I bought my 5.9 for $12,000 in May, which was a good price at the time, and saw some in the dealer book for like $8000.

Basically I know that lightnings have extreme potential for power and that is what I want. For it to economically work, I would most likely need to buy a 1999. I could probably get around $12,000 for my Jeep at the moment. The deal is, it's rare you can even drive one of the cars at the auction. So what should I look for, low miles would be nice, any way I can tell if it's been abused (as all lightings probably have been at one point.) Any advice on what to look for? I'm thinking I migh be able to find one at the auction for like $16,000 or so. This is a stretch, but if I get some good information from you guys it might help me get this going, thanks for the help.

 

welcome and happy hunting.

 

Here are some recent sales at the delaer auctions and might give you a better idea of what they go for---- these listed as lightnings

Sorry about the vertical scrolling, but i don't want to reformat it----

10/23/2003
CHICAGO
$_16,400 __
16,305
_BLACK

10/30/2003
CINCINNA
$_14,400 __
65,833
_BLACK

10/07/2003
DAL DLRS
$_14,900 __
76,017
_BLACK

10/15/2003
DENVER
$_16,750 __
56,535
_RED

10/15/2003
DENVER
$_17,500 __
32,610
BLACK

10/07/2003
FAAO
$_17,000 __
37,159
_WHITE

10/07/2003
GATEWAY
$_14,800 __
71,194
_RED

10/15/2003
HRSNBURG
$_14,000 __
71,299
RED


10/28/2003
PORTLND
$_15,900 __
42,914
_WHITE


10/21/2003
STATESVL
$_15,800 __
71,455
RED

 

Thanks for the listing, where did you get that? It would be great if I could find one for right around that $14,000 range!

 

man #1 is deal. Where do you find these listings? I have been wanting to get a wrecked truck and make it race track so i can keep the current L as a daily driver.

 

I got the listings off the dealer auction site at manheim.com . They have auctions all over the US --- I don't actually have an account but my friend does.

 

Well to give you guys an update, I've been talking with someone at a local Ford dealership to see what they would give me on my 5.9 litre Grand cherokee, and my 1993 5.2 litre Grand Cherokee for a trade in. They have a 2002 L for around $23,900. I told the guy I need a 99 to make this financially possible. I'm just seeing what a dealer would be willing to do for me. Anyone know of a 99 L in the Portland Oregon area selling for under 20K? I've made my mind up, I'm done with modding my Jeep, I LOVE it, but a lighting just has what I want, which is more power.

 

Here are two up north from you.

Red 2000

White 2000

 

Thanks Potac.... If I end up with a lightning I will probably be PMing you with questions since I know you from JU. I'm assuming that intake, chip, and boost bypass are the most common beginner mods. Not to sound like an idiot, but where do all you guys order you Lightning parts from, website anywhere with prices?