I bought my Grand Cherokee WJ as a salvage title because I wanted a winter beater (I'm sure you remember me from that thread). Since I have access to a frame machine, welding supplies, painting equipment, machine shop, etc etc I could get away with it. I now have a custom painted, bedliner-coated Jeep with a 4" long arm lift, 32" tires, 3.73 gearing, towing package, auxiliary lighting, custom 2.5" stainless exhaust into a Flowmaster 40, and fully built motor (0.030 overbore, planed deck, stage 2 head, CAI, comp cam, forged 9.5:1 pistons) for about $9k. I wasn't originally planning to get this financially involved in the project but issues came up... they always do.
I'd stay well clear of a salvage title Z if you don't have the resources/knowledge I do.
