I have an '85 2wd that is just about done, just got to repaint/sand/polish it, but that isn't what you are after. I haven't done a 4x4 in about 6yrs now, the last 4 have been 2wd's, their easier to pick up complete for under $500, than the 4x4's. My plan is to do another 4x4 next, but need to finish the current 2wd, and get the '37 Plymouth my Dad and I are restoring running and painted by winter, it has been idle the last two years.
If the one in Phoenix is as clean as it looks, and gets a clean bill of health from the dealer, it isn't an outrageous price, it does come with some extras, which I think they always should when asking the the higher end prices, and it is exactly what you have been looking for. Like I said earlier, it is o.k. to pay a little more when you find the exact thing you want.
The one in SF, isn't a bad list price either with the gear swap, and clean interior. IMO, 35's are bigger than a beginner should start out with, while they do make the trail easier, I think they strip beginners of the basics when it comes to learning how to pic the right lines through the trail obstacles. If you ended up with something like that, if it were I, I would drip it down to 33's. It wouldn't be as beneficial as running 31's, but there is a big enough difference between 33's and 35's that you wouldn't get over confident and end up in a situation above your abilities. The 33's would work well enough with 5.29's, some members here have run them with 33's and prefer the street performance with the 33's to the 35's.
