btw if you end up buying a manual trans, gear it down to about 4.88 while you are at it. or buy a teralow 4:1 and you can walk faster than it will idle in 1st gear.
IMHO buy a bone stock TJ that you know that has been well taken care of for a price 2-3 g's lower than you plan on spending. I would then do the work yourself. it becomes more of "your" vehicle if you do the work yourself. practically anyone who knows their way around a car can put a lift on...