Advice on cheep Jeeps

[Ranchero50]

Wrangler's that is... Kid's 17 and finally got his drivers permit. We have 9 months to find a decent one before he's eligible to get his license. He's wanted one since I did some work to my friends '94 hardtop with a 6 and auto. Use will be 99.9% highway, some farm use. He's been on my buddy about a 4bt swapped one that's about 50% done instead of payment at the farm but that's not working out well (so far).

Looking for advice on problem areas through out the years. Been finding a couple sub $2k ones but generally price and condition are all over the place. I don't mind getting a backetcase as long as I don't have to do a frame off to get it on the road. Other than Wiki I haven't done any other research and am Jeep stupid.

As always, any help is appreciated

[70shortwide]

Ive had a couple... If I were to buy another heres what I would want:

91+ 5 spd hardtop (I would be more interested in a 93+ for the newer style roll bar with shoulder belts for the rear seat)

Be aware with anything lifted that a shackle lift is cheap and easy, but a spring lift will handle and wheel much better. I wouldnt pay extra for a jeep with a shackle lift. I can do that myself for $50. anything with a bodylift wouldnt even get a phone call from me.

My first was a '90, good rig. had a 4.2 and 5 speed with a 3" lift on 33s and 3.55 gears. very underpowered, especially on the highway. the aerodynamics are terrible on these, and you feel it! I put 4.10s in it and put a bigger and better lift in it. much better, but I always wished it was a 4.0 and injected.

everyone will tell you to avoid the peugot BA-10 that came in the pre-88 models. they actually changed to the ax-15 halfway through 88. The ax-15 is widely known as a much better trans. funny because I had both and the ax-15 was junk in mine and the ba-10 shifted like butter.. I would still avoid the ba-10.

If you want a 6 cylinder, I would go 91+. thats when they went to the 4.0 instead of the 4.2, I have driven a few 4.2s and tons of 4.0s. I wouldnt want another 4.2 for daily driving. trail only, I wouldnt care, but for the street and daily conveniences fuel injection is hard to beat. (the 4.2 was never injected from the factory). There is a way to use the 4.0 head and intake setup on a 4.2, so if you find one that needs some work anyway you may be able to buy a 88.5+ and swap the injection stuff on it while your there...

I havent had a 4 cylinder jeep, so I cant advise much on them, but I know they were injected much earlier than the 6. They also came with 4.10 gears which worked great in mine with 33s and a 6.

I dont know about the weather in your area, but unless you have constant sunshine and 75 degree weather, I would want a hardtop... this is likely where you are seeing most of the price differences. as a rule hardtops are worth quite a bit more. I liked my hardtop because where I live I just pulled it off and use a bikini through the summer and put it on in the winter. no real need for on and off or partial tops. also realize from the beginning that if its cold where you live, your right foot will be the only thing in the whole jeep that wont freeze.

[Ranchero50]

Thanks Jeff, I've seen a ton of them on Craigslist, some in surprisingly good shape for $3000. There's also a lot of junk or rust out there for even more.

I'm aiming more towards a 91-95 4.0, not sure between the auto or 5 speed. Is the 5 speed overdriven? We really don't care about a lift, but a lot of them seem to have them. There's a tan hardtop at the farm that I can have. I'm still pushing the kid towards the 4bt'd one but I think it's a pre '90 if memory serves. These are some of the more interesting ones around here.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/4050364639.html

http://westmd.craigslist.org/cto/4066701775.html

http://chambersburg.craigslist.org/cto/4073341162.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ ... 86806.html

[70shortwide]

5 spd is overdriven.

looks like the price range on them is quite a bit more affordable near you, unless there just happens to be a few great deals out there right now.

If I were buying someone their first car I would consider it a death sentence to the car. many first cars get destroyed before the are sold... if the kid takes care of it and fixes it up-great, a little sweat equity. either way I wouldnt be headed out to buy something real nice... main thing to focus on would be getting something that is a solid driver that is safe. Judging by the ads you linked to we think a little alike...

Free hardtop? now were talkin!

For your intentions, Im liking the tan one best. Picture doesnt show much, but it looks like its in good shape, other than sitting for a while. windows are fogged up bad, but if you have a hardtop for it your in business! Draw back to me is its not injected. If you have smog in your area this could actually be a bigger drawback than it is for me. the original carter BBD carbs that these had are junk. you cant really even find much good info on them, everyone just says to convert them to (get this) a motorcraft 2 barrel. I did just that and had decent results, but I dont think it would pass smog.

A 4bt one would be neat! definately check to see what trans it has.

Another thing to consider is that a dana 35 will break the first time your "foot slips off the clutch"...

I hope your wanting to work on it if you buy one. I know I couldnt resist! I think I had more fun working on my YJ than most of the work ive done to my truck...

[sargentrs]

If I were buying someone their first car I would consider it a death sentence to the car.

For my daughter's 16th birthday, when she got her license, I bought her a '79 fox body mustang with an auto tranny and 200cid I6. I paid $550 for it and had to put it on a dolly because the back brakes were frozen. Anyway, she had a fit because it was "ugly". Vinyl roof gone, tree sap on the paint, smelled bad inside, etc. I cleaned it up, fixed the brakes, got it running and rattle canned the roof. Ran great. Within 6 months, there wasn't a single square inch on that car that didn't have a scratch or a dent on it. I had to replace the radiator, grille and headlights from where she rear ended somebody, replaced the engine because she let it run out of oil and slung a rod, replaced tires and wheels where she curbed it. She drove that car into the ground and it never complained Wrapped her rear in good old American iron and it kept her safe and secure. She drove that car for almost 2 years until she worked, saved up enough money, and bought her own, much prettier car and took much better casre of it.

[Ranchero50]

Yeah, the tan one has been sitting for a long time, white lettering is running on the tires. Ft. Washington isn't a huge haul to go get one either. My buddy has a couple 4.0l's on the farm but I don't think he kept much wiring and they came out of Cherokee's so I'm not sure about swaps.

I think once Matt realizes what a lifeline a vehicle is that he'll take good care of it. He's more of a homebody except helping out at the farm. He's been doing electrical construction at the local tech school and is doing well so I think a hard top jeep can parlay into that field easier than a pickup.

We both decided no Rangers or F150's.

[Ranchero50]

I finally got a response on that tan one, owner still needed it gone but the price was $2300 since he had to do some motor work to it.

Really thinking about this one. Doors and roofs are pretty common around here. Looks to be tastefully modified as well.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ ... 48500.html





Opinions?

[Mancar1]

Looking forward to seeing whatcha get.

[70shortwide]

man! prices on these are cheap out there! If that jeep has a 4.0 (I'm assuming its a 4 cyl) its a steal! if its a 4 cyl w/ auto, itll be a little short on power... if not having a top isnt an issue to you it looks like a decent rig. The body lift is fairly small, looks like the just wanted to fit a little bigger tire on it, not a huge set of tires for wheeling. I would definately check the body near all the mounts for cracks anyway. If it has really just been used for light duty stuff and not wheeling its probably fine.

Pluses for me:
94+ has tougher Ujoints on the front axle
Has the family roll bar with rear shoulder belts
Has some accessories already, although I personally would change many of them but they would get me by for a while.

Negs:
4 cyl?
Obviously no top
body lift
lift shackles in front-not in the rear though? maybe I just cant tell because of the hitch
lots of miles

Overall, if it is as nice as the pics show and the owner describes its a good buy if its what you want. If I found that same deal around here I would buy it, even though its not what I would look for in a Jeep.

[DuckRyder]

Is the Sahara the one you are calling "tan", I liked that one best because it looked the least messed with...

Every time I buy something I need a list of stuff that has been "fixed" so I can go back and redo it all right...

[rltvader]

I say go either YJ or TJ

[70shortwide]

I say go either YJ or TJ

Every Jeep he has posted is a YJ.

[averagef250]

I'm all for letting 'em figure it out and learn on their own, but I would talk my kid out of a Jeep for a first vehicle.

Every single person I know who has ever DD'd a CJ or wrangler has a major life changing problem from it. Broken back, dead or brain damage. Probably just circumstance, but I feel those things are death traps in less than ideal conditions.

[70shortwide]

I'm all for letting 'em figure it out and learn on their own, but I would talk my kid out of a Jeep for a first vehicle.

Every single person I know who has ever DD'd a CJ or wrangler has a major life changing problem from it. Broken back, dead or brain damage. Probably just circumstance, but I feel those things are death traps in less than ideal conditions.

If injuries dont get him, the repairs might... I loved my Jeeps, and I will own another (probably several more) someday, but mine sure broke down a lot... I think I put less than 10k on the one that I drove the most. Trans, 2 rearends (one broke as I let off between 4th and 5th, literally on my way to the grocery store), clutch, driveline angle problems the whole time (too much lift without a cv driveline), front end Ujoints a couple times, carb problems, endless whistling in the doors, etc etc. All this from a rig that seemed to have "ok" maintenance, not great but better than some. I had a lot of fun building parts for it but spent a lot of time repairing it as well. If I were to get another it would without doubt be more of a weekend wheeler/woods cruiser that would be turned into more of a fire breathing beast. If I got one as a DD it would be a much newer one, with more comfort features.

All that said, when I got my first car I didnt have anything near as nice as what you've posted. Some of my cars in my teens were much more dangerous than a Jeep... As far as safety goes, if he is anything like I was at his age having a Jeep wont make him any more of a threat to himself or anyone else than he already is...

Like I said I love them, your son likely would too, but definitely understand that its not going to be a Honda car for maintenance...

Reading back on that list, Im not sure why I liked having that damn thing so much!

[hdpusher]

I love my CJ5... but... It is a handful in the winter...and cold... It will spinout at the drop of a hat and I mean fast. Not sure how your winters are in Md so that may not be a factor. Now mine is lifted, full cage, 5 pt harness, on 37's with a hot 360 so its far from something a new driver should have.

I have friends who have the YJ's n TJ's and they are what they are a Jeep. No frills and always needing a little something but they love em.

Id stay away from the 4 cyl's. but if you do buy one or a older carbureted Jeep you can swap a 4.0 fuel injected engine. It takes a lil but of work but it can be done. My friend just did his and only has two probs so far. No tack and the Puegot trans is weak and making all kinds of noise.

Best thing about a Jeep is the after market its almost unlimited what you can do.