Jeep Wrangler guys...Get in here!!

Damn_Yankee

Damn_Yankee

"Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time"
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
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I'm looking at possibly buying a Wrangler in the near future. I've been wanting one for years and I may be in the position to actually pull the trigger soon. So, Jeep guys (and girls), which years and models should I avoid and which should I lean towards? My budget is not a lot at around the 10k mark.
 
I had a 94 YJ with the 4.0. It was a great vehicle. The 4.0s are really easy to work on. I guess it really depends on how you plan on using it. Street/highway or occasional light off roading like riding on the beach. Either would be fine. If you are planning on more hardcore off roading, the get the TJ. @motoman247 is right, the suspension is better and more capable for the hardcore stuff.
 
Stay away from the early 3.6s for sure. Honestly i don't trust the 2015 and newer 3.6s either.
 
I'm weekend driving a 1999 TJ 2.5 five speed these days and it definitely is no speed wagon. I put 33's on it and re-geared it. It will run 70 easily but it's turning 3k rpm. It is more comfortable around 60. Does fine as a hunting rig and on beer runs. I would definitely prefer a 4.0 though. The 3.8 is a good engine also. With that budget and this market I would personally be looking for a nice 4.0 TJ .
 
I have owned: 1948 Jeep..1976 Golden Eagel..1978 Levi Edition..2004 Wrangler..2006 Wrangler..2009 Wrangler...2014 Wrangler 4 Door...2015 Wrangler...2016 Rubicon..2017 Wrangler converted to a Pick Up...2018 Wrangler...2018 Wrangler 4 Door...2020 Gladiator Sport...2020 Gladiator Overland...2020 Gladiator Mojave...2022 Extreme Recon...2023 Gladiator
My favorite....2009 Wrangler Sport
 
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BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have owned: 1948 Jeep..1976 Golden Eagel..1978 Levi Edition..2004 Wrangler..2006 Wrangler..2009 Wrangler...2014 Wrangler 4 Door...2015 Wrangler...2016 Rubicon..2017 Wrangler converted to a Pick Up...2018 Wrangler...2018 Wrangler 4 Door...2020 Gladiator Sport...2020 Gladiator Overland...2020 Gladiator Mojave...
My favorite....2009 Wrangler Sport
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I guess that list would possibly qualify you as having a little experience with a jeep might need a few more just to be sure. 😁
 
mj1angier said:
Do you have your ducks yet?
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What Is Jeep Ducking?

Quack, quack! Look out! It's a jeep ducking attack! But what exactly does that mean? Don't worry we're spill all the secrets today...
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Those duders ain't my crowd........I have an old CJ and they won't even "Jeep Wave" at me. My kid complimented a guy on his ducks from the pass seat of my jeep last weekend and he took it as complete sarcasm and didn't even respond.
20210918_180356.jpg
 
I’ve got an 01 4.0 automatic.
When you shop, above all else look carefully for frame rust. Any other parts can be swapped pretty easily but frames take a bit if work.
Also, if you happen across one with a salvage title, verify the vin tag. I ended up buying one that had the tub swapped and the vin tag didn’t match the title. PITA to get sorted out. Almost as bad as buying one with no title.D766E6A4-1444-41C2-BB0D-8775E296753D.jpeg
 
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Not as many as @BatteryOaksBilly

1971 jeepster dauntless 225 now has 2005 4.0…1981 CJ8 AMC 151 4speed…1983 cj7 AMC 151 4-speed…1985 cj7 amc 151 4-speed…1986 cj7 amc 258 4-speed t18 w granny gear…1988 yj amc 258 5 speed pos Peugeot…1989 yj LT1/4l60e…2005 lj 4.0…2007 jk 3.8 rubicon

Best one was 2005 lj 4.0 auto Dana 44 rear end. Got totaled and I put drivetrain into jeepster

Only have jeepster, 89 yj and 2007 now. Regret selling most of them 😂

I’d be looking for a 4.0 TJ auto (long wheelbase lj if you can find one but they are usually a few thousand more)
 
vp9c said:
Not as many as @BatteryOaksBilly

1971 jeepster dauntless 225 now has 2005 4.0…1981 CJ8 AMC 151 4speed…1983 cj7 AMC 151 4-speed…1985 cj7 amc 151 4-speed…1986 cj7 amc 258 4-speed t18 w granny gear…1988 yj amc 258 5 speed pos Peugeot…1989 yj LT1/4l60e…2005 lj 4.0…2007 jk 3.8 rubicon

Best one was 2005 lj 4.0 auto Dana 44 rear end. Got totaled and I put drivetrain into jeepster

Only have jeepster, 89 yj and 2007 now. Regret selling most of them 😂

I’d be looking for a 4.0 TJ auto (long wheelbase lj if you can find one but they are usually a few thousand more)
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I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of the jeepster with the 4.0. I have a nice 69 CJ5 with the 225 dauntless in storage in the garage of my rental house. Grew up with the Jeep but the 3 speed transmission was always the weak link and had to be rebuilt multiple times. Huge flywheel, tiny transmission equals issues always. It's pretty much been sitting since 1994 or so when the transmission went out the last time. I also have a 1974 CJ5 that probably needs to move along to get something more comfortable to tool around in on weekends.
 
Carolinatlc said:
I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of the jeepster with the 4.0. I have a nice 69 CJ5 with the 225 dauntless in storage in the garage of my rental house. Grew up with the Jeep but the 3 speed transmission was always the weak link and had to be rebuilt multiple times. Huge flywheel, tiny transmission equals issues always. It's pretty much been sitting since 1994 or so when the transmission went out the last time. I also have a 1974 CJ5 that probably needs to move along to get something more comfortable to tool around in on weekends.
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It’s too long for the engine bay to swap easily. Needed a rebuilt firewall and electric fan. No room for power steering. Put lj axles on jeepster (kept jeepster leaf spring suspension)

If I didn’t have the entire totaled lj and the insurance $$$ it would’ve been a terrible idea…

Still running lj gas tank in the “bed”. Probably just go with inline fuel pump and stock jeepster tank this year.

I’d probably buy an blazer s10 with a 4.3 700r4 if I had to do again

I’ll try to get some pics when it warms up and I drive it (top off full time and 2 deep in garage)
 
Get something else!!!

Jeep is an acronym
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

Seriously, if you really want one, the old inline 6 only with a manual transmission only. An older Cherokee or Grand Cherokee with the same engine would also be a great 4X4 to have some fun in, even though they only come in automatic IIRC. The Grand Cherokee with the smaller V8 is also great (5.2 Liter?). It made decent torque at a very low RPM.
 
vp9c said:
It’s too long for the engine bay to swap easily. Needed a rebuilt firewall and electric fan. No room for power steering. Put lj axles on jeepster (kept jeepster leaf spring suspension)

If I didn’t have the entire totaled lj and the insurance $$$ it would’ve been a terrible idea…

Still running lj gas tank in the “bed”. Probably just go with inline fuel pump and stock jeepster tank this year.

I’d probably buy an blazer s10 with a 4.3 700r4 if I had to do again

I’ll try to get some pics when it warms up and I drive it (top off full time and 2 deep in garage)
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I’ve always thought a 4.3/700r4 TJ/LJ would be great but never got around to looking into that swap back when I had my CJ/TJs (73 CJ6, 2000 and 2003 TJs)
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have owned: 1948 Jeep..1976 Golden Eagel..1978 Levi Edition..2004 Wrangler..2006 Wrangler..2009 Wrangler...2014 Wrangler 4 Door...2015 Wrangler...2016 Rubicon..2017 Wrangler converted to a Pick Up...2018 Wrangler...2018 Wrangler 4 Door...2020 Gladiator Sport...2020 Gladiator Overland...2020 Gladiator Mojave...
My favorite....2009 Wrangler Sport
Click to expand...
I’ve owned a 47, 1974 CJ 5, 77 CJ 5 Renegade, 78 CJ 7 Levi, another 78 CJ 7, skipped a few years to a 97 TJ, 99 TJ (which I still have), 03 TJ, 05 TJ, 08 JK Unlimited , 10 JK Unlimited, 14 JK Unlimited, 17 JK Willys, 18 JK Unlimited Willys, 22 Gladiator Willys and I’m looking at the 23 Mojave Gladiator. And an old 52 M-38. I still have the 99 TJ, the 18 Unlimited JK and the 22 Gladiator Willys. And I’m starting this boy off right with his first Jeep! He loves them and spots them on the road. He is now the owner of my 99 TJand it will be his first real Jeep. It was his Daddy’s first Jeep as well. We’re a Jeep family!


42B4FF5B-31E0-4AA9-B249-E3D3238BBEB8.jpegAD264CAE-360B-457C-B179-68FC85C042B0.jpeg1AAD8D8C-0AA5-4DAD-AEAB-9D22568684C1.jpeg2137F615-8368-4811-94E9-67CEB12EAD98.jpeg7398E469-43E2-4C99-B448-C456657C7E72.jpeg
 
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Bocephus said:
I’ve always thought a 4.3/700r4 TJ/LJ would be great but never got around to looking into that swap back when I had my CJ/TJs (73 CJ6, 2000 and 2003 TJs)
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Did you ever sell that blazer? I think that was you. Perfect donor was what I was thinking
 
I had a '93, my only Jeep, as a fairly broke kid I never did even half what I wanted to it. Always wanted to pick up another Jeep.

Suggest against the 4 cyl in the square headlight models, bits and pieces changed almost annually and it makes getting parts unfun. Pretty weak, no improvement in mileage, allegedly a much weaker manual trans, mine scattered but it also had nearly 300k mi and had been run full of water I don't know how many times.
 
pigpen said:
wife had an 01 tj auto with the 4.0

she now drives a 18 with the v6

my wife loves them...i think they make a better toy then a daily driver....she doesnt agree so its her daily driver...:)
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Yeah, for me it’s going to be a weekend vehicle. My daily gets 35mpg.
 
Pretty nice one on Nc4x4 for sale in your budget.
 
I have a silver ‘05 Rubicon that I am the second owner of that I completely restored a couple of years ago. It is modified but is only lifted 3 inches. Very heavy duty suspension components with nothing but the best brand name stuff. I personally did all of the work on it so I know it was done right. 4.0L with 6 speed manual and 4.56 gears. 120,000 miles.

I also have a silver ‘06 Rubicon that I bought new in December ‘06. It is all stock except for the wheels and shocks. Bilstien 5100s at all four corners. 170,000 trouble free miles. It needs the rear seal replaced and if doing that job, may as well replace the exhaust system because it needs dropped down in order to remove the oil pan.

It’s a 6 speed manual with the 4.0L and stock 4.10 gears.

I also have a 2016 Silver Rubicon that is slightly modified with a Teraflex leveling kit. Kit was taller springs not pucks.

3.6L with 6 speed manual and 4.10 gears.

My personal opinion? Find a nice TJ with the 4.0L. That 4.0L is a dedicated truck engine. The 2007 and later Wranglers have car engines in them and they are cammed for higher end torque and horsepower unlike the 4.0L that is cammed for low end torque.

A perfect example: On I-77 in the mountains of VA and WV, I can set the cruise control on 70 in my ‘06 stock Rubicon and it stays there pulling up the grades without any input from myself.

With my JK, I set the cruise on 70 and when I hit the hills, the speed and rpm’s fall off to the point where I have to downshift to maintain 60 and to get back to 70 I have to go down to 4th before going back up.

My son is currently driving my JK. The restored one I was originally going to replace the JK with but decided my son needed a good reliable newer model vehicle to drive so he ended up with that one.
 
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Qball said:
I have a silver ‘05 Rubicon that I am the second owner of that I completely restored a couple of years ago. It is modified but is only lifted 3 inches. Very heavy duty suspension components with nothing but the best brand name stuff. I personally did all of the work on it so I know it was done right. 4.0L with 6 speed manual and 4.56 gears. 120,000 miles.

I also have a silver ‘06 Rubicon that I bought new in December ‘06. It is all stock except for the wheels and shocks. Bilstien 5100s at all four corners. 170,000 trouble free miles. It needs the rear seal replaced and if doing that job, may as well replace the exhaust system because it needs dropped down in order to remove the oil pan.

It’s a 6 speed manual with the 4.0L and stock 4.10 gears.

I also have a 2016 Silver Rubicon that is slightly modified with a Teraflex leveling kit. Kit was taller springs not pucks.

3.6L with 6 speed manual and 4.10 gears.

My personal opinion? Find a nice TJ with the 4.0L. That 4.0L is a dedicated truck engine. The 2007 and later Wranglers have car engines in them and they are cammed for higher end torque and horsepower unlike the 4.0L that is cammed for low end torque.

A perfect example: On I-77 in the mountains of VA and WV, I can set the cruise control on 70 in my ‘06 stock Rubicon and it stays there pulling up the grades without any input from myself.

With my JK, I set the cruise on 70 and when I hit the hills, the speed and rpm’s fall off to the point where I have to downshift to maintain 60 and to get back to 70 I have to go down to 4th before going back up.

My son is currently driving my JK. The restored one I was originally going to replace the JK with but decided my son needed a good reliable newer model vehicle to drive so he ended up with that one.
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Great info. Thanks.
 
@Damn_Yankee

In case you never saw it. This was a thread on my ‘05 project. Some of the pics show it with new stock control arms. I eventually, before the project was finished, replaced them with much beefier Teraflex control arms.

My '05 Rubicon Project

For those of you not familiar with the other thread: https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/im-about-to-sell-this.39558/ I thought I'd start a new thread on my Jeep project. I've been taking my time replacing stuff under the hood, soaking parts in Goof Off rust remover...
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com
 
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i own a 92 YJ. If you're going older or even newer, I would not even think about a 4 cyl. I think you'd be disappointed. I'd also strongly consider buying a 4x4. Even if you're not going to any off-road, I think it makes it easier to sale. I've been kicking around the idea of selling mine. I really want to buy a newer 4 door Wrangler just for something different than I've got now. I'll always own one. I've been through boats and bikes and every type of toy you can imagine. My jeeps are the best toys I've ever owned!!
 
Pinky787 said:
Stay away from the early 3.6s for sure. Honestly i don't trust the 2015 and newer 3.6s either.
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I had a 2013 4 door, it was the sorriest excuse for a vehicle I’ve ever driven. Always wanted a jeep, regretted the hell outta that one.
 
I have a 2012. And wife has a 2015, and I regret them both.
 
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