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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,655
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Quote:
The straight six is pretty ancient technology. Started off as AMC's carburated 4.2. While reliable and torquey, it is not very efficient, and may no longer meet emission standards. The new JK wranglers were out when we bought the TJ. My wife likes the older style better, and I like the straight six. |
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11-26-2010, 07:37 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 33,295
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Any comments on reliability? I've often thought a TJ would be a fun daily driver. I'd be interested in a straight-6 with a manual combo.
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‘07 Mazda RX8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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11-26-2010, 07:39 AM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,655
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The coil-spring TJs are much better both on and off road than the older leaf-sprung Jeeps.
They suck quite a bit of gas, and sure don't go around corners like a Porsche, but other than that, fun to drive. Easy to park anywhere, instant friends with other Jeep owners. The basic engine will go forever. Early TJs had exhaust manifolds that cracked. Most have been replaced by now. Borla makes the best aftermarket replacement. Most of the others are known for not fitting as well. Over several years, outside of normal maintenance, our old '98 TJ needed a wiper motor and a tranny rebuild. It had the old 3-speed automatic unit that is known to be a piece. I like the manual trannies better. If you want an auto, get the later 4-speed/overdrive unit. Much better driving, much better reliability. I don't remember what year the switch was made. Last edited by Dantilla; 11-26-2010 at 07:55 AM.. |
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11-26-2010, 07:49 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 33,295
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Is the 4-cylinder 5-speed combo totally gutless? I drove a 6-cylinder 5-speed on the highway and it struggled to maintain 70 MPH, but that was with oversized mud tires and the top off.
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‘07 Mazda RX8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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11-26-2010, 08:02 AM
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Toujours l' Audace
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sleepy Hollow IL
Posts: 695
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Jeeps
The old inline six was a great engine as far being pretty bulletproof though the later ones had lousy radiators. The newold 3.8 is taxed by the four doors weight but so would the inline six given it has less torque out of the box -less HP as well.
The newer Jeeps could use more power (what couldn't)-the new 3.6 or a diesel would be nice. We have had a coupla Cherokees and four Wranglers in the family with the most current being our four door Wrangler. It has been surprisingly good off road for camping and such. Ours isthree years old and has been a tough reliable vehicle - Jeeps ain't for everyone and they are still sorta noisy regardless of the top but for my money the 4 door off road convertible is a good time. mFlo
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porsche85 gmc 72 |
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11-26-2010, 08:13 AM
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Toujours l' Audace
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sleepy Hollow IL
Posts: 695
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4 cylinder Jeep
And one other thing -had the 79 four banger and yes it was totally gutless as well as agricultural in tone.
Run from that engine Mflo
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porsche85 gmc 72 |
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11-26-2010, 08:18 AM
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Information Junky
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: an island, upper left coast, USA
Posts: 73,167
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Quote:
 ...it may have low-hanging diff's, and leaf-springs of a 70y/o design, but at least it swamps the engine with ease.Let's see how the germans do it... Float much?
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Everyone you meet knows something you don't. - - - and a whole bunch of crap that is wrong. Disclaimer: the above was 2¢ worth. More information is available as my professional opinion, which is provided for an exorbitant fee. 
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11-26-2010, 08:22 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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Jeep guys are like Porsche guys defending whatever generation or technology they are used to. But like Porsche, the best one is not made yet (to paraphrase Ferry). Jeep is getting the injection they need to remain relevant.
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11-26-2010, 08:50 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Usa
Posts: 5,573
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We had two JK's, one auto and one stick. I REALLY preferred the stick. If you get the stick, buy the trailer tow package because it comes with the lower gears, otherwise you need to step into some higher equipment packages to get the ratio. The stick is REAL long legged. With the standard axle, I could not even put it into 6th until I was going around 75. Otherwise, you are shifting under the idle speed... The 3.7 benefts significantly from an airbox replacement and headers/better muffler. My fairly reliable butt-dyno says that was worth 25 or 30 hp even with the automatic. The auto gets the shorter final drive across the line. Steve and I have had Jeeps on/off for close to 30 years. In stock form, the JK does every thing a jeep is supposed to do, and does it better than the predecessors. It's like when someone asks, what 911 should I buy? The answer is the newest one you can afford if you're talking about "stock." The JK is much more comfortable then previous Jeeps, actually handles decently on the highway, is quite manueverable and every hop-up part in the history of the known universe is now available. You are stuck with that damn mini-van rough running nasty V6 (unless you buy one converted to the Hemi powertrain - but that's $$$$). Really wish that hadn't ditched the straight six. That engine could pull stumps, drive vertically up a cliff without any oil pressure (seen it done) and not die. angela
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Hello http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1102514-we-lost-amazing-woman-yesterday.html Last edited by Laneco; 11-27-2010 at 07:59 AM.. |
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11-26-2010, 08:59 AM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,655
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Changing gears is part of having a Jeep with oversize tires. Our '98 had the optional 3:73 gears, and was marginal with 33" tires. Any 4-cylinder Jeep needs gears so low that you may as well be in an old CJ-2 or Willies. No fun in modern traffic. I guess it would still be a hoot for rock crawling, though... That's why our current Wrangler is a Rubicon- Comes with 4:10 gears and beefier axles. Cheaper to buy a Rubi than to get a base model and start spending on upgrades. The 4:10 gears work pretty well with the 33" tires that are on it now. |
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11-26-2010, 09:33 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,897
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Crazy as it sounds, I looked at jeeps before buying the Bullitt Mustang. Came to my senses after driving a V-6 demo...it was horrible on pavement...gutless. Realizing that I'd be on pavement more than in 4 wheel drive, I came to my senses...
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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11-26-2010, 09:55 AM
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Though it isn't the type of jeep everyone is discussing, I used to have a 1988 jeep Comanche 4x4 truck. It had the 4.0 six with auto tranny. I took it on many trails and it was fantastic offroad. I foolishly traded it in on a new 1993 chevy 4x4 with IFS and regretted it the first time I took it off road. I really miss that jeep. One fun trip I made was driving from Tucson to Area 51 and Rachel Nevada in the winter. Encountered some good snow in some of the mountain passes on the way to Rachel Nevada and the jeep ran great. I would love to have a 4 door rubicon but my wife wants an Xterra.
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11-26-2010, 10:06 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Usa
Posts: 5,573
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Are you kidding? An Xterra versus a Jeep? Jeez, even with the Chrysler dealership / return-repeated-to-attempt-to-repair-shop involved, the Jeep is hands down the winner over the Xterra, on road, off-road, parts availability, performance upgrades, customization, on-line forums/fun groups, you name it.
Not even close. angela
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Hello http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1102514-we-lost-amazing-woman-yesterday.html |
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11-26-2010, 01:08 PM
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The problem is my wife likes the cute SUVs like the rav4,xterra,crv. She can't stand jeeps, hummer (I agree with her on the hummer) and anything else that is boxy looking. As I said before, I Iike the 4 door jeep rubicon. I also would love to have a land rover defender 90. I can't even talk her into a Toyota land cruiser.
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11-26-2010, 01:28 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Herrin Ill USA
Posts: 1,611
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As far as longevity with the 4 liter / manual combo, my '94 XJ (Small Bodied Cherokee) is coming close to 300K. I put a clutch in it around 225 K. If you want comfort, and speed, don't even think about a Jeep. The new JK is the most stable platform Jeep has ever had. I helped my friend mildly build his Rubi with 35's, and the stock gears. It feels rock solid in way off camber situations, and during climbs. The articulation is pretty impressive for a basicly stock setup. Leaf springs on a trail rig? puhhleeze..... Give me coils, and long arms any day. They drive it from Southern Illinois, to Moab UT twice a year, and have done most of the trails out there. They actually have some video of them with Dan Mick. Pretty cool stuff.
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Brent Early85 944 LM6Y Paint Code |
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11-26-2010, 01:36 PM
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And since I brought up my Rubi, this was it: 
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1979 911SC "Frankencab" Dave |
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11-26-2010, 02:18 PM
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AutoBahned
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if Africa, the situation is different most people in the US will drive 10 miles on blacktop for every mile off road or even on 2 track of course, you don't want to get stuck in the outback... someday, I hope the air suspension systems will be perfected and I can drive along in a low slung sports car; then turn off the Hwy; flip a switch and be in Pinzgauer mode... |
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11-26-2010, 10:31 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Herrin Ill USA
Posts: 1,611
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Brent Early85 944 LM6Y Paint Code |
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11-27-2010, 04:58 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 33,295
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Quote:
__________________
‘07 Mazda RX8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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11-27-2010, 05:09 AM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,655
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Quote:
Great for goofing off in the sticks, kinda sucks when there's groceries to haul. |
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11-27-2010, 02:44 PM
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1975 Porsche 911S
2001 Porsche 911 Carrera
1987 Porsche 924S
1969 Porsche 912
1972 Porsche 911T
1979 Porsche 911SC
2007 Porsche Cayman
