What should I do?

fermill403 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:53 pm

I found a 04 Wrangler. I can get it really cheap. Should I trade the KJ for it. I really want a wrangler. The only thing about it that I dont like is that it is a 4 banger. Does anybody know anything about the Wrangler with the fours in em? Is there enough power? What about mods? I am really thinking about doing it.

moose · **Posted:** Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:27 pm

fermill403 wrote:

I found a 04 Wrangler. I can get it really cheap. Should I trade the KJ for it. I really want a wrangler. The only thing about it that I dont like is that it is a 4 banger. Does anybody know anything about the Wrangler with the fours in em? Is there enough power? What about mods? I am really thinking about doing it.

if it's a manual, it's OK; if it's an auto, well I wouldn't do it.

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:55 am

moose wrote:

fermill403 wrote:

I found a 04 Wrangler. I can get it really cheap. Should I trade the KJ for it. I really want a wrangler. The only thing about it that I dont like is that it is a 4 banger. Does anybody know anything about the Wrangler with the fours in em? Is there enough power? What about mods? I am really thinking about doing it.

if it's a manual, it's OK; if it's an auto, well I wouldn't do it.

x2...if its std tranny then you decide...auto stay the hell away :lol:

The 4-banger has more umph and power than many people give it credit for, not as much as the straight 6 but enough...one of my best friends and wheelin buddies got a '95 YJ with a 4banger and about a 5" lift and 33s...he keeps up just fine...he's also got lockers, upgraded axles, and a 4:1 t-case, but he did ok when it was stock and lackin these mods...should be fine, post up pics if you decide to get it...if its yellow then its a MUST BUY no second though situation :lol:

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:50 am

kj in a tight spot wrote:

moose wrote:

fermill403 wrote:

I found a 04 Wrangler. I can get it really cheap. Should I trade the KJ for it. I really want a wrangler. The only thing about it that I dont like is that it is a 4 banger. Does anybody know anything about the Wrangler with the fours in em? Is there enough power? What about mods? I am really thinking about doing it.

if it's a manual, it's OK; if it's an auto, well I wouldn't do it.

x2...if its std tranny then you decide...auto stay the hell away :lol:

The 4-banger has more umph and power than many people give it credit for, not as much as the straight 6 but enough...one of my best friends and wheelin buddies got a '95 YJ with a 4banger and about a 5" lift and 33s...he keeps up just fine...he's also got lockers, upgraded axles, and a 4:1 t-case, but he did ok when it was stock and lackin these mods...should be fine, post up pics if you decide to get it...if its yellow then its a MUST BUY no second though situation :lol:

X3 it will be fine as a manual unless it is yellow :twisted:

just kidding :lol:

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:51 am

HAve you shopped around for a 4.0L powered version? You just might find a good deal on one of those too. You can gear the 4 cyl low enough to keep the tires turning but it will always drive slow. I can imagine what it would be like to drive a loaded 4 cyl to MOab up those crazy grades you have to pull. That little 4 would be screaming. :shock:

YJBeef · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:22 pm

My old yj had a 4 popper(manual) with 33's and it used to keep up with the others going places. I actually kinda like wheeling a 4 than a 6 cause they're a little better balanced with less weight up front and it's a little easier to feather the clutch..

SunDvl · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:42 pm

We had a '95 with a 4cyl and the auto and it was dawg... It was almost dangerous to get on the highway!

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:35 pm

fermill403 wrote:

I found a 04 Wrangler. I can get it really cheap. Should I trade the KJ for it. I really want a wrangler. The only thing about it that I dont like is that it is a 4 banger. Does anybody know anything about the Wrangler with the fours in em? Is there enough power? What about mods? I am really thinking about doing it.

IMO look for an I6 with a 44
fact is sooner or later you will wish you had I can not tell you how many folks I have seen with Dana35's and broken axels
even guys running 4 bangers and 4.56 gears they still break shafts it is the nature of the dana 35
keep it open and that helps some but they still break
In 1 weekend we had around 30 jeeps out on a ride and in 3 days we had 5 dana 35's break a shaft 3 on the same hill
The sound was almost familar

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:13 pm

I had a 98 4 banger, if you have to go up mountains...forget about it, not enough power. With the 5 speed I had to constantly shift from 3rd to 2nd. I ran 30's and gas mileage sucked, but its a JEEP. It performed great offroad with enough power. They upgraded the engine between 98 and 04, but not sure how much horsepower and you can run 31s on them, but I would have definately taken a I6!

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:44 pm

Hey guys aint nobody debatin whether or not the straight 6 is better than the banger...we all know the 6 is better, hell I have one and it is the best engine IMHO that comes in a stock 4x these days (or was until DCX f-ed it up with the 3.8L :roll:

) He was askin bout a 4 banger maybe he cant find a straight 6 (hard to believe) or cannot afford it...try to keep this in mind...plus the '04 TJs 4 banger is a much better improvement from the bangers of old...I agree about the D35s though...tend to be weak unless you upgrade the axles with some alloys or somethin similar

fermill403 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:08 am

I want at least 4" and 33s. And anybody who knows me knows that I play hard. What can I expect. I worry about my KJ every time I hit a tuff spot on a trail. Should I worry about the D35 more or less than the D30a in the front of the KJ? This TJ I found is a sweet deal for the money, but my KJ is more practical. I dont need to loose the KJ, I just always wanted a wrangler.

As far as the engine goes I did a little research and found that I have had the four cylinder in a base Voyager my wife used to drive. Its rated at 150hp and torque rating I cant remember...

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:24 am

fermill403 wrote:

I want at least 4" and 33s. And anybody who knows me knows that I play hard. What can I expect. I worry about my KJ every time I hit a tuff spot on a trail. Should I worry about the D35 more or less than the D30a in the front of the KJ? This TJ I found is a sweet deal for the money, but my KJ is more practical. I dont need to loose the KJ, I just always wanted a wrangler.

As far as the engine goes I did a little research and found that I have had the four cylinder in a base Voyager my wife used to drive. Its rated at 150hp and torque rating I cant remember...

Ok, well you and me wheel the same then...I play hard and tough :lol:

The D35 is by default stronger than the aluminum D30a on a KJ :roll:

If you always wanted a TJ and you think its a good deal, and you think that yer gonna wheel 33s then pull the trigger bud. If you plan to upgrade to 35s or above yer gonna wanna look into swappin axles and engines :lol:

I cant remember the torque ratin for the '04 4 banger but its a little higher than the hp I know that...just post pics if ya pull the trigger on this one :wink:

LOST TJ · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:22 pm

jason thompson wrote:

fermill403 wrote:

I found a 04 Wrangler. I can get it really cheap. Should I trade the KJ for it. I really want a wrangler. The only thing about it that I dont like is that it is a 4 banger. Does anybody know anything about the Wrangler with the fours in em? Is there enough power? What about mods? I am really thinking about doing it.

IMO look for an I6 with a 44
fact is sooner or later you will wish you had I can not tell you how many folks I have seen with Dana35's and broken axels
even guys running 4 bangers and 4.56 gears they still break shafts it is the nature of the dana 35
keep it open and that helps some but they still break
In 1 weekend we had around 30 jeeps out on a ride and in 3 days we had 5 dana 35's break a shaft 3 on the same hill
The sound was almost familar

This is solid advice. He couldn't have steered you in a better direction. I can't tell you have much trail time i have seen wasted because someone wants big tires and wheel hard on a D35. Boom alllll day long.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:52 pm

fermill403 wrote:

I want at least 4" and 33s. And anybody who knows me knows that I play hard. What can I expect. I worry about my KJ every time I hit a tuff spot on a trail. Should I worry about the D35 more or less than the D30a in the front of the KJ? This TJ I found is a sweet deal for the money, but my KJ is more practical. I dont need to loose the KJ, I just always wanted a wrangler.

As far as the engine goes I did a little research and found that I have had the four cylinder in a base Voyager my wife used to drive. Its rated at 150hp and torque rating I cant remember...

You will break the dana 35 if you run 33's
Not if but when
even open and 4.88 gears ,wich you will need to pull 33's with the 4 poper
you still run the risk as far as the 35 to the 30a probably not that week but keep in mind that you can but a 30a and still get home if you bust a 35 not so much
they are C-clip axels so the shaft ,wich is what breaks, also holds the wheel on
The 44 is a semi floater wich means that if you break it you can limp off the trail, as long as the bearings hold, but you still can not get home
the + to the 44 is that it is a much stronger axel so it is less liklely to break

If I were you I would buy the rig
Then I would keep my eyes on the net for rubicon dana 44 rear
it will have the same 4.10 gears as the front and a locker to boot ,it will also bolt right up no fuss
buy what ever little knik knack wireing and stuff needed to make the locker work and be done with the rear for a very long time
with the 30/44 combo and 4.10 carriers you are set to I think 5.13 gears but I know 4.88 will work wich to run 33 on a 4 you need
and the 30 front is good to go ,I know guys running 35's and wheelin like they stole it and they hold just fine

Burchie · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2007 7:50 pm

Well. What did you do?

What should I do?

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