What would you get??

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:59 pm

Just for the sake of discussion, let's say I was going to sell the Miata and replace it with an older Jeep.

The budget would be "under $10k," and the (non off-roading) limitations would be that it would have to fit in the 8' clearance parking garage that I park in every day at work. This is not going to be a dedicated rock-buggy. It would be my daily driver that goes up in the mountains and out on the beach.

Lift, rims/tires, bumpers, winches, lockers, etc., etc., I would figure out later. I'm just trying to start with picking the model that I should aim at and then start my conceptual shopping.

What do you all think?

CJ7?
YJ?
TJ?

Are there better years for the CJ7 over others? What about YJ? TJ? What about the models (like Sahara, X, etc., etc.).

I guess a better question to ask might be...If you had $10k to spend on a Jeep, what would you get?

05kjrenny · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:14 pm

Ive never owned a CJ or Yj but if I had to I would atleast get a TJ just because you said DD and the coil spring seem like a better idea than the Leaf Springs. I personally couldnt say which is better but I would imagine that the coils would be a little less harsh on the road. Just my 2 cents

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:29 pm

Good thinking. Do all YJs have leafs front and rear? I knew the CJs did, but I don't know much about YJs.

Are there any more or less problematic year/model TJs? First year was '97, right? Any problems with the first model year?

stick · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:14 pm

Yes, all YJs are leaf sprung front and rear. The YJ is basically just an updated CJ7 when it comes down to it...heck even the YJ tub will fit on a CJ7. In '92 the YJ dropped the carb'ed 4.2L and got the FI 4.0L. '92 was also the last year for the old CJ style slanted roll bar. In '93 they got the "family style" roll bar similar to the TJ.

If you're spending $10k, you better get a TJ. $10K for a CJ or YJ would not be worth it unless you got a really nice CJ thats been completely restored or was all original.

The sahara, laredo, islander, etc. packages are pretty much just appearance packages. I've always liked the sahara package myself. The interior is really nice, it comes with the 6-cylinder, and body color fender flares.

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:34 pm

That's funny that the YJ is so similar to the CJs, especially considering how bad the CJ group hated the YJ when it came out. At least the group I knew did.

Thanks for the heads-up on the change from Carbed to FIed in 92. That's important info!! And the rollbar info verifies info that I noticed while shopping. This is good shopping info!!

What about year/model engines and/or trannys? Anything to avoid? Is the 4.0L FI that they put in the 92s the same (basically) as the 4.0L that the ran all through the TJ's life? I seem to recall the 4.0 badge saying "High Output" on the Jeeps in the late 90s. Is there a major difference between the 92 4.0L and the 99 4.0L-HO?

So none of the sahara, laredo, islander, etc. packages were anything like the Rubicon pkg? Did any "special" model have any off-road specific upgrades like lockers? Living so near sand, I sure need to get lockers on whatever I get.

Keep the ideas coming!!

chefdab · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:04 pm

From what I have read on some of the other boards the difference in the engine over the years is that the newer version of the 4.0 (as in the TJ) actually is a few less horsepower and torque because of emission controls that were forced on them by the EPA. One thing to look for on either a TJ or YJ is the rear axle. I know you said it would be a daily driver (why not make the KJ a DD and the Wrangler the trail rig?) but you never know what the future holds. So if you think you will want large tires and a locker for it later, look for one with a Dana 44 rear axle. The Dana 35 has a more oval shape and a rubber fill plug whereas the 44 has an octagonal shape and a metal fill plug. Some of the early TJs also suffered from cracked manifolds and cracked radiators, so be sure and check them on a potential purchase. Other than that just be sure and check the usual stuff on a used vehicle (fluids, electrical, brakes etc.). And don't forget to test the 4wd shifter before you buy.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:22 pm

All the above. Definitely for ride quality a TJ. But also for all the other modern things.

Heck for 10,000 you should be able to find a TJ already setuip pretty nice. Check the list in my sig, too long to show everything, that I got for $11,000

stick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:01 am

The Rubicon package was the only thing that came with lockers or any off-road items on a YJ or TJ. The rest are all appearance packages for the most part. Although I believe the sahara TJ came with tow hooks and a D44 rear, so that would be kind of like "off-road" accessories. All YJs came with the D35 rear and D30 front. Most TJs came with the same, but had a D44 option for the rear.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:11 am

Well, to clear up the "why not use the KJ as a DD" question. This potential purchase revolves around my wife and I having kids. If we are so blessed, she will stop driving the Miata as a DD and I will give her the KJ. As much as I love driving the Miata (it really is a blast to drive), I'd rather have a TJ as my DD.

I will definitely get a D44 rear if I can. Even though this Jeep will probably never have an 8" lift and huge tires, you can never be too well prepared, eh? :-)

When a TJ was upgraded to D44 rear, what happened to the front? Did it still get the D30?

"Heck for 10,000 you should be able to find a TJ already setup pretty nice." That's what I'm hoping too!

Thanks for the heads-up on potential manifold and radiator cracks in the early TJs. I also appreciate the description of the D44.

Anyone know the tranny options on the YJs? What about the TJs? I know the Rubicon came with the NV3500 5-spd until 2005 when it was replaced with the MB-sourced 6-speed. But what about the non-Rubicon models? I can't find any info on them.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:22 am

D44s weren't necessarily added on. They came with the tow package.

stick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:00 pm

YJ transmission would be the AX-5 or AX-15. YJ transfercase would be the NP-207 in the early YJs (up until ~ '88) and the NP-231 was used in the YJ after that.

The TJs with the D44 rear still had the D30 front.

Ugg · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:20 pm

Quote "Well, to clear up the "why not use the KJ as a DD" question. This potential purchase revolves around my wife and I having kids. If we are so blessed, she will stop driving the Miata as a DD and I will give her the KJ."

Little Brady's on the way?

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:01 pm

Cool, I will look for factory tow-pkg in any listings I look at. More good info!

Did the YJs come with 5-speed trannies? I'd really like to have 5 gears if possible.

What's the difference between the NP-207 and NP-231 transfer case? Honestly, the difference is probably moot ('cause if I were getting a motor with a carb, I'd get a round-headlight CJ7 instead of an 87 or 88 YJ), but I'd love to know none-the-less.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:18 pm

Ugg wrote:

Little Brady's on the way?

No, not yet. But we're talking about it now. We've had two summers to ourselves, so we're at least opening the door to the possibility. Last weekend we got to talking about the vehicular logistics of having kids (that AREN'T the 4-legged fuzzy type) and I realized that I might end up driving the Miata as a DD. I'd just rather have a TJ than the Miata (plus, we could put the little rug-rats in the back seat in a pinch, which we couldn't do in the Miata).

stick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:37 pm

I honestly don't know what the real differences are in those two.

Yes, the YJ was available in a 5-speed. My '95 is a 5-speed.

I'd also recommend getting a YJ or TJ with a 6-cylinder. The 2.5L 4-cylinder isn't a bad engine, but not for a daily driver. The 4-cylinder does fine off road, but it's a real dog on the highway with bigger tires and heavy aftermarket parts.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:36 am

Why not a late 80s-91 Grand Wagoneer? it's really not too tough to find one of those still in nice shape for a reasonable coin, and they still had the good ol' AMC V8s

Not to mention once you pick up a mint one for 5 grand or so, lift it a little, and call it a day and still come out way under your $10,000 ceiling.

Or you could get another KJ. 75k+ mile Sports are going for under 10 grand all day long now

dog_party · **Posted:** Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:50 pm

If I replace the convertible (Miata), it will be replaced with a convertible (Jeep hopefully, although I might be talked into opening my shopping up to include a Sami.....hmmm, $10k Sami). I'd rather keep the Miata then get another hard-top.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:12 pm

the sawzall can always be combined with an old two-door Cherokee/Wagoneer...teehee

How about a K5 Blazer/Jimmy or fullsize Bronco? or even a pre-78 Bronc?

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:09 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

the sawzall can always be combined with an old two-door Cherokee/Wagoneer...teehee

I thought about getting an older KJ and taking the Sawzall to it. :-)

Always a possibility.

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

How about a K5 Blazer/Jimmy or fullsize Bronco? or even a pre-78 Bronc?

Those are definitely within the realm of shopping. I had a friend that had an 80-something Bronco with the 302 and it had a hard time getting up the hills. If I could find one with the 351 on the cheap, I'd take it.

The high-mileage lot down the street from my house had a PERFECT K5 Blazer sitting on their lot about 6 months ago. It was absolutely beautiful inside and out. But it was a 2WD. Give me an 87 K5 4X4 with the diesel motor in it and I might stop looking at Wranglers.

ctr05kj · **Posted:** Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:21 am

TJ all the way..
Not because i own one, but the ride is far superior on/off road..

And mods aren't as expensive..

What would you get??

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