Posted: 4/5/2010 10:10:39 AM EDT
|
I'm really jonesin' for a Jeep, but haven't got a lot of cash. I know I want a TJ or CJ, but is there any reason to not consider a YJ aside from the simple cosmetic details of rectangular headlights? are YJs any less capable in stock form? I only say stock to keep the comparison apples to apples. I'm sure it will be modded eventually. keep in mind, we don't have the extreme sort of trails here in Michigan that some of you folks out west have. even the UP, which does have what could be considered mountains and rugged terrain, was flattened quite a bit by the glaciers.
Would you be happy with a YJ? is there a good reason why they're so much cheaper than CJs and TJs? |
|
TJs have coil springs and will ride better on the road and I believe they are a little more capable off road in stock form then both the CJ and YJ. Personally I think the CJ and TJ both look better, but if you are leaving any of them stock you are only going to be able to have a certain level of fun off road. I had a TJ and wheeled with several guys with YJs, all lifted though, and they did just fine off road.
I think you are probably selling Michigan trails short as I imagine you have some pretty gnarly trails up there, I haven't ever been up there but have wheeled IL, KY, IN, CO, and MO and while CO and the West have a lot of cool trails, they have a lot more rocks and a lot less mud than the midwest and trust me you can have a fucking blast in the mud and slop that they never get to play in 
Get whatever you can afford and like and have fun. 
|
|
[/quote]
IMO the yj is more capable offroad than the CJ once you remove the sway and trac bars plus you get an OD trans and fuel injected 4.0 goodness. Two factors that alone far far outweigh the squareness of the headlamps About the only small nag I have against the TJ in my opinion is it's not quite as well suited to leaving the top off long term due to more plastic, upholstery and vulnerable electrics I've owned a the pictured 91 YJ for over 5 years now with a few minor upgrades. I'm perfectly happy with it's overall performance and would not consider upgrading to a newer jeep unless i was buying a NEW jeep 
|
|
I own an 88 Jeep YJ Sahara...hence 88 Sahara...I cannot honestly say that TJs are better at the stock level or in at a built level. I am in a Jeep club and can do everything my buddys with big TJs and JKs do in my YJ with a 3.5'' lift and 33'' mud tires. However, a YJ will never ride as well as a TJ b/c the leaf springs arent as responsive as coil springs. Since TJs are never, you won't have to fix the older stuff that normally breaks on all Jeeps. TJs are more comfy. They often come with better gear ratios than YJ's. They have electronic 4wd instead of the YJ's crappy vaccuum disconnect. Aftermarket parts are more readily available and more stuff is made for TJ's. If you do your homework, you can find a cheap TJ with a factory Dana 44 rear. If I had the $$ and I didn't already have my YJ I'd buy a TJ in a heartbeat. I'm not a YJ hater (hell, I love mine) by any means, but all YJ's are now at least 15 years old.
If you decided on a CJ you're in for an uncomfy bumpy ride.... my ride.. 
this was almost ugly: jeepin |
|
Quoted:
my ride.. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/k2enemy84/downsized_0123091705.jpg this was almost ugly: jeepin Wow! yeah, I saw that wave almost crest over your hood! with no snorkel that woulda been some pretty bad news.. |
| a TJ will flex a bit better in stock form but a YJ will be cheaper to lift. The cjs usually run better engine options. To me the real reason to steer away from a YJ would be the smog gear on the late 4.2L. Youll probly be looking at a mess of lines under the hood. I usually keep all my rigs to pre 75 or post 95 to stay away from all that... |
You can pick up 4 cyl TJ's pretty cheap. The only problem is, they're 4 cyls.
I've got one, and am waiting for it to blow so i can add a couple (or more) cylinders to the mix. It does ok around town with 4:10s and 32 inch tires, but if I'm going any distance to the trail head, I'll tow it. |
|
The only real benefit to a CJ is if you get one with a T18 trans. 1980-1986 CJ's used the craptastic SR4, T4 and T5 all of them are junk. The YJ BA10 was even worse than the SR4/T4/T5 trannys so make sure to get a later YJ with the 4.0/AX15. The AX15 is a decently strong 5 speed if you don't abuse it by shock loading it. The TJ's used the AX15/NV3550 both are good trannys. The 6 speed in the later TJ's seems to be lighter duty\/problematic i would avoid them it's also used in the new JK's.
The 304 V8 in the CJ's was a good engine but 4.0 made more HP and about the same amount of torque. The CJ's all had locking hubs but on low pinion D30. The YJ had the strongest D30 out of all the jeeps because it was high pinion the TJ and CJ used low pinion. The TJ's D44's are better than the D30/D35 in the YJ's but they use thin smaller diameter tubes compared to "real" D44's The D300 t-case in the 80's CJ's is the strongest ever used in a SWB jeep but its not geared as low as the NP231's in the YJ and TJ. CJ's have weaker frames than the YJ/TJ all the CJ7 frames are boxed but they are welded together C-channels, Wranglers use tube frames In 100% stock form the TJ is better offroad than the YJ or the CJ. The YJ SUCKS stock but you can improve it alot just by removing the track bars so it can flex more. If you do that the YJ and CJ are pretty much equal. Put a springover either of them and use soft springs and you will make TJ guys consider swapping leaves under their TJ's there is at least 1 guy on pirate4x4 thats done it. |
| I went from a YJ to a TJ. My Jeep is my daily driver so spends 95% of it's time on the pavement. The coil springed TJ is miles ahead of the leaf springed YJ in terms of highway comfort. The TJ will accept 31" tires without modification where the YJ will not without a lot of rubbing. The stock TJ offers a little better articulation than the YJ IMO. The YJ is less expensive to do suspension mods to though. |
|
Quoted:
Put a springover either of them and use soft springs and you will make TJ guys consider swapping leaves under their TJ's there is at least 1 guy on pirate4x4 thats done it. no no no....thats called link suspension and if you take the bump stops off a YJ it will probably flex more than a stock TJ |
|
Quoted:
I love my YJ. It still needs some work, though, but its getting there. I'll try to find some pics. ETA: Best pic I have right now. http://www.personal.psu.edu/~tcw135/jeep/newbumper2.jpg What make and model is that front bumper? Ive been searching for front bumper for my YJ and i like the one you have there. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I love my YJ. It still needs some work, though, but its getting there. I'll try to find some pics. ETA: Best pic I have right now. http://www.personal.psu.edu/~tcw135/jeep/newbumper2.jpg What make and model is that front bumper? Ive been searching for front bumper for my YJ and i like the one you have there. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I think its made by Rampage. http://www.quadratec.com/products/12026_300_07.htm I also bought their rear bumper with the tire carrier. http://www.quadratec.com/products/12026_301_07.htm I have their fog light kit in my front bumper and regular light kit for the rear, but I haven't put the rear in yet. I'll try to get pics tonight if I remember. |
|
Quoted:
a TJ will flex a bit better in stock form but a YJ will be cheaper to lift. The cjs usually run better engine options. To me the real reason to steer away from a YJ would be the smog gear on the late 4.2L. Youll probly be looking at a mess of lines under the hood. I usually keep all my rigs to pre 75 or post 95 to stay away from all that... Guess it depends on where you live. Here in Washington, vehicles over 25 years old are exempt from emission testing/inspection. And even the newest CJ is now 24 years old.
|
|
Quoted:
The only real benefit to a CJ is if you get one with a T18 trans. 1980-1986 CJ's used the craptastic SR4, T4 and T5 all of them are junk. You forgot the T176/177, which were actually not too bad of a 4 speed manual transmission. Also, the 76-79 CJs had the availability of the TH400 automatic and the 80-86 CJs used the TF999 automatics. The 304 V8 in the CJ's was a good engine but 4.0 made more HP and about the same amount of torque. Maybe in stock form. But come on, with some basic intake, carburetor, camshaft, ignition, and exhaust upgrades those 304s can be woken up and put a 4.0 to shame. And if that still isn't enough, a 360 or 401 is a drop in replacement. The D300 t-case in the 80's CJ's is the strongest ever used in a SWB jeep but its not geared as low as the NP231's in the YJ and TJ. Dana 300 = 2.62 low range. NP231 = 2.72 low range. Not enough to mention, let alone lose any sleep over, in my book. The Dana 18s and Dana 20s found in earlier CJs were not as low geared. CJ's have weaker frames than the YJ/TJ all the CJ7 frames are boxed but they are welded together C-channels, Wranglers use tube frames Yup, the CJs frames are more prone to rusting and cracking. Which brings us to what I consider the most serious affliction of Jeeps: Rust. Generally, the newer the model you get, the less prone it is to rusting. |
|
Maybe in stock form. But come on, with some basic intake, carburetor, camshaft, ignition, and exhaust upgrades those 304s can be woken up and put a 4.0 to shame. And if that still isn't enough, a 360 or 401 is a drop in replacement.
so?/ BTDT the additional HP of a built AMC v8 only goes so far against the reasonable amount of HP a 4.0 puts out but most importantly of all that's coupled to a trans with 2 more forward gears. With a 3 speed trans v8 jeeps just don't run that good even with a little HP. besides it's not like you can't build up a 4.0, SHIT if anything the engine aftermarket for them is even stronger than the AMC v8's. If you want a v8 jeep buy a 2.5 powdered turd and swap in some LS goodness for the win |
|
Quoted:
Maybe in stock form. But come on, with some basic intake, carburetor, camshaft, ignition, and exhaust upgrades those 304s can be woken up and put a 4.0 to shame. And if that still isn't enough, a 360 or 401 is a drop in replacement.
so?/ BTDT the additional HP of a built AMC v8 only goes so far against the reasonable amount of HP a 4.0 puts out but most importantly of all that's coupled to a trans with 2 more forward gears. With a 3 speed trans v8 jeeps just don't run that good even with a little HP. besides it's not like you can't build up a 4.0, SHIT if anything the engine aftermarket for them is even stronger than the AMC v8's. If you happened to have heard something zip over your head, it was the point that it's not really useful to compare the output of a stock 304 to the output of a stock 4.0. And that the AMC V8s have a lot more untapped potential than does a 4.0. And NONE of that is to take away from the 4.0's well desreved great reputation or suggest that it is in any way a bad motor. So you can unwind those panties now. 
And those extra forward gears can be added to older Jeeps, too.
|
|
Quoted:
Obviously the 4 cyl is less desirable, but is there anything wrong with them reliability wise? I think I'd prefer a TJ, and at least around here, a TJ with a 4 cylinder and manual trans is a lot closer to my price range (5-7k?). unless you plan to do an engine swap right then avoid a 4cyl jeep like the CLAP!!!!! I'm serious they're so gutless you'll learn to hate jeeps because of it. As to reliability the 2.5 is fine. But the trans behind it is a glass fragile shit grenade just waiting to take a dump on ya. AX-5 |
|
Well, I do happen to have a 305 attached to a 4L60 trans in my 93 Caprice Wagon right now...
though I suppose my plan of selling the Caprice to raise funds for a Jeep would make that swap impractical. even if you're going to donk out a Caprice, you probably would want the engine and trans... |
|
Quoted:
unless you plan to do an engine swap right then avoid a 4cyl jeep like the CLAP!!!!! I'm serious they're so gutless you'll learn to hate jeeps because of it.
Hey now...us military jeep owners have 4 cyl and they aren't so gutless... 
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x222/linx310/jeep/jpa1.jpg The fine print allows for an exemption for sidevalve and F head engines nice nice rig btw |
|
Quoted:
unless you plan to do an engine swap right then avoid a 4cyl jeep like the CLAP!!!!! I'm serious they're so gutless you'll learn to hate jeeps because of it.
Hey now...us military jeep owners have 4 cyl and they aren't so gutless...
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x222/linx310/jeep/jpa1.jpg I'd kill for the real thing. an MB or an M38 would be amazing, but I need something I could daily drive. Someday.... |
|
Nothing wrong with a YJ,just avoid the Peugeot tranny(hell,are there any out there still together?).
Local dealer(who got screwed by GM)has a MINT 1983 CJ-7 with 30k miles,looks like it just came outta Jeep Parkway. It was a demo for their dealership in Radcliff KY(Ft Knox). |
|
Quoted:
Lemmy get this straight, you want jeep, cheap, capable, and a daily driver.......... soloution XJ http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae315/gsherin/Wheeling/IMAG0062.jpg Pretty damn hard to find one of those with a stick. plus, half the allure of the Wrangler is the convertible aspect. I'd probably just get a 4X4 Toyota pickup and call it good before I got an XJ. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Obviously the 4 cyl is less desirable, but is there anything wrong with them reliability wise? I think I'd prefer a TJ, and at least around here, a TJ with a 4 cylinder and manual trans is a lot closer to my price range (5-7k?). unless you plan to do an engine swap right then avoid a 4cyl jeep like the CLAP!!!!! I'm serious they're so gutless you'll learn to hate jeeps because of it. As to reliability the 2.5 is fine. But the trans behind it is a glass fragile shit grenade just waiting to take a dump on ya. AX-5 False
4 banger Cummins in my rig. 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Obviously the 4 cyl is less desirable, but is there anything wrong with them reliability wise? I think I'd prefer a TJ, and at least around here, a TJ with a 4 cylinder and manual trans is a lot closer to my price range (5-7k?). unless you plan to do an engine swap right then avoid a 4cyl jeep like the CLAP!!!!! I'm serious they're so gutless you'll learn to hate jeeps because of it. As to reliability the 2.5 is fine. But the trans behind it is a glass fragile shit grenade just waiting to take a dump on ya. AX-5 False
4 banger Cummins in my rig. http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/burritoboi5/IMG00043.jpg Nice Kaiser! i always wanted a M715 |
