Mid 80's XJ Cherokees were sold with GM 2.8 V-6s for awhile. Failure-prone piles of crap. '87-'95 YJ Wranglers have a vacuum-actuated axle disconnect up front that was known to die. Also came with a balky carburator until it got the FI 4.0L in about '90. I love my '97 Wrangler, but they hadn't yet corrected the design flaw in the exhaust manifold that caused it to crack down the middle. Pain in the ass to replace. Plus, I'm doing well to fit everything I need in the damned thing, and that's after I ripped out the back seat. I'm gonna commit to an answer and say you should shoot for a 1999-2004 WJ Grand Cherokee, searching with a bias towards the later years to keep the mileage down. Best family wagon Jeep ever made, in my opinion. Should be able to find one that fits within your budget. Almost definitely if you're willing to live with a six-cylinder instead of the V-8. Very capable. Family will be comfortable. Plenty of room for all your gear.
I'm looking for Jeeps too at the moment, is the V-8 better than the 6 for high altitude mountain climbing? (theress a '99 wrangler with 75k miles, V8 for sale down the street from me for 7k)
A V-8 Wrangler? No such animal ever existed as a production model. There were a handful of companies doing some pretty solid, standardized conversions so well that it looked like a factory option, but if you're looking at a YJ/TJ/JK with a V-8, it's an aftermarket custom job and it would be tough to give you any performance or reliability comments.
Much like a Scout ( ), it depends on how much money and skill you have to throw into a restoration project. They're solid platforms, but nothing lasts 35 years without a rebuild. If it was me, I'd look for one with a body that was relatively straight and intact, and plan on replacing everything else while retaining more or less the same design philosophy. Frame, springs, axles, driveshafts, transfer case, transmission, engine, EVERYTHING. Not that all of the factory stuff was bad, but it would be easier to maintain if the parts you threw at it were more modern.
I have a friend who works at a car dealership who is gonna see if they have an Obamanized, cash-for-clunkers Wrangler trade-in, what he can get for it, and I'll just drop in my own engine
Get this book (or a newer edition of it if you can find one). Lots of information on Jeeps, and the quirks that certain years have (some of the ones with automatic transmissions even the dealers will tell you to put an aftermarket chip in, because the factory one is crap). He gives you recommended tool kits, and suggests any modifications you might want to do based on your driving habits. Another guy who sells nothing but restored Wagoneers.
I only say that because it's easier to find parts for something that was manufactured in the last decade or so.
I sell for direct interchange, 98 or newer only. Used engines are only good options when you can get something low miles, low wear. If I don't have a good used engine, I steer them to a reman (we offer some remans). I only sell for direct interchange; I don't get involved in conversions. I don't have time to deal with them.
I have BRAND NEW 22R's from China. They're not rebuilt, they're brand new long blocks (fresh cast) with 0 miles. They include all gaskets needed for the install. $2300.
Strip down and refinish an old CJ-2A and drop in one of those 22Rs. Probably put 300,000 miles on the fuckin' thing.
That includes the shipping, and no, it's not too much for a brand new 22R. I sell them like popcorn. Wrap your head around the fact that it is a brand new, non-remanned 22r.
It is a fantastic engine. The great thing about the new engines is that they incorporate everything we've learned about these engines in the last 25+ years.
Yuppers. BTW, what the crap is up with Toyota? I'm having trouble buying engines from Japan for late, late model stuff now - frickers have gone to direct injection! They won't work easily with US fuel injected engines!
I have moved one step closer to getting my truck. Some kind of old beater. 1. Get Obama Check (new home owners, 8K) pay off Anne's Rio 2. Fix little shit on Black Betty (nothing major, little shit like speedometer, dash lights, driver side mirror, driver side window and washer fluid pump... doesn't bother me but does Anne). 3. Sell Rio, give Anne Black Betty 4. Buy beater with Rio money. 5. ????? 6. PROFIT!!!!! So tonight I made a critical first step.... "So I was wondering... how much longer is Drew going to have to work for you?" (dipshit little brother dropped out of summer semester at Auburn and has to pay back tuition + apartment) "Eh, couple months at least." "So.... I should be getting a gubment check pretty soon.... how bout you lend me Drew, he come drop his car off and drive Black Betty home, and J-Ford work on it... have a feeling y'all'll give me a better deal." *chit chat about what exactly is wrong* "Yeah, that sounds like it could work.... when do you want him to come up." SUCCESS!!!!! Fuck him. I don't care if I just volunteered him for 56 hours of driving, dumb bastard deserves it for being a dumb bastard and dropping out.
