Me and my pal have been looking at short wheelbase Jeeps, Wrangler models. Used ones for the most part and what we've been finding are mostly 4 cylinder ones. We looked at one maybe 10 years old and it had a factory supplied Iron Duke 4 banger in it. The trans was a stick, think it was a 5-speed. Are the later model Jeeps equipped with the Iron Duke engine as well or is it some other brand/design? The late six banger engine is - I hear - a very good engine, but a 4 banger will do what we want . . . which is . . . running around the Dez, doing a little exploring and killer horsepower is not required. Most of the Dez roads are in reasonable shape, a few sandwash crossings and running up the sandwashes are required, but we won't be climbing any 'almost' impossible hills and don't foresee any 'rock-crawling.' We're open as well to the auto-trans models and in fact his sweetie prefers an auto. She plans to use the Jeep as well. They live on a road up on a hill that once it gets wet, the slick adobe is a tough slog up or downhill with a 2 wd pickup with locking diff and staying home cuz the weather is wet or snowy is not on on her agenda. I see that the very late Jeeps have a 6-speed stick. I did some digging, but couldn't find any info on trans ratios. Are 5th and 6th on the 6-speeds both OD ratios? We find so many great pieces of tin right in town and a ways out, who knows what we could find once we strike out into the middle of the Dez?
Wranglers have a 2.5, but I believe it is the 2.5 Mopar, not GM. The CJ-7 predessors to the Wranglers (Wranglers are a YJ in Jeep parlance) may have had the Iron Duke, I don't remember. The 5 speeds in Wranglers are a Peugeot unit, not too shabby with stock engines and no suspension mods, but from personal experience, don't hold up too well to any mods. I'd go with the six. The 4 is great on the pavement, and maybe riding on improved trails, but the six will pretty much do it all. Personally, I'd get a CJ5 with a 232/258 and a 3 speed. It'd go anywhere. Those of you who know me, hush! (I just got rid of one... stupid move.) Jay
I have a '95 Wrangler with the 4 cyl. and a 5 spd. Its a mopar engine, and I hear its similiar to the Dodge Neon 2.4L... I'm probably wrong though. Its a torquey *******, and has held togethor being spun up to 6500 rpm while slinging through the mud (the redline is 5500) I believe that after 1990 both the 4 and 6 cyls have fuel injection which you're gonna want off-road. The Peugot ******s were used in CJ-7s (maybe earlier??) And the YJ's use Aisin ******s. I don't know about the 6 cyl. version (Aisin AX-15) but the one behind the 4 popper (Aisin AX-5) is not very good. They have problems with eating the br*** synchros if you use the wrong oil, and there is a problem with 5th gear "dissapearing" after alot of miles. (the c-clip holding the gear in place falls out). They use a Dana 35 rear axle which has a habit of breaking behind stock 4 cyls in 4Lo if you put enough force on it. Mine hasn't broken yet. I could go on... but I forgot what the question was OK... I went back and read the question... as far as power the 4 banger would get you by, If I were to do it agian I'd find a 6 cyl. Mines got 33" tires, stock gears (4.11 I think) and I rarely used 5th gear before it dissapeared. Depending on the consistency of the mud I can usually spin the tires pretty good in second gear (the super swampers kick *** by the way) and in Lo-range its got plenty of grunt. I just did the math and with its 139 ft/lbs at the engine, 3.93 first gear, 2.72 lo range reduction, and 4.11 rear gears thats 5191 ft/lbs of torque ***uming a 85% driveline effeciency. If you had suction cup tires you could drive up a wall. Hope that helps! They are alot of fun despite its Achilles heel(s) PM me for more photos or info
Yep, mopar engines, got to go way back to get the iron duke....pre YJ. The 4's are good motors, just gutless, esspecially with bigger tires, even if you re-gear them. The 6's are great motors. I have killed a couple....but it was hard! (don't tow with 140K+XJ in the Las Vegas-S. Utah Heat of August!) Get the 6 esspecially if you want an auto!! 92 or newer injected motor is much better, and for your needs, you would love the TJ 98 and newer. The coils give it a nice ride. If you go TJ look for one with a dana 44 rear axle. The base dana 35 is a POS.
Torque Baby! Yeah that's what I'm talking about! I have owned the gutless 4 cylinder and you have to rev it so much the mileage is the same as the 6. The 6 is dripping with torque and that's what you want for slow going on desert trails. I grew up in the socal desert around Indio/ Palm Desert. If price were no object, there is a company that sells a supercharger for the 2.5. IIRC, the mopar 2.5 still has a GM pattern bellhousing attach on the block for a 60 degree V6. If that's the case, You can bolt up a Cad 4.5 Lit Alum V8. Avoid the 4.1 lit. the 4.5 has the improved block oiling and roller cam. It is a true 200k motor. Unless they were absolutely giving the 4 cyl away, I'd recommend holding out for the 6.
Being a Heap freak I can't with all honesty tell you the Iron Duke is horrid. If you have a Heap full of folks and hit a hill some will need to get out its a gutless motor. The 2.5 models are alright the auto version gets horrid mileage and is really gutless. Go with the 258 its a bad *** and built right they haul **** well in heap terms. The mileage is better than the fours too.
Yeah, the 2.5 in the YJs is different from the GM 2.5L Iron Dukes. The Jeep engine is essentially 2/3 of the 4.0L six. Jeep did use the Iron Dukes earlier, back in the early 80s and previous. But those were the S-10 2.5s (151cid), not the Chevy II 2.5s (153cid). Big difference. I'm with everyone else - try to find a 4.0L. And if you need 'em, I just stripped down a 4.0L 94 Cherokee, so I have a spare auto trans and NP231 transfer case. d
My wife and I had a 92 wrangler with a 4 cyl and a 5 speed, my dad had a 76 cj-5 with v8 and 4 speed. He said we couldn't keep up with him while deer hunting awhile back. He was wrong. With 2in suspension lift and 31's we went everywhere he could. If you buy one make sure its a stick, my sis had a auto with a 4 cyl, what a turd and ****ty gas milage cause you had to keep yer foot floored the whole time.
I had a 67 CJ-5 with the optional Buick Dauntless 225 V-6, rated at about 160-170 horse, 230lbs torque, in a Heap, that thing would haul ***. They came in CJ-5's from 66-71. Had a 63 CJ-6 with the 4 banger, not quite the same. Farmall
Exactly- they're built on the same line in Kenosha WI, and share a whole bunch of common parts. They're entirely different than the PT Cruiser/Neon 2.4L/2.0L motors (really new Wranglers and Liberties use the 2.4L, since the 2.5L is no longer made). 2.5L's autos get **** mileage because it's a 3-speed trans.
My daily basher is '98 Wrangler (known as a TJ) with the four cylinder/5 speed manual combo. I never check fuel mileage, but it seems okay to me. I also don't go off-road, so I can't report on that. I can tell you this: it goes through snow just fine, it has been reliable as a stone, other Wrangler and CJ owners wave at you, no incline is ascended without a downshift (or two), it is actually a great urban ***ault vehicle (easy parking and u-turns), and for long trips I always leave the Jeep at home.
"Sgt. Wally Parks, a Road Runners member stationed in the Philippines, wrote about the Jeep he built from spare parts, complete with a V8-60 engine: 'Things are going fine and my little V-Jeep is really a peach. Just got through putting a spray job on it. It really goes, and I claim to have the hottest thing on the island." - Robert Genat, The Birth of Hot Rodding: The Story of the Dry Lakes Era, pp 27-28. It doesn't get much more old school than WWII, does it?
"Jeep: The traditional hot rod" Lemme make that, "the traditional finder of traditional 4 wheeled raw material." Thanks for all the good answers guys. It does help. I don't post much off-topic stuff, but I'd be a fool not to take advantage of the HAMB's wide range of expertise. First exploratory run early spring or late winter, I'm sure I'll be able to post some interesting pics. Will a 40 Ford coupe fit on a 10' long trailer? I know, I know . . . bring lots of rope and beer....
LOL there's lots of neat stuff to be found out there in the desert, just ignore the bullet holes. Over the holidays I almost talked myself into picking up an old Chevy truck cab off Rt 66 in CA.
now that we're talking jeeps .heres my 84 cj-7 the 258 died years ago.now 350 tbi 350 turbo d60 front axle 14 bolt rear(10.5) detroits & 4:88s 42 ''swampers with alcoa wheels. J.E.E.P just empty every pocket
This is an idea I have had in my head for a long time now. When I was a boy I beleive cox had a gas teather car that was a hot rod willy jeep. I thought it would be cool to do an early willys military jeep with full accesories and go with the idea that two young army boys skipped out with there willys and chopped it up gaser style and went racing and didn't go back to base. Call the jeep "Gone A Wall". Using all period correct parts. Just thought I would share that. Its not a totaly unique idea. But the name and the story tops it of well. Its fun to think about. [/QUOTE]
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