looking to get my first jeep ???????

[squeek]

i want to buy a jeep. I want it to be both street and trail but not my only street vehicle. I was told to look for a 97 or newer due to the suspension, how important is that? I was told to get a 6 cyl. , how important is that? What else should i look for? I want to spend around 5000 but i know to get where i want it to be i 'll be spending a bit more. Any help is appreciated.

[mrchips]

If you are going to do any kind of off-roading, make sure it is fuel injected. Pay some one to check it out if you cant, find any problems up front and then negotiate your price.

[Kodiak Spirit]

make sure it has a 4.0, fuel injection, and a D44 rear end, oh and an auto tranny is nice to have offroad... remember that stock jeeps are nice and they usually havend been hammered on, lifted jeeps or jeeps with all kinds of bolt on crap may give you more gremlins...

[jimmyrig]

Hello

You will have a hard time finding a 97 for 5k unless it has a jillion miles. Now you could find a sweet Cherokee for that price...OMG did I just say that

[kcruisin]

The 6 cyl is vital, I don't know anyone that's proud of a 4 cyl. Fuel injection is vital when offcamber, that starts at '97, though suspension isn't too important, I'd go to coils if I changed axles.
Note; A D-35 rear axle must be upgraded for off road use, a D-30 ft axle can use some help; For $5k I'd look for a YJ rubican or un-limited with D-44's.

[Old Fart]

Fuel injection started with the 1991 YJ

[squeek]

how do i find out if it has a dana 44 in it?

[Materdaddy]

how do i find out if it has a dana 44 in it?

Look underneath for a D44. The pumpkin looks more octagonal rather than round like a D35. Or ask the person selling it.

[Old Fart]

Another easy way - D35's have a rubber press in fill plug, D44's _should_ be screw in.

For $5K? Look at 93-93 YJ's with a manual transmission.

[squeek]

Another easy way - D35's have a rubber press in fill plug, D44's _should_ be screw in.

For $5K? Look at 93-93 YJ's with a manual transmission.

WHY A 93 , Any other years i shouldn't be discouraged from looking at?

[kcruisin]

how do i find out if it has a dana 44 in it?

You need to know the different shapes of the covers. My D-35 had a threaded filler-plug.
You could start with cheap axles, but it's usually alot more expensive to up-grade them later.

[Kodiak Spirit]

I think he meant 91'-93'... and there is one for sale by Tool Pimp, a 91' 4.0 auto black, w/ hard and soft top.... check the vehicles for sale thread...

[dadasjp]

Get a 1986 cj-7 with a dana 44 rear-end. Put an injection kit on the 6 cyl. Get a manual. You should be able to stay in your price range and it won't depreciate very much if you take care of it, these models are always selling in the same $6-$8k range if they're decent. Easy jeep/model to work on, tons of parts on the web (like quadratec.com). My first Jeep was an 80 cj-7 into which I transplated a 401 amc. Still the best jeep I've had. A jeep like this will let you find out if this is the hobby for you.

[Old Fart]

I think he meant 91'-93'... and there is one for sale by Tool Pimp, a 91' 4.0 auto black, w/ hard and soft top.... check the vehicles for sale thread...

LOL, I meant to type 91-95 (breathing too much JET-A today). Last few years of the YJ, had a better rear cage (if you carry passengers), fuel injected.

[Materdaddy]

You need to know the different shapes of the covers. My D-35 had a threaded filler-plug.
You could start with cheap axles, but it's usually alot more expensive to up-grade them later.

My D35 cover has a threaded screw-in plug now too. It's a stock dana cover too, not like a rockcrusher or anything fancy.