New Member-Searching For MJ

[cbzdel]

Just more of a Hi, I am new to the club but not totally new to Jeeps or MJs.. 

 

About 15 years ago I bought my first vehicle, a 1992 XJ Limited, 4.0, AW4, Leather, pretty much the works.  I got into wheeling and the XJ started to become more than what I wanted for a daily driver.  So a couple years later I bought a 1989 MJ to use for a daily driver. it was a 2wd short bed, 4.0, aw4 with bucket seats.  After about a week of owning it I came across a picture of someone putting a 97+ XJ front clip on an MJ.  I was sold and bought a 97+XJ front end from various online forums.  When I pulled the old MJ front clip I figured why not do some engine upgrades while I was at it so I pulled the engine.   Then I got busy with college and lost interest and was forced to sell it as an unfinished project when I got a job offer and had to move. 

 

Fast forward to the last 6 months.  I has been searching for a small older truck for home projects.  I turned into a Ford guy over the years owning both a F150 and then F250 v10.  But I sold both because you don't need a truck that big to go get a couple 2x4s from Home Depot.  So I was looking at late 80s to early 90s Ford Rangers in the $2000 to $3000 range but I am not having good luck as I am being picky.  Until two weeks ago, someone tagged their Jeep Comanche listing as Ford Ranger.  I seen the MJ and my dream was reborn, I don't know how I ever forgot about it! I have spent the last two week doing nothing but searches for MJs. But I am willing to hold out for the perfect truck, within reason, I want to get a truck thats running and dependable by next spring/summer.

 

But I have a couple questions.  I really only want to own a truck for home projects, and possibly a run to the river or mountains for fishing/hunting.  That being said I am lost on what I should get.  I am lost on 2.5 vs 4.0.  It seems like the 2.5 is easier to find and is more fuel efficient, but I have never drove a Jeep 2.5 so I have no idea if they are gutless pigs or if they are actually decent reliable engines, not to mention what happens with the 2.5 if I throw 1/4 to 1/2 yard of gravel in the bed or something along those lines, will it even move?  I'm not even sure a MJ could do a 1/2 yard of gravel but my buddies 1990 S10 does it all the time with stock suspension so I don't see why not? Mod wise for the 4.0 is endless which is great but it worries me that I may try to get to involved in the truck.  As for the AW4 vs AX15, I would prefer an AW4 but I could live with the AX15. I feel owning a manual is nice on occasion but other times its a pain.  As for long bed vs short bed, I would prefer the short bed for sure, that is the only just actually, I would not want to own a long bed as I need compact due to limited parking. Another big one is 2wd vs 4wd, I have no idea how capable a MJ is in 2wd.  In my XJ I never used 4wd unless I was on a trail or in the snow, and I don't plan on doing either with this new MJ, but then I would hate to get 2wd and wish I had 4wd. 

 

All in all my plans are to get a MJ, swap on a 97+ XJ front clip and get a decent paint job and then I might even throw on a small lift and some decent looking wheel and all terrain tires, the lift would be for looks only.  Then just make the rig as reliable as possible.  If I could pick up a MJ and do a couple body mods and make it reliable enough to drive say 2000-3000 miles a year for the next 10+ years I would be VERY happy.. 

[relyt120]

:waving: Welcome!

 

Put your location in your profile and I'm sure someone near you will have an MJ for sale

 

You should go with the 4.0l if possible, better to have a little more power than you need than too little.

Also for me at least 4.0l parts are way easier to get your hands on.

 

If you have any degree of traffic in your area i would recommend the AW4; traffic with a manual is not fun!

 

If you are looking for high weight capacity look for a Metric Tonne truck which has beefier springs and better rear axle

 

If you are not going off road or in snow then you don't really require 4x4 but once again better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

If you want a short bed exclude 86's from your search...they were all long beds.

 

The 97+ front clip swap is really easy, basically bolt on so you should have no problems there.

 

Good luck with your search! . :MJ 2: .

[Megadan]

I wouldn't limit yourself to just short beds.  The long bed is only 1 ft longer than the short bed.  I love my long bed.   If the extra length bothers you, get a long bed and bob the bed 1 ft lol.
The 2.5, as I understand it is gutless, but they are every bit as reliable as the 4.0L.

[jimoshel]

The 2.5 is a long way from being gutless, or under powered. I have a 2.5 in my DD, a '87 MJ, AX4 and it gets me down the road at 75, and sometimes a little over, No I don't pull a horse trailer or 40 foot camper with it. I have a J20 for that. :thumbsup:

[Megadan]

The 2.5 is a long way from being gutless, or under powered. I have a 2.5 in my DD, a '87 MJ, AX4 and it gets me down the road at 75, and sometimes a little over, No I don't pull a horse trailer or 40 foot camper with it. I have a J20 for that. :thumbsup:

The 2.5 is plenty peppy for normal driving, but for hauling a full load of gravel?  It may move it around, but I question it's effectiveness lol

[cbzdel]

 

The 2.5 is a long way from being gutless, or under powered. I have a 2.5 in my DD, a '87 MJ, AX4 and it gets me down the road at 75, and sometimes a little over, No I don't pull a horse trailer or 40 foot camper with it. I have a J20 for that. :thumbsup:

The 2.5 is plenty peppy for normal driving, but for hauling a full load of gravel?  It may move it around, but I question it's effectiveness lol

 

 

 

I guess I should add, that I only live 2 of a miles away from my landscape supply store, so even if I am just moving it slowly I would be ok with that.  But I do get your point.

 

The F150 I had, had a i6 engine and it being a "base/work truck model" had very high gearing as well, then the previous owner lifted it and put 35s on it.  During the test drive it felt great but I never topped 45mph on the local roads.  So I bought it then got on the freeway and reaized that I could not go much beyond 60mph on flat ground, if there was a hill I would drop down to about a 45mph top speed.  It sucked, but it worked. The truck had a full 8' bed, and I filled it with dirt, totally full, the leaf spring were bending in the opposite direction.. I was so worried about snapping the leaf springs, but that ended up not even being a problem.  The problem my truck was so weighed down it wouldnt move, well it would but I seriously had to floor it to make it even get up and go, and I would pretty much just have to keep it floored until I reached cruising speed.  Not ideal but it worked haha..

[Megadan]

I think the real question would be more along the lines of how often you would be doing big heavy loads.  With any regularity, I would definitely favor the 4.0L over the 2.5, but the 2.5 can get the job done.  My mentality is skewed from years of driving tractor-trailers.  The bigger engine is always worth it lol

[cbzdel]

I think the real question would be more along the lines of how often you would be doing big heavy loads.  With any regularity, I would definitely favor the 4.0L over the 2.5, but the 2.5 can get the job done.  My mentality is skewed from years of driving tractor-trailers.  The bigger engine is always worth it lol

Heavy loads like that would be next to never.. I need to get usually 1/2 to 1 yard of gravel every year to touch up my driveway and parking areas, and then usually get a 1/2 to 1 yard of soil every year to fix up the yard and garden. Other than that I just need a truck for things that do not fit into a car. 

 

The only reason I would entertain the idea of a 2.5 is because of the MPG for the regular around town driving.   The only reason I would want the 4.0 is because bigger is better haha.. But bigger is not always needed in all cases.. 

[FrankTheDog]

I get 18.5-20.5 mpg with my 1992 4.0 5spd 4x4.

If your only driving it 2-3k a year why even worry about it.

[jimoshel]

I have a J20 for heavy loads. The MJ is just basic, reliable transportation.

[Minuit]

The 2.5 will let you do 99% of anything a small truck has any business doing. The 4.0 will just be much more fun in the process. Back in the day a 4.0 equipped MJ was one of the fastest trucks on the market. 1991 and 1992 trucks have many electrical improvements and more power. Try to find one if you can.

 

Fuel economy is pretty close between 2.5 and 4.0. If you want an automatic you're very likely going to end up with a 4.0. A small number of 2.5s had autos but very, very few of them did and they are painfully gutless from what I've heard. Don't even consider the 2.8 V6 (1986 only) if you don't like carburetors and lots of 30 year old vacuum lines.

 

Get 4wd if you can find one with it you like, but don't let it be a deal breaker if you're just making the occasional gravel run with it. These trucks are decently capable in 2wd form with good tires.

 

LWB trucks are more stable (not that a SWB is unstable) due to a longer wheelbase and let you carry more stuff. The metric ton package (extremely desirable) lets you carry even more stuff. You'll also probably find that the LWBs have more options. They are a foot longer than SWB trucks.

 

Basically, get the 4.0. '91 or '92 and 4wd are preferable. Automatics are plentiful behind the 4.0 but rare behind the 2.5. City fuel economy will be very similar so don't let that be the deciding factor.

[87Warrior]

...but everyone has a 4.0 :)

 

The limiting factor will not be the power plant but the rear leaf springs with a load. 1 yard of gravel weighs about 2,500lbs (IIRC), a weight no MJ was ever designed to carry. I have no complaints pulling/hauling a heavy load with my 2.5L. It will get the job done, just don't expect it to get it done fast.

 

When picking a MJ to buy, drive train should the the least of your worries. A solid unibody frame should be #1 with a rust free interior and body as #2. You can build these trucks like Legos to fit your needs.