Going through DTs, ROUGH!!

[JethroJK]

The firewall is different between the 4cyl and the 4.0L inline 6. The firewall is tunneled out further back and the radiator support is moved forward to make room for the inline 6 configuration. This will make it hard to swap in a 4.0. Otherwise it is a great way to get into a short wheelbase Jeep for less money.

I've had both 4cyl and 4.0L Jeeps (both XJ and TJ) and the 4cyl is guttless. Increasing the tire size to 31" made 5th gear useless on the TJ. It would slow down at full throttle putting it into 5th gear. And there wasn't any real fuel savings having the smaller engine.

Any short wheelbase jeep is going to be more expensive than any vehicle of the same condition and age.

If you are thinking of swapping motors, I would personally start with a cj5 or cj7, then drop in a fuel injected 4.3L vortec V6.

I appreciate the information. I am not sure about the motor swap but have it on the list pending the one I find and how much it will cost.

I would second the cherokee if you want to keep it cheap, if you're dead set on a wrangler, I wouldn't settle for any older than a TJ, ABS (the TJ's had ABS right?), the air bags, etc are all things I'd want my kid to have on their daily driver, especially if they were just starting out. After a year or two behind the wheel I'd give them a bit more leeway, but for someone just starting out these are things I'd definitely consider. Just my :twocents: though.

That is some good points about the safety etc. I appreciate the response. She is dead set on a Wrangler though.

I agree with this as far looking for an XJ. But I have read down the thread and saw the OP is more interested in the wrangler models. The 2.5/2.4 wranglers aren't as bad as they sound as far as power goes, as long as they're a manual transmission. My father-in-law has an '01 TJ with a 2.5 5-speed and it's not terrible with the 30" tires on it, I'm sure with the right gearing it would be just fine with larger tires. My $0.02

Manual transmission is the way I want to go. I want her to learn how to drive one. I appreciate the information.

 

[noroad]

I have not seen it talked about to yet so ill throw it out there! i got my first wrangler at 15 and fixed it up my self for pretty easy money. the kicker is it was a 91 yj that had about 150000 on her not to bad for the stright 6, but picked it up for 1500 bucks. people may hate on the square head lights but it got the job done and was easy to lift with the leaf springs!