4 cylinder jeeps

[chuckroast]

Anybody have a 4cyl jeep that they use for off road? are they maxed with 31 or 33 inch tires? There are always lots of used 4cyl jeeps in the bargain finder and some a cheap, so just wondering

[4low]

Work fine off-road, not too good in the mud as it's a lot of work to get the tires to spin at obnoxious speeds, but crawl great and work fine (love mine off road) and perhaps less likely to break stuff  because the lack of power?!?

ON ROAD;
they are not fast!

I dont' mind mine, sometimes I get annoyed on the highway havin' to use 4th more than 5th just to maintain 100km/h.

but you'll be passed, and will not pass.....haha, with 31's or bigger.

I don't think I've owned any vehicle slower than my 4 popper YJ (and that list includes a chevette)
well, my scooter is slower, but that's to be expected, I think...haha

[RedYJ]

Ive got one, works fine for offroad.  You are basically maxed with 33's with stock gearing but if you go up to 4.88 you can move those tires fine.  Its been a long time since I passed someone on the highway... maybe I never have?  Definatly work well on the trail, once they get above 2500rpm they have a ton of power for that little engine.

[henry]

I agree, offroad the 4 bangers are fine, on road, can be quite annouying getting passed by Vespas.  I think you'd wanna gear up (like previous post mentioned for 33s) and you should be fine.  

I have 31s, and 4:11 gears and its fine, but kinda slow on the steet.  My old '98 TJ 2.5L, I towed my 13 ft. Trillium trailer through the rockies, and it was ok, but you let people pass in the opportune moments.

Darren

[TJ54]

I have a 97 TJ with a 4 banger 31's 4:10's

Off road it works fine for me, Once it is in 4 low, power very rarely seems to be an issue.  I  like the power band of the engine off road, the 4 banger really likes to rev. Starts to make power somewhere between 2500 and 3003 rpm.

I drive on the highway everyday, I drive at 100 to 110. passing someone is rare, which can be frustrating. So as long as you relax and are not in a hurry  then you will be fine.

The max tire size you should go is probably 33's. with regearing to 4.88's mainly because anything bigger starts to strain the D35 D30 axles. IMHO

Maybe someone could say something about tranny choice, I definatley prefer the 5 spd. to maximize the engines power band. I have never driven an auto 4 cylinder but it seems to me alot those 4 bangers I see for sale have an automatic transmission, and I am not so sure the auto would be a good choice

[BlackYJ]

I like my 4 banger.  I have wheeled 31s for a couple years and love it offroad.  With the 4.11s it has a pretty good crawl speed.  I now wheel with 33s and with the 4.11s it is not the greatest.  It is recommeded that with 33s and a 4 banger, 4.88 are the way to go and I believe it.  Now with the 33s I have run into a few spots where the 4 banger powers out, especially on long steep hills (it probably doesn't my 33s are probably the heaviest on the market).

On the flip side, you have a lot less chance of breaking parts.  I am running an ARB in my D35 with the 33s and no problems.  Also there is the weight savings.  I know a guy that is running 37" boggers with a 4 banger.  It is a great torquey little engine if it is geared right.

Like the others have said it is not the greatest on the highway, but whatever.

[ramtuff]

A 4cyl YJ or TJ with 4.88's ,  a 4-1 tcase and 37" Boggers is hard to beat off-road.  On road is a different story.

[Fly Guy]

If you are looking to buy a 4 banger TJ built for off roading... mine's for sale
http://www.calgaryjeep.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=840&highlight=

[apex]

If you are looking to buy a 4 banger TJ built for off roading... mine's for sale
http://www.calgaryjeep.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=840&highlight=

Its a good 'un. I'll vouge for that!

[Spinalguy]

Flyguys is a good deal.
My experiences show that pushing bigger tires (33+) leads to higher RPM's on road and offroad(in mud). This wears engine components quicker and eventually may lead to gernading.

My 4cyl TJ engine with 170,000kms on a fresh rebuild at 130,000 kms.

[Jaguar]

I know you said used 4 cyl. but I have a new 2.4L "05 with the 6 Speed tranny, and I am impressed with the performance. I ran the old 2.5L and the 4.0L and would place the 2.4L w/ 6 speed in the middle as far as power goes.... prolly closer to the 4.0L... For running around town, I don't notice a difference from my old 6 Cyl. On the highway it's definately a dog. I was heading up to Airdrie one day with a srtong wind, and had to really push it to get up to 110, but 100 wasn't too much of a problem. With no wind, she coasts pretty good at 110. I have taken the back seat out and usually run around with only half a tank of gas, and she's pretty peppy. But the real plus side is I'm getting 500KM+ out of a tank

[TJ54]

Cool pic Tom  

It seems to me that if a stock tj with 4.10 and 205/15 tires, then you step up to 33's even with 4.88's your rpm's will still be lower than stock. So the only reason that rpm's are higher than stock with 33's is your right foot.
Me too though, and I would not be suprised to see the same thing in my TJ one day.

So are you going to put a 350 in that TJ now. It's the perfect time :wink:

[redbull]

On the highway it's definately a dog. I was heading up to Airdrie one day with a srtong wind, and had to really push it to get up to 110, but 100 wasn't too much of a problem. With no wind, she coasts pretty good at 110. I have taken the back seat out and usually run around with only half a tank of gas, and she's pretty peppy. But the real plus side is I'm getting 500KM+ out of a tank

Sounds a lot like my 260K 4.0L, with 3.07 gears.

[apex]

Sounds a lot like my 260K 4.0L, with 3.07 gears.

I second that. even with the 235/r15s it sucks in a headwind. No big suprise though, we drive 4x4 cinderblocks. The only curves on a jeep are on the headlights, and if you drive a YJ yer screwed.

[4low]

As far as Tom's engine failure is concerned, it COULD be related to shoddy rebuild, and/or various other things.

My original engine looked like that 10 k after I had a minor hydrolock incident.

Catastrophic failures are sooo cool.
(as long as they don't happen to you) haha