Crappy Thread Content

Long time reader, first time poster. Riddle me this.
Why is it that everyone here is just complaining about their jeeps?

"My thingy broke! How do I fix it?"
"I want to go X fast, how do I do it?"
"I'm incapable of any individual and original thought. Feed me information!"
"i hav no grumatikal skilz and i cant form a strate sentins and i dunno wut punkshoashun is"

:icon16: :screwy:

Well when I got my jeep, I decided to come to the jeep section of automotive forums to see if there was anything interesting about this vehicle that I should know. I already know it's a bitchin' 4x4, it's got a great 4.0L motor, and it's fun to drive. Anybody else out there agree? All I see on this forum is problems. No fun discussion about what somebody did with their cherokee over the weekend, no info on modifications somebody is in the middle of. Just people looking for quick answers to their petty problems. Well quit it! Nobody's listening.

DO SOME DAMN RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN YA LAZY BUMS! :disappoin

So having said that - Anyone out there do any fun 4x4'ing lately? I intend to find a secluded dirt road somewhere to test the limits of my off-the-dealership-lot tires. I hope to eventually have a nice stereo; I was considering putting a subwoofer underneath the back seat (since it flips up). Either that or hiding my amps down there. I want to have good sound without losing space to a subwoofer box or amp. Maybe no sub...not sure yet.

What I really want to get are some wider tires - I can't seem to find any site that will tell me what the width of the rim is from the factory. I know what size the tire is, it's printed on the tire. I'm trying to increase my rim width by about an inch or two and I don't know which rims to get because I don't know how big they are now! I'm not a bling-blinger I just want some decent swampers.

How do the 4.0L motors respond to simple bolt-on modifications? I've found a few sites that sell headers for jeeps, but it's not near as easy as getting parts for my wife's civic Si.

I'm fond of cherokee's, also. I used one for years on a rice farm. It had a 4.0 HO. 4-door with 31" Bias-ply GripSpurs. That little jeep would go ANYWHERE, even right thru a flooded rice field! I've never had any dealings with 4.0 bolt-ons, but I would imagine an aftermarket intake and a header w/ new exhaust would really wake one up.

Welcome to AF.


Long time reader, first time poster. Riddle me this.
Why is it that everyone here is just complaining about their jeeps?

"My thingy broke! How do I fix it?"
"I want to go X fast, how do I do it?"
"I'm incapable of any individual and original thought. Feed me information!"
"i hav no grumatikal skilz and i cant form a strate sentins and i dunno wut punkshoashun is"

:icon16: :screwy:

Well when I got my jeep, I decided to come to the jeep section of automotive forums to see if there was anything interesting about this vehicle that I should know. I already know it's a bitchin' 4x4, it's got a great 4.0L motor, and it's fun to drive. Anybody else out there agree? All I see on this forum is problems. No fun discussion about what somebody did with their cherokee over the weekend, no info on modifications somebody is in the middle of. Just people looking for quick answers to their petty problems. Well quit it! Nobody's listening.

DO SOME DAMN RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN YA LAZY BUMS! :disappoin

Hahahaha it's only when our Jeeps are broken that we're wasting time on the internet looking for a fix; the rest of the time we're out 'wheelin. :grinyes:

(what's my excuse, you ask? Why, I'm stuck here @ work but I'll be on the beach this weekend!)



So having said that - Anyone out there do any fun 4x4'ing lately? I intend to find a secluded dirt road somewhere to test the limits of my off-the-dealership-lot tires. I hope to eventually have a nice stereo; I was considering putting a subwoofer underneath the back seat (since it flips up). Either that or hiding my amps down there. I want to have good sound without losing space to a subwoofer box or amp. Maybe no sub...not sure yet.

What I really want to get are some wider tires - I can't seem to find any site that will tell me what the width of the rim is from the factory. I know what size the tire is, it's printed on the tire. I'm trying to increase my rim width by about an inch or two and I don't know which rims to get because I don't know how big they are now! I'm not a bling-blinger I just want some decent swampers.

How do the 4.0L motors respond to simple bolt-on modifications? I've found a few sites that sell headers for jeeps, but it's not near as easy as getting parts for my wife's civic Si.

The usual factory rim was 7", I think an 8" was available as an option. Get some outside calipers (or make up a jig) if you're not sure. If you've got the 6-spoke steel wheel then it's probably 7". I've read about 9" and 10" rims being put on. Check the thread under the Wrangler forum, "Tire size and clearance" for some comparison.

the 4.0 responds well I've heard. Mine is stock, but there are a bunch of aftermarket kits available, from intakes to headers to exhaust. I've even heard of someone boring out their 4.0 to 5 liters and producing in excess of 400hp. It's like the quote from "Mad Max": "How fast you wanna go? All it is is a question of money!"

Like I said, I'll be on the beach this weekend in NC. Couple weekends ago I did some mudsploring in a new homes construction site. Sigh. I don't get out enough.

I've only had my '98 4.0L GC for a couple of months but I love it. The rear wiper stopped working but it's not the end of the world and I'll fix it eventually.

So far, I've just put in a K&N filter and it seems like my gas mileage increased slightly... not sure though. I'm going to leave the rest alone. It already has a 2.5" exhaust and the header isn't too rusty (only 88,750 miles). Oh yeah, it has fat Mopar ignition wires... not sure if they come stock.

Two days ago I was parking at a machine shop across from a skateboard park for a demo. I went around the building to allow the cars to use the paved parking area. It was dark and raining and when I came around the backside of the building I turned too soon and didn't realize there was a drainage ditch right there. I thought I jumped a tier or something because I bounced down and out of it. But nothing was wrong. I think I may have compressed the shock on the one side pretty good but everything looks great. Later my oil pressure gauge seemed a little low (was using lights, wipers, stereo, etc.) but today it seemed fine. I'm going to change the oil for the first time tomorrow and I'm going to enjoy not having to jack up the vehicle to do it... haha.

As for future mods, I may install some fog lights and a stereo system when it's paid for. But for now, I'm just going to ditch the stock cassette player for a stock CD player this dude is selling me next weekend. I want to keep the stereo stock looking so all my interior lights match.

Oh yeah, I've got the sweet silver 5 spoke wheels with 235/75-15 Michelin tires and they ride super smooth on and off the road.

Here are a couple of pics...
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9234/jeepatcollinscemetaryxc4.jpg
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2122/jeepatrichmountainrdgg7.jpg

Long time reader, first time poster. Riddle me this.
Why is it that everyone here is just complaining about their jeeps?

"My thingy broke! How do I fix it?"

Welcome to AF..

I have found that this forum is more for fixers and peeps looking for tech solutions. Now, I have found other sites which have the content that you are asking about...expecially for the XJ. Those have OEM and Modified sections for the hard core XJ enthusiasts. There are also other Jeep sites for the TJ and Wrangler crowds.

I guess I moderate this site because I used to be a mechanic and have a lot of mechanical experience on the XJs. I have owned 3....and still have 2 (sort off..one is with the kid..in SoCal). Plus, I was a network administrator and have a small collection of service manuals, etc. to refer to.

My MY(model year)s were 84, 97, and 01 in case.. FYI.

My pesonal one is on my avatar...97 with slight mods due to current budget constraints and needs. Owned it since new...now has 135K. Out here in Cali...we have to drive out a ways to do some real wheeling, due to private property and large urban areas of concrete, glass and steel. But we do have the Sierras and the famous but congested Rincon trail. We also have state OHV rec areas for cycles, ATVs (quads), and 4 by 4s, where you can pay to go tear up the land.

PIC: http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/PA230020.JPG

Aloha for now (use to live out in the Hawaiians..islands that is)...

Out here in Cali...we have to drive out a ways to do some real wheeling, due to private property and large urban areas of concrete, glass and steel. But we do have the Sierras and the famous but congested Rincon trail. We also have state OHV rec areas for cycles, ATVs (quads), and 4 by 4s, where you can pay to go tear up the land.

.

Stop being modest, some of the best wheelin in the country is out your way. If you cant tell, Im jeolous of you guys out west. Ive got to drive three hours and pay around $40 day to wheel anything harder than forest roads and they are shutting off forest roads almost daily so we wont have that soon either.
My wife and I started off roading about 8 years ago. I built the Jeep up real quick and then just stopped building on it. I realized with just 32" Swampers, a locker and 4.5" lift, I could run everything around thats free and alot of the pay stuff. We all but quit wheeling when fuel prices shot up last year because we didnt want to use two tank of gas, on top of paying for a day on some ones land and a night at a campground or hotel. It was costing over $250 for a weekend.
There, hows that for crappy thread content?

Yep..you are right...we have to drive about 4 hours each way and stay overnight for a weekend up there, but the scenery is gorgeous.

PICS:
http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/PA010015.JPG
http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/PA010018.JPG

Yep..you are right...we have to drive about 4 hours each way and stay overnight for a weekend up there, but the scenery is gorgeous.

PICS:
http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/PA010015.JPG
http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/PA010018.JPG

About four years ago, my wife, a high school friend and I took about three weeks and drove out to CA. We took the long way out and visited several places on the way. I spent four years stationed in CA so I know its beauty. We towed my friends Jeep out and took three days and ran the Rubicon Trail. The Tahoe area is one of my favorites.
On the way back home we stopped in Moab UT for a couple days and fourwheeled there. Another beautiful area.

Hey...this thread is sounding more like the ones over at North American where I think I have seen you post Ray.

Funny, I wonder what happened to echo, the guy who started this thread.

Funny, I wonder what happened to echo, the guy who started this thread.

Hmmm yes I wonder too. Was he serious or just stirring things up? What say you, echo?

Hmmm yes I wonder too. Was he serious or just stirring things up? What say you, echo?

Guess he doesnt like us, Oh well, moving on.

I'm still here, I just work so damn much that I don't have time to check AF very often. Well I'm glad I got some decent replies, good conversation is refreshing isn't it?

I was considering getting some larger tires on my stock rims since I need to be honest with myself; I won't be doing nearly as much 4x4ing as I'd like...this is mostly a street machine. I guess that means I'll need to get a new differential to adjust my speedo back to normal right?

BTW alohabra, that jeep in your avatar looks nice. It's only one year older than mine, so I guess that means that mine could look that nice too hunh?

I actually did want to "stir things up" a little, and I'm glad I did, because there's actually some personality in here!

I'm really suprised at how much power the 4.0L makes. I don't intend to do any serious modification, but I was considering a new exhaust and K&N filter. It seems like the intake ducting is simple enough that an entirely new intake would be a waste of money...the filter box is only 10 inches away from the plenum and there's only one bend. I love this jeep. I think I might like it more than my S2000 only because it's more versatile...the S2000 was just a crotch rocket on 4 wheels.

...

I was considering getting some larger tires on my stock rims since I need to be honest with myself; I won't be doing nearly as much 4x4ing as I'd like...this is mostly a street machine. I guess that means I'll need to get a new differential to adjust my speedo back to normal right?
...

Try these two sites for tire size calculations:

http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp (http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp)

Like I said, I'll be on the beach this weekend in NC. Couple weekends ago I did some mudsploring in a new homes construction site. Sigh. I don't get out enough.

Dude...I totally got bit by the 4x4 bug when I rented a pickup from enterprise to move my junk from one apartment to another...I took it through a field. It was a dodge ram 1500. That thing moved pretty quick. The next time around I rented a ford f-150...what a piece of crap! I ended up getting it stuck in some ruts in a new home development. Definitely my fault. The ruts were from an earth mover with 6' tall tires...I was trying to ride the crest between the ruts and the edge to the right of the rut. Since I was also in a creek bed with like 10' high banks I had to take it slow so I could climb up the other side on this rut-crest. Well I hit a chunk of concrete that was obscured by mud at about 5 mph...it stopped me and I slid ... ended up with the frame bottomed out on the crest between the ruts...my pathetic passenger tires were no match. They were just free spinning, I blew the front right out, completely destroyed the interior with mud, and probably did damage to the tranny from trying to rock it back and forth. That was my first time around, I've learned a lot since then.

New home developments are sneaky! Be careful!

I called a tow guy to haul me out; he wouldn't go there because I was 300yds off the main road in the mud. He said call back in the middle of the night when the gruond freezes up (it was february) and maybe it'll be hard enough to support the rollback. Luckily it did. When he hooked up his winch to the rear axle to pull the truck out he almost lost his rollback to the ruts too. The truck was so frozen into the mud (at least 8" down on two of the tires) he actually pulled his rollback towards the truck...it took a while but he yanked it free. Even changed my flat for me. He charged me $150 under the table...said that the normal tow bill from the tow company would have been over $300.

Lesson learned...passenger tires and mud DO NOT MIX!

Having said that...I gotta get me some swampers.

Here is a Pic:

http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/2Medium.JPG

The Jeep in back is a 2WD-2001 with stock tires. The one in front is a 2DR/97 MY 4X4 with 235/75-15 Wrangler All Terrain (Silent Armor) Lt tires. I am going use 30s probably next time in Goodyear MTR (maybe) or Big-O XTs. But the ATs perform well, because I don't do mud....too hard to clean Jeep aftwerwards.

The 97 has a 2 in lift in that pic, with a TC drop...skid plate on the front diff, skid plate on the TC.

That picture was taken before other mods were made this summer.
http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/PA230020.JPG

Running with front anti-sway bar disconnected and rear sway bar removed.

Now, for recovery, I have a front hitch and the front air dam cutoff for more approach. Fog lights are relocated and removed sometimes. At the rear I use one tow hook on the left side. Spent about $600 plus a lot of labor (cost does not include tires).

One more tip...just got a 12V portable air compress to reinflate the tires after airing down...
http://www.gearinstalls.com/pepboys.htm
Cost 60 bucks now...sometimes on sale at PepBoys...

I was considering getting some larger tires on my stock rims since I need to be honest with myself; I won't be doing nearly as much 4x4ing as I'd like...this is mostly a street machine. I guess that means I'll need to get a new differential to adjust my speedo back to normal right?

.

You can put 30" tires on and not lift it. They may rub some when off roading but only on plastic, not a big deal. I wouldnt bother regearing for 30s, they wont make that much difference. Most people dont suggest regearing until you go up to 32s. If you are thinking of regearing just so the speedo isnt off, you dont need to do that, you can buy different speedo gears to recalibrate the speedo.
Ive currently got 30" tires on my XJ with 1.5" lift using a 2" AAL in the rear and Grand Cherokee coil springs in front.

You can put 30" tires on and not lift it. They may rub some when off roading but only on plastic, not a big deal. I wouldnt bother regearing for 30s, they wont make that much difference. Most people dont suggest regearing until you go up to 32s. If you are thinking of regearing just so the speedo isnt off, you dont need to do that, you can buy different speedo gears to recalibrate the speedo.


After seeing the pic of fredjacksonsan's lifted jeep, I think I might pursue a lift package. It looks really nice, and it's not over-the-top monster truck height.

I can't wait for winter to give us our first snow here in PA so I can test her out. Then I'll be waiting for summer so I can go find a trail.

Thanks for the info on not needing to regear the differential. I went to a tiresize calculator that jacksonsan linked for me and I think i'll be able to get the tires i want on my stock rims.

After seeing the pic of fredjacksonsan's lifted jeep, I....

Mine's stock....

I can't wait for winter to give us our first snow here in PA so I can test her out. Then I'll be waiting for summer so I can go find a trail.
.

You should visit a place called Paragon Adventure Park http://www.paragonap.com/.
Its in Hazleton PA. Its a little bit expensive at $35/day but its a nice place to get into the sport and meet people around you. Get in on a monthly ride. There are usually tons of people there for those and they seperate vehicles up by ability pretty well.
My wife and I started going to Paragon back before it was Paragon, before it was open to the general public. We knew some people that knew the owners and all we had to do was call and show up with a couple bucks and wheel all weekend. Now its a whole waiver, membership, monthly ride, trail guide, rules and regs kinda thing. We probably wouldve been more involved in the making of Paragon if we lived closer and I didnt have to work every other weekend. A few of the people we used to wheel with helped make it what it is today. We where original members of the Dirty Dozen, an informal offroading group that kinda made Paragon their home until it became a real business. Again, because of where we live and my work schedule, we hardly ever see those people anymore.

Mine's stock....
You might be talking about mine...
http://www.dua1.com/AdminFiles/Jeep/97/Small_1.JPG
it has a 2 inch Rocky Road kit with the bar pin eliminators (cost about $150) plus you need a transfer case drop ($25) or SYE system ($400) for the rear drive shaft.

The pic show 29s (235/75-15 LT) because I bought them before the lift. I would use 30s (actual height is 29.6 inches or so) ...check out the Big-O XT..
http://www.bigo.com/item.asp?id=201

NAXJA is a XJ only site....got some good writes on there and some well experienced XJ owners.....
As far as the descriptions "thingy" "whatcamacallit"n stuff like that ....I'm guessin it could be "noobs" who have not owned an XJ very long....or have some one who does not know HOW to click on the Search button.....
After all,WE were all "noobs"at one time weren't we?

Yeah..U might see me over at North American..., but sometimes it is way too time consuming.. talking to all the active posters and all....reading some long threads too..

But that is where I get a lot of tips (especially for modifieds).