jeep tj

jeepyjman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Location
Concord
I have only ever owned 4.0 jeeps. I have been on the looked out for a tj. preferably a 4.0 5 speed but most of the clean, good deals are 2.5. Are they really that gutless? Should I just keep looking?
 
My TJ was a 2.5 auto. I’d never buy another one unless it was stupid cheap. My first xj was a 2.5 manual and was ok off road but after going 4.0 now I don’t think I’d ever consider a 2.5.
 
I owned a commanche that was a 2.5 / ax4.....gutless was an understatement. The MJ had 3.31gears (instead of the 4.10 a TJ would have).
If it was in really good shape, and really cheap I would rock one. Lots of people own, drive, and crawl the 2.5......a 2.5l vehicle is like a D35, it is fine stock but I wouldn't invest any money into improvements, keep it stock and dump it when something better comes along.
 
What I figured. I don't know anyone owns one or I would have test drove one. I will wait until I find a good deal on a 4.0 tj.
 
I held out for a 4.0/5-speed TJ...very pleased with it. It's no rocketship, but much better than the 4-cyl I have driven.
 
They aren't terrible to find just keep looking around. Try different sites then normal. Don't just search Facebook and craigslist
 
Nice 4.0 TJ’s are still out there but plan on it taking a while to find the right one. I spent almost a year looking when I found mine on eBay sitting on the west coast.
 
What about a motor swap - is it difficult?
Dont the 2.5s come w a higher gear ratio? Uf so that'd set you up better in the ling run, IF the effort is worth it.
 
Mine was 4 cyl auto when I bought it wrecked. Swapped in a 4.0/5speed after I found out the auto was bad. Junkyarded full low mileage motor/trans/tcase/pedals/driveshafts/computer/motor mounts all from the same Jeep so it wasn't that bad of a swap for me.
 
Horsepower, yes. But I'd rather have the 210 ft lbs of torque at 2000 rpm from a 4.2 than the 140 ft lbs at 3500 rpm from the 2.5.

I can run the a/c while pulling hills in the 4.0. Can't say the same for the 2.5.
 
I had a 2.5 TJ with 33s and 4:88 gears. It got the job done, would cruise on flat ground at 70 with the AC. I miss it nearly every day for what’s its worth. 4.0 would be a million times better, but I loved that Jeep and it did all I asked of it.
 
^^^^^ exactly! It's all in the gears gears gears. You are gonna change out the rear anyhow.Regear it 4.88 or 5.13 and live life.
 
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