? on jeeps

78cj5Guy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2011
Location
Wilmington,Nc
whats the best jeep 78 to 86 cj7 with auto trans and hard top and hard doors or 89 to 95 yj with a auto trans and hard top and hard doors or 97 to 06 tj/ lj with hard top and hard doors i am wanting to have something worth passing down to my son/ or daughter which ever wants it more jeep will be a amc 360 or 401 v8 or ls v8 may consider a hemi. it will be a resorted jeep or a really nice factory low miles jeep with maybe a 4" to 6" and running 35" tires 17" rims.
 
Whichever one you like the best? What's the best jeep to pass down to a kid? Strange question. A cj would probably have the most value. Unless it already has a 401 I wouldn't waste time with that crap and a hemi would really blow th budget(which you didn't mention) so LS it is. A TJ will be the most comfortable over all but not what I consider a collector piece.
 
RHSCTJ said:
Whichever one you like the best? What's the best jeep to pass down to a kid? Strange question. A cj would probably have the most value. Unless it already has a 401 I wouldn't waste time with that crap and a hemi would really blow th budget(which you didn't mention) so LS it is. A TJ will be the most comfortable over all but not what I consider a collector piece.
Click to expand...


thanks for your input
 
I hope whatever you are planning on building you won't hand down till the kid is well into their twenties. Otherwise your pride and joy will end up destroyed. Just how it goes!

What is your end result with this besides a legacy project? First off, anything with a factory auto trans in any of those vintages is going to suck on the street. Non are overdrive or have a lockup converter. I agree, in stockish form the TJ will be best all around comfort cruiser/wheeler. The CJ will lean more towards nastalga and collectability. If you want a V8 swap, you will need to consider an older chassis or maintaining emissions compliance if you want it to pass inspection. I guess you will have to give us more information like budget, intended tire size, usage, etc.
 
Skinny said:
I hope whatever you are planning on building you won't hand down till the kid is well into their twenties. Otherwise your pride and joy will end up destroyed. Just how it goes!

What is your end result with this besides a legacy project? First off, anything with a factory auto trans in any of those vintages is going to suck on the street. Non are overdrive or have a lockup converter. I agree, in stockish form the TJ will be best all around comfort cruiser/wheeler. The CJ will lean more towards nastalga and collectability. If you want a V8 swap, you will need to consider an older chassis or maintaining emissions compliance if you want it to pass inspection. I guess you will have to give us more information like budget, intended tire size, usage, etc.
Click to expand...


it won't be passed down till he has been driveing awhile or till im to old to drive
 
I would say a TJ with 4.0 honestly. Save the money on a big motor swap and put an 8.8 in the back.

Being that is for a kid, I would stay away from big power. Fuel injection is a must for being dependable. Gear the axles to limit the top speed. This will keep you child from trying to run 100 mph on the highway with 35's. I would also put bias ply swampers on it when the time comes for him/her to drive.

Bias ply shake and rattle everything on the highway, another way to keep the too speed down.

You are going to spend plenty on regular maintenance items and fuel, not to mention fixing broken parts. However instead of dumping a lot into a big motor or an expensive swap, spend your money and item fixing things and teaching your kid to work and fix these things. Then when the budget allows, let him/her help decide what mods to make.

So my recommendation is a TJ preferable the longer one, with hard top and hard doors and soft top. Keep it mostly stock and then you together do the lift on it. Swap the rear to an 8.8 with 4.56 or 4.88 gears and run either some 35" all terrains or bias swampers on some 10 or 12" wide wheels.

Think dependable, but something that he/she can dd, drive on a date, tow a 4wheeler or other small trailer, drive to beach and or mountains, take offloading some, and is relatively cheap to keep in working order, and that is dependable.
 
Last edited:
Budget? Unlimited? Haha

Restored CJs go for a bit of cash...and of course you have to drop 8 cylinders in... I vote LS. Won't be an offroad rig if you want any return investment But would make for a fun street jeep
 
Back
Top