4 Cylinder XJ questions

[hightime81]

the search function keeps removing the 2.5 of the 4 when i try to look it up lol!

There's a 94 2dr, manual (AX15 right?), 4 cylinder (2.5?) for sale real close to me for ~$500. I figure it would be cheap reliable transportation so that i can finally get a little more daring with my current XJ that i DD as well.

My question is, hows the reliability on the 2.5? I have heard and seen the legendary status of the bulletproof 4.0, but have read very little about the 2.5. being a 94, my 93 FSM should cover most anything else that comes up, but i was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with the 2.5?

Thanks for your time!

 

[PacificEd]

PM Ghost. He's used these engines a lot in his trail rigs. What what I've read, they are very durable but down on power when it comes to turning bigger tires.

 

[wingnutooa]

i have heard nothing but good things about the 4cyl's untill you start to modify the jeep.


it'll be a great DD unless you start to go with bigger tires and such.

Edit:
beware of what the previous owner may or may not have done with the jeep. grampa rigs are good. teenager rigs are generally bad.

 

[hightime81]

thanks for the input! the way the ad reads, it sounds like a college student from the local college is graduating and trying to get rid of it. i sent an inquiry about it and hope to take a look at it (strictly as a DD) if the guy responds.

along with it being a lighter vehicle due to the 2dr, if it works out, it would be great to see some better mileage as well with the smaller engine...

 

[RenegadeStang]

Since it's a manual, it'll have the AX-5 behind the 2.5L, not the AX-15 that comes with the 4.0L's.

 

[gray_penguin]

Since it's a manual, it'll have the AX-5 behind the 2.5L, not the AX-15 that comes with the 4.0L's.

That is correct, and the 4.11 gears. I have almost 200K on mine and its still going strong. I suspect if I lived where I had to deal will a lot of hills I would hate it, but its ok for flat land. Don't expect any vast improvement in gas mileage over the 6cyl either, I get around 19 with mine.

I don't do any mud or rocks either, just the beach. It does just fine in the sand on Carolina Beach.

 

[Ghost]

2.5L are workhorses IMHO. I ran a 94 motor in my 84 for the better part of 4 or 5 wheeling years. Did some road driving back then too with the xj. If you try to run bigger tires it will become gutless quick. 33's are king on them IMHO. Anything bigger and you have to swap axles in order to get lower then 4.88 gears. Now, for DD use: go for it! I flopped mine twice and wheeled it hard. That motor is actaully a varant of the 258 from what I hear and in 91-94 Chrysler was the smartest they have ever been. SOme stuff on the 2.5L and 4.0L interchange.

 

[Jess]

That is correct, and the 4.11 gears. I have almost 200K on mine and its still going strong. I suspect if I lived where I had to deal will a lot of hills I would hate it, but its ok for flat land. Don't expect any vast improvement in gas mileage over the 6cyl either, I get around 19 with mine.

I don't do any mud or rocks either, just the beach. It does just fine in the sand on Carolina Beach.

Some 2.5's did come with the 4.11 gears, but most of them were autos. Generally with the manual tranny with the 2.5 you will find 3.73 gears.

 

[wingnutooa]

my 85 was a manual with 3.73's

 

[gray_penguin]

Some 2.5's did come with the 4.11 gears, but most of them were autos. Generally with the manual tranny with the 2.5 you will find 3.73 gears.

I did not know I had an out of the ordinary setup :eyes:
Mine was as stock as you could get, no extras at all, and the build sheet says it has 4.10 gears with my 2.5L 5spd

 

[xjintx]

I have an 87 2dr 2.5L and most goes as stated the 32"MT's have taken away what little guts it had

Question for the experienced on here... I have not had the dana 30 or 35 apart but the diff tabs state it has 4.56's can that be a mistake?

 

[Ghost]

I have an 87 2dr 2.5L and most goes as stated the 32"MT's have taken away what little guts it had

Question for the experienced on here... I have not had the dana 30 or 35 apart but the diff tabs state it has 4.56's can that be a mistake?

Is it an MJ? I have heard that it was possiable but never seen it.

 

[xjintx]

Actually it was an Air Force security car. Still has connections for Military radios I've only had it a year... only 69K on it when I bought it!

I was going to put 4.88's in it and took it to a local shop... he crawled under it and siad it already had 4.56? Not sure a lot of bang if it does and I went to 4.88

I got home and that is what the diff tag says. I wonder if the Airforce either switched or maybe came that way? I just bought Aussie Lockers so I'll be pulling it apart as soon as it warms a bit.

Sorry for the hijack....

 

[RenegadeStang]

Actually it was an Air Force security car. Still has connections for Military radios I've only had it a year... only 69K on it when I bought it!

I was going to put 4.88's in it and took it to a local shop... he crawled under it and siad it already had 4.56? Not sure a lot of bang if it does and I went to 4.88

I got home and that is what the diff tag says. I wonder if the Airforce either switched or maybe came that way? I just bought Aussie Lockers so I'll be pulling it apart as soon as it warms a bit.

Sorry for the hijack....

Lift up the rear, rotate the tires and see how many rotations you get out of the driveshaft.