4banger or 6?

[Jeepzter29]

So there has probably already been a topic like this but i cant find it...... Im thinking about buying a TJ.... I was thinking about getting a 4cyl for gas but is it really that big of a difference? I probably will be putting no bigger than 33's on it.....

 

[Gaius]

No, a couple mpg maximum. Hold out for the 6 - and get one with a Dana 44 rear (30 inch wheel package usually).

 

[ATMA weapon-XJ57]

The 6 Is Ideal All Around. The Four Might Give About 5-8 mpg More Than The Six, But The Six Is Money, Hands Down. Especially If You Want Bigger Wheels. The Six Have Far More Upgrades As Well. This Has Been Beaten To Death Here. Use The Search Feature And Good Luck!

 

[djblade311]

when you get bigger tires, you will pray for more torque. Stay with the 6

 

[MudDawg]

The 4.0 has roughly 60 more HP in stock trim....on a trail only rig with proper gearing, the 2.5 does quite well....it will do ok on the road too, BUT it won't be a rocket ship for sure.

My street MJ has a 4.0/AW4/3.55 package. With 29" tires it performs very well and gets 15-16 mpg....My XJ trail rig has a 2.5 (heavily modified) with auto/4.88/33s...it has no lack of power in low range...I just stand on the throttle....and on the occasion where I do drive it on the street, it gets 20 mpg....but the 0-60 time is 13 seconds....still a lot better than the 0-60 time of 19 seconds when it was stock...

 

[Gaius]

The TJ is a bit heavier and a bot 'blockier' than the XJ. Take it from a 2.5 TJ owner, it REALLY sucks on the highway. On the passes I have to take it to third, which is about 50-55 mph.

My buddy's six can take the same in 5th gear.

 

[MudDawg]

You need one of MY 2.5s....around 150 HP....but you must lose the fear of rpm....:laugh3: Honestly, the 4.0 is a much better choice....I just do things differently....I love saying....nooooo it's only a lil ole 2.5 that went where you got stuck...

 

[rockclimber24315]

DO NOT GET A 4 BANGER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I had an 04 wrangler before my car smart days. I thought cool 4 cyl. good gas. WRONG it gets about 20 mpg on the interstate, the only time I can let the gas pedal off the floor is going down hill, you must constantly hear the whine of it's incompetence because you have to run the rpms high, changing gears on even the smallest of grades, and i had stock 27's on it. My 1990 xj w/ 130,000 gets the same gas millage as that POS 4 banger and it has 31's. Also my 4 banger completely melted 2 spark plugs and blew 2 CAM posistion sensors, so for a few weeks was only running on 2 cyl. and had a crazy mis untill about 2700 RPMS. Luckily it was still under warrenty, as soon as it was fixed it got sold. For your own good, take everyones advice and don't even consider a 4 banger.

 

[bubba]

I owned a 1998 TJ with the 2.5 and an XJ with the 4.0. I know several guys that wheel 2.5's. They aren't the most horible. If the axles are regeared correctly they do very well off-road. No they aren't rockets but they do have some power.

 

[Kyle Petterson]

and get one with a Dana 44 rear (30 inch wheel package usually).

30 inch wheels on a TJ?!?! It better come with a gold plated grill.

 

[MudDawg]

Some people like a challenge I guess....I kind of like kicking ass with a little bitty motor.

 

[Ghost]

Some people like a challenge I guess....I kind of like kicking ass with a little bitty motor.

I hear you. Been there done that fried that motor! Now I'm trying the 6 on for size.

 

[MudDawg]

If (when) I manage to kill the 2.5....I feel a stroker coming on....maybe I oughta upsize my nozzel jets.....It just so happens I just bought a '95 XJ complete and running for 300 clams....Hmmmm....4.7 with a AW-4...that oughta work...even though it won't rev like my 2.5.