YJ guys

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Any of you Yj guys as well as Xjers? I'm looking into a 1991 and I'd liek some imput.


its a 4.0, NP231, Auto, 3.5" lift, 33" bfg Ats


any major issues? looking into it as a summer cruiser some light to mild offroading but nothing severe, yet


thanks

 

[billyjp2]

look for rot on the frame above the rear passenger side shock mount. also look on the front of the frame where the steering box mounts, they usually crack there. If you find one without a ton of rot consider yourself lucky. if it still has carpet check the floors. with a bolt on lift dont expect too much flex and some scary off-camber moments on the trail. I've owned a TJ, a YJ and an XJ. The YJ had by far the biggest issues and did the worst preformance wise in the woods.

 

[xalexjx]

another common spot to look for rust is at the rear leaf spring hanger on the frame..

 

[nhrocker]

From the YJ's I've dealt with I've seen some common spots.

Body rusts near where it says Jeep on the side, under the drivers feet, around where the b-pillar of the cage mounts, and under the tailgate in back. Frame in general if it wasn't taken care of (especially New England YJs), but the steering box mounting area and all suspension mounts will sometimes go before the rest of the frame. The body mounts tend to dry out if they're still original, and where they tie into the body can be problematic.

If its already got a 3.5" lift I'd check to see what they did for rear driveline angles.

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Thanks for the input.
See I wanted to ditch my Grand Cherokee limited and buy a CJ. I could not find any in decent enough shape to be able to drive and work on at the same time in my area. So when I found this YJ I was kind of happy. I really just want it for a summer vehicle and to drive on the beach and what not...
Getting rid of the ZJ would mean buying a Civic or something for good mpg and getting a cj/yj for summer fun..
heres the CL listing of the YJ I was talking about..and I made a mistake in my first post it doesnt have BFGs

http://providence.craigslist.org/car/632153797.html

and photobucket
http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d103/riarcher/Jeep/

 

[geberhard]

I have a moderatley built YJ on one tons, and love the rig. Much easier tow ork on thatn most other Jeeps i had, and you can build it failry easy nd within a modest budget.

Most of you gusy are mentioning rust, which is not very common in my area, so here I would skip that. I would stick witha 91 and up YJ 4.0, or ideallya 94-95 YJ. The 94-95 have the external slave cylinder what is a great option, and will not require you to drop the tranny to fix a leak.

Soi going on what to look for on YJ's (most similar to TJ and XJ's as well)

-rear main seal (about teh same issue as with TJ and XJ's), leaks
-YJ with internal slave - leaks - a bit common on rigs in the 100K arena
-blowby from the engine, check teh oil filter and box as well as intake.
-cracked exhaust manifold
-check all electrical just in case.

Good luck!!

 

[RichP]

I don't know what you are looking to spend but check out craiglist in north new jersey, there are a bunch of 2.5 5 speeds for under $5K.

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Heres a few I'm looking at just want opinions... I've now expanded my search to Cjs, Yjs, and Tjs because I'm going to dump the Grand Cherokee for one...but obviously keep the XJ

http://providence.craigslist.org/car/651324721.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/bar/640322251.html

p.s. If you guys are bored and need a thread to post in..I would love to start a little thing about Cjs and Yjs...you guys have quickly told me some thigns to look for but any first hand accounts on reliability, on/off road driving, etc


thanks

 

[sidriptide]

if you are serious about a CJ. look for one with a fiberglass tub already installed... even if it needs work you are waaaaaay ahead of the game. i'd buy a rig with the 'glass conversion and crap engine before i buy a good engine with a crap body... to do your own 'glass conversion can run easily $5000 on a rig that the seller might already want $3500 for.

 

[RichP]

Go to craigslist in northern NJ, prices are much better on TJ's and YJ's there. Mosts garaged their entire lives and in good condition. You will need to eyeball them though. Personally I would stay away from YJ's if they have ANY rust on the frame at all, to really check it out you need to check the rear cross member out that is above the gas tank and thats a dirty job by itself.

 

[JrTxJ]

Heres a few I'm looking at just want opinions... I've now expanded my search to Cjs, Yjs, and Tjs because I'm going to dump the Grand Cherokee for one...but obviously keep the XJ

http://providence.craigslist.org/car/651324721.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/bar/640322251.html

p.s. If you guys are bored and need a thread to post in..I would love to start a little thing about Cjs and Yjs...you guys have quickly told me some thigns to look for but any first hand accounts on reliability, on/off road driving, etc


thanks

That YJ looks pretty decent. I was looking for weeks and just bought one this weekend for my stepdad. It's tough to find one that isn't rusted through or complete junk in New England that isn't going for a high price. All the advice these guys have given is right...keep looking around and you'll find something good eventually. goodluck!

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

that first YJ in the pics I hope works out because I like the looks of that sand color...

I used to be under the impression that Jeep people hate YJ's??

Could you get a Cj front on a Yj without major fabbing? Sorry if this is an ignorant question I just don't now much about Wranglers

 

[JrTxJ]

That's a relatively common swap. A lot of people use YJ tubs and switch everything else CJ onto it. The front end is pretty much a bolt on swap for fenders, hoods and grills iirc.

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

http://providence.craigslist.org/car/651324721.html

well I finally went t go look at this Jeep and its excellent shape... I checked everywhere for rust on the frame and the body and found very little. The body had none at all...not on any corner, the floors where absolutly mint, under the seats and behind the "carpet" in the trunk area...the frame looked like it had years on it but no bad spots of rust at all...my 1998 ZJ is a bit more rusty then this thing. It had Tb spacer, heavy duty rear bumper, new exhaust with a flowmaster, intake, 4.11 gears, posi lock in the front? I think, and a slip yoke eliminator and driveshaft, and one of those rock nobs for the shifter lol....4 new u joints, and axle seals, with brand new 33" tires...the guy said he'd do $4200 sound reasonable?

 

[JrTxJ]

If it's in as good shape as you say and it seems, then that's reasonable. You'll be hard pressed to find one in very good condition around here for that price...especially with the nice new wheels and tires, sye, etc. Goodluck!

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Thanks a lot JrTxJ!!


I forgot to add to that it will come with hard top/hard doors, soft top and doors, and a new bikini top..also has fog light holders brand new, you know the ones that bolt to the bottom of the window sill.

 

[OverlandZJ]

If it's in as good shape as you say and it seems, then that's reasonable. You'll be hard pressed to find one in very good condition around here for that price...especially with the nice new wheels and tires, sye, etc. Goodluck!

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I bought a New England Jeep with fresh paint years ago.. the dude hid alot of rust with bondo and we soon had to find another vehicle.

I looked for a long time and finally found a mint rustfree YJ in South Carolina, it was convenient because my parents live an hour away.

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Whats the easiest way to figure out if the axles are regeared or not? Because the owner of it now did not do it but after driving it theres no way its stock gearing with 33s, its to peppy. If the SYE is done and there is posi lock makes me lean toward thinking its been regeared...4.10s Id guess

 

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Sold the Grand Caddy...finally bought a YJ

Thanks for all your help!

pics: