jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
The WJ v8 is nothing to write home about, most would say it is the least reliable engine ever used in a Jeep with numerous reports to support this.
A domestic "Outlier": Trailblazer?
- Thread starter Martinjmpr
- Start date
The WJ v8 is nothing to write home about, most would say it is the least reliable engine ever used in a Jeep with numerous reports to support this.
Never said it was the cats *****, but I owned one and it was a very solid DD and towed a 22ft boat very well with great aftermarket support. He can find plenty of WJ's with the 6 in them.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Just to be clear, the 4.7 in the WJ is not the same as the hemi that was in other Jeeps and ChryCo products, or was it? For some reason I thought the hemi was a 5.2 (318.)
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
NO, the 318 and 360 engines in the ZJ were replaced by the 4.7/4.7HO in 1999 with the WJ, then the Hemi came optional in the 2005 WK. The (5.2)318 and 360(5.9) were great motors but were inefficient.
HARDTRAILZ
Certified
FWIW...the front is a coilover setup. The main benefits are 275-291 HP I6 or a 5.3 LS available. Decent trans. 2.7:1 Transfer Case. Fully boxed frame. First SUV without a rollover warning. Affordable, cheap parts, reliable, comfortable, good towing, decent mpg...i got 20ish stock and still get 15-16 on 35s. There is not a ton of aftermarket by mainstream, but stuff is available. Bumpers and armor from MDB Fab. Few different lift options including Radflo coilovers like I have now. A bit of tuning and the truck completely transforms cause stock the torque management kills them and the shifting is sloppy. $150 to PCM tuner and you get to actually use the power they were given by GM. All basic maintenance parts are common and available anywhere. It's not an oddball overall, just not common in the dirt.
I find over the years people are amazed once they see one, even with a simpler build, in action. People have chased me down to ask about it cause EVERYONE knows a family member with a TB or a variant of it and it seems most say...I always thought about building it. As far as durability as someone mentioned...I have broke a couple Tie Rods, but you can use 3/4 ton as a direct swap but I find they bend easier and I tore a couple CV boots, but other than that the truck has asked for basic care and that is it.
My 06 has been with me since Jan of 09 and is still my go-to vehicle that i always know i can rely on even if not a DD anymore. I don't do my 135 mile a day commute with it, but would not hesitate to drive it across country.
[UR
L=http://s477.photobucket.com/user/hardtrailz400/media/1-8-12%20Badlands/bl19.jpg.html]
[/URL]
I find over the years people are amazed once they see one, even with a simpler build, in action. People have chased me down to ask about it cause EVERYONE knows a family member with a TB or a variant of it and it seems most say...I always thought about building it. As far as durability as someone mentioned...I have broke a couple Tie Rods, but you can use 3/4 ton as a direct swap but I find they bend easier and I tore a couple CV boots, but other than that the truck has asked for basic care and that is it.
My 06 has been with me since Jan of 09 and is still my go-to vehicle that i always know i can rely on even if not a DD anymore. I don't do my 135 mile a day commute with it, but would not hesitate to drive it across country.
[UR
L=http://s477.photobucket.com/user/hardtrailz400/media/1-8-12%20Badlands/bl19.jpg.html]
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Very nice, great looking truck.
.
My DD search ultimately ended up with me finding a very low mileage, pristine 2002 Pathfinder with a manual transmission so that's what I ended up with, but if I hadn't been able to find a stick shift Pathy I probably would have gone with a TB.
.
If they ever offered a stick shift TB I'd be all over it. Has anyone converted a TB to a 5 or 6 speed manual? I guess you'd have to fabricate a clutch pedal hanger and a lot of other stuff, too (unless it shared some common parts with the 1st gen Colorado/Canyon - did it?)
.
My DD search ultimately ended up with me finding a very low mileage, pristine 2002 Pathfinder with a manual transmission so that's what I ended up with, but if I hadn't been able to find a stick shift Pathy I probably would have gone with a TB.
.
If they ever offered a stick shift TB I'd be all over it. Has anyone converted a TB to a 5 or 6 speed manual? I guess you'd have to fabricate a clutch pedal hanger and a lot of other stuff, too (unless it shared some common parts with the 1st gen Colorado/Canyon - did it?)
HARDTRAILZ
Certified
There has not been a manual swap I have seen yet. They were all auto and it seems that other than some stronger auto 4 speed and maybe a 6 speed auto that nothing has been tried.
There is nothing from the colorado or H3 or any other platform that is the same. The only GM with even the same bolt pattern for the wheels is a SSR. The GMT360(swb) and 370(lwb) come in all the GM brands...Saab, Chevy, GMC, Buick, Isuzu, Olds but no other platform interchanges.
There is nothing from the colorado or H3 or any other platform that is the same. The only GM with even the same bolt pattern for the wheels is a SSR. The GMT360(swb) and 370(lwb) come in all the GM brands...Saab, Chevy, GMC, Buick, Isuzu, Olds but no other platform interchanges.
HARDTRAILZ
Certified
I got one of those V8 jeeps as well
Buddha.
Finally in expo white.
My mom bought one new. I replaced the wheel bearings and the headlight connectors keep melting but otherwise pretty trouble free. She used it to tow a 6000# camper a few times and it did great especially if you take into account she didn't know she needed a brake controller. The trailblazer brakes where doing all the work!
HARDTRAILZ
Certified
FYI..if you have not discovered it yet...the brake controller wiring is all right there under the steering wheel, behind plastic panel, bundled up for easy connection.
chilliwak
Expedition Leader
FWIW...the front is a coilover setup. The main benefits are 275-291 HP I6 or a 5.3 LS available. Decent trans. 2.7:1 Transfer Case. Fully boxed frame. First SUV without a rollover warning. Affordable, cheap parts, reliable, comfortable, good towing, decent mpg...i got 20ish stock and still get 15-16 on 35s. There is not a ton of aftermarket by mainstream, but stuff is available. Bumpers and armor from MDB Fab. Few different lift options including Radflo coilovers like I have now. A bit of tuning and the truck completely transforms cause stock the torque management kills them and the shifting is sloppy. $150 to PCM tuner and you get to actually use the power they were given by GM. All basic maintenance parts are common and available anywhere. It's not an oddball overall, just not common in the dirt.
I find over the years people are amazed once they see one, even with a simpler build, in action. People have chased me down to ask about it cause EVERYONE knows a family member with a TB or a variant of it and it seems most say...I always thought about building it. As far as durability as someone mentioned...I have broke a couple Tie Rods, but you can use 3/4 ton as a direct swap but I find they bend easier and I tore a couple CV boots, but other than that the truck has asked for basic care and that is it.
My 06 has been with me since Jan of 09 and is still my go-to vehicle that i always know i can rely on even if not a DD anymore. I don't do my 135 mile a day commute with it, but would not hesitate to drive it across country.
[UR
L=http://s477.photobucket.com/user/hardtrailz400/media/1-8-12%20Badlands/bl19.jpg.html][/URL]
Nice looking truck there Hardtrails! Me like!:wings: