thinking about another XJ

[TOI]

my plan was for a 4.0 auto XJ, but i have been thinking about this 4 banger 5spd xj i got an offer on. obviously it has a power disadvantage, but i've never owned a 4 banger jeep. is it worth it? or should i keep looking, i like the idea that i'll be getting slightly more miles to the gallon. but i'd need to re-gear alot sooner to fit my 30's and 1.5" BB. i dont know its a thought and unless there is cash on top for my impreza. i'll be looking else where but i've been wondering about 4bangers for a while now.

-ian

 

[reece146]

If you are planning on leaving it stock then it is worth getting for the extra mpgs. If you are planning on mildly building it AND doing a lot of highway travel then you won't see any savings.

 

[TOI]

exactly what i've been thinking about. my old 00' got 24 on the highway with 235's and 3.55 gearing. other then my 1-ish inch lift it was stock. i think a 4.0L with 4.10's and 30's would be just as happy.

 

[Logans91XJ]

Sorry I have a really really hard time believing your Jeep with a 4 banger and 4wd would get 24 mpg on the freeway. Honestly unless you live where hills don't exist I would go for the 4.0L

 

[TOI]

i forgot to add it was a 4.0L, lol

as for my thought on 4bangers, after some research it looks like 4 squirrels and automatic trans just suck. and the wife in training demands an auto, and im getting old mashing gears is starting to suck. plus the 4.0 is more abundant, better aftermarket, and are included with more of the creature comforts that we are looking for.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Are you aware that the 4cyl XJ's had 4.10's stock? Buy the Jeep and swap in a 4.0/auto combo, it's cheaper than having the axles re-geared.

 

[bobDog]

I've had 3 XJ's...one w/ a 4 banger...Renault I think....ABSOLUTELY the biggest pile of crap 4X4 I have ever owned!!!! I wanted to kiss the guy who bought it......DO NOT DO IT! My 4.0 l's have been fantastic machines. By the way I don't remember great gas mileage just constant problems w/ a vastly under powered jeep and lots of bills for constant break downs. My wife begged me to sell it....at one point she asked me to give to someone we hated.

 

[XJINTX]

My off road XJ is 2.5L and it has 4.56's with 32"MTs and added body armor it is just about hopeless past 55mph on road.

That said it's great off road with plenty of torque and power. It can't compare with my 4.0L XJ I use for overlanding.

 

[JCMatthews]

Years ago there as an article in 4WD and Sport Utility Magazine where the editor and a friend took Wranglers out into the desert. It seems like one had a V8 conversion and the editor's was a 4 cyl. The lifted built 4 cyl was so bad on gas that they thought it must be leaking it from somewhere. It turned out that the Jeep just burned a lot of gasoline due to the underpowered engine. The V8 got something like twice the mileage of the 4cyl. I loved my 4.0l. I'd never buy the 4 cyl no matter how good the deal was.

 

[doogie]

I have a 96 2.5 XJ.
4.88's (don't even bother with 4.56's, the jump from the factory 4:10's just isn't worth the cash outlay)
31's
I travel 700 miles, all interstate all over the southeast and back home to the mtn's of NC every week for work. I get 17.5 - 18 mpg's. That's at a gps cert 68 mph at 3,200 rpms. I only have to downshift on uphills step enough to have a 3rd truck lane and even then only if I want to keep it over 60mph. I could come up those at 55-58mph without downshifting. On the rest of the hills or mtns I can hold 68 or even pass without downshifting. I've owned several 4.0's and would probably have another one I just found this 2-door, 5-speed 2.5 for a good price and couldn't resist. In my opinon most folks are scared to rev them. They make power right around 3,000 rpms and will cruise there for days on end. I have a background in older 4 cyl Nissan and Toyota 4x4's and it feels similarly powered. With the 4.88's it's pretty dang stout for a 4cyl. I'm not trying to sell them over a 4.0, given the choice I'd take the 4.0 every single time. But if I found a good price on a well cared for 2.5, I wouldn't turn it down, they are good motors and will last as long or longer than the 4.0 which is practically forever.

 

[TOI]

ok so i think i'll just exclude the 2.5L from my search. if i found a parts one under $500 i'd snag it for its 4.10's, but i think i'll stick to the 4.0.

 

[Bdiddy11]

I'd get only the front axle for 4.10s. The d35 would suck. Just get a Ford 8.8 with 4.10s in it plus you get disc brakes

 

[HonesT]

4cyl vs 6cyl no contest

4cyl should be kept to cars & 2wd trucks, the added weight of solid axles will be a disapointment. Samurai`s are the only 4X4 I would have with a 4 banger.

Take no advise from anyone who tells you different Choose to be happy and get a 6 cyl :ylsmoke:

 

[HonesT]

Gearing, leave it stock

Leave your gearing alone unless you are going to be running 35`s. the stock gears will work just fine for 32`s and under, 33`s are were you will begin to suffer.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Leave your gearing alone unless you are going to be running 35`s. the stock gears will work just fine for 32`s and under, 33`s are were you will begin to suffer.

Ha ha, maybe at sea level or if you never plan to climb any rocks.