Who are into JEEPS - Older TJ series?

[85Hokie]

I know there are dozens of forums out there, but I figure I would reach out and see who has and who I can ask questions about the TJ series Jeeps.

I just bought a used 2001 - more like a barn find, 66k miles - yes 66,870 miles!!! In very good condition ( 4.0 liter - 5 speed) - all parts work (except radio) and only surface rust on bottom.

Let me know if anyone has experience on these Jeeps.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

that one got a carb in it ? if so UPGRADE to TBI or whatever was the 'upgrade'.
that much I know.....

 

[motionclone]

If you got it from the northeast, there is a 99% chance the frame is compromised by rust. The engineers put holes in the SIDES of the box frame but not the bottom so salt and stuff sits in there and rusts them right out.

 

[85Hokie]

If you got it from the northeast, there is a 99% chance the frame is compromised by rust. The engineers put holes in the SIDES of the box frame but not the bottom so salt and stuff sits in there and rusts them right out.

Naw - was in FL for a while then parked in Virginia for the last 7 years.

 

[85Hokie]

that one got a carb in it ? if so UPGRADE to TBI or whatever was the 'upgrade'.
that much I know.....

Injection came in 91.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

dang THAT long ago ?? jes member guy swapping carb to inj, inj to carb so he could pass emissions up here every 2 years....(had to have carb to pass )

 

[fried1765]

dang THAT long ago ?? jes member guy swapping carb to inj, inj to carb so he could pass emissions up here every 2 years....(had to have carb to pass )

I have a 1987 YJ Jeep, and it has a carb.
It had an early version Cali. type emissions system (now bypassed)
Frame is in excellent condition.
It is registered in MA now (Summer only), and is apparently exempt from emissions testing due to age.
Is there no emissions test age limitation in Canada?

 

[mattwithcats]

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[RCW]

'Hokie - - - I'm no help, but I think you'll find some easily. Been very popular in the 40 years they went "mainstream."

I had one Jeep years ago and loved it. A '79 CJ7. 258 straight-6, full-time FWD automatic with Quadra Trac. Real tank.

10 mpg was normal. Lowest was 3.... Couldn't afford to drive one now.

Jeep has an interesting history with Buick (?), AMC, and of course Chrysler, etc. lineage.

I think in the '70's with AMC, you could have a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Jeep truck that were cousins....the Harley would always leak oil.....sometimes the Jeep would too.....

This was my "commute" from college years ago. Seasonal road went through our farm to 4,100 acre SUNY ESF property where I had classes...can tell I was heading home, since I'm going downhill...This part would have been on our property.

(Honestly, I probably had to stop for a pee...)

Notice my right-side windshield wiper was improvised....it's a wool boot sock....

 

[mattwithcats]

Rock Auto is a great place to find closeout parts…

Just watch the shipping costs…

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[mattwithcats]

FYI, the oil filter on the TJ is PH16 or equivalent…

PH8a (Wix 51515) is same base, bypass pressure, inch and a half longer…

Wix 51773 is the two quart version…

 

[GreensvilleJay]

In Ontario we had to get an 'E-test' every 2 years, after '98 models they just read the computer, my '97 F150 had a say 'aww' up the tailpipe for a REAL test (always passed even with holes in exhaust...).
The guv finally KILLED the E-test program mayb 5 years ago ? (precovid). We now don't even BUY plates (tags) as some bean counter woke up and saw that it was COSTING us MORE than the price of the tags..... Still have to renew, online, somehow.....

 

[MOOTS]

I know there are dozens of forums out there, but I figure I would reach out and see who has and who I can ask questions about the TJ series Jeeps.

I just bought a used 2001 - more like a barn find, 66k miles - yes 66,870 miles!!! In very good condition ( 4.0 liter - 5 speed) - all parts work (except radio) and only surface rust on bottom.

Let me know if anyone has experience on these Jeeps.

Not 100% sure on the TJ’s, but XJ’s had a bad head casting in 01. Very prone to cracking. Casting # should be between 2/3 or 3/4 cylinder looking down from top. I’m remembering 3301 or something like that were the bad ones.

Edit, bad casting is 0331.
Second edit, if you are gonna off-road it, slightly hard, get rid of the Dana35 axle. Known to be a problem.

 

[hodge]

CJ7 owner here. The TJ's are good Jeeps, with the frame design being the weakest link. They rot from inside out, so it's worth the effort to poke and prod, especially at the low points. If it were mine, I would then fog the interior (of the frame) as thoroughly as possible with fluid film.

 

[mcmxi]

I know there are dozens of forums out there, but I figure I would reach out and see who has and who I can ask questions about the TJ series Jeeps.

I just bought a used 2001 - more like a barn find, 66k miles - yes 66,870 miles!!! In very good condition ( 4.0 liter - 5 speed) - all parts work (except radio) and only surface rust on bottom.

Let me know if anyone has experience on these Jeeps.

I've had my '98 TJ Sport for almost 22 years! I bought it May 30th, 2001 in Hawaii with 19,447 miles on it and paid $14,000. It has the 4.0L engine and 5-speed manual transmission. It has been an amazing vehicle that has never let me down.

After buying it in 2001 I immediately removed the rear seat, all carpet, Rhinolined the tub, installed a custom front bumper and Ramsey winch and swapped out the factory ring and pinion sets for a 4.56:1 ratio. I had to make a few special tools to do the job and I'd never done a gear swap before but the Jeep is still running strong on those gears more than 100,000 miles later. Other upgrades include the following:

Rubicon Express 3.5" suspension kit (Super-Flex Short Arm)
SYE kit and CV driveshaft
MasterCraft seats
Poison Spyder roll cage
NV231 Novak transfer case cable conversion kit
Banks header
Banks exhaust
Banks intake
Ramsey winch
LUK clutch
VisionX headlights
VisionX light bar
Genright 24.5 gallon aluminum fuel tank
Bushwacker fenders
Smittybilt front bumper
Smittybilt rear bumper/tire carrier
Smittybilt rocker guards

Here's a photo from 2001 in Hawaii with my Jeep in front and me driving up a trail on the North Shore. This was before I upgraded the suspension, but the Jeep was remarkably capable even with the factory suspension.

Another Hawaii photo from around 2001.

Here are some more recent photos of my TJ in its summer atire.

 

[mcmxi]

I know there are dozens of forums out there, but I figure I would reach out and see who has and who I can ask questions about the TJ series Jeeps.

I just bought a used 2001 - more like a barn find, 66k miles - yes 66,870 miles!!! In very good condition ( 4.0 liter - 5 speed) - all parts work (except radio) and only surface rust on bottom.

Let me know if anyone has experience on these Jeeps.

What rear differential does it have? If it's a Dana 44 I'll be very jealous! I have a Dana 35 rear and Dana 30 front. I would expect you to have the AX15 transmission that I have, which is famously well-made and reliable Japanese transmission.

 

[85Hokie]

To my knowledge it is the DANA 35's
Here it is after some original rims changes

 

[#40Fan]

Take a picture of the rear diff cover. If it is round, it is the 35. "D" shaped, it is the 44.

Had a '00 TJ with the 5-speed. Loved it, but traded for a '14 JK.

The head issue on the TJ's has a 0331 stamp on them. They'd crack on the top side between the 3rd and 4th cylinder valves. You could pull the oil cap and look down into the valve cover and see coolant sitting on top of the head.

Pull all of the faded plastic (bumper endcaps, wheel flairs) and hit them with heat from a small propane torch or heat gun. It will bring them back to black.

 

[chim]

I've had three Jeeps. First was a retired military jeep titled in 1946. It had a small brass plate that indicated it was manufactured by Ford for the Willys Overland Co. Next was a 67 Wrangler, then a 95 Wrangler. They were fun, but the acronym JEEP (Just Empty Every Pocket) seemed to be true for me.

 

[85Hokie]

Pull all of the faded plastic (bumper endcaps, wheel flairs) and hit them with heat from a small propane torch or heat gun. It will bring them back to black.

I had three students tell me that exact same thing yesterday - I was somewhat skeptical on that, may need to look that up on the ol Youtube. I have the propane torch to do it with also.

If the heat is used - would you seal it after the fact with some of that black polish restorer?