Misc. Newbie Potential Project

[MBDiagMan]

Newbie here! Very impressed with what I’m seeing on this forum.

I am an old geezer looking at getting into some mild trail riding. Several of my grandkids want me to take them to a nearby off-road park. In my younger years I did lots of dirt bike trail riding and cross country racing. I have four wheeled around my ranch and my son in laws ranch and recovered from mud, ditches and the like, so I’m not a rank rookie at such things. I’ve had 4x4 pickups over the years and a Bronco II ages ago. My Dad had a CJ5 and my sister in law had a CJ7 . I preferred the CJ7 by a wide margin and began looking for one about a month ago. My idea was a stick shift, I6, with a lift, 35’s or better, a roll cage and really good harnesses since my precious grandkids will be involved.

My microscopic amount of jeep knowledge stopped with the CJ’s. In the process of looking for a CJ7 , some one generation newer Wranglers (is that a YJ) popped up in the same price range. In looking into it, I found that they have four links and coil springs. Does the four link lend itself to better off road handling than leaf spring lifts?

Will the axles in a CJ hold up to some rough off roadwork, or do folks upgrade the axles for a wider track width? How necessary is a wider track width?

It appears that this forum is more in tune with the CJ and that’s probably where I’m headed, but I don’t want to look up after this project wishing I had done something different.

Thanks for any responses and accommodation you can offer me.

 

[CJ]

Opinions vary, so here is one point of view.
A four link is the best for a suspension upgrade but requires the most work. To get the most out of leaf springs, a YJ kit is the best for ride and articulation.
As far as axles go, it really depends on what year CJ you find. Most CJ axles up for the job but may require some upgrades depending on what size tires you decide to run on.
As for narrow vs wide track - it's really just a stability issue.

 

[MBDiagMan]

Thanks CJ. I’m looking for knowledge wherever I can get it. I am pretty much starting from scratch.

In addition to what I just learned from you, I figured out that the 1998 Wrangler I was looking at is a TJ, not a YJ. It is priced competitively with a CJ and I like it, but somehow my perception is that the CJ would be a more solid vehicle. Again that’s my perception based on no data.

Would anyone venture to put forth their opinion regarding just how superior that the four link would be, or there might be an opinion that it’s worse than leaf springs.

 

[KRUPP]

As CJ previously stated, opinions will vary on this subject.

I’ve had a couple CJs and one TJ. The TJ is very capable and a bit smoother ride than the CJ. The 4.0L is a great motor and basically an upgrade of the older AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , but with computer control and direct fuel injectors. If you can find a TJ Rubicon it’ll have a small lift, heavier axles and locking differentials. Pretty good equipment right from the factory.

Over the 5 years we had the TJ, it was driven almost daily and the only suspension issues we had were replacing worn out shocks. There were the other little issues associated with a 20 year old Chrysler vehicle, but nothing worse than an AMC vehicle.

But, there’s just the cool factor you get with a classic CJ. You will definitely get more attention. You will have to put some effort and $ into it though for it to ride as well and be as reliable as a TJ.

Hope this helps. Just my .02

 

[MBDiagMan]

Yes Krupp, that was a lot of good information!

I hate to take a really slick looking jeep, regardless of which model and watch it get beat up on the trails. I would rather find one that is mechanically solid but not so shiny and go from there.

 

[jzak]

Sorry bud, but asking if you need to upgrade your axle and suspension on this forum is like asking a car dealer, if you need the rust proofing option. A factory CJ in good condition is perfectly capable of handing most terrain.

BTW CJ5 is the best looking Jeep ever made.

 

[MBDiagMan]

I agree about the looks of a CJ5 . They look like a Jeep is supposed to look. My Dad had a CJ5 and what I hated the most was getting in and out of it and the driving position. I’m pretty tall and I found myself having to drive with my knees in my nostrils. It was a great machine though. One of my son in laws has a really junked out CJ5 he uses on his place. It is pretty pitiful to look at but is still going.

My favorite Jeep though was the one I drove in the army, an M151. Independent suspension front and rear and a really tough little OHV four cylinder.

BTW, that’s a great looking CJ5 .

 

[KRUPP]

As I recall, the M151 was a ltttle rascal and an obscure Jeep that nobody talks about. It was the transition to the HMV.
Cool that you got to drive em, before they got huge.

 

[MBDiagMan]

Yes, for several months while missile maintenance section chief in Germany, I had a weekly dispatch of an M151. I couldn’t drive it to town at night, but other than that, it was pretty much like my personal vehicle. I drove it a lot daily. Mostly on the road, but occasionally got to climb on the burms that were put in place around the missile launchers. I got to know the little thing well and have several good stories to tell about it.