My first jeep

[trav]

My fathernlaw gave me a 89 jeep wrangler.Stock, I would appreciate do"s and dont"s on any up grades.

[jode]

Don't buy Thornbird tires
Do go visit www.jeepforum.com or www.jeepsunlimited.com
Don't put "No Fear" stickers on it
Don't EVER repair a Peugot transmission - just replace it with a better model (non-Peugot)
Do think about a locker ASAP (if you intend to drive offroad)
Don't buy trucknutz
Do thank your fatherinlaw - I wish mine would give me a jeep

[jode]

Well, I run a Detroit gearless locker and I rolled my Wagoneer yesterday, so that is definately a good choice if you are looking for excitment in the snow.

Seriously though, the very best are selectable lockers that can be turned on or off at will (ARB, OX, Electrac, etc.) and of those, I would probably say that the ones that act as limited slips while disengaged would be the best. However, selectables cost considerable more than the "automatic" ones like a Detroit or a Lockright.

You will most likely need to use your new best friend (www.google.com) to search around and find out what will work best for you by what has worked best for others.
My advice is to do some serious thinking about what this vehicle will be used for. Any and all modifications that you do should be done with the intention to create a vehicle that is best-suited for your specific type of driving. In other words, tell us what you want your vehicle to be, and we can tell you what kind of modifications you need to do to it to get it to that state of being.


EDIT - hey - you deleted your post, so now mine looks like the ramblings of a delirious fool...what happened?

[ December 01, 2004, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: jode ]

[kong]

Jode,

You are a ramblin' fool! I bet your wife isn't too happy about the rollover.

Back to the subject....

One thing I'd do is visit your local junkyard and make sure you have a few good vehicles you can strip parts off of.

First thing I'd do is TFI upgrade, you can find lots of posts on this, or ramblin' Jode will come and do it for you He's crazy!

[FSJ Thing]

My advice is to trade it in for a FULL SIZE Jeep.

[gwinn]

Yeah, the first mod you have to consider is an upgrade to a FSJ. The rest really aren't as crucial. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[fulsizjeep]

My 1st Jeep was a 72 J4000 in 76. I would thank him and trade up... You won't regret it.


[ December 03, 2004, 05:25 AM: Message edited by: Flint ]

[Rockmedic]

Wranglers are great. I had one for several years and never had any real problems. The point is every one has a wrangler, they are every where. If you really want a Jeep that stands out and you wont see at every intersection BUY A FULL SIZE. I just bought my first and love it. sure it takes a little work, ok a lot of work to keep one up but what the h*ll it fun.

[Bombadier]

Flint-

Thanks for that pic... It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling seeing a picture like that while I'm here in Iraq....

Some guys dig Maxim and P-boy mags....
My library here consists of 4x4 literature....
Yup, I'm sick....


BTW, as for first Jeeps... Get an FSJ, and the sickness grows to include little Jeeps... Just get ready to warm up those Craftsmans, 'cause FSJs love the attention.

[fulsizjeep]

Yer welcome Joel... Hang in there man! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[DerekTJeep]

http://fsjworld.tenmagazines.com/showownerpic.ten-u-3541-n-82782-pos-1

This is picture of my first 2 Jeeps. ENjoy!!

Derek

[rockcandy]

If it is the manual, don't bother to fix it if it breaks. If it is an auto, that is a good tranny. In my opinion, a locker or two will make the most dramatic improvement in offroad prowess of any mod. Before lift, tires, etc. If your still sticking with stock size tires up to 33" tires, lunchbox lockers can be had for about $225. If you have the 4.2, I am sorry. It is a good engine but your year suffers from a crappy carb system. '91 and newer has fuel injection. If it is a 4 cylinder your good to go. Never do a Super 35 kit. Visit www.jeepsunlimited.com
That is a good site if your new to Jeeps. Never invest in 4:1 kits for an NP231. If you go that far, swap to an atlas or flipped 300. If you lift it, stay away from Pro Comp. Spring over is the better way to go anyway. Invest in a good cage. Drive safe and if you don't know what the things I mentioned are....search search search! There is more information on the web than you will ever need to know.

[mudslider]

there will be good times and there will be fustrating times ahead. but you will have good times with it.

[NOI54X]

My first jeep was 46 CJ-2A,owned some kind of a jeep for past 24 yrs.Just haven't found the right one yet.

[ross6x6]

English 1979 AMC Cherokee Chief.
Well done for going for the free jeep wrangler!
Lots of folk here in U.K. drive Japanese 4X4's and also new'ish Cherokee's (downsize shape) Grand Cherokee's and new curvey Cherokee's. Wranglers etc are rarer. A few months ago I bought an old blue Chief - stock apart from big wheels & tyres + 5" body lift. Its good - but rusty so needs body off to derust/paint chassis and replace brake pipes with copper Kunifer pipe. I'll post pictures when I have some. These and Cherokee S were official imports into southern england (Andover, Hampshire) around 1978 to '81.