Looking for input.
I currently own a 91 yj, stock besides 2in, lift and 31in. Geolanders. I want to build for off road. The ? is do I put the $$$ into the yj or newer tj, what are the pros and cons each way.

Thanks, Rich

Buy a Rubicon, most of the work is done. All you have to do is add a Budget Boost and tires and your good to go.

Uhhh, kinda vague.

Do you want to keep it a street legal daily driver or build a trailer queen?

Are you a good wrench who wants to build his own or drop it off at the shop for a week?

Unlimited budget (within reason) or get the cheapest and build as you can?

My preference would be a 98 to 2002 (I think) TJ because that 4.0l engine has better low end than the newer 03 and up. The emmisions crap seemed to strangle them, plus DC moving the power band up higher in the rev range to get a higher HP number for the sales brochure. Get one with a Dana 44 rear, then it's big weak point IMHO would be the AX15 tranny, run it 'til it drops then an NV3550 is direct or pretty close swap I believe. I really like my 03 better than my wife's 97 in pretty much every other respect, but 03 and newer TJ's seem overpriced, at least when we went shopping for hers a while back. The differences aren't much, not enough to worry about anyway.

I like TJ over YJ because it's newer, and the stock coil springs, disco's, and 31" tires allowed me to do anything my buddy did in his 4" lifted YJ on 33's. I'd rather spend my time upgrading instead of chasing elec problems from 12 year old wiring for example.

If you want a turn-key rig, check out the fleamarket section of www.rubiconownersforum.com You have to sign up to view posts, but you won't get any spam from it. There's many already built rigs, many not wheeled much that have lifts and skids already installed. Some folks are REAL proud of them, but some deals can be found also.

Good luck,
Mark

if you're happy with the way the YJ runs now, I'd build up that one for less than the cost a new(er) TJ would be cost. Especially if it's gonna be mostly trail driven

rich,

boy oh boy! all the choices you get to make...

leaves or coils? round or square? big or small? buy another vehilce or keep what you have? spend your life savings, the kids college funds, and the grand kids money now or build it as it breaks? budget or skys the limit? then all the research you get to do building your dream ride...

DO THE RESEARCH BEFORE SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY! dont forget its cheaper to build it right the first time.

good luck with what ever direction you go.

Also keep in mind that a built YJ - even if done wel - does not return on value like a newer jeep.
If you don't think you will ever trade or sell and this is going to be your trail jeep chop away.

I traded up from a CJ and the difference between my CJ and my TJ with coils was incredible... And
I kinda like the AC - real AC - who woulda thunk it.

I would NOT advise building a jeep with the intention to sell it. Value? What would you value a 2001 TJ, 4.0, RE long arm, NV4500, Atlas 4.3, Comp. corners, Rockers w/bar, 9-inch rear w/detroit, D44R front w/detroit, 5.13's, winch, 37" MTR's, 38.5" boggers, and more. Most likely, much, much less than I have in it. With all the money and time I have in it, I couldn't force myself to sell it.

a buck 50 and consider it sold

It's true though -> unless someone is really crazy about your Jeep, you will not get out of it what you poured into it ...

Wow thats a great question! do i drop a load of cash to fix up my old worn out rig or spend money on a newer one and then spend a load of cash on that. my opion keep them both make the wife get another job, ship the kids out to a slave labor camp for a little more cash and have a whole collection of jeep toys!! Yeah right. my only advise on this one Rich is do what you wanna do. if its not going to be your daily driver then just have fun. but like everyone else has said you will never get your money back out of it "EVER" its like giving money to a crack head its gone its up in smoke never coming back!! as to what to build I have had many jeeps over the years (I got older in the back seat of my dads jeep and i never grew up) in my opion I really love the way my Tj drives on and off road. the aftermarket parts are plentyful there are stock replacement parts at most auto recycling faciities (wreckin yards for us old guys)But then again I do miss my old cj3B. what it really come down to is what do you want to drive when you grow up? just my off the wall thoughts

happy trails
Tom

i went from a 67 cj-5 to a 99 tj. oh my gosh what a difference.. love the TJ!!!!

Well - there is no return on investment - and there is really NO RETURN on investment.
One of the things I learned when I got X-ed was that my TJ - with a salvage title - was
considered by most people a total loss - I almost chopped it for parts - but found
a buyer here in AZ who new what he was looking at.

I got my TJ back from my insurance guy for 2K - I then put 12K back into it and sold
it at a loss for a little under 15K. So if you can get you total investment to be
in the range of 10-15K you might be able to sell it for that.

I've seen loads of 35-45K rigs on e-bay and I just don't see them sell that often.

You know, you are going to get a million different answers from a million different people and have a million different decisions to make. Everyone has their opinion on what is the best offroad rig vs value. I, for example, drive a TJ and I love it(the feel of warm air blowing in my face, instead of on the windshield, in the middle of winter is nice). My best buddy has a YJ and he loves his. If your project is planned out properly in advance and it is built right the first time, you will no doubt be happy with the results, it's a Jeep afterall. IMO the first thing you need to figure out is how you will be wheeling it, type of terrain, and how often etc. In the end, you will be the one stuck with it, so I would think your opinion matters the most. What do you want out of your vehicle in the long run?

There are some really good reasons to go radical with a YJ - since it is older - its alot easier to get an engine that will pass emmissions - if I were going to put something radical together where most- or all - of the drive trains is going to be fabbed - and I still wanted it to go on the road - I'd go with the YJ - and stick the AC - and build whatever type of suspension that you want.

You do have be in the position where you can do and entire fab - and build - yourself.