Hi guys. This is my first post here so sorry if this is in the wrong spot. Right now I have a 1999 XJ with a 4.0 and auto trans. I might have an offer to trade it for a 1997 TJ with a 2.5 and auto trans. Would you guys think this is a good trade? My xj has a 4.5" lift and 31s and a few other things and the TJ has a 2" lift and 31s and some other stuff. I know a lot of you will say "go for it" because you have TJs, but I want an un-bias opinion. Has anybody had issues with 33s with a 2.5? I have a spare set I could put on the TJ but would I need to gear it really low? Lastly, would it be worth it to do a 4.0 (or v8) swap into it? I'm a high school student and I'll be daily driving it and going mudding/offroading almost every weekend. Sorry for all the questions but I'm trying to figure out if I want to trade it. I'll attach pics of the TJ and my XJ
Should I get a '97 2.5L?
- Thread starter Djbtraxxas
- Start date
My suggestion is to only get the 4 cylinder if you don't plan on doing highway driving or going up steep inclines (i.e. mountain passes). It's an absolutely anemic engine on the highway (and even worse with 33s). In town and on the trail though it's just fine!
And for what it's worth, even the 4.0 sucks going up steep mountain passes with 33" and up tires. The 4 cylinder just sucks even more!
It's not worth it at all to do a 4.0 swap. You can just buy a TJ with a 4.0 already in it and save yourself the time and money (seriously).
If you are going to spend the time doing a swap, you'd be far better off swapping in a V8 or something along those lines.
And for what it's worth, even the 4.0 sucks going up steep mountain passes with 33" and up tires. The 4 cylinder just sucks even more!
It's not worth it at all to do a 4.0 swap. You can just buy a TJ with a 4.0 already in it and save yourself the time and money (seriously).
If you are going to spend the time doing a swap, you'd be far better off swapping in a V8 or something along those lines.
Thanks for that. I live in Pennsylvania where 90% of the roads are highways and mountian roads lol. Would I be able to gear it with 4:10s or something like that to help? My XJ has given me nothing but trouble. It was my first car and I've had it for about 6 months and it's just being a pain in the ass. Do you think it would be worth it to trade (since I only paid about $900 for my XJ and he has the TJ listed for $4500 cash) and eventualy swap a 4.0 or would it just not be worth the effort?
Even with gears (you'd need deeper than 4.10 for 33s), it's still going to suck with highways and mountain roads... I can promise you that. Like I said, the 4 cylinders are great off-road and in town, but with the kind of driving you're describing, I can promise you'll regret it, especially if you plan to put 33s on.
I used to have a number of XJs before my TJ. I like them, though not quite as much as a TJ. If I were you, I'd keep the XJ, and I only say that because now that I know what kind of driving you are doing, the XJ is more suited to it than the 4 cylinder 2.5 will be. Now if it was a 4.0 TJ, that would be another story.
The TJ of course has the appeal of driving without doors, no top, and that classic Jeep look, which I totally get. I just think that for the driving you'll do, you'll regret the 2.5.
The other thing is rust... TJs are very, very prone to rust (it is hands down the biggest thing to look for when buying a used TJ). I would climb under that thing and look ad the condition of the frame. If it's rusted badly, it's not worth a dime in my opinion.
I wish I could get both of them but i only have enough money as a high school student to own one vehicle. My XJ has some rust but i got pics of the TJ and it was 99% rust free. The only other thing I'm worries about is the dana 35 that it has. I've heard lots of horror stories about people running 33"+ tires on dana 35s. I would probably want to swap a dana 44 or some other axle under it. And I'll only be on the highways for a less than 10 minutes a week usually but about every other weekend in the summer I go camping at a camp ground about a hour and a half away. Would that type of driving be okay for the 2.5 or will it just be slow? Most of the roads to get there are about 55-60mph and not much more. Sorry for sending 500 questions but I just want to know if it's worth it or not.
That's a myth about the Dana 35. It can EASILY handle 33" tires. Hell, it can handle 35s if built properly.
Check out this thread:
Should I upgrade my Dana 35 axle?
You sound like you really want the TJ, so I say go for it. Yes, it will suck balls on the highway, especially if they are inclines, but, if you stay in the slow lane and let everyone pass you, you'll live!
I think the general rule of thumb around here is that with the 4 cylinders, you really don't want to go over 31" tires. You certainly can, but it will suck. You'll definitely want to re-gear of course, but even then, it's not going to change the fact that it's simply not meant for high speeds and big tires.
My XJ has just been nothing but trouble and I just want to move onto something with less issues that is still offroad capable. I'll miss it but I think a TJ would be a better choice for me. If I put it in 4L, will it have enough torque for offroading even with 33s?
Any 4.0 (regardless of whether it's in a TJ or an XJ) will be nothing but trouble if you don't maintain it. Proper maintenance is the key. Like any engine, if you neglect them and beat on them, they'll leave you stranded. However, if you take care of it, it has a reputation for being one of the most reliable engines ever made. Hell, there was a guy on here who had 600k on his 4.0 TJ when he sold it. Never had to do any internal engine work at all, just basic maintenance.
It's not going to have as much torque off-road as the 4.0 will have, but if you re-gear it to match the 33s, then you'll have plenty of torque in 4 Low. Re-gearing will be the key there.
crackedcornish
TJ Enthusiast
I have a 2.5L/5spd in my YJ with 33's and 4.88's that does pretty well on the trails, but feels what I would call only adequate on the highway..can't imagine how doggy a 4cyl/auto with stock gearing on 33's would feel
I much prefer my 4.0L/auto on 33's TJ for highway and everyday type driving
I much prefer my 4.0L/auto on 33's TJ for highway and everyday type driving
The previous owner used by XJ as a woods beater and barly took care of it so that's why its giving me issues. I've been working on it and finally got it road legal after 6 months. Thanks for your input. I'll probably stick with my XJ for now unless I see a TJ with a 4.0 that somebody would be willing to trade for.
I'd keep the xj for the time being and wait for a 4.0 tj if you really want a wrangler
Oh yes... I totally missed the automatic transmission part.
DO NOT trade your XJ for a TJ with a 2.5 4 cylinder and an automatic transmission. The automatic is just fine behind the 4.0, but behind the 2.5, you're going to seriously hate life.
DO NOT trade your XJ for a TJ with a 2.5 4 cylinder and an automatic transmission. The automatic is just fine behind the 4.0, but behind the 2.5, you're going to seriously hate life.
I'm thinking a little different. If the TJ is in as good or better shape than the XJ I would do the trade. I would then spend some hours detailing the TJ, flip it and buy an XJ in better shape. Even a 4 cylinder TJ has better resale than an XJ. I have an XJ and an LJ and for daily driving the XJ is more comfortable. That being said, I would be cautious about a deal. I see two issues. 1. Your buddy doesn't know what he has and might get pissed when he realizes he got screwed. 2. Your buddy knows exactly what he has and you will be pissed when you realize you got screwed. Either way I wouldn't have a plan that meant daily driving a 4cyl, auto on 33's.
I would take a 4.0 TJ over a 4.0 XJ but I would never even consider a 2.5 anything. XJ is a great vehicle that, in my mind, is second only to a TJ.
I had a 89 2.5L YJ AX-5 (the punier manual tranny) but honestly don't know what the gears were but it was on small tires. Here in San Antonio we don't have flat terrain but it's far from mountains (we are called the Hill Country for a reason) nevertheless I struggled to stay above 60MPH on the highways. Now the 2.5 had adequate torque and isn't bad for what a Jeep was made to do, but as a DD you'd be miserable, especially where you live.
As for whether a swap is worth it or not is up to you, how much money, time and effort you're willing to put in. AFAIK a V8 swap is neither cheap nor easy whereas a 4.0 swap is, in my mind, just not worth the hassle. You'd be better off holding out for a 4.0 TJ if that's what you really want.
I know the 2.5 can be tempting. I've looked up TJs and seen deals too good to be true only to find out they're 2.5s.
I had a 89 2.5L YJ AX-5 (the punier manual tranny) but honestly don't know what the gears were but it was on small tires. Here in San Antonio we don't have flat terrain but it's far from mountains (we are called the Hill Country for a reason) nevertheless I struggled to stay above 60MPH on the highways. Now the 2.5 had adequate torque and isn't bad for what a Jeep was made to do, but as a DD you'd be miserable, especially where you live.
As for whether a swap is worth it or not is up to you, how much money, time and effort you're willing to put in. AFAIK a V8 swap is neither cheap nor easy whereas a 4.0 swap is, in my mind, just not worth the hassle. You'd be better off holding out for a 4.0 TJ if that's what you really want.
I know the 2.5 can be tempting. I've looked up TJs and seen deals too good to be true only to find out they're 2.5s.
I love me some TJ 2.5's, but only with the manual transmission. I'm very happy with mine and it does just fine for what I use it for. Even on the occasional freeway road trip. For a high school rig, the 2.5 and automatic is going to make you crazy on a regular basis unless you regear or run stock sized tires. If you do decide to get the TJ and run bigger tires, the first thing to do is budget for a set of 4.88 or 5.13 gears + install. No regear, no 2.5/automatic and bigger tires.
2006TJ1
TJ Enthusiast
The 4.0 sucks with 33s when not geared properly. I would say either
1) go to smaller tires if you buy the tj
2) keep the xj and wait to get a TJ
An undergeared, automatic 4 cylinder will suck, especially on the highways and in the mountains.
1) go to smaller tires if you buy the tj
2) keep the xj and wait to get a TJ
An undergeared, automatic 4 cylinder will suck, especially on the highways and in the mountains.
The 2.5L is a good engine, and I love automatics in a trail Jeep.... but those two together make for a terrible anemic underpowered combination. As bad as you don't like the XJ and as cool as that 2.5 Wrangler seems. I think you would be disappointed with the utter lack of power in that particular Wrangler once you got it on the highway.
Similar threads
