No idea but I haven't read that anywhere. There is a timing belt that if not changed can cause some issues.
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An opinion on TJ SE models
- Thread starter StG58
- Start date
I have the SE, for the last 9 months, 1997, 31s, 4.56 gears and a solid 15mpg same story as everyone else. I like the fact that it is the first year of the TJ, to me that adds to the cool. Not sure how to find the build date or what number it is.
Was I bummed out when I read that all the typical engine mods or hotrod mods do nothing for power? You betcha,,,,, who doesn't want more power? But,,,,, as time has passed I really enjoy my jeep. I have learned how to drive it on road. I have a few more things I want to get done before I try any trails.
One of my first mods was the angry eyes (not grill) and then I found this website. Which has actually made me embrace the eyes even more. My point is that most people here don't like them but I don't care, I do. People name their jeeps and do all sorts of things, the eyes give it character. My point is drive what you have and enjoy it without a rating to everyone else to make you and your jeep appear better,,,,, unless you drive a JK.
I know this site was created to share experiences, mods, troubles, stories, and help all in hopes to maybe meet up together for a fun trail run and then maybe a few beers.
Was I bummed out when I read that all the typical engine mods or hotrod mods do nothing for power? You betcha,,,,, who doesn't want more power? But,,,,, as time has passed I really enjoy my jeep. I have learned how to drive it on road. I have a few more things I want to get done before I try any trails.
One of my first mods was the angry eyes (not grill) and then I found this website. Which has actually made me embrace the eyes even more. My point is that most people here don't like them but I don't care, I do. People name their jeeps and do all sorts of things, the eyes give it character. My point is drive what you have and enjoy it without a rating to everyone else to make you and your jeep appear better,,,,, unless you drive a JK.
I know this site was created to share experiences, mods, troubles, stories, and help all in hopes to maybe meet up together for a fun trail run and then maybe a few beers.
Steve Rodgers
TJ Enthusiast
My TJ SE 5 speed is fine for Maui, most speed limits are 45 or less. Yes, if I was back on the West Coast with real highways I might think differently but my SE with 31" BFG All Terrains works great.
When we go up the volcano to higher elevations we take it easy, after all, it's an island, where are we going in a hurry?
Some day I may order a re-man engine for it due to high mileage but it's very reliable.
When we go up the volcano to higher elevations we take it easy, after all, it's an island, where are we going in a hurry?
Some day I may order a re-man engine for it due to high mileage but it's very reliable.
Devinr29
TJ Enthusiast
Can we just remember that a 4cyl in a Jeep literally won a war? My point being that historically jeeps have had 4cyls, and less hp than the 2.5 I have a 99 SE, and I'm in no rush so I just jump in the right lane and follow an 18 wheeler, doing 55-60 the whole way. And in the grand scheme of things how much time are you saving on your trip by doing 70 in the middle lane than 60-65 in the right lane, you will experience better gas mileage and safer travel moving slower on the highway. I have a 3inch lift and 31s and with a downshift to 4th on hills 5th works fine with no problems
Didn't the old WWII Jeeps have a crazy low gear ratio? 5 point something, wasn't it?
I think it's a speed thing. After about 65 my gas mileage plumits like a stone off a cliff. Well, OK, drops a couple of three mpg. I blame it on aerodynamics.
@Rob5589 went to 4.88, and @Paparock1 has 4.56. By the way, are those stock gears? It seems there's a theme developing here. Anyone else regear? How'd that turn out?
Did you ever consider a re-gear?
I have to admit, after reading your initial post on this thread, I was considering selling my Rubicon, and go out shopping for an SE!
It's on the list. I've been trying to get the plan together for it for about two years now, but something always gets prioritized higher, it seems. Thinking of going to 5.13's. The SE loves gears. Mine happily spins away around 3,000 rpm all day long, so right now I just down shift. The only time that doesn't work is on tight, steep trails with good traction. I keep wishing for another gear under first for really crawling. Not a lot of low rpm torque with the 2.5. Not enough, anyway. Same with axle shafts and traction devices. Thinking TrueTracs right now, but I've waffled so much on those that there's no telling where I'll end up.Did you ever consider a re-gear?
I have to admit, after reading your initial post on this thread, I was considering selling my Rubicon, and go out shopping for an SE!
Lol, if you've got a Rubi, why trade? I love my SE, but if I drove a Rubicon already, I'd never know the difference, and wouldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
5.38 was very common in the older MB style Jeeps. Of course they also had a 3 or 4 speed with a top speed of about 50 
I had a '46 CJ2A and I believe that it had either 5.11 gears or 5.25. That baby was like a mountain goat. Only thing I did was to convert it to I think it was 10 inch drum brakes. The best it could do on the highway was about 50. It had a flat head four. Loved her. Traded it for a '65 Harley Police Special. Don't have either one anymore.
Lou
Farmboy666
Member
For towing behind my RV, running around when I get were I’m going, everything I need.
I could not agree more. The 2.5 is a complete dog on the highway/interstate, it's arguably unsafe in my experience . The 4.0 is not much better when loaded down, bigger tires, and bigger axles are added to it. To be fair that is not what it was engieneered to do/carry/support.
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Agreed. I'm not meaning to put down the 2.5, I'm simply saying that my experience with it on the highway left me saying "never again".
But like you said, these things weren't really meant to be good highway cruisers to begin with, even the 4.0. I attribute a lot of that to the horrible aerodynamics, big tires, and huge lifts.
Every vehicle ever built has a design envelope that it fits into. That's how it's done. That's how it has to be done. You can enhance certain characteristics up to a point to change that design envelope without grossly changing other characteristics. Once you start exceeding a certain point of modification / change something has got to give. I don't care what the vehicle is. '72 Camaro, '99 Suburban, '85 Corvette, '73 Chevy Cheyenne Super... Any vehicle. Push it past a certain point and it will no longer function in all areas of operation as the original designers intended. To expect otherwise is naive on a reasonably normal budget. Even with unlimited time and unlimited money you will reach a point where what's required of the new design criteria is in total opposition to the original design criteria. You have to choose one or the other. Think about it. Nobody tries landing a C-5A on an Aircraft Carrier. That's hyperbolic and ludicrous. Why would you expect a TJ SE that's built for off road, or even over-landing, to handle like a BMW on the freeway? Or the reverse, why would you expect the BMW to handle like a TJ SE off road? Sure, other TJ's, in fact all other TJ's, may have a larger design envelope to play with. In certain areas anyway.
To casually dismiss the TJ SE as crap on the Freeway is misleading and false. To call it unsafe? Hmmm... Any normal vehicle with adequate Freeway performance modified and loaded up like an off road TJ is going to feel unsafe on the Freeway. Simple solution. Don't modify the Freeway friendly attributes OUT of the SE in the first place, if that's a priority requirement for you. You have to (or at least should) make rational compromises in any build. You also have to understand the design envelope you're working with when you start out. If you select a .223 to hunt Elk at 1,000 yards and then expect to hunt Roosevelt's in the Coast Range, good luck with that.
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Adalynn
New Member
I have a 99 Wrangler with the 4 banger and it has done everything I’ve wanted it to for the approximate 8 years I’ve owned. I explored with a 48 Jeep in high school with a 4 banger and it took me everywhere. I specifically chose the 4 banger knowing my Jeep was for exploring and being in the woods. My Jeep is pretty simple and will stay that way because it meets my needs. A winch because I got stuck once in the snow (too old to keep digging out, not smart enough to stay out of the deep stuff) and a 2” lift with 31” tires. Of course aftermarket stereo and sound bar to listen to classic rock. The goal of owning my Jeep is to have fun and the Jeep always makes me smile, even with a 4 banger.
In that case we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
While I fully respect your opinion, I will stand behind my belief that the SE is an absolutely miserable vehicle to drive on the highway at speeds of 60+ mph. Been there, done that, won't do it again. I was bringing that thing nearly to redline and it still was barely able to merge. That was with a 5 speed transmission too. So unless my XJ (with the 2.5) weighed a considerable amount more than a TJ SE (which I'm not sure how it could since it was bone stock), then my experience with it on the highway was absolutely horrid. Hell, my best friend still remembers it to this day and the topic occasionally comes up of, "Remember how bad that 4 cylinder XJ you used to own was on the highway?".
In all fairness though, the 4.0 is by no means an autobahn cruiser either. It's just noticeably better than the 4 cylinder in my opinion.
I'm going to butt out of this thread now, as clearly we aren't going to see eye to eye on this. Squabbling back and forth over it is literally pointless. Like I said, I do respect your opinion, I just have my own. My intention was not to offend you or anyone else. Clearly it's just something I remember very vividly, and it's something I'm very opinionated about.
For anyone who does happen to read my point of view on this matter, please know that I think the SE is a great vehicle for in-town driving and off-roading. However, if you are looking to buy a TJ knowing that you'll be using it a lot on the highway or through the mountain passes (especially if you plan on loading it up with lots of armor, bumpers, huge tires, etc.), I would personally tell you to stay away (again my opinion).
Again, differing opinions here, and that's precisely what they are, opinions.
Carry on!
Love you man...no issues here.
I'll tool on down and give you a ride some time. It won't change anything, but it may make you go "hmmm...".
My TJ started its life as an SE. I ended up with 4.88s and 35s. Only could use 5th if there wasn't a wind. I even drive back and forth to run the Rubicon several times loaded up. 3rd gear pinned would do 50 up all the passes. However, in the Gorge in the wind, it was also 3rd gear pinned at 50. It was fine, definitely would not call it unsafe. But I ended up with a V8 in 2007. MUCH better. 
Abqcrutch
New Member
While I was in the Navy in the 80's, I bought a '58 Willys CJ-5. Had a 3-speed, 4 cyl and 5.38s. It absolutely sucked driving the freeways in and around Berkeley, CA with a top speed of around 50mph. That said, this thing was an off-road beast.
Fast forward to today and my "new to me" TJ SE. I could care less what my top speed is. I've got a Ram 1500 4x4 as my DD. My TJ is for 4-wheeling. I'm ecstatic with the the 5-speed, 4.10 gears and the 285-70-16 Duratracs. Another off road beast.
Fast forward to today and my "new to me" TJ SE. I could care less what my top speed is. I've got a Ram 1500 4x4 as my DD. My TJ is for 4-wheeling. I'm ecstatic with the the 5-speed, 4.10 gears and the 285-70-16 Duratracs. Another off road beast.
If your SE cannot keep up with fwy traffic then it has engine issues; or you are running huge tires and stock gearing.
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