Need Jeep advice

[1 farmer]

I'm looking at a 1992 jeep wrangler. Anyone here now of any things I should look out for? Place they like to rust or mechanical things to look out for?
Never owned a jeep before but the price is good. It has a 4cyl with manual trans. and soft and hard top.

[ihuntbucks]

I own an 06' Wrangler and I love it.It's auto w/inline 6.Four cyl.w/man. tranny is fine as long as you don't have ac.The power really drops there.Trust me.Mine has a 3" lift w/35 Goodrich AT's;rides as stiff as a wagon....but I don't care.I think you will enjoy your Jeep very much.This is the 4th Jeep I have owned.Had a 77 CJ,95 Cheerkee,the 06 I have now and my wife drives a 07 Commander.Very pleased with all of them.I also have a 98 Dakota Sport 4 x 4 w/33 mudders with no problems at all also.I mention this since Dodge and Jeep are made by the same folks.....Rick

[R.W.Dale]

check the floor pan and door sill joint they like to rust there. Another thing you should know is a 4cyl wrangler will likely be the most underpowered vehicle you've ever driven. Don't expect to be able to run the speed limit on the interstate at all times. If you have the money and the patience to shop around the 4.0 is night and day better than the 2.5 and in all the examples I've driven got better MPG as well.

Check the transmission for smooth shifting and tightness. The AX5 used in early 4cly wranglers were needlessly fragile and generally don't last long these will cost a pile of $$$ to fix when not if they take a dump on you

[1 farmer]

Thanks for the help. I am going to look at it tomorrow. The guy wants $1500 for it and it needs a clutch. It has a 4" lift and 33"x12.50 tires. I figure the 4cyl would lack for power and the clutch problem tells me it does.I could also look at lowering the gears in the axles I suppose. I guess the floor pans show a little rust but in Michigan its hard to find any vehicle over 5years old let alone 17 like this one,that doesnt have some rust. I have a 350 chevy motor and a 400 turbo trans I could probably stuff in if I needed to. There must be kits or adaptors to do this???

[flintlock]

My brother has a Wrangler with the 4 cylinder (it's a mid-90s model)...I own a 99 Wrangler and a 98 Cherokee, both with the straight 6...The 6 is a heck of a motor, neither burns a drop of oil and both have 115,000 plus miles on them...

Want some good advice??? Stay away from the 4 cylinder...When we go to the Outer Banks it's a joke how little power they have...

If you are going to buy anyway, check the radiator, they are bad to leak around the top...

[R.W.Dale]

.I could also look at lowering the gears in the axles I suppose.

You can't go much lower, 4cyl YJ's all came with 4.11's and I think the lowest gear made for a high pinion Dana 30 are 4.56's

 Sounds to me like someone elses thrashed and clapped out headache to me. Do yourself a favor and NEVER buy a Jeep or any 4x4 for that matter that's already been lifted.

[Lloyd Smale]

krocus advice is spot on. the week link in them especially the 4 cyl one is the trany. If your a hot rodder and think your going to slam gears stay away. The 4 cyl motor is bullet tough but completely gutless. Mine does about 70 wide open on a flat and just about any grade demands a down shift. they do do just fine in the woods though.  Fuel economy is the pits with either motor and the 4 cyl is no better then the 6. Only thing ill add to his posts is the carriers will take up to a 488 gear set. the 456s are what they should have come with. Ive got 31 inch tires and sorely need to change gears. Another week link if you go to bigger tires are axle strenght. If you do any hard core 4 wheeling a set of good axels at the minimum should be put in and even better go with dana 44s. Stay away from posis and lockers unless you upgrade to dana 44 stuff especially with tires bigger then stock. Treat them right and take it easy on them in the woods and they will about run forever.