cheapest 4x4?

[stupidfast]

i am going to be buying a rig soon, and i was wondering if i could get some trained oppinions. obviously, one of the cheapest would be a sammi, but i need something stronger becasue i plan on doing highway traveling throughout new england. so then i thought a yj. i could do soa and buy some used 33's or something and keep open diffs for the d30s. but then i was told that insurance on a 17 y/o with a wrangler could be ugly. so then i thought an xj. they are cheep and everywhere... but i like the thought of a yj better. so tell me what you are thinking, and could a sammi be worthy of highway traveling and daily driver around town with the 1.3 and some lower gears? its deffanatly my favorate 4x4

[bbagwell]

Sammi's are not great for long highway drives in my opinion. Cheap and Samurai seems to have parted ways too, at least in Oregon. I have seen stock ones going for $3000, they couldn't have been much more then that new. You can usually find XJ's pretty cheap, if you get an XJ avoid the ones with the 2.8 liter V-6 like the plague.

[4x4junkie]

Samurais are great wheelers, but pavement time can be excruciating in one.

Would a pickup suit you?
I'd probably look at the early-mid '90s Ford Ranger pickups. They can be had for $2000 or a bit less if you look around some. The drivetrains with the 4.0L engines will support 35" tires no problem, most lockers are available, and gears as deep as 5.13 can be had for it. Don't go any earlier than 1990s with a MFG date 11/'89 though, those kindof suck (weak axles & transmissions).

If ins. on the XJ is cheap, it'd be one to consider too, yes.

[hefty]

1st Generation 4 runner.

[NothernAZxj]

CHEROKEE cheap to build cheap to fix easy to maintain great performance for little cash

[ShaggyDoo]

I'm pretty sure that wranglers are one of the cheaper vehicles to insure. I'd look into it if i were you, and not just go off of heresay (even if my comment is pretty much heresay). YJ's are not too great on teh freeway though, even with the 4.0.

[NothernAZxj]

Originally Posted by gmattroc

I'm pretty sure that wranglers are one of the cheaper vehicles to insure. I'd look into it if i were you, and not just go off of heresay (even if my comment is pretty much heresay). YJ's are not too great on teh freeway though, even with the 4.0.

on the insurance end most wranglers are a 4 or 5 and a cherokee is a 3, much cheaper to insure

[ShaggyDoo]

Originally Posted by NothernAZxj

on the insurance end most wranglers are a 4 or 5 and a cherokee is a 3, much cheaper to insure

The XJ is a better daily driver as well, and the stock wheel base is better in most situations, that extra bit helps quite a bit with stability. With what your saying, i wouldn't worry about the unibody too much either.

[Pietro]

First, sammis are fawkin great period. Highway driving does suck regardless of how much power they have, there is just no leg room and they will vibrate the fillings out of your teeth

Second, XJ, dirt cheap, stout drivetrain (if had with a Chrysler 8.25" rear), budget boost, sawzall fenders, 31/32s, locked, period. Invest in skidplates

Third, TJ: same as above buy you can fit much larger tires on them

Dont buy a YJ unless you plan on tearing most of it out. Have never built one but they are only good for the motor, maybe the trans, and the body/frame. The axles suck. Yeah, you can do one piece shafts in front but you can also band aid an amputated limb. The rearend is useless. They ride like shit (that is why you buy a sammi, they still ride like shit but you dont have to swap out the entire driveline)

[NothernAZxj]

Originally Posted by Pietro

First, sammis are fawkin great period. Highway driving does suck regardless of how much power they have, there is just no leg room and they will vibrate the fillings out of your teeth

Second, XJ, dirt cheap, stout drivetrain (if had with a Chrysler 8.25" rear), budget boost, sawzall fenders, 31/32s, locked, period. Invest in skidplates

Third, TJ: same as above buy you can fit much larger tires on them

Dont buy a YJ unless you plan on tearing most of it out. Have never built one but they are only good for the motor, maybe the trans, and the body/frame. The axles suck. Yeah, you can do one piece shafts in front but you can also band aid an amputated limb. The rearend is useless. They ride like shit (that is why you buy a sammi, they still ride like shit but you dont have to swap out the entire driveline)

I hate to tell you most tj's interchange most parts with both xj's and yj's

most Tj's come with the same d35 as the yj's

[stupidfast]

ok so im gonna rule out the sammi, unfortunalty. i think ill buy one when i get older and use it as a toy. ok so more about the yj and xj/mj. ill get an mj if i can get my hands on it. what are the popular issues with them? something that sucks that should be swaped out, or complications when lifting? i know the d30s and d35s arent any stronger than round butter sticks, so im planning on keeping open diffs and 33s with just enough lift to tuck them in. will i have to trim any? will the 30/35 handle open diffs and 33s? thanks for the info, im soaking it in

[budget76]

the 80's fullsize bronco's can be had for pretty damn cheap, and even cheap if you buy a modded one

[NothernAZxj]

Originally Posted by stupidfast

ok so im gonna rule out the sammi, unfortunalty. i think ill buy one when i get older and use it as a toy. ok so more about the yj and xj/mj. ill get an mj if i can get my hands on it. what are the popular issues with them? something that sucks that should be swaped out, or complications when lifting? i know the d30s and d35s arent any stronger than round butter sticks, so im planning on keeping open diffs and 33s with just enough lift to tuck them in. will i have to trim any? will the 30/35 handle open diffs and 33s? thanks for the info, im soaking it in

on street yes off road Id say 32's max. amount of lift about 4.5" for 33's 3" for 32's and trimming will be required on the xj/mj

[spikheel]

I am speaking from an insurance agent's perpective, so call your insurance company/agent and ask them to do a "what if" on the jeeps that you are looking at. That will help you in deciding what kind to go for or if your insurance company will even insure that vehicle with a 17 y/o. But also ENJOY YOUR JEEP!!!

[xds&gsps]

you can find 1st gen 4runners for pretty cheap i just bought an'89 for $1000 & it is still in great shape.

[Bandit0]

Late 80's early 90's toyota pickups and runners, cheap, reliable, can wheel the piss out of 'em. With an 1" of bl you can run 33's and the 4 cyl. driveline is incredibly stout. Not the fastest things in the world, but adequate for highway driving, if your over 5' 10" a trip of more than two hours will kill your legs.

[Apogee]

Originally Posted by Bandit0

Late 80's early 90's toyota pickups and runners, cheap, reliable, can wheel the piss out of 'em. With an 1" of bl you can run 33's and the 4 cyl. driveline is incredibly stout. Not the fastest things in the world, but adequate for highway driving, if your over 5' 10" a trip of more than two hours will kill your legs.

I'm 6'4"...get the Runner or Xtra-cab.

[?????]

Originally Posted by stupidfast

ok so im gonna rule out the sammi, unfortunalty. i think ill buy one when i get older and use it as a toy. ok so more about the yj and xj/mj. ill get an mj if i can get my hands on it. what are the popular issues with them? something that sucks that should be swaped out, or complications when lifting? i know the d30s and d35s arent any stronger than round butter sticks, so im planning on keeping open diffs and 33s with just enough lift to tuck them in. will i have to trim any? will the 30/35 handle open diffs and 33s? thanks for the info, im soaking it in

If you're planning on 33's then you don't need to worry about the Jeep axles breaking. Once you lock them, I'd worry about the rear D35. XJ's come with a high pinion d30 front and is argueably as strong as a low pinion d44 in the front.

If I was just planning on running 33's, I would do a super 35 kit for the d35 and alloy shafts in the hpd30 front with 4.56 gears and arb's or detroits. I would have no concern hammering on that setup with a 4.0.

[rebelchevy02]

my insurance guy told me once the cheapest thing for me to drive was a pickup, when i asked him what if? about a car for mpg. said suvs, and cars would cost more, cause i have a heavy foot. Just my .02

[stupidfast]

good to know that the hpd30 is "argueably" as strong as a low pinion 44. thats good news. i dont plan on locking anything any time soon.. and hell... if i did lock anything, i would just weld them.. i dont see how spending money and upgrading anything under a 44 makes sense.. besides, i never know if i will win the lotto or something and just swap in stronger axles anyways. but acctualy i need open diffs cuz im 17 and this will be my dialy driver. i really wouldnt even need the extra performance of a locker anways.
i am juggling between an mj and xj.. i would like the bed for hauling my bike, and i love the look of a comanche. with an xj, i would just tow a light, single bike trailer to my races... and i can bring friends wheeling with me... plus its hard to find a comanche w/o nasty bed rust for my price range. what do u think? xj or mj

[Bandit0]

xj, cuz a good 'cheap' commanche can't be found

[88wildrunner]

get a toyota 22re pick up or runners their great on gas, cheap to insure and strong. i beat the shit out of my 88 runner and its still runs like a champ

[stupidfast]

yeah i had an 88 toy pickup. got it for a grand, got ripped. i just sold it for 350. i want solid axels, and i dont want a 2.4.. and i now have decided to get an xj. it will handle 33s with open diffs with a 4.5 lift and my driving style. and i will eventualy drop in a 8 1/4 in the rear and never have to worry about much for a long time, or just find an xj with a d44. thats really all i need. thanks for all of your help

[NothernAZxj]

Originally Posted by Bandit0

xj, cuz a good 'cheap' commanche can't be found

really I have 3 LOL


red 2x4 4 cyl 4 speed dana 44


blue 4x4 4.0 6 cyl, ax15, np231, dana 44 rear, dana hp30 front


grey crawler project, 4.0, aw4, Klune V, np231 HD sye and outputs, front HP 44, rear zuzu 44, 3 linnk front 14" coilover front

easy to find!

[stupidfast]

omg you suck! i wanted an mj and its impossible to find one in north east in that condition, let along 4.0 manual trans 4x4. i looked all thought the pirate classifieds, and i only found like three manual xjs!!!! WTF. why arent there any manual trans anywhere?? that last mj is sick. i would kill for that.
it seems like u know your x/mj's tho. when i finaly find my 1992 and up (those r the HO years right?) 4.0 manual trans xj, what should i do to it? im planing on just a 4.5 lift with 33s and open diffs. i will get my hands on a d44 or explorer axle (8 1/4 right?) and swap that in when i break the 35. i am hoping that is all i will have to do, and the terain around here... that is all i will need. theres not much i will be doing that could break that set up. whats your take? i know now im getting off subject of what this thread is originaly about. can we make a new thread on this subject or something? im new to this forum and i dont know how it all works yet. help me out if u can. im gonna start a new thread in the newb section on how to build an xj. post and help me out. thanks