Square-Eyes questions

[Jim_Lou]

A new member who doesn't have posting privileges yet asked me to post this for him.

I just bought a 1990 YJ, dont yell at me, with a 4 cyl and 5 spd. (No power steering) The frame and underneath are rust free. There are/were 3 pencil eraser sized holes in the driver front floorboard (I fixed). The vehicle has 185K and does not burn any oil. I paid $1800.00 for. It appears to be original paint. Black in color with tan pin stipes along the bottom. Hard top with full steel doors. Just wondering if I paid an okay price and if there are any areas that I should pay speacial attention to? Thanks for the help and hopefully I can post soon!!!! hehe

[thorjeep]

Kind of like asking "how to you keep those horses in the barn" after, well you know

[jeepdanut]

Not a thing wrong with a square headlite Jeep; just ask Crazy Eddie.

[TeamRush]

I'd like to have one that doesn't leak cold air, dusty air, water in on my feet and head when the weather is bad...

Early YJ's were just CJ's that didn't leak as much!

[JrinPA]

Thanks guys, I can finally post hehe. I just bought the Jeep here a few days ago. So far I replaced the driver side floor pan and I have to get a new seal for the windshield between the hardtop. Other than that everything seems to work as it should. Everything "seems" to be stock on the vehicle. I was just wondering if there were any palces on the vehicle that I should pay special attention to; i.e. rust areas that I might not have checked. Also thanks for all the help again. Im sure I will have plenty more questions.

[LEVE]

What should you pay attention to? Well, for starters, keep it in as good as shape as it is... and then look for another transmission or prepare to rebuild the one you've got. The 5spd is known for eating syncros. It's easily rebuilt if you buy the parts and take the time to do the job yourself. It's perhaps the weakest part on the early YJ.

As for rust... look at the rear tail frame, before and after the wheel arch. It's a known place for rust to start.

[JrinPA]

Thanks for the transmission and tail fram information. I was not aware of either. When replacing the transmission with another, what would you suggest? I am somewhat mechanically inclined but this is my first time into the wrangler era. I have an '02 Cherokee Limited and love it but comparing the two is like comparing an '82 F100 with a new F150 lol. My wife won't let me do anything to the Cherokee.....

[LEVE]

To answer your question, I'd first have to ask about how you plan on using the Jeep. If it sees only pavement, then a simple rebuild may be in order. For longevity, and perhaps off-road usage, an AX-15 swap may be in order.

Were I you, I'd simply drive it for a year, or so, to learn to drive the Jeep. During that time I'd start to plan out the modifications. It also gives you time to harden the Jeep and work the bugs out that come with any used vehicle. Some of these may include:

• Lift
• Tires
• Axles
• Drive lines
• Transmission
• Electrical
• Cooling
• Exhaust, etc..

These modifications would be dependent upon just what type of wheeling you want to do. So, during that year, go on a few trail rides with a good club and see what type of 0ff-roading you like. That will drive the mods. Do your research and budgeting first and it will pay off later.

May I suggest if you do plan on doing ANY Off-roading that you do two modifications now? These would be:

• Winch, 8000 pound.
• Full Welded/frame mounted roll cage. This saves your life even if you are never off-road and only a pavement pounder

These two items will get you out of trouble. A new Jeep owner often makes modifications to a Jeep that let them over-drive their capabilities and that gets them in trouble. So, use a little wisdom...

[JrinPA]

Awesome suggestions, I have taken the Jeep off of the pavement a couple of times so far to make sure that four wheel drive was working. I live in south central PA. We get a moderate amount of rain as well as some good years of snow. I live in the mountians and plan on enjoying the jeep around where I live. I DO NOT want a mall crawler as you guys would say. I will be looking for an new transmission here soon. What would you have to say about looking close to a junkyard for one? I also have a few winches at my residence from having a reposession company. That was one of my first thoughts since it is sometimes difficult to get someone around here to go. Thanks again guys and I am glad that I can post and don't have to bother Lou.

[Warthog]

As some with a YJ would say, "It's hip to be square"

...IMO Jeeps were meant to have round headlights(at least the Wranglers), so depending on your preference, a TJ grill swaps into a YJ quite easily with tool kit, a drill and a "massaging" hammer for the wheel wells where the grill bolts up.

I've been on here since I bought the ol' YJ bout 5 years ago and this crew has been nothing but helpful, kinda like the 'father figures' of the Jeep world. Pay attention to what Lou and Leve have to say(I know there's been lots of you other guys that have help too), but these two in particular have really help me over the years.

Also, I can attest to the durability of the AX15. I personally ran it for about 100 miles with no oil in it, filled it up with synthetic gear oil, and its still going with over 30k miles on it since then without a hicup. If you can, find one from 94/95 as they have an external slave cylinder which takes like 10 minutes to change if it ever goes versus the internal which requires dropping the tranny.

Like the guys said, get out and enjoy your rig, you'd be surprised how able the wranglers are with little to no modifications.

Oh and don't do something stupid like me and modify a whole bunch at once and basically don't go wheeling for about a year because of it