HI! you need to be more specific.. if you want a highway pounder to drop the top nd go to the beach, we can help.. if you want something that will adhere to the underside of a cliff and climb until you are scared, we can do that too...if you want to lower your jeep......sorry...no experience....
ps... before cjdave sends the moonguy hit squad after you, fill out your profile...

~~Elusive~~
it's sort of still a cj thingy....see it at http://www.jeepgod.net

 

Well tyros, that's a pretty broad question. You need to provide a little more information about what you eventually want from your Jeep to give any recommendations. Do you want build a rockcrawler or a mud bogger, or do you just want a pavement pounder that looks good? Any CJ, YJ, or TJ can be setup to do what you want to do with it. It just depends on what your expectations are, how fast you want it done, and how much $$$$$ you want to spend. I have spent fifteen times in my Jeep what the original cost to me was and it still isn't where I want it and it looks like hell to me, so keep that in mind.

How does the blind man pick up the "Seeing-eye" dogpoop?

 

Hi Snowtow;
Thanks for your post. I need a rig that's designed primarily for winter driving, (snow, ice, mud etc.), and mild off-road. Since I'm just beginning my research, I really just need to get one foot on something solid, a place to start learning from...
Mostly want a rig that is bullet proof reliable...
Any help getting me started is greatly appreciated!
Just filled out a profile...thanks for the tip!
Bob

 

Elusive;
Mostly winter driving and mild off-road, I have now clue about what to pay for an older jeep, and only a rough idea of upgrade costs...I need help!

 

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Now that the moonguys have checked you out/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif they are ready to answer the question. HERE IT IS! For ice, snow, winter driving, and great hiway ability, you MUST have a Jeep with ALL WHEEL DRIVE......that is all wheels driving and all wheels going a different speed. Regular FWD does not allow that. There are two ways you can do this: (1) Buy an early CJ ('76-'79) with a Quadra-Trac transfer case, OR....(2) Get a later model like a YJ or a TJ and swap in a Model 242 transfer case. We have a Grand Cherokee with a 242, and it is SUPERIOR in snow. We are BUILDING a SNOJEEP out of a CJ Quadra-Trac but have yet to drive it. Our CJ SNOJEEP has a ton of upgrades specifically for snow.....dual block heaters; center console floor heater, blower upgrade in the stock Jeep heater, rear defrost, modified Quadra-Trac. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

CJDave
Quadra-Trac modified by the crack moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif transfer case team.

 

How did I know, from the minute I saw the word "snow" Dave would put in a plug for the infamous Quadra-Trac. You're so predictable Dave.

JEEPN
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
GM151/SM465/NP205 twinstick/7"Lift/33"TSL's/IHC D44's 4.10's Lock'd

 

It would definately help to know what you want to use the jeep for and how much you intend to spend on the purchase,and be advised you will spend plenty of $$$ after the purchase because you will get hooked on jeeps and always want something for it that ya just gotta have.

 

/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif Oh,......but I mentioned the 242 case as a better way to go in a late model Jeep/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif We were CONSIDERING doing that(242) to a new Jeep, but then we discovered that they put QTs in the CJ's for a while. I was ready to stretch the frame or WHATEVER to get a 242 TJ../wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif Man, that would be a REAL setup for snow. 4.0/auto/242 in a TJ./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif I LOVE being predictable/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif...it's like coffee in the morning/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
Quadra-Trac modified by the crack moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif transfer case team.

 

Well for snow driving, a full-time transfer case is THE way to go. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of them out there and many have seen better days. My personal favorite Jeep for an all around buildup starter would have to be a 78 or 79 CJ7 with the 258 and T18 four-speed. The frame is fully boxed, the engine makes a mountain of torque, and the four-speed has the granny low and is absolutely bulletproof. The wheelbase is short enough to do most any trail out there, but is long enough to make it handle better than a CJ5 and is better for carrying passengers. The only real weakness in this particular Jeep is the Model 20 rearend with its two piece axles. This is easily remedied with a switch to a forged one-piece axle. The transfer case leaves a little to be desired with its 2.03 low range, but the axle gears are typically lower than those found behind a Dana 300. Of course, the combination I have listed is also hard to find (wish I could find one), but they are out there. If you want to know more about purchasing a Jeep and what to look for check out Moses Ludel's "Jeep Owner's Bible". It has a lot of good information for the prospective/new Jeep owner.

How does the blind man pick up the "Seeing-eye" dogpoop?

 

You have gotten some input based on your "snow" condition, but what you have done is ask a question that is way too broad.
Not trying to be a smart a--, but what is the best kind of airplane, the best gun, the best kind of cloths to get?
Way too many variables to answer those questions.
There are a few preleminary questions you need to answer before you start looking for a particular Jeep.
1) How much will you spend?
2) How much modification do you intend?
3) How will it be used?
4) What kind of work can you do on it, and what will you have to hire done?

Most of those questions go right back to #1, MONEY.
Jeeps right out of the box, old ones, new ones, big, little, red or blue can do a bunch of stuff that regular cars cannot do. They also have limitations that regular cars do not have. Load up a family of 5, luggage and all in a brand new TJ and try for a 2,000 mile vacation trip. You will sell the TJ in less than a week.
If you have the money,don't want to do much work on the vehicle and do a good bit of highway driving, a new or nearly new TJ should be at the top of your list.
If you have 1/4 of TJ money, want to work on it and change things, do some off roading and don't mind a rougher highway ride, look for a good CJ. YJs are not CJs and they aren't TJs. There are differences that extend further than the square head lights. Not knocking a YJ, just trying to make you aware that it really is a different vehicle even though it is still a Jeep and still will do the Jeep things that cars will not do.
In stock form alone you have major differences in engines, axles, transmissions, transfer cases, suspensions, bodies and dashboards. What did I leave out???? Yea, even tires and wheels - ALL STANDARD ISSUE STOCK STUFF. Then when you get into transplanting stuff from other makes and models of cars and trucks, you can see that the choices start getting pretty large.
Narrow it down for us so we can make some more logical suggestions.

Doug '97 TJ
Creator of the CBrack
http://www.CBrack.com