Calling Jeepers: Need Help with first Purchase

[Aardvark]

[QUOTE=electronman1729;1614269]..oil was leaking underneath. That's probably the rear main seal. A common leak...

[tmleadr03]

Driving a stick shift or an automatic has nothing to do with abilities on the trail. Or with mechanical abilities on the side of the road.

Vehicle like this:


is an automatic and has been more places and seen more difficult trails then most Jeeps, manual or otherwise.

Not that you can't do an automatic in 4x4ing but really? If you are wanting to do the whole 4x4 Jeep thing... Ya gotta figure a few things out first. I don't know you and I am not trying to ding ya too hard but 4x4ing is not just hopping in the truck and running up the mountains. Most people who never learn how to drive a manual are not mechanical, that is bad on the trails. They just take the easy route and go about their business, which is fine...... but not for 4x4ing. When you are up there something will break and there are a lot of circumstances where mechanical knowledge is invaluable in how to read a trail. You need to know how to fix it or read it or things gets REAL dangerous REAL quick (not only for you but those around you). If you don't know how to drive a manual, a little oil is a concern and the 4.0 is a question.......... Either this is not for you or a much better answer is make friends with 4x4'ers, go on SEVERAL runs with them, take up Irving or others to teach you not only how to drive a stick but how to turn a wrench and figure out where you want to go with this.

You are welcome to tag a long with me sometime if/when I am not on travel. Mindfold on here is building a Jeep starting with a frame off (he might be willing to show you a few things, it would allow you to see how simple Jeeps are... Which is a big part of the "Jeep Thing"). My next door nieghbor runs an automatic 4Runner with a nice setup. He would be a great person to talk to (he is VERY mechanical). He has been learning a lot about how to safely 4x4 and loves to help people. I bet several others on here would be great to hit the trails with also. Again, not trying to ding ya, it just sounds like you need to build up a foundation before you spend a lot of time, effort and money doing something that could get you or somebody else hurt.

[Hound]

Driving a stick shift or an automatic has nothing to do with abilities on the trail. Or with mechanical abilities on the side of the road.

Vehicle like this:


is an automatic and has been more places and seen more difficult trails then most Jeeps, manual or otherwise.

Come back to me when you'er closer to this Nice bumper.... Did you buy it?

[rockhound]

thing about bragging about your trail rig is there is always another rig that would walk circles around your tub. while both those rigs are I am sure competent, they are truly beginner builds.

[BPTactical]

Y'alls bush league

[Hound]

thing about bragging about your trail rig is there is always another rig that would walk circles around your tub. while both those rigs are I am sure competent, they are truly beginner builds.

There is always bigger and better but mine is built for what it does. I could not be happier with it, for that there is no better. As for beginner... You don't know what is in mine or the background. Love to see what you have though. I am guessing a dedicated mountain rig. Mine is built to have fun and take the family to those places few people are seen. It was not built to be extreme, just capable.

[Hound]

Y'alls bush league

Go build on that CJ!!!

[tmleadr03]

thing about bragging about your trail rig is there is always another rig that would walk circles around your tub. while both those rigs are I am sure competent, they are truly beginner builds.

Neither is mine. Pulled a pic from the internet. And the one I posted is about the level that the OP wants to shoot for. Some light trails, with slight difficulty. He doesn't want to run the Rubicon. He isn't looking to do anything but some exploring and have a vehicle that can do 80% of the trails out there reliably.

[BPTactical]

Go build on that CJ!!!

Workin on it!
Thought I had that Goodwrench engine in the TP but not to be. Oh well, I will drop the small block that was destined for the hoopty in it. I already found a TH400 GM tranny case that will replace the oddball AMC only TH400 case.
Gonna go with Chevy drive train, lots more options and cheaper. I started pricing out AMC rebuilds and they run about 25% higher than a SBC and you still have to deal with the crapola oiling system. Another thing about a SBC-I like the fact the distributor is at the rear, makes wiring easier and keeps it dry.

[newracer]

Come back to me when you'er closer to this Nice bumper.... Did you buy it?

When I first bought mine, first weekend out.



How it looks now.