2024 Jeep

[Jeepnik]

I have a strange desire for an old square headlight Jeep. I think maybe because they are the red-headed step child of the Jeep world.

Well yea, the YJ's were a big mistake. The front grill on a Jeep has always been a trademark. But I guess some twenty something engineer decided he knew better.

 

[turd]

Yeah, Kevin, if you haven't, you might want to have it rustproofed and undercoated. Paint protection is another option. Depends on how long you plan to keep it. I always do mine because I intend to keep them until they drop. My 5.9 Limited we had for 23 years before I gave it to my favorite nephew. Some believe, some do not.

 

[Cholo]

Nice Jeep, Kevin! At your age I'd have gotten the manual as well. I do have to ask.

"And honestly, this didn't cost much more than a nice golf cart."

What golf cart was close in price to the Jeep you bought?

Forum member Number9 posted this pic of his Jeep years ago. I thought it was so beautiful I saved it.

 

[Jeepnik]

I had my Scrambler undercoated (I do it with all new vehicles). Jeeps are notorious for rusting. It's not that they are any more sensitive, it's just that they often see worse driving conditions. Years later I Rhino lined the interior, under the hood and bed. A couple of years after that I did the Rhino lining to the roll bar. I ended up getting slightly longer bolts for the roll bar. Stock would work, but there wasn't much thread hanging on.

Keep them long enough and they evolve. From stock suspension I put on a spacer lift. Got some room for tires, but those lifts are far from the best. Did it right by getting a full suspension lift. That improved handling considerably. I've never had more that 2 1/2' of lift. My Jeep is mostly a desert vehicle. Not into rock crawling, although I did take it over the Rubicon in 1983 bone stock except for Cepek Ground Hawgs.

 

[warren5421]

My brother has a 1961-2 has a SS J.C. Whitney tub and a 66/67 Mustang 289 Hi performance. In the summer it is one great play toy.

 

[Jeepnik]

I looked at the Acme SS bodies. They cost more than I paid for thr Jeep. Now I wish I had gone that route. Not for corrosion but for novelty.

 

[Bob Wright]

Well, I just have to chime in about my Jeep. We needed urban usage, travel, utility and Sunday-Go-to-meeting nicety, so we bught a Grand Cherokee, a 2002 model. bought it in December 2001, and traded it off in February 2022. Nita and I loved that vehicle!




Bob Wright

 

[rugnelli]

This is a great thread, now it's time for me to chime in as well...

First Jeep was a 1995 YJ, wife lost her job so it was sold soon after purchase. Bought a one owner 2005 TJ for my daughter's first vehicle. It is a 6 speed manual and I added a hard top. Taught her to drive in my 5 speed manual 1996 Civic Coupe. We live in a small town and she drove all over around town, to school, to her high school job at the Vet Clinic, etc... Now her primary car is a Camry for school and work. She is graduating from college with a degree in Nursing in this May and the Jeep is sitting in the Shop for whenever she (or me) wants to take it for a spin...

She gets major street cred with guys (any age) when they find out she can drive a manual.

rugnelli

 

[moparclan]

Nice ride!
First and only no frills 77 CJ5 3 speed. 304 V8 averaged 21mpg on trips to Oregon and Indiana, brilliant blue with the Levi package. Not even a tailgate bought a swingout tire carrier to ease access to the back. Finally needed a pickup so sold it off. Girl that bought it rolled and totaled it a few years later.
124000 miles and I still miss it.

 

[32shooter]

Nice Jeep Kevin. Wouldn't have guessed you could still get one without power locks and windows.
We have a 1999 TJ with about 50,000 miles on it. Stored in garage in winters. Installed a small lift in it last year and slightly larger tires. It does get offroad at times.

 

[Jeepnik]

I don’t think CJ’s came with frills. It is an automatic because my wife won’t drive a stick.

It had no ac, radio, top, doors, but did have power steering and power brakes. Don’t recall, but I think even the passenger seat was an add on.

From the photo it obviously got door and top. I eventually put in aftermarket ac. Still doesn’t have a radio. Not sure, but I think the paint color might have been extra.

 

[RugerForMe]

I have a '22 Gladiator with the Max Tow package, only way they come is with an Auto-Magic transmission. Sees a few back roads and get its feet dirty from time to time.
I do miss my CJ's you could push the H#%% out of them and not worry about stuff shutting down cause everything was manual, no fancy electronic lockers.

 

[Hankus]

I had my Scrambler undercoated (I do it with all new vehicles). Jeeps are notorious for rusting. It's not that they are any more sensitive, it's just that they often see worse driving conditions. Years later I Rhino lined the interior, under the hood and bed. A couple of years after that I did the Rhino lining to the roll bar. I ended up getting slightly longer bolts for the roll bar. Stock would work, but there wasn't much thread hanging on.

Keep them long enough and they evolve. From stock suspension I put on a spacer lift. Got some room for tires, but those lifts are far from the best. Did it right by getting a full suspension lift. That improved handling considerably. I've never had more that 2 1/2' of lift. My Jeep is mostly a desert vehicle. Not into rock crawling, although I did take it over the Rubicon in 1983 bone stock except for Cepek Ground Hawgs.

When I was stationed at Fort Carson CO ‘94-95 MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) had a Scrambler in the parking lot for staff use. It had a full-length hard top. A friend told me they sent it to auction two months after I left to go back to Korea.

 

[Randyzzz]

I can't begin to count the number of Jeeps that we have owned. CJ5's, CJ7's, CJ8's (Scrambler, currently own one), Wranglers, Unlimiteds, Wagoneer's, Grand Wagoneers, XJ Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Jeepster Commando's, J10, J20, Willys pickups and Wagons… I have loved each and every one of them- although the 2004, 2005, and 2014 Grand Cherokees all had electrical issues, I'm choosing to believe were caused by the over-complicated electrical system. 2008 Unlimited that was still going strong at 265k miles when sold- that was a solid Jeep. My favorite Jeeps have been the ones they I have swapped in high HP GM engines and powertrains. I'm not a hard core wheeler, more of a street rodder with survivalist tendencies.

I bet you're loving that new one. Looks just about perfect.

Couple of pics of my current project…

 

[turd]

^^^

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

My favorite part? CRANK WINDOWS! I'm so sick of electrics failing on me.

 

[hittman]

But wow the upgrade to automatic trans is almost 5K!

I do like the idea though of being able to get a basic no frills model.

 

[arfmel]

For $5k I will happily push a clutch pedal.

 

[Ride1949]

 

[turd]

^^^I'm liking your avatar!!!!!!

 

[Kevin]

My favorite part? CRANK WINDOWS! I'm so sick of electrics failing on me.

Have you ever had an electric window go bad?

Shoot, I can’t ask this as I’ve had an electric window fail.

When my daughter was old enough to push buttons, the window by her car seat went up and down constantly, every car ride.

When I traded in the truck (Toyota Tacoma) the dealer said “ya know the window doesn’t work.” I said “yep,” and pointed to my daughter.

That’s the only electric window to ever fail on me. I still remind her about this too.

 

[nrobe50]

Here is mine. A little short on options

 

[Jeepnik]

My favorite part? CRANK WINDOWS! I'm so sick of electrics failing on me.

It must be you. While I do have cranks on my '82 Jeep, My '78 LTD II has power windows. Never had to replace a motor or switch yet.

 

[Jeepnik]

Here is mine. A little short on options

Me want! I missed out on a CJ-6 that a neighbor had. He decided to get it running and took it to a shop. He then passed away and his family just gave it to the shop.

 

[gunzo]

Neat Jeep Kevin, congrats on staying away from all the bells & whistles. The standard Jeep, CJ, TJ, were utilitarian & meant to be used. Surprised to see one can still be gotten that way.

I've always liked Jeeps. Have had two 5's, two 7's, an 8, even a Kaiser M715 military truck. 15 years ago I seriously considered building a "new" CJ-7, everything the way I wanted it but very plain & super protected underneath against the elements. Wish I'd done it. Too late now as I just don't have the energy. With that, and selling this one several years back are 2 on my biggest vehicle regrets.

 

[Ride1949]

Good catch! I didn't notice that when I posted it. Everybody knows you can't use the clutch for screenshots. That's used for editing only.

 

[BearBiologist]

Here's hardcore simplicity for ya!!!!

Yes, that is a 327 Chevy V-8 plaque, PTO, Warn manual hubs, NO AC, manual windows, 3-speed shift on the column, NO PS, PB. Went to original wheels with hubcaps.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Here is mine. A little short on options

Here is a 1943 with options that belongs to a friend.

 

[BearBiologist]

T-34 in the background??? NICE!!

 

[harley08]

I have had about 10 jeeps. Most were WW2 - MB's one Ford GPW.
I owned one used CJ3B 4 cyclinder, 1 new 1977 CJ7 W / Hard plastic top, doors always leaked air.
I always loved Jeeps, But new ones are over priced. Some now come in 2 wheel drive?
I would like to own an older CJ5 with a V6 and 4WD