Jeep Mechanic

[Scorpio64 5,184]

Can anyone recommend a top notch Jeep or general truck mechanic in Monmouth or Ocean counties?

For some reason I have a bug up my ass for a pre 2000 Jeep Cherokee.  I'm pretty sure it will be a black hole for money but if I'm going to spend, I want to get my moneys worth.

 

[blksheep 466]

No Excuses in New Egypt...

 

All they do is Jeeps.

 

He has been there forever

[1LtCAP 4,264]

best way to make a pre-2000 grand cherokee reliable? rip everything outr, drop a 350 chevy with a turbo400 tranny in, and it'll run forever.

[Sota 1,191]

350 chevy? please. that jeep inline 6 will last an epoch longer.

[W2MC 1,699]

I dunno about the drivetrain (I've heard issues), but the 4.0 straight 6 - an AMC motor (a design that AMC actually bought from chevy), is about as reliable as an engine can get.

 

[W2MC 1,699]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_straight-6_engine

 

[mossburger 406]

It may be a money pit, but there's not many SUV's cooler than a 90's Cherokee. I say if you have the money and it won't be your main ride, go for it!

[Scorpio64 5,184]

23 hours ago, mossburger said:

It may be a money pit, but there's not many SUV's cooler than a 90's Cherokee. I say if you have the money and it won't be your main ride, go for it!

As other's have mentioned, the 4.0L straight six is not only reliable, it's simple and not terribly costly to have rebuilt if necessary.  The trans was also fairly reliable but had it's quirks.  My main concern is that it's a popular hand-me-down from parents to kids so an unmolested one is a bit of a challenge to find.

I figure, if I can buy one for between $1,500 and $2,500 and dump another 5 to 7 grand into it, I will have a pretty decent daily driver/light duty work vehicle that gets about 20mpg highway for under 10K.  Compared to used quad cab pickup trucks (which are usually expensive AND beat to hell), it's a bargain.

Many owners get nickle and dimed to death with small repairs.  The plan is to just have it mechanically  "renovated" all at once and be done with it.

[W2MC 1,699]

Had a '91 Cherokee (not grand) 2 door stick with a 4.0.  My experience - at about 180,000 it needed a clutch, and I had to send it out, as I didnt have a garage or a lift, and didnt look forward to maneuvering the trans/transfer case out of the way.  Had the rear main replaced (it occasionally leaked) and the oil pump changed, just because it was there.  That's about the only serious work I ever remember it needing.  Overheated once pulling hills fully-loaded with a trailer on back in 100 degree weather (with the air conditioner on).  No damage, but I did change the thermostat.  at about 150,000 it started making the 'rut-rut-rut' noise common to the 4.0 engine design-its the rocker arms getting a little loose; no issue.  Let it go at about 250,000 because the kids were getting bigger.  

Biggest issue it had (when I let it go) was rust under the right rear seat.  The air conditioner condensate dripped down along and inside the frame stiffener thing and eventually rusted thru.

 

 

[1LtCAP 4,264]

On 4/28/2018 at 10:05 PM, W2MC said:

I dunno about the drivetrain (I've heard issues), but the 4.0 straight 6 - an AMC motor (a design that AMC actually bought from chevy), is about as reliable as an engine can get.

 

the engine itself was. almost as good as the old 4.9 ford inline6. but.....once they injected and computer controlled it that was it. when i used to drive a towtruck, i pulled a LOT of grand cherokees.

[DirtyDigz 1,812]

Scorpio - if you do facebook, there is a group called “New Jersey Jeep Parts”.

I’m on it and I see Cherokee’s for sale on it about every other day - many are lifted/modded out for trail crawling, but not all.

[Scorpio64 5,184]

13 hours ago, DirtyDigz said:

Scorpio - if you do facebook, there is a group called “New Jersey Jeep Parts”.

I’m on it and I see Cherokee’s for sale on it about every other day - many are lifted/modded out for trail crawling, but not all.

Yeah, I check FB marketplace every few days for jeeps, seems like 50% or better have been modded in some way.  I'll find one that's still bone stock eventually. I'll definitely check out the jeep parts group.

I'm also thinking about making a card to leave on windshields.  I travel all over Monmouth Co and see a lot of them, especially in Fair Haven for some reason.