Jeep 94’ 2.5L ?

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67/6barracuda

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Hello Team Mopar,
Going to look at a jeep this afternoon for my 14yr old who will get his permit in June when he turns 15. It needs a head gasket. So I’ll assume the motor is junk and look at maybe a remain. It could be salvageable we will see. It’s the 2.5L 5 speed which I think will be perfect to teach him how to drive stick. I know these 2.5L are about gutless but it will make a great first project for him. Guy wants 3k but I’m not paying that. What else do I need to look at with these Jeep’s?
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They rust worse that the normally horrible Mopar rust, in my experience. Everything is available but still a PITA and not free.
 
2.5? Is that the old Pontiac Iron Duke that GM revived and put in the front wheel drive X bodies? (Skylark, Citation, Fiero, and even the mail trucks) If so, they are very long like engines. We had a 92 Skylark with 200,000+ when we sold it and they drove it for years as a work vehicle.

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The 2.5 in the Jeep should be the AMC 2.5. Not the most powerful thing in the world, but should be adequate. The most effective way to boost the performance of any Jeep is through the axle gearing. The 2.5 should have 4.10 gears, but that was for a 28"-29" tire originally. Looks like it has 31" tires on it now so a re-gear is in order. (as a point of comparison my DD is an 05 LJ Rubicon which originally had 4.10 gears and 31" tires. I now run a 33.5" tire and the difference by swapping to 4.56 gears was like night and day). Also, from the picture it looks like some mis-guided soul tried to lift the Jeep with a longer shackle. For safety sake, do something else.
 
What year is it?
The ax-5 is weak and fifth gear usually goes

baby the Dana 35

on them the worst is frame rot. Check the rear by where the bumperettes bolt on. Not the rear crossmember the frame rails
Next the frame where the trans crossmember/skid plate bolts to it
Check frame by where steering box bolts to it

check tub by roll bar mounts ...main hoop
 
I checked it out there is absolutely no rust any where raised the carpets, floors and rear bed area perfect. Frame looks perfect it’s in good shape just the head gasket and the little things that add up with a vehicle that old, 144k miles Georgia jeep. I offered 2500 which he declined. So I’ll sleep on it but might still grab it tomorrow. The block is filled with water once you start it and it starts heating up it dumps it’s coolant into the oil.
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I checked it out there is absolutely no rust any where raised the carpets, floors and rear bed area perfect. Frame looks perfect it’s in good shape just the head gasket and the little things that add up with a vehicle that old, 144k miles Georgia jeep. I offered 2500 which he declined. So I’ll sleep on it but might still grab it tomorrow. The block is filled with water once you start it and it starts heating up it dumps it’s coolant into the oil. View attachment 1715687459
Sharp looking! If it's that solid and no rust, He'd have no problem getting 3k for it here. If it was fixed, they'd ask 6500 here for it.
 
I have had alot of jeeps, always buy the one with a clean body.
Engine wise the 2.5 is an underpowerd pos, the 6 actually got better mileage.
But the 2.5 is a great engine, if never overheated.
I would plan on a 500 bucks just to get the engine running right.
Rebuilt head, water pump and radiator.
 
Make damn sure the frame is sold at the rear leaf spring back shackle area. Very common area on those for rotting.

I’ve had a ‘89 YJ for over 16 years which has been a summer cruiser since I bought it and that area got really rotten in what seemed to be overnight.

I ended up repairing that area with the Autorust Technicians frame caps and rear bumper.

What a pain in the *** that job was lining everything up.

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Make SURE you lecture him on the dangers of short wheelbase high sitting vehicles. It WILL roll over very easily if he snatches it around.......and he does NOT have to be going fast at all. They were bad enough unlifted, but you really need to hammer on it with him. Not trying to mind your business at all, I would just hate something happening to him. They are real easy to tip.
 
I vividly remember when I first drove mine I almost clipped a signal light post making a left turn. I couldn’t believe how quickly it turned!
 
My sister in law just inherited one about like it, with a 4 cylinder engine and 5 speed. It won't pull a greasy string out of a cats butt, but it gets her around just fine.
 
The 2.5 in the Jeep should be the AMC 2.5. Not the most powerful thing in the world, but should be adequate. The most effective way to boost the performance of any Jeep is through the axle gearing. The 2.5 should have 4.10 gears, but that was for a 28"-29" tire originally. Looks like it has 31" tires on it now so a re-gear is in order. (as a point of comparison my DD is an 05 LJ Rubicon which originally had 4.10 gears and 31" tires. I now run a 33.5" tire and the difference by swapping to 4.56 gears was like night and day). Also, from the picture it looks like some mis-guided soul tried to lift the Jeep with a longer shackle. For safety sake, do something else.
They are 32 12.50 may go down a size or two and maybe 11.50
 
I got it, turns out it’s just the heater core went bad. I’ll bypass it for now and roll with it. It will be a fun project for him to learn on at 15yrs old. Wish I had one at that age. I get to enjoy his enthusiasm.
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Every 2.5l I had...swapped a 4.0 throttle body from a junkyard and opened up the manifold to match. Helped
 
Been wrenching on my sons jeep today, had an exhaust leak. I read the exhaust manifolds where prone to cracking. They damn sure are.
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So by now you probably know who makes a header for them ?
 
I have no idea, but im sure someone will chime in shortly
 
Just make darn sure you impress on your son those things are some of the "more dangerous" choices in case of ANY crash. Makes not much difference the angle, and a bar/ cage gives you a false sense I'm talking of course about traffic.
 
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