Whats your input?

[97WhiteDragon]

I have a 1997 Jeep GC, inline 6 (4.0) L, with the quadra-trac system (2wd, 4-part time, 4-full-time, and 4-low. Its in great condition inside and out. It has 204,000 kms on it, and recently i noticed it ticks a bit when i start it, and goes away after 5-10 mins. everything works fine, hasnt let me down. Id like to work at building a confident mudding rig but also something i can use as a daily driver and stuff. Do you think i should build this jeep, and if so.. Whats a set list of things I should do at first? Or do you think i should just drive this till its pooched, and buy one with less kms and a V8 perhaps? I just dont know how long these inline 6's last, but mine seems to have almost as much power as my friends v8 jeep, his just sounds better lol.

 

[extra-medium]

i have seen jeeps with the original 4.0 with over 400,000+ miles. don't know what that translates to in kms, but as long as you do the maintenance on it, it will last almost forever. I wouldn't buy a v8 since they are more weight. A co-worker of mine has a 96 grand with a v8 and its a piece of junk. as for the tick in your motor...i got nothin. where is it coming from? top bottom, front, back?

 

[tjlboise]

It think some vehicles do that ticking when you first start em because the oil just needs to get from the pan into all the engine parts. Im pretty sure its no big deal. I had a Suby a while back that burned oil, so instead of checking it every time I drove, id just wait for the ticking, and I knew I needed to add oil. Lol...not the best method, I know, but it worked for me. Maybe check and see if you're just a bit low?
As far as the engine goes.... pretty bulletproof from what I've gathered, as long as you do regular maintenance: oil changes and tune ups, you should be fine. I've also seen them still going strong with 400,000 + miles on them.

 

[tjlboise]

Also 1 km = .6 miles, so it think your jeep is still pretty young you have some years before you've gotta start being concerned about that.

 

[54cj3b]

i have seen jeeps with the original 4.0 with over 400,000+ miles.

Living proof almost 500,000 and still running strong

1988 XJ Still runs strong
When I bought this jeep it had 200,000 on it No I don't baby it , I beat the living

out of it! it is a trail rig and meets and or exceeds my every expectation ,

do you think i should just drive this till its pooched

If you drive it till it dies you better hold your breath because they don't die to easy,
so if your comfortable with the jeep and plane on keeping it a while build it if not just drive it till you find one you feel more comfortable with and build that
being a jeep owner yes were apt to give advice but never will tell another jeep owner how to build their jeep ,
why you may ask it's just bad JU-JU

Look forward to see what you decide ,

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Automatic transmissions don't like water and mud, so beware if that's a main goal of this rig. Check out nagca.com and see what they've done to make that auto survive.

As for the tick, try substituting a quart of oil with a quart of ATF.

 

[97WhiteDragon]

Right on thanks alot everyone! I really do like this jeep, and slowly but surely id like to build it. Wont be very soon, but when i do get some stuff going ill post pics and stuff.