Probably not in the same class y'all are talking about, but I had a 1953 Willys with a 4 cylinder. I took that thing places I wouldn't dare to with the 4x4 truck I have now. It would go ANYWHERE. It just wouldn't go there over 50 MPH.
Not in the same class either, but this discussion reminded me of my first Jeep, a '76 CJ5 with a 304 V8 and 3 on the floor. With side pipes, that sucker could move! My next Jeep was a CJ7 with the 4.2-liter straight six and a 4-speed. Plenty of torque down low, but an absolute slug at highway speeds.
My DD is a 78 CJ7 with the 304 and 3 speed, with side pipes.
That said, go with the Inline 6. I've had plenty of them and any model you can get that has a I6 232/242/258 it's a good choice. The 4-bangers suck if you're going to get on the highway at all...
My first Jeep was a red CJ-7. My grandfather (with whom I grew up) bought it for me at the beginning of my Senior year of high school. I learned quickly that my girlfriends were far more "frisky" out in the middle of nowhere than parking some place in town. Damn....I miss those days!
Had an 83 CJ with the straight 6. Best engine they ever put in one. They aren't speed demons but that isn't why you are buying a Jeep. That six cylinder is just a bullet proof engine.
Everyone else nailed it but I'll pile on as a Jeep owner myself.
The 4 cylinder is fairly equal to the 6 in stock form off the road, as you get 4.11 gears to compensate for the lower output, so it's certainly a passable little off road machine. But on the road, the gears hurt your mileage and the weak 4 cylinder starts to show. Any uphill grade at highway speed becomes a challenge. The gas mileage is no better as you have to really get into it to maintain highway speeds and overcome that 4.11 ratio. The 6 is an inline (assuming you are going with a TJ model Wrangler), and is really as simple and inexpensive to maintain at the 4. It is equally as good as the 4 off the road, even with the 3.55 or 3.73 gears, and much better on the road.
If you make ANY changes to the Jeep, such as a lift with larger/heavier tires, re-gearing, etc. then the 6 pulls even further into the lead.
The 4 cylinder is fairly equal to the 6 in stock form off the road, as you get 4.11 gears to compensate for the lower output, so it's certainly a passable little off road machine. But on the road, the gears hurt your mileage and the weak 4 cylinder starts to show. Any uphill grade at highway speed becomes a challenge. The gas mileage is no better as you have to really get into it to maintain highway speeds and overcome that 4.11 ratio. The 6 is an inline (assuming you are going with a TJ model Wrangler), and is really as simple and inexpensive to maintain at the 4. It is equally as good as the 4 off the road, even with the 3.55 or 3.73 gears, and much better on the road.
If you make ANY changes to the Jeep, such as a lift with larger/heavier tires, re-gearing, etc. then the 6 pulls even further into the lead.
All this talk about jeeps is making me want another one.
Nope, the early 4s were the old AMC 4, basically the inline 6 with two less cylinders. Puny but a reliable workhorse.
The newer 4s were the Chrysler PowerTech, basically the same engines used from the Neon to the Mopar minivans to even the SRT-4. I do believe the turbo'ed versions had some tech and parts (specifically the turbo itself) shared with / sourced from DSM though.
Even the "Mini-Van" V6 in the JKs is a good engine.
I'm regretting getting rid of my JK, but I've got to get something bigger for the family.
I'm regretting getting rid of my JK, but I've got to get something bigger for the family.
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