No it's not "bad," but an open system is preferred for ease of maintenance. It's easy to convert too.

 

Well, for better or worse, we have it. Now a Jeep owner


Picture above from the dealer ad.


I think maybe it needs a bit of tune-up. Seems to take a bit longer to start than maybe it should. I'm used to Chevys that you just bump the starter and they're running.


Other than that, no problems driving 60 miles home.

 

That looks excellent! Conga-rats!!! Did you test suspension flex by driving on top of that bug behind it?

XJs will all take a little longer to start. 3-5 seconds. Working through Cruiser's tips will maybe improve that for yours.

 

Yeah, it takes about three seconds maybe. Seems like a long time to me compared to all the small block Chevys that I have owned: once warmed up, I usually just turn the key and release it immediately, and they are running.


Ha! we've got plenty of rough country to play on just on our 40 acres if I want, but I'm really not buying it for serious off road. Our driveway and the county road (sometimes very muddy!) will likely be its biggest challenges at its new home. I'm actually wondering if this Jeep has ever been off pavement before we brought it home yesterday evening. Once we get through shake-down, it's actually mostly going to be my wife's car.


I'm amazed at how nimble the Jeep is, and how short the turning circle is, even compared to our little car. And the visibility is wonderful!


I still probably like my old beat up K1500 better just for driving, though...

 

This is my first Jeep, an '88 like yours, and I was also surprised by its get up and go. For as big as it is, it is really light and that torque says 'Hi!" right away!

It also sounds like a tank, and I like that!

 

So what's the secret to bolting the spare tire up in the left rear corner


I had to set a piece of 4x4 wood on the floor to hold the tire to where I could just barely get the wingnut started on the keeper stud, and with the nut as tight as I can turn it, the spare is still sitting at an angle with the bottom jutting out into the cargo bay. (maybe it's still not high enough?)

Is there a good roof rack option for the spare? (our jeep has the flimsy factory roof rack).




Also...
I discovered that the little **** for the emergency flasher on the column below the key switch is broke off


Might be easiest just to tap into wires under the dash and put in a toggle switch ???