I have a 95 Wrangler that I absolutely enjoy playing with. Once or twice a year, I go on an off-road Jeep ride, but mainly, I use it for running errands and back country drives where I would prefer not to drive my daily driver (gravel).
The body on it is rust free, though my wife calls it golf ball due to some imperfections. The frame is perfect, and I installed new springs in 2020. In fact, I've done a lot to it to get it to the great running condition it is in today.
However, it's getting low on compression and has very low oil pressure. 900 PSI at Idle and a MAX of 25PSI at 65 mph when fully warmed up, which is below 10PSI/Square inch.
As a guy who does all of his own work, including an engine rebuild, I really am not interested in pulling the engine for a rebuild, or installing a different engine. I'm also not interested in rebuilding the transfer case, which is also on the list. In other words, I'm just tired and want to drive it, not do massive work to it.
But I don't want to sell it.
My options are:
1. Drive it until it blows up, then decide (that could be years, as this is year 2 of low oil pressure)
2. Replace/rebuild the existing engine, which will take about a month with my schedule, and need borrowed stuff (engine hoist, stand, etc.)
3. Sit on it, let it take up space until I am motivated
4. Sell it- and find a new hobby, as I won't be able to afford a replacement that won't require some of the same things I don't want to do to this rig.
How many of you have been at this cross roads, and what did you do?
My dad sold his one owner Cuda and now has a new Mustang. He doesn't miss the Cuda, much.
The body on it is rust free, though my wife calls it golf ball due to some imperfections. The frame is perfect, and I installed new springs in 2020. In fact, I've done a lot to it to get it to the great running condition it is in today.
However, it's getting low on compression and has very low oil pressure. 900 PSI at Idle and a MAX of 25PSI at 65 mph when fully warmed up, which is below 10PSI/Square inch.
As a guy who does all of his own work, including an engine rebuild, I really am not interested in pulling the engine for a rebuild, or installing a different engine. I'm also not interested in rebuilding the transfer case, which is also on the list. In other words, I'm just tired and want to drive it, not do massive work to it.
But I don't want to sell it.
My options are:
1. Drive it until it blows up, then decide (that could be years, as this is year 2 of low oil pressure)
2. Replace/rebuild the existing engine, which will take about a month with my schedule, and need borrowed stuff (engine hoist, stand, etc.)
3. Sit on it, let it take up space until I am motivated
4. Sell it- and find a new hobby, as I won't be able to afford a replacement that won't require some of the same things I don't want to do to this rig.
How many of you have been at this cross roads, and what did you do?
My dad sold his one owner Cuda and now has a new Mustang. He doesn't miss the Cuda, much.