Topic: Potential first time GC LPG converted 4.0 owner, after some advice. (Read 13728 times)

working class · « **on:** December 13, 2012, 05:49:02 PM »

Hi chaps. I found this forum via another one, this one being more model specific so I apologise if I offend anyone for cross posting.

Basically I'm after a 4.0 jeep cherokee for daily driving to work (140 miles per week round town) and for towing my drift car.
I know that the 4.0 is pretty woeful on fuel so I am looking for an lpg converted one.

How reliable are Jeeps? I have found one I like below, but it concerns me the head work etc he's done to it, or is this normal for this model?

Also, is the lpg system reliable? How much are servicing costs for it? I have emailed him and he has told me that one of his lads is an ex Prin installer and says that the system is in fine fettle. He does seem an honest bloke.

So would it be worth the trip for me going to look at it or should I steer clear of lpg converted Jeeps? Seems to be quite a few always breaking on ebay, I can't afford a 4x4 that could potentially ruin me financially!

This is the car.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251198140348?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

gazjeep · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2012, 06:24:53 PM »

Think thats right on the limit of the money for the age, the 4.0 if it has been regularly serviced is the most bomb proof Jeep engine & is ideally suited to LPG.

At that age, I would be more concerned that all the electrics & I mean all, are absolutely as they should be.

Have a hunt round if you hadn't already, people ask major money for any 4x4 especially at this time of year but there are many cheap Jeeps out there.

Someone more knowledgeable on the GC's will be along with more specific model insight

Tank · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2012, 06:34:08 PM »

You can probably get a later model WJ with LPG for that money,which for me,is a better looking car and a better drive

working class · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2012, 06:48:45 PM »

Thanks lads. Are the later ones V8's?

Hillbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2012, 06:57:53 PM »

That is way over priced. It is a ZJ which was superseded by the WJ around 1998/99. As Tank said, the WJ is a better drive and things like axles and air con have been improved on the model change. You can get the WJ with 4 ltr or V8 engines. The 4 ltr is better suited to lpg conversion.

big g · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2012, 07:27:20 PM »

Quote from: Tank on December 13, 2012, 06:34:08 PM

You can probably get a later model WJ with LPG for that money,which for me,is a better looking car and a better drive

How very dare you

Wait 'til spring for bargains.

working class · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2012, 07:38:20 PM »

Thanks for the advice. I can wait till spring-ish as the first drift day I'm doing isn't till then. Are the V8's as good or not? Below one looks nice.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-LIMITED-4-7-V8-4-X-4-LPG-GAS-CONVERSION-4wd-/200863122868?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2ec46005b4

wildwood · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2012, 08:08:48 PM »

V8s go BANG with LPG..... Many on here like Jeepjedi and Jhay will tell you about their cylinder head meltdown scenarios....
The 4.0 litre can run on any old shit and is commonly referred to as the Anvil in the US.....Nuf said... They can do in excess of 250,000 as long as you change the oil and don't run em so they overheat

Yup WJs are newer and better but for a grand you might pick up a ZJ converted to gas........ Job done......

working class · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2012, 08:13:54 PM »

Cheers mate, I'll keep my eyes peeled for a nice WJ on gas to come up for sale.

I'll start having a good read on here see what info I can find out about them. I'm in no rush to get one as yet.

Dutch · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2012, 08:17:09 PM »

WC, a word of warning: owning a Jeep is a lifestyle choice and by no means a cheap one. Unless you can lay your hands on a mint one, which is a contradiction in terms on fleabay, just remember Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket.

If any of us had more than 1 braincell we'd be driving a transit van.....but where is the *kin fun in that !!!!

Plank · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2012, 08:32:59 PM »

I have a 1998 ZJ 4.0L LPG converted bought in April for £1000.00.

I have had a couple of problems. When I replaced Distributor, Plugs & Leads with ones off Ebay. The rotor arm on new distributor burnt out in a week. LPG ECU lost it's memory but that cost £50.00 for a firmware upgrade at local LPG fitter.

It is a cracking car in which I do over 200 miles in a week most commuting. If it wasn't on LPG it just wouldn't have been worth buying at any price.

The only weak spot seems to be it's monitoring system as it seems to monitor everything (even the strength of a fart in a hurricane) and if it ain't right the "check engine" light appears. As previously stated check everything electrical and make sure that they work.

Jeepjedi · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2012, 11:50:01 PM »

The V8s are an issue on LPG and a valve saver oil fitment is essential the fuel drys out the valves and the engine runs hotter so this lubes em up. I bought my truck mint just under 2 years ago with 66,000 it now has 114,000 on it and i had a head gasket to replace and a set of plugs.

for 15,000 odd of those mile the valve saver was not working. The V8's get bad press and not all of it is justifiable, they aint that bad but i will go 4.0 next time.

I had a ZJ the gearbox went bang (not that common i believe) and now my WJ, daily driver!!! WJ all day long, its rather more comfy than a ZJ (shut up you lot , it just is and you know it)

It isnt the engine you will spend money on its the lifts, snorkel, tyres, lights ....

just get her muddy every now and then

here are some i prepared earlier

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-LIMITED-black-LPG-GAS-/230896020228?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35c279ab04

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-ORVIS-A-GREEN-FULLY-LOADED-WITH-LPG-CONVERSION-/271120412303?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f20092e8f

christ the prices are nuts in winter for WJ's

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-4-0-Limited-5-Dr-Estate-Automatic-LPG-93000-Miles-/150963380552?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item23261e6148

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-Ltd-LPG-conversion-years-MOT-Taxed-FSH-only-86000-miles-/130816512345?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e75459159

and 2 looney toons

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/monster-jeep-grand-cherokee-zj-lpg-6-lift-offroader-/251189577472?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a7c10c700

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-WJ-4-0-lpg-Monster-Truck-4-5-lift-32-wheels-Flowmaster44-/130808739551?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e74cef6df

or get one cheapas chips and have it converted GOOD LUCK

working class · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2012, 01:26:46 AM »

Quote from: Dutch on December 13, 2012, 08:17:09 PM

WC, a word of warning: owning a Jeep is a lifestyle choice and by no means a cheap one. Unless you can lay your hands on a mint one, which is a contradiction in terms on fleabay, just remember Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket.

If any of us had more than 1 braincell we'd be driving a transit van.....but where is the *kin fun in that !!!!

That's some food for thought. I thought they were one of the cheaper 4x4's to run

working class · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2012, 01:28:56 AM »

Quote from: Jeepjedi on December 13, 2012, 11:50:01 PM

The V8s are an issue on LPG and a valve saver oil fitment is essential the fuel drys out the valves and the engine runs hotter so this lubes em up. I bought my truck mint just under 2 years ago with 66,000 it now has 114,000 on it and i had a head gasket to replace and a set of plugs.

for 15,000 odd of those mile the valve saver was not working. The V8's get bad press and not all of it is justifiable, they aint that bad but i will go 4.0 next time.

I had a ZJ the gearbox went bang (not that common i believe) and now my WJ, daily driver!!! WJ all day long, its rather more comfy than a ZJ (shut up you lot , it just is and you know it)

It isnt the engine you will spend money on its the lifts, snorkel, tyres, lights ....

just get her muddy every now and then

here are some i prepared earlier

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-LIMITED-black-LPG-GAS-/230896020228?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35c279ab04

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-ORVIS-A-GREEN-FULLY-LOADED-WITH-LPG-CONVERSION-/271120412303?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f20092e8f

christ the prices are nuts in winter for WJ's

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-4-0-Limited-5-Dr-Estate-Automatic-LPG-93000-Miles-/150963380552?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item23261e6148

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE-Ltd-LPG-conversion-years-MOT-Taxed-FSH-only-86000-miles-/130816512345?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e75459159

and 2 looney toons

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/monster-jeep-grand-cherokee-zj-lpg-6-lift-offroader-/251189577472?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a7c10c700

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-WJ-4-0-lpg-Monster-Truck-4-5-lift-32-wheels-Flowmaster44-/130808739551?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e74cef6df

or get one cheapas chips and have it converted GOOD LUCK

Thanks for that. The second car you have listed in Stratford Upon Avon, I've emailed him with some questions about the lpg, but he still hasn't got back to me yet.

How much is it roughly to have one converted to lpg?

Jeepjedi · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2012, 08:12:58 AM »

About £1500 by a garage, you can fit them yourself, depends on if you need a multi point or single point system.

4.0 uses single point, V8's use multi, its about where the fuel needs to be fed to

Dutch · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2012, 08:37:34 AM »

Quote from: working class on December 14, 2012, 01:26:46 AM

That's some food for thought. I thought they were one of the cheaper 4x4's to run

Sorry to put a damper on things but I wouldn't want you to think that we 'collude' you into buying one and all of a sudden your kids inheritance is gone.

Don't really know where we sit running costs (repair cost) wise in comparison to landy's (rangie's), yota's, nissans and all that lot.

All I know that if it goes tits up necessitating a stop at the Jeep Garage, you better sell a kidney.

If on the other hand you are a bit handy at spannering the cost drops dramaticly.

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:39:52 AM »

Quote from: Jeepjedi on December 14, 2012, 08:12:58 AM

About £1500 by a garage, you can fit them yourself, depends on if you need a multi point or single point system.

4.0 uses single point, V8's use multi, its about where the fuel needs to be fed to

ignore jedi you can get both versions with single point ( older conversion) and multipoint, multipoint is the way to go, gives you a few more mpg's , single point if not fitted well can cause explosions if the car ever back fires with enough force to blow the air box to bits.
If you need to take a look at one, I am in south brum and you are more than welcome to take a look at the wj I have here with multipoint on

jay140285 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:40:08 AM »

As said Jeeps are not the cheapest to keep running but I have had the following 4x4's over the last few years.

Mitsy's
Isuzu's
Range Rover
Defender
Jeep

So far I have had the jeep the longest and its been the cheapest to run and maintain, that is a V8 on LPG.

Yes at the moment I am having an issue with it as it dropped a Valve seat but I will be back up and running rebuilt for less that £500. So a fairly major breakdown with reasonable cost to get it running again.

I losts thousands on the RR, and Trooper. Rodeo I has was a diesel and dire on fuel only getting high teens on a run.

But I agree for out and out reliability get a 4litre and get a WJ if you can for more modern looks and drive.

FYI I am just south of Brum off J4 on the M5.

jay140285 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:41:45 AM »

Quote from: Panic mechanic! on December 14, 2012, 09:39:52 AM

Quote from: Jeepjedi on December 14, 2012, 08:12:58 AM
About £1500 by a garage, you can fit them yourself, depends on if you need a multi point or single point system.

4.0 uses single point, V8's use multi, its about where the fuel needs to be fed to

ignore jedi you can get both versions with single point ( older conversion) and multipoint, multipoint is the way to go, gives you a few more mpg's , single point if not fitted well can cause explosions if the car ever back fires with enough force to blow the air box to bits.
If you need to take a look at one, I am in south brum and you are more than welcome to take a look at the wj I have here with multipoint on

Cough that is potentially for sale Cough

Jeepjedi · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2012, 06:57:13 PM »

Ok so I just read up properly on single and multipoint sorry bout that, panic is a mechanic (he's great for those awkward screws in tight small places) so he was bound to know it. If ya need railway signalling I am ya man

All good advice, beware of Jhay though he will have you with shiny bits before you know it, he don't do muddy WJ's

working class · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:05:15 PM »

Quote from: jay140285 on December 14, 2012, 09:41:45 AM

Quote from: Panic mechanic! on December 14, 2012, 09:39:52 AM
Quote from: Jeepjedi on December 14, 2012, 08:12:58 AM
About £1500 by a garage, you can fit them yourself, depends on if you need a multi point or single point system.

4.0 uses single point, V8's use multi, its about where the fuel needs to be fed to

ignore jedi you can get both versions with single point ( older conversion) and multipoint, multipoint is the way to go, gives you a few more mpg's , single point if not fitted well can cause explosions if the car ever back fires with enough force to blow the air box to bits.
If you need to take a look at one, I am in south brum and you are more than welcome to take a look at the wj I have here with multipoint on

Cough that is potentially for sale Cough

Potentially? I'm all ears...

jay140285 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:34:54 PM »

He has a tidy 1999 (I think) silver WJ 4 litre on lpg. Its high mileage but no more than some of the ones you have posted linkes to.

It was once owned by Nick Kershaw!

The price will be on the money for what your looking to spend.

Plus its got some shiney bits!!!! Hell yea!

Send him a message.

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #22 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:39:29 PM »

yup its potentially for sale as I am getting to the point I need some space for a new........i mean repair one of the other feckers!

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #23 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:48:29 PM »

it will need some work tho but it will go for peanuts

Author Topic: Potential first time GC LPG converted 4.0 owner, after some advice. (Read 13728 times)

working class

Tank

working class

big g

working class

working class

Plank

Jeepjedi

working class

working class

Jeepjedi

Panic mechanic!

jay140285

jay140285

Jeepjedi

working class

jay140285

Panic mechanic!

Panic mechanic!