MY 1990 WRANGLER YJ ISLANDER 4.2L

by ERIC FOSTER
(LAS VEGAS, NEVADA)

I HAVE WANTED A JEEP SINCE THE MOMENT I HAD EVER SEEN A JEEP. FINALLY, AT AGE 40 MY DREAM HAS COME TRUE.

I BOUGHT MY WRANGLER FOR $3800 WITH A KNOCKING, AND SMOKING ENGINE. SO WHAT, MY PLAN WAS TO BUY A JEEP AND JUST PUT A NEW MOTOR IN HER, SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.

MY 4.2L IN LINE 6 WAS REMOVED, THE BLOCK AND HEAD MACHINED, NEW PISTONS, CRANKSHAFT, CAMSHAFT, BEARINGS, RINGS, SEALS, LIFTERS, VALVES, AND YOU KNOW A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. THE MOTOR SET ME BACK $2540, WITH A ONE YEAR WARRANTY.

I'VE GOT $700 IN THE CARB. ISN'T THAT GREAT, A VEHICLE BUILT IN 1990 WITH A CARBURETOR. HAS ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER DONE SUCH A THING? I SAY SCREW THAT FUEL INJECTION, HELL I CAN REBUILD A CARB MYSELF.

MY WRANGLER IS NOW PURRING LIKE A KITTEN, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER. THE GREATEST THING ABOUT OWNING AND DRIVING MY JEEP IS THE RESPONSE I GET FROM OTHER JEEPERS. EVERY TIME I PASS ANOTHER JEEP ON THE STREET (CJ OR WRANGLER THAT IS) I GET EITHER A WAVE, A NOD, A BEEP, OR EVEN A LITTLE CONVERSATION AND IT IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED, LIKE A JEEP CULT, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

JEEPS ARE TRULY IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN, IT'S NOT A CAR, IT'S NOT A TRUCK OR A PICKUP, IT'S A JEEP!!! IVE GOT ABOUT $7000 IN MY JEEP, AND I'M JUST GETTING STARTED....I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS BABY FOREVER!!


Larry's Comment: I agree, Eric. Jeeps have always been cool. I also like the early Wrangler Islander graphics.