School me on 98 Sports

[97TJNM]

A good friend and wheeling buddy's (chevy guy, he wheels an '82 Jimmy) middle daughter, B, just bought her first car. Their family was over last weekend eating barbecue with us, and they told me they were going to look for a vehicle this week. Imagine my surprise when B FaceTimed me Wednesday morning from a dealer in Arizona, and asked me to virtually look at a Jeep.

I spent about 30 minutes having her point the phone in various places and wiggle her fingers in frame holes. She was looking at a beauty of a black '98, with 150k on the clock, listed for about 8k. Everything she showed me looked good, and apparently she pulled the trigger. I stopped by their house today to lay eyes on it, and it looks good and sounds healthy, but I only had about 15 minutes to look at it. She is going to come get me after she gets off work tomorrow, and we are going to take it for a rip and see what we see.

I know it's a 98 sport, 4.0, 32rh, with a Dana 44 rear. I suspect the dreaded 3.07 gearing, but ain't sure. It was relayed to me that the dealer was selling it for the owner, who used it as a desert trails vehicle, but if so, he took pretty good care of it. No rust, mostly clean body and decent paint, except for minor rock chips expected in a 20+ year old vehicle and some fading on the cowl. Tan interior and hard top, sitting on 31" bfg ko2's with no lift.

She is likely not going to use it for wheeling, and im planning on going over it with her and making a list of maintenance items, but if anyone has specific knowledge about this configuration, I'd love to hear it. For example, I know the 32rh is well regarded, but a 3 speed seems to me like it would always be revving high on the highway. Also, did the 98 sport with optional Dana 44 come with another ratio than the 3.07? I mean, I'm going to jack it up and spin a tire to calculate, but maybe someone on here knows something I don't.

I'll know more in a day or so, and I'll get pics up then, as well as m9re information!

 

[hear]

With the 44 rear I would guess it's got 3.55's, but there's really no telling. The 32RH is great, don't sweat it in the least. The 4.0L doesn't mind running up in the 3k RPM range, that's where the power band is anyway. There are no shortage of threads here about the optimal gear ratio for every tire size & transmission. I know for 33's, 4.10 is the recommended. For 31's it's probably 3.73 but everybody here will share their opinion on that if you ask.

No rust is the most important thing, especially on/in the frame. Sounds like you gave it a good inspection, you may have found you a good one. Welcome aboard.

 

[97TJNM]

With the 44 rear I would guess it's got 3.55's, but there's really no telling. The 32RH is great, don't sweat it in the least. The 4.0L doesn't mind running up in the 3k RPM range, that's where the power band is anyway. There are no shortage of threads here about the optimal gear ratio for every tire size & transmission. I know for 33's, 4.10 is the recommended. For 31's it's probably 3.73 but everybody here will share their opinion on that if you ask.

No rust is the most important thing, especially on/in the frame. Sounds like you gave it a good inspection, you may have found you a good one. Welcome aboard.

Yeah, I run my 97 at 3k rpm all the time, but that is an AX-15, I know nothing about what rpms the 32rh runs! Sounds like it'll probably be in the realm of where it should be though!

 

[97TJNM]

Alright, I looked up the vin on my buddy's kid's jeep. Dana 44, 3.73 gears, and traclok lsd are all ordered for the build package. Not too bad at all. That actually might be a pretty decently set up jeep for a basically stock rig!

 

[5TTTj]

Looks like a good package, I like when the purchaser comes out ahead.

 

[97TJNM]

Looks like a good package, I like when the purchaser comes out ahead.

Heck yeah!

She's a good kid. She deserves a win.

 

[Vtx531]

Your vin report is for a 1999 - I have almost the exact same setup on my 02. Great for around town but too low of gears for stock tires on the highway IMO. Works fine just drinks gas like crazy and 3,000+ rpm.

Ideal gear ratio for 3 speed is different than any of the others transmissions for tire size. I ran 33's on 3.73 and it was good.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Pics or it never happened.
p.s. I've had three 98-99's. The manifolds tend to crack, but a new one only cost around $100 with the gasket.

 

[97TJNM]

Your vin report is for a 1999 - I have almost the exact same setup on my 02. Great for around town but too low of gears for stock tires on the highway IMO. Works fine just drinks gas like crazy and 3,000+ rpm.

Ideal gear ratio for 3 speed is different than any of the others transmissions for tire size. I ran 33's on 3.73 and it was good.

Good to know! I'm interested to know why the vin came back as a 99... I may have entered it wrong, but all the other information is matching up. I'll double check this afternoon.

 

[97TJNM]

Pics or it never happened.
p.s. I've had three 98-99's. The manifolds tend to crack, but a new one only cost around $100 with the gasket.

Yeah, my 97 had a cracked manifold when I bought it. Not a bad job to replace either, but it doesn't sound like it has an exhaust leak, so I think she's good there, at least for a while.

 

[Mike_H]

Lets see....in 1998 the broncos won the superbowl, U of M won the Nattie, Yankees won the world series (and the roid battle between Sosa and McGuire was HOT), the NBA was locked out, Kentucky won the NCAA B-Ball Championship and the Wings won the Stanley Cup.

Oh...did you mean a different kind of 98 sports? LOL

 

[Apparition]

Lets see....in 1998 the broncos won the superbowl, U of M won the Nattie, Yankees won the world series (and the roid battle between Sosa and McGuire was HOT), the NBA was locked out, Kentucky won the NCAA B-Ball Championship and the Wings won the Stanley Cup.

Oh...did you mean a different kind of 98 sports? LOL

 

[TheBoogieman]

Good to know! I'm interested to know why the vin came back as a 99... I may have entered it wrong, but all the other information is matching up. I'll double check this afternoon.

It's a year newer than you thought.

​

Changes for 1999

New Exterior Colors: Medium Fern Green Pearlcoat Forest Green Pearlcoat Desert Sand Pearlcoat Intense Blue Pearlcoat Discontinued Exterior Colors: Jade Lapis Blue Emerald Moss Green Gunmetal Pearlcoat New Interior Colors: Agate Camel New Top Colors: Dark Tan replaces Spice. Hood cowl changed from a “3 section” wide cowl with alot of plastic around it to a smaller cowl… Removed annoying useless vent that leaks water Cruise control controls on steering wheel Rotary climate controls with bi-level air Defeat switch for passenger-side air bag Improved ECM Re-designed catalytic converter New “JTEC+” engine controller with new engine-function sensors Lighter frame – 16 lbs (8kg) lighter Nineteen gallon fuel tank now standard. 30″ tire package came with the “Canyon” style wheels (15×8).

 

[97TJNM]

Lets see....in 1998 the broncos won the superbowl, U of M won the Nattie, Yankees won the world series (and the roid battle between Sosa and McGuire was HOT), the NBA was locked out, Kentucky won the NCAA B-Ball Championship and the Wings won the Stanley Cup.

Oh...did you mean a different kind of 98 sports? LOL

Alright, alright, simmer down!

 

[97TJNM]

It is a 99. We went over it pretty well, and the only things I could find that need attention after an hour of crawling around were:
-diff fluid replace
-shocks
-front end rebuild (a few joints are loose and the steering is a little "darty", but i couldn't induce death wobble.) I mentioned the ZJ upgrade for close to the same money.
-side marker lights
-shifter bezel

Otherwise, it's a clean, tight jeep! The dealer also told them that if they find anything else that needs replacing, he would cut a check for up to $1k for anything mechanical he missed, which should pretty much cover all of the above if me and my buddy do the labor one weekend.

I think B is going to be really pleased with this little gem!