Advice appreciated on buying a Cherokee

[Tuna]

I'm in the market for a Cherokee that over the next few months I can hopefully get offroad with.  I would like to buy one soon and then once our house is finished start working on it.  I am looking in the 3-4000 range as I figure I can get something that isn't totally beat and will last a while but cheap enough that I can get suspension/tires/gears/etc. fairly quickly.  This won't be a daily driver (but will occasionally get driven to work etc.) as it will be a 3rd vehicle.  Anyway, on with the questions.....

1. Should I hold out for a HO motor?  With my price range this will likely mean a higher mileage vehicle as it will have to be newer which is ok if it's worth it.  What year did the HO start? (93?)

2. I heard the NP242 was the best transfer case for this vehicle, is this correct?  If so, what years can I expect to find this on? (the only year i'm aware of at this point is 89).

3. Is there anything I should watch out for when buying one?  Any common issues that would be fairly easy to identify?  I was told that rust under the moldings and on the rear quarters can be a problem.

A colleague of mine will likely come along as he's fairly experienced with Cherokees but I would like to know a little more myself first.  I just missed out on buying the "Blue Beast" otherwise all these questions would have been solved! haha.

I will likely have more questions once I make the initial purchase as i'm researching tires/suspension etc.  But for now i'm thinking the Rubicon Express 5.5" lift, 33x12.5 or 13.5 tires (don't know too much about brands yet) and 4.10 gears to start.

[cablesmurf]

Thses are my recommendations...

buy a 91 - 96
wait for the HO...(91 and newer) it has wayy more snap
higher miles is fine if it' been looked after
buy a laredo if you can (more options and nicer interier)
chrome door handles are best as they don get rust around them
91 and new has no vacumm pod on th front diff.
91 - 96 will have a high pinion front diff
5 spd will most likely have the np231 (it a good t-case)
auto will likely have the np242 (also a good t-case)
90 and older 5 spds have the crappy peugot tranny (91 + has the ax15)


Look for rust in these common areas:

- lower door panels
- rear lower rockers (behind rear wheels)
- around the door handles
- under the front fender flares


Just for reference, I sold this one (1991 Laredo) with 320,000 kms for $7000 3 years ago. It was in great running order with no rust.

[Tuna]

That's a Nice XJ!

Interesting, I didn't realize the HO was offered that early, that shouldn't be a problem then.

Also, I realized I forgot to mention i'll be looking for an Auto, A) because unless you're doing rock crawling and such Auto is a better way to go for various reasons and B) because my wife wants to wheel it too.  She can drive stick fine but would have more fun in an Auto if it gets hairy.

[Vinman]

I would seriously take a look at the Cherokee Homey-G has for sale, it is a kick-arse Jeep and would cost 2 - 3 times more to build it from scratch.I know it's a bit more than you're looking to spend but you wouldn't have to spend much on mods.
He's had it for sale for a while so may sell it cheaper. One other thing, disregard the photos is his original post, it looks quite a bit better now.

Vince

4.6 litre stroker, 250HP.
On board air.
Red top Otima.
D44 front diff with 4:88, posi and Superior axle shafts, all new outer bearings.
Ford 9inch rear with 4:88, Detroit locker and Superior axle shafts.
Custom drive shaft front.
Custom drive shaft rear with SYE.
Dyna Max exhaust.
Full skids and rock rails.
6.5" Rubicon express lift.
4-36"(95%) TSL Super Swampers on 10" aluminum Baja's.
5-35"(90%) BFG AT's on 8" steelies.
CB and GPS.
Warn 8000lb winch with blue rope.
Custom rear body with CJ7 tail gate and hinged removable soft top.
Tow bar.
Olive drabb paint.
Built to wheel and it does it well!
$7900 OBO.
Grant (403)589-8341.
Second Warn 8000lb winch for parts, works but has broken mounts.
Price reduced to $6000 OB

[Bnine]

You would be crazy not to take Vinces advice about Grants jeep. Unless you are really keen on building your own.

[Tuna]

You would be crazy not to take Vinces advice about Grants jeep. Unless you are really keen on building your own.

Honestly I don't mind buying something pre modded.  It was just from the pictures it didn't really look like there was any place to store stuff since he'd removed the rear, but sounds like that may have been taken care of with a new top.

My only concern is I wouldn't mind doing a bit of highway driving and not sure how it would be on gas with the stroker (I know I know, it's a jeep and i'm not supposed to care but still   ).  I'm also afraid that machine might be a little over my head as far as maintaining it.

Edit: Also, would it even pass a safety with the rear modified?  I'm only asking because usually insurance wants a safety if it's over 10 years old (stupid rule).

[Bnine]

Maintenance wouldnt be anymore complicated then a stock unit.

Milage difference would be negligable.

4 litres are similar to deisles, in that no matter what you do barring a supercharger, their mileage does not change a lot. Its always mediocre.

The one thing that helps is gearing, which Grants xj has.

And hey, if you have a hard time with something, or dont know how to do something, thats what we are here for    

[Tuna]

Maintenance wouldnt be anymore complicated then a stock unit.

Milage difference would be negligable.

4 litres are similar to deisles, in that no matter what you do barring a supercharger, their mileage does not change a lot. Its always mediocre.

The one thing that helps is gearing, which Grants xj has.

And hey, if you have a hard time with something, or dont know how to do something, thats what we are here for    

All good points.  Thanks to everyone for the input so far!

[big black dodge]

have you considered grabing a 4 cyl std?  Don't have to worry about breaking anything, a little better on gas, and should be dirt cheap to buy.  We had a 84 with 4" susp, 31 MTs, and a welded rear and never broke anything until it caught on fire.

[SwampSinger]

You would be crazy not to take Vinces advice about Grants jeep. Unless you are really keen on building your own.

Ditto...


Grant's XJ is a killer rig. It might need a paint job... (if you care about that). It's a freakin' tank! :twisted:

If I had to do it allover again... I would buy his XJ w/O a dought.

cheers,

[SoupySocks]

I had 3 XJ's so far and 1 TJ

I always loved the XJ, the older ones I did not care for the dated dash board, minor detail.

My 1st one that I had I loved, no issues with it, I only had it for 6 months until someone ran a red light into me and wrote it off!

My 2nd XJ was a '94 with the 4L 5sp.  It had some issues with this and that, not a lemmon persay just that it was in the years of things going wrong with it, little things.  I modded it up and wheeled the beebag out of it!  Sold it (its still kickin!)

My 3rd Jeep was a 2000 TJ with a 4L 5sp what a lemmon, I had to sell it after a few months as my repair costs where out doing the loan costs!

4th one is the one I am currently driving and my fav so far. 1998 XJ 4L Auto, I love it, no issues, I only had it for 4 months and put 6K on it, the only thing I had to change was the battery.  I am going to take it slow with this one, 2" lift to start and then go from there.  I want to enjoy it for a bit.

I would recommend looking for one 94-96 those years can be had for what you are looking to spend, if you get a 97+ one in your price range it might be tired and need alot of work.

With any Jeep, its pay me now or pay me later so try to get one that is not too bad in the pay me later category as you will save in the end !

Jeff

[Tuna]

I went and had a look at Grant's and although it's a fantastic deal it's not something that will meet all my requirements so I'm still going to look around.  I would love to get it (seriously) but I need something with a bit more interior and something that will seal up tight and lock.  I actually thought about buying it and trying to swap all the parts into a different body (I know someone that has one he doesn't need) but that's just WAY too big of a project for a noob like me to take on.