1988 XJ Pioneer “Rock Bottom”

[BJ'sFJ]

Vehicle: 1988 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer

Mileage: 231k

Drivetrain: 4.0 6cylinder 4x4

Picked up this vehicle at the beginning of May. I primarily use a bike for commuting around Fort Collins so this vehicle will mainly be used in the winter when the weather sucks and light duty camping trips. It needs some work and I just wanted to document the progress.

Things I’ve done:
- New Fuel Tank, Fuel Pump, Fuel Ballast Resistor
- New Rear Hatch Struts
- New Turn Signal Relay
- Electric Fan wired to a Switch
- New Windshield (6/05/23)

To Do:
- Get it smog compliant
- New Tires
- Switch Panel for E-Fan & Aux. Lights
- Lift ???
- Repaint (Eventually)


Cost of Vehicle: $900

 

[zgfiredude]

Why would you re-paint?

 

[BJ'sFJ]

Why would you re-paint?

The camo has grown on me a bit but I’d prefer a single color paint job. It’s definitely not high on the list

 

[Battle]

The interior looks great! Looks like it was originally a gold exterior color - is that camo paint or a wrap?

If you look up "Cruiser's Renix Tips" on CherokeeForum.com, you'll get a lot of useful info on that era XJ.

What transfer case & rear axle does it have? Curious if you have a factory Dana 44 back there!?

 

[AggieOE]

Nice! Living in the south... there are too many camo and bedliner painted older 4x4s that unfortunately aren't even just hunting rigs.
Love the interior! Would be nice to see a somewhat matching or complimenting exterior. What colors are you thinking?

 

[BJ'sFJ]

New Windshield. $269 Installed

 

[BJ'sFJ]

Nice! Living in the south... there are too many camo and bedliner painted older 4x4s that unfortunately aren't even just hunting rigs.
Love the interior! Would be nice to see a somewhat matching or complimenting exterior. What colors are you thinking?

This will primarily be used for camping and trips out to the range. I'll probably go with the original bronze/dark gold the ride came with. Although, I do love Kelly Green / USFS Green

The interior looks great! Looks like it was originally a gold exterior color - is that camo paint or a wrap?

If you look up "Cruiser's Renix Tips" on CherokeeForum.com, you'll get a lot of useful info on that era XJ.

What transfer case & rear axle does it have? Curious if you have a factory Dana 44 back there!?

It's a rattle can paint job the previous owner did.

I need to do some research to find out what transfer case and axles it has. I'll post up when I find out after crawling underneath.
It was a $900 running and driving 4x4 so I didn't do too much googling before buying it. The 4.0 and it's reliability was a big selling point.

 

[zgfiredude]

Oh yea, Forest Service Green!

 

[19mystic96]

The paint job is very cool. If it were mine I'd leave it! (But it's not and you're free to do whatever you like with your vehicles because an opinion of a stranger from an online message board really means nothing)

 

[BJ'sFJ]

The paint job is very cool. If it were mine I'd leave it! (But it's not and you're free to do whatever you like with your vehicles because an opinion of a stranger from an online message board really means nothing)

I’m not 100% set on repainting. There’s plenty of other things higher on the list

I do agree the paint job is cool! Definitely unique

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Great find! Looking forward to seeing where you take thing!
Enjoy!

 

[Lee_N]

My first Cherokee was an '88. It has a D30 front axle (3.05 gears), D35 rear axle, AW-4 transmission, NP-235 transfer case (2.72 gears), and 4.0 straight 6 with Renix fuel injection. One trick I remember on the AC was to rewire the relay controlling it. By swapping pins in the socket, the switch on the dash controls the relay instead of the pressure switch. It increases the voltage to the AC clutch, which prevents it from dropping out.