Thinking of an XJ

[CA-RJ]

You can easily build an XJ for a lot less than $10k. I bought a 93 some years ago for $2,000. I think we put another $1,000 in maintenance and about $600 for tires and wheels and we had a pretty nice daily driver. It had a 3" lift and 31" tires. It would get 19 on the highway.

A Cherokee would be on the short list of replacement vehicles for my 4Runner.

 

[Schattenjager]

Is there an update for the cooling system on the older XJ's to make them less problematic?

 

[shogun]

Is there an update for the cooling system on the older XJ's to make them less problematic?

You will get the scolding answer of "if you keep your system maintained properly it'll work fine!". Yes, it will work, for the most part keeping temps around 220-230, but there is no margin for error and very little room for recovery.

Without getting into the 2 row or 3 row discussion, change to an "open" system which has a regular rad cap and overflow bottle. You fill at the rad, the old fashioned way.

Advantages; doesnt blow the pressure bottle every two years at $50+ a pop, doesnt have an arcane filling method to avoid air bubbles, easy level check.

Disadvantages; uh, not stock design.

 

[Schattenjager]

So, does this require a different radiator? Any other components need changing other than the overflow?

 

[BIGdaddy]

You can easily build an XJ for a lot less than $10k. I bought a 93 some years ago for $2,000. I think we put another $1,000 in maintenance and about $600 for tires and wheels and we had a pretty nice daily driver. It had a 3" lift and 31" tires. It would get 19 on the highway.

A Cherokee would be on the short list of replacement vehicles for my 4Runner.

this is eggzacty the same experience I've had with mine. I simply waited for a straight, rust-free low-mile example.

My wife is presently driving mine to go to costco to buy a blow-up backyard pool for the summer. (With my three kids in the back)

It continues to serve our porpoises wonderfully.

 

[Black Dog]

You will get the scolding answer of "if you keep your system maintained properly it'll work fine!". Yes, it will work, for the most part keeping temps around 220-230, but there is no margin for error and very little room for recovery.

Any vehicle will run forever and be really capable and reliable if you maintain it properly, whether its a K Car or a jeep or a Toyota or a VW or a Subaru or anything else. As long as you do your preventative maintenance and keep an eye on your gauges (never rely on ID10t lights) you should be fine.

 

[Schattenjager]

My wife is presently driving mine to go to costco to buy a blow-up backyard pool for the summer. (With my three kids in the back)

It continues to serve our porpoises wonderfully.

Funny stuff right there.

 

[Momrocks]

Any vehicle will run forever and be really capable and reliable if you maintain it properly, whether its a K Car or a jeep or a Toyota or a VW or a Subaru or anything else. As long as you do your preventative maintenance and keep an eye on your gauges (never rely on ID10t lights) you should be fine.

There are tens of thousands of (ex) Merkur and Yugo owners that would dispute your conclusions.

`

 

[BIGdaddy]

There are tens of thousands of (ex) Merkur and Yugo owners that would dispute your conclusions.

`

brian <---chuckling quietly...

 

[jh504]

How many Toyotas have you owned??? ...cause I've owned more then a few XJ's in particualr and still have one in the family... I say this coming from that standpoint. I had fun in my XJ's but comparitivly they're just built to be thrash and toss vehicles IMO. My responce is also related to the fact that he will, from an engineering and quality standpoint, be taking a large step backwards from the already awesome truck he has. If he had an older XJ then yeah a newer model would be progress, but going from an 80 Series to an XJ??? That just doesn't make sence to me. ...But in the end it's your money so do what ya want eh.

I will say I loved my 4.0L's in my XJ's. Lots of torque and a great motor for the most part. Check to see if the PO has replaced the crank sensor because as I found out it can go bad and somehow fry your ECU...Water pumps like to mysteriously fry berrings too (had two of those go bad on me on ONE TRUCK in 2 years). I personaly I also liked the last gen interiors the best I think what like 97+??? They were just more polished looking and fit the truck well. I also liked the color-coded body skirts/trim on the later models. Another issue I had with XJ's though was outward view. I find it hard to see up to stop lights and they're not real "roomy" inside. The back seat is best suited to small folks and children for long drives as they will be uncompfrtable.

Oh and for the record I AM a Jeep fan... I LOVE CJ-8's, 6's and LJ Rubi's to DEATH... I think that the LJ Rubicon might just be one of the best 4wd's ever offered in N.America. I like the Mid-W/B rigs clearly as well, I find a little extra W/B like my 4Runner or an LJ/CJ8/CJ6 helps ALOT in a variety of terrain

Cheers

Dave

4rescue I love how you always chime in on the XJ debate! I havnt seen you in a while, I was beginning to wonder where you had run off too! I should have known if you throw a generic, "whats your XJ opinion", thread out there that you would come biting. :victory:

Seriously though, XJs are a great cheap platform....... Nevermind that my driveway is full of Toyotas.....

 

[Hill Bill E.]

I had an 89 XJ for about 5 months - it was a horrible car. Leaky Y pipe, leaky fuel injectors and un-cureable overheating made me ditch it ASAP. I've been told that the issues were neglect and fixable.

The issues were fixable, but I wouldn't go so far as to say 'neglect':Wow1:

The early 4.0's (Renix) were notorious for bad/leaky injectors, cracked exhuast manifolds, and the infamous 'closed loop' cooling system.

If you find a '97-'99 range XJ, you won't have these problems. *

* Maybe overheating-but if the system is clean, it'll be fine.


As mentioned, get one with the Chryco 8.25 rear axle.

An 'Limited' will get you leather seats, and a power driver seat, which is much more adjustable than the standard slider.