Looking to get an XJ

[spudly]

Hopefully I'm posting in the right spot. Since I'll be buying and eventually owning an XJ in the Sierra region I'm hoping some local owners can help guide me along.

OK, so I've owned a Jeep before and don't really know where to start on what to look for.

For what I want to do an XJ seems like the prefect ticket. Basically I want something that I can take the family off-roading and camping with as well as be able to wheel it hard by myself.

I was looking at larger vehicles, but just can't justify the size or gas expense. Also larger trucks/SUV's would seem to limit where I could take them. Now granted I'm not much of a wheeler, so I'm sure there are others that could take an Excursion through the gnarliest of trails.

The factors I've considered are size, price, parts avilability and reliability. The XJ seems to be the standout in all of these areas. The size seems just right for a family of three or, proably at some point, four. Prices on older models seems pretty good, especially when compared to newer SUV's. Parts avilability seems to be a real standout as many companies support the platform and parts from other models are somewhat bolt-on. And reliability seems to also be a standout. From reading various sources the 4.0L motor seems to keep going and going.


So now on to what I'm looking for.

I'd like to find a model somewhere around 1990 to 1995 for price reasons. I'd like to keep the inital vehicle price around $2000. Now granted there's always the "perfect" rig that I would pay more for, but for a base/stock XJ this is what I'm hoping to pay. I'm kind of anal on how I like things done on my vehicles, so I would most likey get a stock XJ and modify it myself. Plus through the modification process I, hopefully, would learn more of the inner workings of the XJ.

What are some of the major things to look out for when buying a an XJ in this year range?

 

[Boatwrench]

Here would be my best suggestion:

Go here and meet these guys. Friendly bunch, and have a wealth of information.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=912564

Then armed with the information you recieve from them, start searching craigslist.

Welcome,
Tom

 

[SKIM]

where in newark do you live? I live near lincoln elementary school.You have probably seen me driven around. A 94 green xj with big SKIM sticker on back window 4.5" lift.(blinkers are blacked out now)



(click on pic to make bigger.)
:eyes: have you seen me?

 

[spudly]

I'm actually right down the street from Lincoln on Bettencourt.

I'll have to keep an eye out for your XJ.

 

[spudly]

OK, I finally just pulled the trigger on a '94 that was on Craigslist. The price was right and my wife liked the color. I wanted an olive drab rig with a P-40 shark mouth, but hey it's all about comprimise if I don't want to live on the couch.

I've proably bought a bucket of bolts but at least it drove home with no problems (other than the known ones).

This weekend I'll go through and try to fix some of the problems. Of course try being the operative word.

Here's a picture of it from the ad:

Now everyone can tell me why they avoided it like the plauge

 

[joschmo86]

nice find...I drove mine home today, and it is just leaking oil like crazy(uncle gave me a case of oil just in case).

 

[JoesXJ]

looks good and looks like it has a good start already. :thumbup:

 

[SKIM]

Nice XJ now I will look for you around town, I like that blue a lot. what are the specs on it?

 

[spudly]

It's a '94 with about 170K on the clock.

It's got a 4.5" RE lift with MT 33's. But the drivetrain appears to be stock, so I'll be looking at getting 4.56 gears and a slip yoke eliminator pretty quick.

For $1200 I can't really complain. The body is in pretty good shape, the driver's door hinge needs to be welded.

The motor is leaking pretty bad at the oil filter housing. I'm sure there are other leaks, but that's the one I can see.

The PO thinks the trans is going. It does act up when cold from a standstill, but when warmed up it seems fine. Hopefully it's just the TPS, I'll know if that's the case later this week when I get it installed.

I'm in the middle of getting the cat swapped out. The original one is shot and as a result it won't pass smog. I know it's supposed to before it can sold, I'll face the DMV's wrath later this week as well.

So yeah, it's got problems. But the price was right, for me.

 

[SKIM]

yea they always leak from there mine did too I just changed that O rings like a month ago If yours is the torx like mine was I have it if you ned to barrow it so you dont have to buy it. If you gana get a new cat why not get new cat back kit also.

 

[spudly]

yea they always leak from there mine did too I just changed that O rings like a month ago If yours is the torx like mine was I have it if you ned to barrow it so you dont have to buy it. If you gana get a new cat why not get new cat back kit also.

If you don't mind I'd apprciate it! I can't find one around here at all.

Are the o-rings pretty easy to come by?

I thought about going to a cat back system, but for twice the amount or more for minimal performance I figured I just get a stock muffler and tail pipe. Plus I'd be pissed the first time I crunched it :doh:

 

[SKIM]

yea no problem more than happy to help a jeeper out. They have the O rings at the dealership on automall that is where I got mine.like $7 i think.

 

[spudly]

When would be a good time to come by and borrow it?

 

[SKIM]

when eve you gana do it I can drop it if thats cool I wana see your rig. i think I sall it in your drive way on my way home
.

 

[spudly]

I was hoping to work on that part tomorrow since I was waiting for other parts to come in.

No worries if that's too short of notice.

I'm on Bettencourt near Mayhews, the rig is in the driveway.

 

[SKIM]

no thats cool what time i can put it in your mail box if you want I get off at 2 O'clock.

 

[spudly]

I put my son down at 8pm, so anytime before then.

Otherwise I'm pretty much around the house all the time now.

 

[SKIM]

so I will come by some time around 2 is that cool

 

[spudly]

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