Lookin to buy an 1996 and up XJ

[Eselkopf]

1048089

Looks like a cherokee may be my next vehicle. I have a friend who owns a used car dealership and I have 6 grand. I have every intention of a 3 to 5 or so inch lift and so on and so forth. For light to some medium offroad duty, but will still be a daily driver. I live in GA so were lookin at mostly mud.



I worked as a mechanic for a year befor I started college and befriended a hell of a master tech who is a jeep fanatic. Just wondering if jeep has done anything particularly stupid with any of its late models. I did read somewhere about some airbags that deployed a couple thousandths of a second too late. Just lookin for that sort of info.



I will most likely end up in an automatic since the whole time I worked as a mechanic I only encountered one manual cherokee. So I will definetly need a big cooler. Any transmissions, axles, transfer cases or anything else I should try to stay away from?



Also what are your favorite offroad companies? Who's got the reputation?



Thanks for the help guys.[addsig]

 

[MudderChuck]

1048106

Just bought a used 96 myself, had an 87 before that, and a 77 Wagoneer way back when. They seemed to have added alot of electronics and gizmos, mostly for the high end crowd. Seemed to have cleaned up the vacumn system, but have added alot of electrical stuff, relais and such. I´ve got my doubts about the select trak transfer, or whatever they call it now, the full time part time combo. Always seemd to me the more stuff they added the more there was to break, then they´d spend the next few years trying to perfect it and about the time they got it right they´d change the series again.



I have the HO, which is pretty much a rocket for a grocery getter. But always have to wonder about the old main bearings (the same size they´ve always been) and the added horses.



I´ve got a nasty feeling the mud or water is going to get in the elctronics sooner or later and cause a whole list of gremmlins. Moving the computer to the engine bay doesn´t seem logical to me. No matter how well it´s sealed.



I´ve ordered alot of Rancho stuff over the years, it seemed to work, to last and had few really nasty installation problems. Middle priced.



Summit seems to be reliable for ordering and one of the better data bases and seeing as they are one of the bigger companies, has a history of filling small and peice meal orders, many companies won´t mess with. They´re strong on advice

Have had good luck with 4 wheel parts wholesalers, but it sometimes depends who´s on the phone or the e-mails. They´re not much on advice. Usually have a large selection of hard to find Jeep stuff.[addsig]

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

1048109

The transfer case rear output was changed in '97 and you get vibes at a lower lift. You may be able to go 4" or 5" on a '96 and older with no vibes, whereas a '97 and newer will get vibes at about 3". You'll need a SYE with a '97 and newer for any lift over 3".



Get a '95 or '96 and use the money left over for lift and tires. A 3" lift will only fit 31" tires max, and that's with a little fender rubbing. Need 6" to clear 33" tires.[addsig]

 

[dingus]

1048119

don't get a '96 unless the gas tank and fuel pump have been addressed... i've seen 2 on this board with f'd up fuel systems... the '96 gas tanks corrode for some reason.[addsig]

 

[Eselkopf]

1049365

Hey guys found a 96. white 80k miles. AC auto, command trac, two door. Pretty basic, have the 4.0 HO. I used to test drive cars all the time when I was a mechanic, man I forgot how much ass these things have. Its spotless. fresh rubber all the way around and under the hood and runs srtong as hell. I think its a keeper. I have it for 3 days, to drive around and see if I like it since I know the owner of the car lot. I may just get a fuel filter for it and change em then break the old one open and see whats in it. After all is said and done my friend said Id be in it at about 5200 bucks which sounds very very fair to me.

[addsig]

 

[dingus]

1049392

5200 bucks? thats a great deal![addsig]