What to look for in a XJ ???

[Raduckal]

Thinking of buying an XJ. I know I'd like the HO 4L and a Dana 44 rear, but don't know what years they came. Is there a way to identify likely canidates form afar, such as a special set of wheels that came with the Dana 44 etc.

TIA

[OverDriven]

I've got one and a half XJ's in my drive way plus a bunch of parts to them in my garage that I'll swap you for your CJ7..

Wait.. Did I really just say that?!?

Seriously.. Good luck finding one with a 44 rear. I still have yet to see one and I've owned 5 XJ's now. I can't find the 44 anywhere for it. Finally bought a Ford 8.8 to swap into mine.

The HO's started in '91 and I perfer the ones made prior to the body restyle in 95/96.(whenever that happened). You seem to find more of the older ones in the bone yards.

It all really depends on what you want to use it for. Give us more info. (How much do you want to spend, Modification Ideas, Daily driver or not, etc)

[Inthemudbud]

I have an '88 XJ that came with a Dana35...it broke and I found a Dana 44 out of a 1989 XJ. Apparently the Dana 44 rears came in the '87-'89 models. I've heard more of the Wagoneers in that era had the D44s.




Good luck

[Raduckal]

Thanks for the info.
I'm thinking a very dependable daily driver, in addition to the CJ. A third <nobr><nobr><a class="iAs" style="border-bottom:darkgreen 1px solid;text-decoration:underline;color:darkgreen;background-color:transparent;" href="#" onclick="return kwC();" target="_blank" oncontextmenu="return false;" onmouseover="kwE(event,217917);" onmouseout="kwL(event);" onmousemove="kwM(217917);"><nobr><a class="iAs" style="border-bottom:darkgreen 1px solid;text-decoration:underline;color:darkgreen;background-color:transparent;" href="#" onclick="return kwC();" target="_blank" oncontextmenu="return false;" onmouseover="kwE(event,217917);" onmouseout="kwL(event);" onmousemove="kwM(217917);">vehicle</nobr></a></nobr></a></nobr> for the wife and me would be a smarter choice for me than buying a new Rubicon. So I'd stay fairly stock. I'd like to keep the cost under 10k. Am I dreaming?

8-10K should get you a low mileage 98 or better with everything ie air, power windows/locks, decent stereo, etc. Look for a xj in Classic or Limited trim- heck you might even find one of the few with leather seats.

[Raduckal]

Hehehe, leather might chaff my arse, after all I am used to the plush comforts of a CJ.
[img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Thanks

[stump_breaker]

If you're going to drop 10k in a Cherokee I got three words for you - go to Carmax. No, I don't own stock in them but I have NEVER been happier with a used car. I got a 2KXJ Classic with the 8.25 rear end for 10k. A little high but after I found out how they go through their vehicles, I was sold. Mine came with a new transmission and aftermarket Hayden tranny cooler. Found out Carmax puts tranny coolers on almost all their vehicles. 107k and still going strong as my wife's DD. She drives 150+ miles a day.

My sister is VERY pleased with her Xterra as well.

[newxjer]

I picked my 2KXJ sport about a year and a half ago with 47,000 miles on it for around 10 also. Very clean in and out with power locks, windows, and AC. Bought it from the toyota dealer in town and it needed tires, but for what I got him to drop off the price in dealing with him back and forth for over a week, I wasn't going to push it anymore for a set of new tires. I've enjoyed every mile of the 35,000 I've put on so far.