best year?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 575
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From: Virginia
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 inline 6
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19
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From: Orange County, CA
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L6
They had a post about this on jkowners.com that I was checking out. pretty strange uhhh reasoning on there but anywho. 98-99? newer interior/exterior, better wiring harness than the 97, no cracking heads like the 00-01, uhhhh yeah. I've heard that 91-96 is best also. I do love my 93. Who needs airbags?
I know you get less vibes from lifts pre 96 right? something about a longer driveshaft or something like that. I'd say stay away from late 80's but I've seen some pretty sweet ones so I'll keep my mouth shut
research is DEFINITELY your best friend.
I know you get less vibes from lifts pre 96 right? something about a longer driveshaft or something like that. I'd say stay away from late 80's but I've seen some pretty sweet ones so I'll keep my mouth shut research is DEFINITELY your best friend.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,640
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From: Keesler AFB, MS
Year: 1998 XJ
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
not sure what the outcome was but there was a thread similar to this over in cherokee chat. you will have to search for it, but it was a couple pages long with some great info
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,261
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From: New Jersey
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
I like my 96. There was a thread about all the modifications done over the years. In 96, they added more body reinforcement and it got less vibes when lifted because of the driveshaft angle or something. Also, in 95 they added the driver side airbag if you're into safety. In 99 they changed the head to the 0331 casting which is prone to crack. It caused a loss of horsepower too so they used a much better intake manifold to regain the power. In 97, they started using the 29 spline 8.25" rear which was a little stronger than the 27 spline found in 96 and under. Also, 96 had the better high pinion Dana 30 which was changed to low pinion in 00, which wasn't quite as good. That's just what I know off the top of my head.
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 575
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 inline 6
I like my 96. There was a thread about all the modifications done over the years. In 96, they added more body reinforcement and it got less vibes when lifted because of the driveshaft angle or something. Also, in 95 they added the driver side airbag if you're into safety. In 99 they changed the head to the 0331 casting which is prone to crack. It caused a loss of horsepower too so they used a much better intake manifold to regain the power. In 97, they started using the 29 spline 8.25" rear which was a little stronger than the 27 spline found in 96 and under. Also, 96 had the better high pinion Dana 30 which was changed to low pinion in 00, which wasn't quite as good. That's just what I know off the top of my head.
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Model: Cherokee
Last edited by guest02; Mar 8, 2010 at 08:29 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 172
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From: surrey, bc, canada
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
I remember the earlier conversation, I based my '99 purchase on it somewhat.
99 still has distributor/plug leads unlike 00-01s, the new interior, gains the later high pinion 29 spline front diff & 29 spline 8.25 rear (if you avoid the ABS), no 1997 wiring probs, no head cracking like the 00-01s. I think the 1998 is on par with the 99 too.
99 still has distributor/plug leads unlike 00-01s, the new interior, gains the later high pinion 29 spline front diff & 29 spline 8.25 rear (if you avoid the ABS), no 1997 wiring probs, no head cracking like the 00-01s. I think the 1998 is on par with the 99 too.
