_StationWagon_

Posted this on another forum, but it seems that they are all on vacation.

I have found myself with 2 stock XJs, and I need just one to replace my beloved '92. I am up in the air about which to keep.
Here are the details:

1994 2WD Country, interior exactly like my '92 except for color, power everything (which I prefer), 150xxx miles, very good condition, has lifter chatter which my mechanic says should go away after driving about 1k miles after adding ATF to the oil. Has oil seepage underneath, NO rust, seems mechanically sound. I can have the NP242 from my '92 swapped in.

2001 4WD Sport, NP231, power everything except seats (which I will change), 158xxx miles, decent condition, radiator needs a flush, supposedly good engine (haven't had it checked yet), oil leak, everything works, minor surface rust, otherwise seems mechanically sound. I don't like NP231, think I can have the NP242 from my '92 swapped in. Altho I'm not yet sure, let's assume for this thread that the engine is fine.

For building, I should be able to have everything swapped over from my '92, including the axles which are already locked & regeared, so I'm not parting with them. In my position, which would you keep & why? I can only keep 1 for insurance purposes. This is serious guys, no comments about how you prefer no power options, or telling me to keep both. I do prefer the pre-97 XJs, but I think I can live with having an airbag in my wheeling vehicle .

CurrySoSpicy

Just curious, what's wrong with the NP231? Seems like a lot of work to swap out with a 232 just for "full-time" 4WD.

Martlor13

It's hard to say without knowing how thatv01 really is...I would prefer the 01 and a 231 as well. If you have locked axles already, I prefer the np231

Rogue4x4

I vote keep the 2wd, build the 4wd, LMAO

bad_idea

The 94 is a more classic style IMHO.

Martlor13

You're gonna get lots of opinions OP haha

_StationWagon_

Opinions are good - at least I can see that people are paying attention.
I'm not trying to be a smart *** when I say that there's no need for me to explain my preference for the 242. After having the same t'fercase in 3 different XJs over 17 years, I prefer to stick with what I know.

Battle

Why do you have three XJs and are getting rid of the one you really like?

Ralph77

My first thought is that the '92 and '94 are most likely very interchangeable when it comes to parts. So you have a parts vehicle. While each year has its quirks and that does not really vary much is that you have more first hand experience with older ones. You already said you are swapping stuff off the '92 no matter which one you keep and you like the older ones better. As far as insurance goes you can put it in storage. Still have to pay registration and property taxes but storage insurance is cheap. I paid $30 for a six month policy on a '96 I used to own. While owning the '96 I picked up a '00 kinda cheap. Needed a little work. When I got her up and running I registered it and would drive one Jeep one day and the other the next. At the time was not sure what I was going to do with the '96 but since the '00 seemed to behaving herself decide to drive just the '00. Hence the storage insurance. Ended up selling the '96 and I don't know about other people but when I go look at a used vehicle I like when they are registered and insured.

CurrySoSpicy

uhh ok

Martlor13

x2 good buddy haha

_StationWagon_

"The one I really like" ... to which one are you referring? The '92 is no longer driveable. I am keeping it only until I have removed everything I want off it, then off to the great scrap yard in the sky. The other 2 each have "issues" that don't fit completely into my plans, and I can keep only one. The one I keep will be the recipient of whatever will fit from my '92. The XJ that I decide not to keep will be sold. If necessary the "issues" might be repaired before it goes up for sale, if it's something that needs repair & if I can do it myself.

MI_Offroad

Sounds like you already made up your mind. You like the early style, the 242, and everything swaps across from the old one. The '01 has nothing you want in a XJ.

_StationWagon_

Actually I haven't. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, and just because I prefer the older, doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice. I was hoping for someone to perhaps tell me specific advantages of keeping the '01 over the '94 - y'know, something about the upgrades Jeep might have made, efficiency, something about the LP D30, the sort of things that owners might know about, that someone might me might not know. And the 242 is not so much of a compelling issue because I believe it can be swapped over as well.
So many guys I have wheeled with have newer XJ's and I wouldn't mind finding out what the attraction is, since there are many, many '84-'96 XJs still out there.

_StationWagon_

UPDATE: Well, I went with option C - Sell Them Both, Find Another, lol. Found a decent '99 Limited, 144k with every feature I want - Power locks/windows/seats, 242 Selec Trac FT 4WD (most important), leather, full length overhead console. The locking glove box, though tiny, is a plus. Guess I am so used to the creature comforts on my '92 Limited & my DD Dodge, they are hard to give up.

I still have the other 2, cleaning them up for re-sale, after which I'll start slowly with the '99 ... tune up, cleanup, swapping over minor things and generally driving it occasionally to get a feel for its quirks. After that, the drivetrain swaps (from my '92) will commence including my rears, plus bumpers, tires & stuff. Gonna take time & money, but I will try to plan everything out so that things should go smoothly. Hopefully this time next year I'll have a fully built '99 wheeler! I'll be selling parts from my '92 - almost everything except the rears & bumpers. Engine, tranny & 242 transfer case will be for sale too.