Hello! Glad I found this site, hope to get some help from you folk. I just obtained a 1988 Jeep Cherokee XJ
in a trade I made. Anyhow, thinking about keeping it but don't know what I should do with it. I would like some advice on what to do with it(lift tires etc...) it's a 4x4. Also, It has an overheating problem.

It will run fine until driving it for 5 minutes and then it overheats. When I shut it off, the reservoir looks like it is going to explode and coolant is leaking out of it. Any hell would be greatly appreciated.

 

These are known for cooling issues. It is often worth it to do a full cooling refresh when you are having cooling issues. Since you have the older closed cooling system I would look at converting it to the new system. There are many write-ups out there.

 

Company just showed up...search "burping a Renix". Your jeep..it's a trick to get all the air out...

 

Could be the reservoir or something as simple as the cap on the bottle.

 

OK, here's my shot at it. (ignore stuff about removing the temp sender at the LR top of the head)

To be through, make sure the air bleed hole on your Mopar 195* T-Stat is at 12:00, UP. (this is there to let air through.

The idea is to let air go up up and out. Here you can fill it to the top, and leave the cap off. With the front only a little above the rear, (say 10in. at the wheels), Air in the engine will move forward. Now the expansion bottle and the cap are still above the T-stat housing, where the air in the water jacket now wants to go up and out.
Let it idle a bit, it should start "spewing" as water hits hot metal in there making steam. Now turn it off to cool 10 minutes. Then start it and add coolant leaving the bottle always 1/2 empty. Repeat.
WHEN YOU FINALLY GET THE THING BURPED, REMEMBER TO ALWAYS LEAVE THE EXPANSION BOTTLE AT LEAST 1/2 EMPTY, OR YOU WILL SOON NEED ANOTHER CAUZ IT BLOW UP!)

Napa bottles ARE WARRANTED FOR LIFE !

Might work level, might work with the wrong T-stat.....

 

Note from DJ
Welcome
89XJ Coolant flush troubles, quickly boiling over on 07-30-2010
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1039874
Information from Joe Peters is from a old Jeep pro.
Keep us posted with your progress or questions.