pontiac_fiero_g

im looking for an entry level offroad vehicle that i can have some fun with while stock until im able to upgrade it. i will probably only add mud tires and possibly a small lift 3-4in later on. will probably go with some 35/12.50/15 and just cut the fenders for now. is there any certain year that is better than another in some way? i can get either an 89, 91, or 94 cheap right now and would like to know if any of these come with anything other than an open diff. any have a better transmission or tcase than others? better suspension? stronger engine? basically im asking you to sell me on your favorite model cherokee. i prefer an automatic. im not totally new to offroading i had a 86 bII with 33/12.50/15 and about 4 inches of lift as well as 4.56 gears front and back as well as "lincoln lockers" i loved it until some punk stole it. i hope he crashes it and dies.thanks in advance guys my name is mike

bigbadxj

If I had to choose in between the years you put up with out knowing anything about them I would say go with the '94 then the '91. I mean picking a Cherokee is just like any other car and you would prefer a I6 With a NP 231 TC all the auto's are about the same. I like the two and four doors( I have one of each) so that is up to you. Most of the other stuff you will prob. change so it isn't that big of a deal.

BudgetXJ

'91 and up have the H.O. I6 engine. If either the '91 or '94 have the chrysler 8.25 rearend in it thats a plus (Stronger than the d35). Pretty much just check the overall condition. XJ's are unibody so the less rust the better. And I wouldn't run 35's on stock axles. 33's at most but gearing is gonna suck (probably 3.55's with the auto)

pontiac_fiero_g

are there any cheap junkyard axles that i could replace them with that are direct bolt ins? any ratios i should look for?

BuckB91XJ

If the 94 is an automatic, like you want, go with it. It's the newest one so most likely has the fewest miles. Not necessarilly guranteed on that. Hopefully it has the 4.0 HO I-6 motor in it, if it's an auto, you're going to have the AW4 which is a stout automatic tranny. The 94 will have a non-vacuum disco front end so, in my opinion you're just as well off either way on the T-Case. You will get an NP231 Part time TC or an NP242 Full time T-case. You will be looking for it to have the Chrysler 8.25 rear axle over the Dana Turdy-5. That should help you out a little bit.

BuckB91XJ

If I had to make a choice of several XJs, I'd pick the one in the 91-95 era or ift here were several in that era I'd pick the one in the best shape with the 4.0 HO and bigger rear axle.

pontiac_fiero_g

how do i know wich axle it has?

BudgetXJ

the 8.25 has a flat bottom to the housing (center section) whereas the turdy five is round

bigbadxj

Here you go.

huntingman2706217

yeah manke sure the 89 doesnt have the D44 axle before you go buying the others... there hard to come by... wait maybe it was 87 and 88 that had them? im pretty sure 89 had them too... anyways check and double check... if the 89's a 5 speed i would have to think about it cause its a junk tranny and hard to get parts for... but you could easily swap it to the AX15... which is a 5 speed in newer jeeps and can hold the power of a light V8 and last a long time behind a 4.0... DO NOT get a 4 banger...

a1racer

i would go for the 94 or 91 witch ever has the 8.25 rear end and the auto but it the 89 has a dana 44 see if he will part it for you

Duncan1800

...or the V6 used in 1984-1986, which usually goes without saying.

Then again, your name mentions the Fiero GT, which used the very same V6 engine (GM's 60-degree 2.8) during the very same timeframe - maybe you have some expertise with it?

Even so, I still wouldn't recommend it. I hear nothing but bad things about V6 XJs - overheating, head gasket failures, and they don't even make that much more power than the four-cylinder.

In short, you're better off with any of the 4.0 sixes.

huntingman2706217

if you swap it out with the 3.1 out of a 90 or 93 chevy its waayy better... the head gaskets and intake gaskets are the best designed out of all of them... 94 and up they went to the spider intake and they blew motors up left and right... I had a 90 lumina as a gas getter with a 3.1 is the only reason i know... there actually pretty quick in a 3.1 or 3.4... 2.8's sucked... there all the same motor... a 3.4 is a bored and strokes 2.8... but the 3.4 had the crap spider intake also...either way... 4.0 is the best motor to get IMO... unless you can find one with a 350 swap

pontiac_fiero_g

the fiero i had was an 84 2m4 but had an archie conversion to a 283ci sb chevy from an older nova. the 2.8 gm v6 only made 142 hp and torque was i beleive in the 160-170 range. since the 2.8 and 3.4 gm are the same engine and the 3.4 was available in the camaro aswell as the ls1 is the bellhousing and motor mount location the same? i could easily find a junkyard jeep and 350 for under 1k and still have a little money to find the axles i want. that or the 4.3 v690 is a very torquey engine down low that makes ok power up top too and i think was offered in the same vehicles as the 350 so it should mount right up as well?

pontiac_fiero_g

what in particular is weak on the d35? the actual axles? housing? gear set? i beleive i can get a d44 from the rear of a bII but will it be a direct bolt in?