Sure...but not without at least hearing it run first. Too many unscrupulous people selling junk these days.
220K with good maintenance might easily be better than a neglected 120K motor.
There is relatively little preventing these motors from running 300K+ miles without major repairs if they are properly maintained.

 

Just buy the 97. It has fewer miles and is probably in better shape. Plus the 93 is from a grand Cherokee (ewwwwwwww).

 

well, lost another gamble off craigslist, my dad and mom went for a 4hr round trip ride today... 4.0 out of a '94, had 80k on a rebuild, they get there, and had 3 bolts busted off into the mounting ears.... came home, i texted the guy, told him hes a ********e... he said he will try to get them out... he just texted me, said he got one of them out, said the other two will need to be drilled out, and helicoiled, and then he said a peice of metal is broke off the one ear, and will need to be re-welded on, and he originally wanted $350 for it, now he said he will give it to me for $100. should i do it? or is that not worth it? he said it leaks nothing and runs great. help me out please

 

you might want to keep looking if he was the one that did the rebuild and maintenance on the motor

look for a 91-95 xj motor
90 and older are renix
96 and up went to OBDII

 

Why not just pull your engine and have a machine shop rebuild it ?Or hit up a few junkyards and have them start the engine before you buy it.

 

So true! I wouldn't trust a rebuild unless I know the person doing it. Rebuilt is a term that can get really stretched sometimes.

I also agree with finding a somewhat low mileage put of another xj. Can't go wrong there.