Hello PNW!
Somewhere at the end of this is a question. I'd like your local opinions.

I took a '96 GC Limited in part trade (all stock) and it turns out to be a really nice rig! I like a 'tight ship' so I've since been chipping away at a few things. She came with all new front brake stuff & new CVs. Fresh tune-up. Tires are almost new. Stock wheels not so nice tho. Awesome running 4.0, 249J with no probs, 42RE needs a tiny bit of help. I've done hatch struts, tightened up steering box, injector upgrade, new header/hiflow cat/flowmaster,tailpipe. Oil filter adapter gone. Fresh valve cover gasket. K&N 'warm air' intake.

Waiting to do (once I get a friggin day off work!) oil pan gasket & rear main seal, HV pump (just because I'm in there), shift kit & accessory cooler, V8 shroud, 'resolder' fix for intermittant "coolant sensor bad".

So here comes the question. Finally!
You guys & gals on here are a baaaaddd influence on me and you don't even know it! (or me for that matter)
I'd like to do some wheeling now so..... Do I move ahead with plans for a L.A. kit, wheels & tires? or do I trade/sell this really nice, clean, solid, not screwed with, stock mall-hopper for something already trail ready? ;A jeep that I would not feel bad if I boogered it up wheelin?

 

Dent it!!! Lol. I traded my super clean zj for a xj cause I didn't want to screw up the 2 owner zj.
Plus a xj wheels better IMO.

 

Sell it and buy a Cherokee XJ!!

 

You can build you GC and get it trail ready, but If it's the clean tight ship you want your not Gunu be happy when you take it wheeling cuz dents, dings and breaks happen often. Your choice but IMO...XJ!!!

 

Just from personal experience, Grand Cherokee's are an electrical nightmare. I have had 2 cherokees and 1 wagoneer, and would never consider buying a Grand Cherokee unless it was a brand new SRT8. I say sell the thing and get top dollar. Buy a nice 97 - 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ thats all stock and build it up to your standards. the 4.0 I6 is a great engine but the 42RE tranny is not so great. and as mentioned before, the ZJ (Grand Cherokee) is a electrical nightmare.

 

Agreed! The more options they put into these rigs, the more stuff goes wrong! So far, I'm pretty impressed with this lil rig tho. Best as I can tell so far, every option works except for one rear window motor and the steering wheel stereo stuff since it's been aftermarketed. Oh and the preprogrammed mirror positions are hit & miss. Window I'll fix. Mirrors.... maybe.

What got me thinking about this were the posts about guy's better halfs complaining about their 'fence-post ridin' rigs or "all of the rattles n squeeks". This thing rides/drives like an old Caddy!

Thanx for the input, all. I've got time yet to ponder this.

 

Honestly, The Grand Cherokee is great on pavement, and that once in a blue moon 4WD. But to turn it into a wheeler... Your better off with a Wrangler or Cherokee. Parts are more available for them then the Grand Cherokee.

 

wheel it long arms all around

 

I vote keep the grand cherokee and lift it and wheel it. If I had a zj I would gladly build it for wheeling

 

Sell It!!! Not because it can't be a capable rig but because you are sitting on a ticking time bomb. If you are having trans problems it's doubtful a shift kit will cure your problem. After working at a trans shop I can't count how many transmissions came through the door only to fail after a fluid change. And the 42re are hard to find used and when you do they aren't cheap. My buddy has one and we've been looking for a while for one to come through at a reasonable price and can't find one. And rebuilds on them are far from cheap. That and XJ's rule

 

he is right you should through a aw4 with a 23 spling 231 in it and then wheel it

 

Well....
I like the ZJ suspension design. Generally. Meaning I think coils & links flex better and track better than leafs.
Cheaper... no. Stronger.... no.

I suspect this 42RE has the typical busted mod spring and a dirty gov. It takes its time on the 2-3 upshift when its cold. Already picked up a 231 also. Gonna freshen it up before it gets installed, if it does.

On the other hand, I like the simplicity of the XJ and the ZJ is a hog afa weight! Not interested in wheeling a carb, so gotta be injected. OBDII don't scare me any.

Point against selling: Thank You gas prices, there are boatloads of these things on CL now. and nice ones. CHEAP!

Decisions, decisions.....

 

I would keep it and but the 1997 xj in Arlington on cl for 1000.00......you can use it to tow your xj eventually

 

A jeep is a jeep! We have bantam and the world war to thank for our jeep obsession! Whatever u choose to do.....when you break something make it better. That's the best advise I can give y

 

I will only replace parts like axel shafts and whatnot when I break them......I still have all stock axels in my xj. When I break one I'll upgrade to chromoly.