First XJ: 1985 Cherokee Laredo 2 dr.
 

So back in April one of my friends who loves in Ohio the one day sent me a link to a dealers website that is local to him. It was of a pristine 1985 Cherokee with a 2.5 5 speed trans for $2750. Well he offered to buy it for me and I could come pick it up and pay him back. Well needless to say I couldn't resist and said go for it.

Here's some pics he took for me.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1554/2...31d810e0_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/2/1466/2...e21c59c5_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/2/1441/2...7e5f3549_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/2/1633/2...619bd919_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c6.staticflickr.com/2/1503/2...d25fd472_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1609/2...7921ec90_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/2/1531/2...a32a9f6c_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7184/2...8295bf9e_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7591/2...56672472_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

His 85 Blazer and the Jeep. They're basically the same color.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1638/2...2a84fc9b_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

Well about a month later I drove there from Iowa with a friend to pick it up.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7714/2...564c6e9a_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7687/2...005f4886_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

Drove 22 hours round trip and made it home safe and sound.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7099/2...bfd4e5f8_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7410/2...0fb60822_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

Had to take some scenic pics. I live in the only pretty part of Iowa. The North East corner, Illinois and Wisconsin are less than 2 miles from where I live.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7430/2...4b503311_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7221/2...9f70277f_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7382/2...4379a297_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7378/2...ff0a8807_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

First thing I bought for it were some NOS halogen fog lights from 1992 to replace the burnt out factory ones. I have yet to find time to put them on though.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7651/2...c3e2a724_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7734/2...87ab4bf2_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

Then I scored a factory radio off ebay.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7292/2...d1da5d7e_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

Installed but not working. Still trying to figure out the wiring someone really made a mess of it.

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7424/2...3e78cb34_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

After that I got a good deal on some Goodyear Wranglers online. I had to replace the 20 year old tires that were on it. They actually still looked almost new but I just didn't trust them.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7317/2...a6eb22e3_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7394/2...2475f395_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7554/2...d9698581_b.jpgUntitled by matt mckenna, on Flickr

Well that's all I've really done so far. I have some parts sitting in my garage right now. A valve cover gasket, 180 degree thermostat (since the one in it is stuck open or was removed because it always runs cold), and a fuel filter. Just need to find time to do all that. Also the fan clutch is bad so the fan is just engaged all the time which is robbing power (the little bit it has) so I'm just gonna put an electric fan in it. Also gonna convert to a Weber carb and get rid of the emissions stuff to free up some power. If anyone has any other suggestions to boost the power let me know. Not trying to make this thing fast but it is ridiculously slow and can't really handle any of the many hills in my area. Also if anyone has any suggestions or knows any good threads about radio wiring in the AMC Jeeps let me know. Sorry about the giant post I'm a pic whore haha. This won't be an offroady thread I'm pretty much leaving this stock I feel like turning this into an offroader would just be ruining a nice classic. Hopefully some of you find this thing as cool as I do lol thanks for looking.

Wow that things perty lol. How many miles when you got it?

Welcome to the forum! That's a sharp looking XJ. It's nice to see another 2 door 4 banger with the 5-speed. :cheers:

It has 227k according to the odometer. Not sure if it was pulled behind a camper maybe? If not it's amazing it's still in this good of shape.

Thanks! What year is yours?

Very nice.

Mine's a '93. :thumbup1:

Nice! Part if me wishes is was a 87 or newer so it'd have the 4.0 but I also love how it's so old and is an AMC.