OK, I am looking at getting a cherokee. I have heard that the 4.0L is a rock solid motor. I have the chance to get a 1996 Grand Cherokee V8 with 161K. The rig looks like it is in good shape and has had some normal repairs. Is the V8 good too? I am not worried about gas, this is not my commuter. Also, what kind of money and I looking at spending for a 2-3 inch lift? This is a good deal since I can trade my truck for it, but I do prefer the boxier, non-Grand, Cherokees. Please, any help will be great.

 

The 5.2(318) is a good motor. I would like to have had one but I don't like the 249 transfer case. The 4.0 came with the 242 tc that has 2wd,full time 4wd,part time 4wd and 4 lo. The 249 has 4hi and 4lo. Also I have heard of people having trouble with the VC inside the transfer case and from what I understand fixing this is real expensive.

 

VC = Vacuum Control??? So I should hold out? I have been trying to sell my truck for weeks. This is the closest I have gotten to getting rid of it. This Cherokee is not lifted and if I do the trade, I won't have any money left over to do one anyway. Damn!

Thanks for the help

 

VC = viscous coupler, thisis what makes it 4wd fulltime. Take teh GC out for a drive and in a parking lot do tight figure 8s. If there is any binding or wheel hop when doing this the VC is bad and needs replaced or do what a lot do and swap the TC for a 242 giving you more options and eliminating th e VC all together.

Oh a VC replacement will cost aywhere from $1000 to $2000 depending on labor and area. A 242 can be swapped for under $500 if you do it yourself.

 

Get the V8, swap out the t-case and never look back!

 

Yeah I agree if fuel is not a problem.

 

Man i almost did this before getting my cherokee. There was a 2001 v-8 with 82k on the ticker for $10k. I test drove it and it was flawless.....and then saw it was full time and said "nah". Got a cherokee 2 days later.

The grands are super nice to drive though.

 

Except that the '01 didn't use the 249.....

 

Get the GC and swap in a 242. Then you can have the best of both worlds. Full time or part time or 2WD.

 

what did the 01's come with? i wonder why it said full time then? perhaps they had the year wrong on the window sticker. i dunno but it was full time. i tested it on the gravel lot. the v~8 sure kicks up dirt i was like WOW cuz i was coming from a 4 cyl on 33's. you can imagoine

 

AN '01 had the following TC options:
NV-247 Quadra-Trac II / Quadra-Drive
NV-242 Selec-Trac

1. Quadra-Trac II - NV247 - On-demand; includes low-range (2:72:1); single lever transfer case mode operation.

2. Selec-Trac - NV-242 - Full-time; two speed with shift on the fly; includes low-range (2:72:1); allows for two- or four-wheel-drive mode; full or part-time 4WD; single lever transfer case mode operation.

3. Quadra-Drive - NV247 - On-demand; utilizes a gerotor coupling in the Quadra-Trac II transfer case and in the Vari-Lok front and rear progressive axles to send torque to the front driveshaft and/or from side-to-side within each axle when wheel slippage occurs; includes low-range (2:72:1) single-lever transfer case mode operation.

Later.

 

I had a GC with the 5.2 in it. When I traded it in, oh what a horrible thing to have to do, it had 186,000+ miles on it. Not one oil leak, no smoke, no used oil, it was a great motor!! I had the 249 TC and wheeled the dog **** out of it with zero trouble, FWIW!! I would take a GC or an XJ, they are both freaking bullet-proof!!

 

My Toyota pickup ran for 350,000 miles before things started to brake , still managed to get over 500,000 on it before it hit the wrecking yard.

My 98 Cherokee with 124,000 has gone through 3 water pumps, three batteries, two alternators, brake booster, power steering pump, power steering high pressure hose, valve cover gaskets, two freeze plugs. Front shocks. This is a vehicle I use for a backup but now I'm afraid to drive this piece of ****, oh yah now it has a leak in the evap system and won't pass smog. Because it only gets 14 mpg I have been unable to sell it even though there's not a scratch on it and the paint is good.

It might be because there are so many Cherokee's for sale out here that it's a sellers
market right now. There's early 2000's with less mileage then mine selling for $3500.

Who ever matched this 318 motor with the transmission should have their head examined , you constantly have to play with the over drive button to get power before the tranny decides it going to shift gears, either that or put your foot through the floor board to keep it powered.



It runs great when it runs!

 

You dug up a dead thread from 6 years ago just to complain?

 

Yeah, I noticed da stain too.