Just picked this 98 beauty up for $1800. 220K on it but was told it was already rebuilt once. Drove it home 2 hrs. and it ran great.

The trans in these ZJs is not nearly as tough as the AW4 we have all come to love. Its a Chrysler trans.

Ive got a baby now, so no more XJ DD for me. I already love the extra width, and am going up 3.5" and going to run 31s or 32s.

 

Because the ZJ has an average rating of 8.4 out of 10 in Kelley's Blue Book, and even higher on other consumer rating sources. The ZJ has 4 wheel coil suspension, and it is old enough to have just the right amount of electronic gadgetry to keep you satisfied, without getting too complicated, hence costing you more and more to fix unnecessary stuff. The Limited Editions are as comfortable as a Lincoln, and parts are, and will continue to be easily picked up. Just do me a favor. If you buy a ZJ, buy a Limited, and definitely get the 5.2, or the 5.9. Sure the inline 6 is a good motor, but you will love your V8. My 5.2 has 165,000 original miles on it, and it purrs like a kitten, and my mechanic owns a 5.2 with 360,000 miles on it. The V8's are just as bullet-proof as the 6's. DEAN

 

What HE said.

 

definately get the v8 if your gonna be towing. and its fun to smoke ricers off stoplights too

 

Lmao i hate ricers around me thats all there is used to be fun with my trans am or mustang smokin them and watchin them run their mouths on y they lost hahah

 

Yeah but! There ain't nothing like seeing their jaw drop when you smoke 'em with a 4X4!

 

I'm looking at a couple WJ's for my new DD & I thought i read on here that the V8's were crappy? I.... SO... CONFUSE'D???

All my Jeeps XJ's/ZJ/WJ had the Straight 6 & loved them, Is the V8 better because it's a V8 or is just as good or better than the 6??

 

These V8s are the same ones used in Dodge cars and trucks. Why worry?

 

Id stay far away from the 4.7 at all costs. They had bad oiling problems, and valve seat problems. I flipped a 2000 with a bad 4.7, my friend has a bad 4.7, by barber needs another 4.7.....maybe its a coincidence, but I have seen nothing but problems with many 4.7s in my area...........

and still Im selling parts to guys with 4.0s with 300, 400, and 500,000 miles on their XJs and ZJs............Im just saying.

 

A friend of mine owns a 1998 ZX and he hauls a Food Service Trailer around.

He has the 4.0 liter inline 6 cylinder and he has no problems towing the load.

He does have a problem STOPPING the load, sort of.

He replaces brake pads more frequently on the one he tows with then the one he does not tow with.

The concern with towing is not so much the motor, but the motors cooling systems and the vehicle braking systems.


Why did I buy a ZJ?

I picked up a 1998 ZJ Limited ( fully equipped ) for $1,200 with 130,00 miles on the odometer. Cost me the price of a CV axle to get it inspected and on the road. All told I am into it for $1600 on the road, taxes and tags included.

I was lucky to get one with the 4.0 liter engine .... cheaper overall costs.

 

IMHO, Chrysler's 4.7 is a poor design. Too many parts are made of powdered metal, complex in design, and hard to service. The main bearings are held in place by a one piece girtel made of powdered metal, all 5 in one piece. The power band is such that you have to "buzz" it up to get any torque. I could go on but you get the picture.

The brakes are another matter. I believe the brakes are adaquate for normal driving, and ANY vehicle that tows will go through brake pads more rapidly than one that doesn't. In 99, with the introduction of the WJ, the brakes were upgraded to dual piston calipers, much better but prone to their own issues.

My 97 ZJ was used to deliver newspapers which was stop-and-go 350 times in 4 hours, plus the normal turns and stop signs. The route was only 43 miles and I got about 10K miles on a set of brake pads. My front wheels showed signs of brake dust every week. I checked them regularly and never had a problem with them.

The engine was a 4.0 with 235K on it and I only had to replace the water pump and exhaust header. I replaced the alternator because of low output when the rear window defrost was on. I had the usual replacements of wheel bearings and u-joints associated with a high mileage vehicle. I hartily recommend the ZJ to anyone.