Good to see you guys keeping these alive.

Emptypockets, Did you get my PM about the grille?

 

Before the end of spring I will be the owner of a 1986 cherokee, 2.8L 5 speed 2 door. Red interior and charcoal grey paint with a yellow pinstripe. The 2.8 was rebuilt, the odometer reads 247,000. The seller let me start it, it ran well. It's been sitting because it has no brakes, the slave cylinder is bad, and " something in the rear end is locking up" it is very rusty. But I want it because it is the first 86 I've seen in my area. It is 100% restorable. It needs: brake lines, master cylinder, brake booster, possibly few spider gears, slave cylinder, every floor pan and lots of misc metal work. The asking price is $300 and I'm going to turn this charCOAL rough jeep into a Diamond. And it's a 2 door. And I'm 6'5" and I fit better. If anyone cares, I'll put up the pictures I took of it.

Anyone....? Coal-diamond?

 

Sounds Like a fun project. Do yourself a favor though and replace the Dana 35 axle with an 8.25. There's really no point in doing any work to the 35. Post up some pics as well.

 

Here's the '86 MJ I dragged home.

 

According to the seller this is a new original AMC/Jeep water pump for $30 shipped. For the 2.8 liter.
Seller also has other vintage parts.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Cherokee-XJ-NOS-Water-Pump-P-N-8350807-AMC-Jeep-Factory-Part-/231197853419?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d47746eb&vxp=mtr

 

Here are the pictures I have so far. It's rusty, but I think it's worth it.

 

And for those you who ask, my jeep is the stock white 96, the red 95 there is my friend Joe's. I've always wanted a pre-87 cherokee. I'm not sure if I want to restore it, or go 5.5" of 33's. No clue yet. But I'm not 'hardcore' any ideas? I hear the driveshafts on these are none too friendly.

 

Looks like a good project. The front drive shaft is a gkn joint. If you go through my build thread you can see some of the obstacles you'll face and the approach I've taken on mine. I'm glad someone else is saving another 84-86. They're the misfits of the XJ world and I hate seeing them get killed.

 

Thanks. I am really into AMC's and I find these so cool. And I did take a peek at your build thread, and I must say you've done a great job with yours. The 86 I'm buying has grand cherokee rims, but I'd really like to find a set of the alloy rims yours had in the beginning with the center caps. Those are my favorite rims ever.

I'm really looking forward to getting into it.

I'm even thinking about selling my 96 to get a jump start on getting this one road worthy.

 

Thanks!

Turbines are damn awesome and are also my favorite factory wheels. Hopefully you'll start a build thread when you get rolling on it.

 

You and me both. I drive (well wife is using it now. Lol) an 85. People down here want my tail lights and old grille (just hanging on my barn wall as deco) so bad they keep trying to buy them.

 

To be Honest with you guys, I wanted a red 2door 84 chief with the carbed 2.5 but since pigs don't fly, I think what I found is special enough. I've never seen a matte charcoal grey cherokee until I saw the one I'm buying. My goal is to have it before the summer and have it on the road before the end of the summer. I'm psyched.

 

Well, it happened a few months after I wanted but I have acquired the cherokee. I'm going to start a build thread or moreover a restoration thread. I'm thinking of a name for the jeep and the build thread. I was thinking "Evil86" since when most people hear "2.8l V6" they get a sour look on their face. After looking it over today and yesterday I know it needs:
Spider gears in rear axle
Turn signals
Brakes. The master cylinder is full but the pedal goes to the floor. Not too sure what to think about this.
Every floor pan except the cargo, I can get away with patches for that.
Clutch master cylinder bled (it was empty) I'm hoping the internal cylinder isn't bad but Murphy's law I have a feeling it is.
Both quarter panels (2 door!)
Doors, driver I can get salvage passenger there's no hope.
Front drive shaft
Shocks
Valve cover gaskets
God knows how many vacuum lines....
The carb needs help (when I start it up it runs at 3k rpm)

The good:
IT RUNS. The motor was rebuilt and the odometer says 247k.
The transmission and transfer case.
It has a sunroof and wing windows and they don't leak
Did I mention it has a 2.8 that sounds beautiful?
Clean title, 1 owner. Despite having little floor left the sub-frame rails are all solid.


I know this sounds like (and is) an ungodly amount of work and money but it's an 86 5speed 2 door Laredo charcoal colored I think it's worth saving. I want to be able to say that I saved a jeep. it has all of my favorite options and this is one of the only pre 87 Cherokees I've ever seen (in NJ anyway, not too much lasts due to extreme salt...) and I think restoring it will be quite an experience. And fun!

 

excellent!

Sounds like you've got quite a project ahead. Good times!

I've only seen one pre-87 XJs in person too. I was amazed that it was locally plated - nothing lasts here for the salt. Had a nice two-tone paint job and Turbine rims. Quite the treat.

 

Hehe talk about sour faces... When I say it's a 2.5 I4 people give me the strangest looks 😛😝