hey guys, first off im new, my name is sam and im from connecticut. ive never been a jeep guy but recently i realized a cherokee would fit all my junk, be a good dd, and be fun to wheel occasionally at the same time. so here i am, havent bought anything yet figured ide ask the pros first. anyways, looking forward to chatting with you all and learning some stuff before i start my new project.

ive got an opportunity to get an 87 jeep cherokee pioneer, 4.0, 5 gear, for the owner says, 400, but mentioned if i came and look he'd probably just give it away... so i am considering it, i have some money to work with but my toy truck project takes most of my funds so the jeep will be a budget build. i was told 97 and up are the best jeeps to get, and that a regular cherokee has a stronger tranny than a grand cherokee. is this true? also, what is the difference between a regular cherokee and a cherokee pioneer? what are some things i should look for when i go look at this jeep? it has about 200k on it and is baby **** yellow, thats about all the guy knows haha. i guess it was his uncles dd and he died and now its been sitting in the guys yard for 2 months.

if i decide to look for something else, what should i look at? looking to spend between 500-1500. also, on regular cherokees, are lift kits interchangeable through the years? motors and trannies? what do i need to know and whats the best? looking to learn here haha.

ok thanks all, looking forward to bs'ing with you all.

-sam

 

The cherokee tranny is much better than the grand cherokee one. It has 200k miles, but sence it is a cherokee it could keep going, but it is more likely to have problems around this milage. Lift kits are interchange able through the years, same thing in all of them, leafs, coils, u bolts and shocks. Thats what i can answer, but 400 seems good to me.

 

I have an 87 cherokee and its great. Never hasn't started.
Only difference between mine and a pioneer edition is the options package. Cherokees are all the same, minus the options

 

I have an 87 cherokee and its great. Never hasn't started.
Only difference between mine and a pioneer edition is the options package. Cherokees are all the same, minus the options

 

are there any kind of advantages to getting a newer one instead of the 87? are the engines or drivetrain any better as they get newer? im trying to figure out why my friend told me 97 and up was the best.

also, when i look at this thing, what should i look for? are some transmissions better than others? what are some common things that will probably be going bad that i should look at? obvious mechanical things ill find but whattabout rust, floorboards, frame, etc.

 

Sam, being from CT you'll carefully want to check the floors for rust being from CT.

 

Crawl underneath with a screwdiver and poke around the floors. O common problems I have is Waterpump lasts about 2 years the usual oil leaks from valve cover sometimes a radiator. But stay on top of it and your fine. I have a 88 and a 89 for the past 7 years and nothing major has happened.

 

X2 I'm from CT and my 89 ended up getting new floor pans 3 years ago. Since then I try to keep them free of winter salt.

 

are they really that bad as far as rotting out floorboards? what are some typical leaks other than the above mentioned? rear main seal usually hold up well? i know they suck with 5.0 mustangs haha. ive been watching jeep videos online for a little while, its getting me a psyched up. i can tell this is going to turn into an addiction haha.

where in ct are you from dan?

 

I say for 400 or less just go for it. If not you can always clean it up and resell it.

 

I wouldn't particularly say the newer models are better. They have more hp as they get newer but what do you expect as technology advances. But with more electronics comes more headaches too. My cherokee is a base model, roller windows, hand control windows, everything is people powered. I never have issues with power window switches or motors or any of that junk. The only thing I wish my cherokee had is cruise control.

As far as motors, if I ever have to replace my motor, I will put in a high output one from a 95 or so, like my wife's prior jeep was. That motor was was so quick versus my 87 but this motor doesn't have any issues other then lower hp and tq.

I believe all the trannys are the same but am not 100% sure on that. I know there are different transfer cases and axles available too so just browse through here and learn what you can so you are educatd when you check that one out

 

its seems like a good deal either way but while your underneath it pokin around lookin for rust look at the rear axle if it has a dana 44 under it you got one hell of a deal

 

how can i tell if its a dana 44?

 

here ya go