1996XJSport

Is it me.. or are the 84-86 XJs getting REALLY rare? I've never been able to find them on the road, let alone the junkyard. Who here has one? I've always wanted to see if there are any differences (besides engine and drivetrain) between the two XJs I own and an AMC era XJ.

5-90

The "AMC Era" for Jeep ran through to about MAY1988 - when ChryCo took over operations & production.

I have an 88 in the driveway - the chassis changes are minimal all the way up, the engine changes are largely nominal, and the control system updated with time along with the rest of the ChryCo line (OBD-I rolled out in 1991, OBD-II in 1996. It was "pre-OBD" RENIX through the end of 1990 on the AMC-designed gasoline engines - the V6 from 1984-1986 was OBD-I (controls purchased from GM along with the engines,) and the Renault Diesel used its own system.

Changes to the engine block casting happened for 1991 and 1996, with changes to the cylinder head for 1991, 1996, and 1999/2000. Intake manifolds were timed with cylinder head changes, the exhausts are generally divided into 1987-1990, 1991-1998/1999, and 1999/2000-2006.

Anything else specific you'd like to know?

1996XJSport

Thanks for the info!
I'd also like to know about any changes to the interior

5-90

Minimal.

I'm sure that seats will swap 1984-1996 and 1997-2001, and will probably swap across that line as well.

The steering column changed slightly - AMC used the Saginaw (GM) column 1984-1988.0, Chrysler fitted their double-cut key cylinder to the GM column 1988.5-1996. Chrysler then fitted their own column 1997-2001.

The instrument cluster went through a few changes - the RENIX (1984-1990, AMC gasoline engine) was run entirely by discrete sensor signals. I don't recall when they went to the electronic speedo, perhaps someone else can confirm that? You can usually tell whether you have a mechanical or an electronic speedo by looking at the drive output on the transfer case - the difference between the single 1/8" mechanical cable and the two-wire electronic sensor output is usually readily visible. However, the instrument cup didn't change until 1997 - when the accessory sensors were all driven by the CAN bus using a multiplexed signal from the ECU. I'm also reasonably sure that the speedos were all electronic by that time.

1996 was a funny year - first year of OBD-II, last year of the old body style, so it will be a bit goofy.

The difference between 2D and 4D interiors within a given year, realistically, is the front seats. The front seats in a 2D will fold forward for backseat access, the 4D seats don't. They may be swapped readily (I have 4D seats in my 2D - since I broke the 2D seatframes. I don't need regular pax access to the rear seat anyhow.) Except for the side trim and pillar liners, the interior is the same (even the headliner board will swap handily.)

Anything else? I'm still working on Swappology - not even a tentative release date yet - but I've done an awful lot of digging...

1996XJSport

Actually the Saginaw column was phased out of the XJ lineup in 1995. After 1995, Chrysler started using their own steering column with the first gen airbag wheel. My 96 has one

I think 1996 was the first year for the electronically controlled gauges as they are the first year for OBDII. I know my XJ has the electronic cluster because I've had to replace bulbs and stuff before lol

I wonder if there are any mid year changes for the 96 model year. I know that 97 had some mid year changes with wiring.

5-90

1988 had mid-year changes as well, MAY-AUG being the flux time.

And yes, I freely admit that I may have gotten things off. I verify things before I put them in books, but I'm usually pulling stuff here off the top of my head (it may not be spot-on, but it's awfully damned close unless I need to make sure it's accurate...)

Beans

88 Cherokee Chief.
I would like a tach in the dash cluster. I need clue on what years, models came with these and would swap out. Thanks

5-90

Find one from 1987-1990 XJ, same engine (if you have the four-cylinder, you can go back to 1984 without trouble.) The tachs have different drivers, so you can run into headaches with that (I'm not entirely certain they swap offhand.)

I can check around to see if I have another spare, but I don't guarantee anything... But, 1987-1990 will be a direct drop-in swap if you have the 6-242, 1984-1990 if you have the 4-150.

1991-1995 may work, but I'm not sure just yet...

MallCrawlXJ

[QUOTE=5-90;1039668]Minimal.

I'm sure that seats will swap 1984-1996 and 1997-2001, and will probably swap across that line as well.
QUOTE]

they made some changes the floor plan in the 97+ cherokees and the seats will not swap across the line as you call it. yes with some fabrication, but that statement is misleading. sounds like a direct bolt in, but its def not.

MallCrawlXJ

nope....91+ guage cluster will not work for him. 90- use a speedo cable, and 91+ use an electronic speedo. electronics may work, but the speedo def wont.

1996XJSport

Haha its alright man don't worry about it!

5-90

@hudfabXJ - thanks for both of those - I wasn't sure, and wasn't going to look them up (it was late for me.) Since I couldn't be totally sure, I just wanted to qualify the statements I put out there - my apologies if the qualification was misleading, but I really do try to not lead people astray...

shanester

be careful even if you know they both have a mechanical speedo, my 1990 has a mechanical speedo and last time i went to the jy and there was a late 80 (dont remember the year) xj there and i grabbed the cluster and the connector on the speedo is different so its usless! i was mad cuz i was like "finally i got a tach in this thing!" so be careful on that

5-90

I think the speedo can be swapped between clusters, so that's still potentially doable, no? You can always change the face of the thing if it doesn't match the rest of the new cluster, and that saves having to reset the odo anyhow.

oldburbboy

I think it must just be where you live. Over here in Idaho there are gobs of them, particularly white ones...
Also, I have a 91 parts Cherokee but I drive an 87. As I have been dismantling the 91 to salvage one part or another I have noticed things you all might like to know.
First, it has a mechanical speedometer. Second, all of the wiring is identical (except for the plug for the cruise control) between both years but the keys are a different style. I switched the 91 column into my 87 and everything except for the cruise control works fine, but my cruise control didn't work in the first place so I don't really care about that bit.
I know it isn't much but I hope it helps someone