We have a convert, he has seen the light. "Rocky" was a believer in CJ’s but after spending a weekend surrounded by XJ’s, he decided that he’s sick of hopping around in his little CJ-5 and that it’s time to grow up and upgrade to an XJ.

The question is, which one.

Any recommendations?

 

well seeing he has a cj5 and is used to the basics, i might say a late 80s to mid 90's. im very happy with my 93. also i hear from alot of people that they respond much better to lift kits and things than the newer ones do. only problem he might have to address is the rust issue. which im sure he will be fine having a cj5

 

I would shoot for a 96. You get the possiblity of 29 spline 8.25 depending on build date, the body was given some new strength bracing over the earlier model, and 96 had the highest production numbers throughout the XJs run.

 

x2! I was just going to say that. I also heard the pre-97s are a bit easier to mod. I'm happy w/my '95, although the new interiors are plush. Would be a HUGE upgrade in creature comforts from the CJ. So, I'd say either a '96, or a '99. Depending on best deal.

 

Personally, 97 & 98 have my vote as best.


I think the 97+ style looks best. The interior is definitely a leap up from the older ones.


The 97 & 98 only have 2 oxygen sensors and no pre-cat setups to worry abut. Still has OBDII to help with diagnostics. So it's a little more "hot rod-able" then the newer stuff.


By mid 99 ... the LP 30 was being used and you had the much more complex exhaust. But you get the better intake manifold.



Just my 2 cents



Joe

 

I prefer Renix jeeps, you can diagnose them with a chinese 5$ tester and still run the engine with 70% of the sensors unplugged.

 

94!

 

That exactly the problem with them. Everyone grabs the cheap Chinese sensor and then can't diagnose it because the numbers are all wrong.







Joe

 

The chinese tester just displays "something", and that "something" is enough in most of the cases because opposed to "nothing", for all the other cases i got my Fluke 175...

 

Renny, dependable, available, and cheap!! It's all about the budget!! Dang, isn't that always the case!! After watching him behind the wheel of his CJ, IDK if I want him in an XJ, he might make us look bad!! LOL!! Best of luck on the search Rocky!!

 

Personally, I would recommend a Renix, 87 to 90. I own an 89 and 90, they are easy to work on and parts are plentiful and cheap. I know Rocky will be upgrading axles anyway so the fragile d-35 and the smaller u-joints on the d-30 will not be an issue. He just needs to find a stock rig with low miles that hasn’t been trashed.

And to Rocky, NO YOU CANNOT HAVE MY 89.