Greetings,
I am new here and I am looking forward to participating. I have a questions, I want to buy a Cherokee to rebuild, bit a frame up but fix up and make a dependable vehicle to get out of town and do some off the beaten path camping etc... I am partial to the 1988 are there any things I should know about this year before I start looking?

Thanks

BL

 

First thing to know is that there is no frame on a Cherokee. 88 is not a bad year, but the 91 and up are a little easier to work on as far as driveability issues go. Rust is the biggest enemy to a Cherokee. Check the floors and rockers.

 

If you like the early body style look at a 96 or 95 they are the last of the body style.I would spend more for a nice clean virgin xj then 500 bucks for something that is totally trashed.

 

Yeah, plan on spending about 4 grand for a clean and reliable XJ. Even if you find a less than clean runner for a thousand, you're still going to blow another 3k to get it to where you want it. You have to decide, four thousand up front and enjoy the ride now? Or slowly spent the same money for a rig that will have the hood up every other day? This is not the case with all XJs, just most of them. Ever hear the expression "even a free boat is expensive"? Same for Jeeps.

 

Once you learn to work out the gremlins in the Renix system, it is a reliable, and simple system to work on imo.
The mileage on an 88 is going to be high though, unless you find an exception
in decent condition, with lower miles.
91 and up gives you HO, OBDI (then later OBDII), newer intake design & cam, a touch more HP,
and no EGR system to hassle with if you live in a commie state.
But no newer XJ can compare to the uniqueness of the Renix Experience.
You will want to ditch that Frenchy transmission if its the 5spd manual, in favor of a AX-15 when it goes.
(Auto trans does not apply, AW4's are good)
Oh and BTW my 88 is Clocked @350k miles and counting..........
Try and wring that out of a current production auto.