hi all
my buddy wants a jeep. he really wants an XJ. he isnt super sharp with cars but wants to learn, so im helping him out. my main knowledge is with ZJs though. my buddy likes the older, boxier XJs, so hes looking at ones from like 92-96. what, if any, are some problem items we should look out for?

i know all the basics:
check all over for rust
smell the trans fluid, if it smells burnt, not a good sign
all that stuff, im just wondering if theres anything XJ-specific i need to look out for?

 

Floor pan and rocker rust is the big one and how does it run and drive.Look for a virgin xj with no mods at all.The auto trans in them is pretty strong not something to worry about.Look at the t case the np231 is the better one to get.

 

Ax-15 manual is great too.

If it's been wheeled the crossmember will be beat to hell.

 

Check for movement In the rear end. Also check to make sure the front sway bar isn't tweaked

 

Rear main seal leak a really big job and usually points to crankshaft walk overhaul time when engine removed.

Fred

 

we looked at a few today, and i think we found the one he wants to buy.
its a 91 laredo 4 door, 4x4 with the 4.0 HO. its got 178xxx miles on it. body looks good, no rust, interior looks perfect as well. only problems i could find were the tires are bald (and mismatched) and it leaks some oil. im thinking the oil leak is the oil pressure sender though since the gauge is broken (stuck at 40psi). we didnt actually meet the seller, we called him and he was out of town, but he said the jeep was in front of his house if we wanted to go take a look at it, so we did. he has it listed for 2600 (crazy, i know), and on the phone he said the lowest he would probably go was 2300. still crazy. my buddy really wants this jeep. he has 2100 cash. i told him to offer the guy 1700, and i wouldnt go higher than that. sound about right?

heres the ad:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/3977255260.html

 

anyone?

 

engine noise? I would keep shopping around and wouldn't offer anything more than $1900 for it

 

The oil leak could be the valve cover,It had a head put on it not that long ago they could have screwed up the valve cover.The engine noise would make me walk away from it unless it was dirt cheap like 1500 or less.

 

Rust should not be too much of a problem in your area.

 

Bustedback that's not always true tho,Some times it might be from another state far away.My brother bought a car and had a carfax ran on it for a laugh,We live in Kentucky and the car spent a lot of its life in Colorado no clue how it ended up here tho.

 

i didnt get to hear the "engine noise" because the seller wasnt actually present when i looked at the jeep. me and my buddy are hopefully going to go back later today and hear it run. weren't the exhaust manifolds on these notorious for cracking? that could be all the noise is and the seller just thinks its from the engine because its in that area.

 

1. General condition of the drivetrain. If it runs good then look for leaks or loose rear end etc...
2. Body in good shape. Rust is a pain in the butt to get rid of...
3. Interior condition in particular the drivers seat. This seat gets the most wear so look carefully there.
4. Stock or lifted? What are you looking for DD or trail queen find the one you want? I prefer DD's even though its my toy. I like a reliable rig.
5. What rear axle is under it? Dana 35 with or without ABS walk away. If you are lucky enough to have a Chrystler 8.24 or Dana 44 then buy that one.
6.The end of the day is it something that you are going to build as a work in progress of do you want something more finished. Its up to you.

 

1. havent heard it run yet, but it does leak a little oil.
2. body is excellent, no rust at all and no major dents or dings
3. interior looks perfect as well
4. its a virgin one. my buddy plans to lift it a few inches and it will be his DD/weekend wheeler
5. its got the 8.25

 

bad news guys

we just went the drove it and it drives great. everything was great. we got the guy down to 2000 and my friend was happy with that, but my friends dad wanted to have his buddy check the vin (owns a car lot so hes got access to all that stuff). and its good thing he did. he found that in 06, the odometer was rolled back 100k! so its probably got 278k on it now! i genuinely feel bad for the seller though, because he bought it in 07, and i doubt he had anything to do with the odo being clocked. he seemed like a real straight up guy. oh well. the search continues.