Thinking about buying a ZJ!
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wilimington
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thinking about buying a ZJ!
I have an opportunity to buy a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee for $1000, it has 177k miles on it, it's all time 4wd with a V8. The body is in pretty good condition. He says the only thing I need to do is to fix the door lock the drivers side door. I've never owned or messed around with one of these, I just wanted to know how reliable is the V8 and the all time 4wd. I think he is pretty firm on the price, is it a decent price? Thanks
#2
ill tell you this..if it has a trailer hitch i wouldnt buy it...a v-8 grand with a trailer hitch isnt a good combo..
ive just heard that the trannys in them arent the greatest when used for towing
but for a grand, thats not bad at all...id buy it just for the heck of it...if nothing else you could turn it into a sweet trail rig
ive just heard that the trannys in them arent the greatest when used for towing
but for a grand, thats not bad at all...id buy it just for the heck of it...if nothing else you could turn it into a sweet trail rig
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wilimington
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
ill tell you this..if it has a trailer hitch i wouldnt buy it...a v-8 grand with a trailer hitch isnt a good combo..
ive just heard that the trannys in them arent the greatest when used for towing
but for a grand, thats not bad at all...id buy it just for the heck of it...if nothing else you could turn it into a sweet trail rig
ive just heard that the trannys in them arent the greatest when used for towing
but for a grand, thats not bad at all...id buy it just for the heck of it...if nothing else you could turn it into a sweet trail rig
It does have a trailer hitch. I didn't ask him if he had towed anything with it. Any thoughts about the motor?
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wilimington
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Trending Topics
#8
Caracticus Potts The Mod
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Guilderland NY
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6 w/ K&N and bored TB
How exactly is that bad for the t-case. Unless he drives it around it in Full Time 4wd it should make abosulutely no difference that the driveshafts not there. If he does (makes no sense to me why you would but...) I still dont see how it would hurt anything.
#13
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wilimington
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
That's exactly what it has, he says he takes out just so it will not be 4wd on pavement all the time and to save gas . I'm going to put the front drive shaft on before anything and see what happens. Thanks everyone!
#14
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bristol,Pa
Posts: 5,188
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
Year: 94
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
He pulled the front driveshaft to attempt hiding a worn viscous coupler. The NP249 (ZJ fulltime case) is notorious for this and why most swap in a 231 or 242 transfer.
Put the shaft in and do some tight circles and figure 8's.. if it's hopping the VC is shot.
Check the oil and rad levels. The V8's have an issue with the plenum gasket where it will burn oil/water. Pull the oilcap and look for a white residue. It's not an expensive job to replace.. just quite a bit of labor.
If properly maintained these engines will last well into 300+. However, this is heresay as i havent personally.. what i read on the net. My V8 has 170ish and ticking along well.
#15
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tenn. and Mich.
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
He pulled the front driveshaft to attempt hiding a worn viscous coupler. The NP249 (ZJ fulltime case) is notorious for this and why most swap in a 231 or 242 transfer.
Put the shaft in and do some tight circles and figure 8's.. if it's hopping the VC is shot.
Check the oil and rad levels. The V8's have an issue with the plenum gasket where it will burn oil/water. Pull the oilcap and look for a white residue. It's not an expensive job to replace.. just quite a bit of labor.
If properly maintained these engines will last well into 300+. However, this is heresay as i havent personally.. what i read on the net. My V8 has 170ish and ticking along well.
Put the shaft in and do some tight circles and figure 8's.. if it's hopping the VC is shot.
Check the oil and rad levels. The V8's have an issue with the plenum gasket where it will burn oil/water. Pull the oilcap and look for a white residue. It's not an expensive job to replace.. just quite a bit of labor.
If properly maintained these engines will last well into 300+. However, this is heresay as i havent personally.. what i read on the net. My V8 has 170ish and ticking along well.
Dan