My first 4x4
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 238
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From: Idaho Falls,ID
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L, 242 AMC
My first 4x4
Hello everyone-
So I guess up until recently I would consider myself an import guy, but after getting my tax return I decided to buy a 4x4. First thought was to purchase a Toyota 4Runner, probably an 85 for the solid axle and efi. AFter talking to a few guys that were really proud of their trucks (Yota's) I realized this might not be the best route. So started surfing craigslist and it seems like the Cherokee has all I wanted and people are starting to give up on them and selling them for cheap. Looking through I saw a ton of leaky valve gaskets and oily engines. I logged on and started looking 4 days ago and ran into a 87 Cherokee 4.0 with "a leaky head gasket, and a rebuilt engine at 100k with 200k on the rig." (I have seen a ton of blown head gasket issues across the board so was something I was willing to tackle if the price was right.) I went and checked it out and it was in rough shape but the guy proved to me the head gasket was blown by wiping his finger across the valve cover and holding up to my face a greasy oily finger as to say "here it is, you can taste the blown head gasket" I blew this off as a whatever moment, I mean its not like the car had suffered something catastrophic and they guy was lying to me about it. I was really looking for a 5 spd, and it was not mentioned in the CL posting so to my de lite as we walked up it was everything I wanted and blown head or not I was willing to pay the $700. Oh yeah the engine was rebuilt at 150k according to the tag so 50k less miles than I expected. He asked me how I was gonna get it home because he would only drive it around the immediate area. It was a 45 min drive home and I had no trailer but I had antifreeze and oil and I was drivin that bad boy home. Filled all the fluids then took off stopping around every 15 miles to makes sure all was still well. The thing drove like a champ and it had been sitting for 3 years! Over the last couple days have been cleaning the crap out of this thing. Replacing things here and there and basically getting rid of old oil, mold, pollen you know. Missed a bolt on the valve cover and was perplexed for a couple minutes like tham this thing is glued on there lol. Should of bought a new valve cover but wanted to just clean this one up (if possible) and see how this thing runs with good fluids and wires and all. Broke my heater control valve laying RTV on the head so yeah first factory piece to go. Well anyway I love my Jeep already and will post pics on its progress any suggestions would be fantastic.
So I guess up until recently I would consider myself an import guy, but after getting my tax return I decided to buy a 4x4. First thought was to purchase a Toyota 4Runner, probably an 85 for the solid axle and efi. AFter talking to a few guys that were really proud of their trucks (Yota's) I realized this might not be the best route. So started surfing craigslist and it seems like the Cherokee has all I wanted and people are starting to give up on them and selling them for cheap. Looking through I saw a ton of leaky valve gaskets and oily engines. I logged on and started looking 4 days ago and ran into a 87 Cherokee 4.0 with "a leaky head gasket, and a rebuilt engine at 100k with 200k on the rig." (I have seen a ton of blown head gasket issues across the board so was something I was willing to tackle if the price was right.) I went and checked it out and it was in rough shape but the guy proved to me the head gasket was blown by wiping his finger across the valve cover and holding up to my face a greasy oily finger as to say "here it is, you can taste the blown head gasket" I blew this off as a whatever moment, I mean its not like the car had suffered something catastrophic and they guy was lying to me about it. I was really looking for a 5 spd, and it was not mentioned in the CL posting so to my de lite as we walked up it was everything I wanted and blown head or not I was willing to pay the $700. Oh yeah the engine was rebuilt at 150k according to the tag so 50k less miles than I expected. He asked me how I was gonna get it home because he would only drive it around the immediate area. It was a 45 min drive home and I had no trailer but I had antifreeze and oil and I was drivin that bad boy home. Filled all the fluids then took off stopping around every 15 miles to makes sure all was still well. The thing drove like a champ and it had been sitting for 3 years! Over the last couple days have been cleaning the crap out of this thing. Replacing things here and there and basically getting rid of old oil, mold, pollen you know. Missed a bolt on the valve cover and was perplexed for a couple minutes like tham this thing is glued on there lol. Should of bought a new valve cover but wanted to just clean this one up (if possible) and see how this thing runs with good fluids and wires and all. Broke my heater control valve laying RTV on the head so yeah first factory piece to go. Well anyway I love my Jeep already and will post pics on its progress any suggestions would be fantastic.
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