Cherokeesun

This is a re-introduction of sorts. About a year and a half ago I joined the forum on behalf of my mother who at the time owned a '91 XJ and was having possible ECU/PCM issues. I was seeking troubleshooting advice as I was trying to fix it. By all the helpful and knowledgeable responses I got I knew right away that this was a great forum.

Well, Mom eventually sold her Cherokee and bought another vehicle, and since I didn't own a Jeep, I stopped posting. Little did I know that in time, I too would be driving an XJ.

So two days ago I became the proud new owner of a clean '89 Cherokee Limited. She's got 200,900 miles, but as you can see by the pics, she's a real creampuff.

I got it off a woman I have been doing gardening and handyman work for who is totally honest and on the level, and I know she takes care of her vehicles. There are a few minor blemishes (couple parking lot door dings, some minor surface rust and paint chipping), but it's in AMAZING shape for a 22 year-old 4WD SUV with such high mileage. The interior is almost perfect save for a ripped driver's seat.

Other minor issues are it drips a few drops of tranny fluid when parked, and makes a little noise from the valves/lifters (hopefully just needs a rocker arm adjustment), some jackass bent the antenna (noticed it when I was washing it today, and I know it was straight when I bought it 2 days ago), and it seems to pull slightly to the right at highway speed. It seems to run strong though, oil pressure is decent (23-60 PSI), the 4.0 liter I6 motor has plenty of power, and it passed smog with flying colors.

As far as I know it's completely stock save for the awesomely fat brand new 31 inch Firestone tires (the PO said she just spent $800 on the rubber) and KYB gas shocks. Suspension feels tight, and it drives like a dream. It must have hardly gotten off the road in it's lifetime.

I bartered $1500 of my work for it; probably could have gotten it for less too, but I didn't try to haggle her down. She already sold me a really clean (but neglected), titled '73 Winnebago Minnie-Winnie RV with 86,000 miles on it for only $200 of my labor (which I put about $150 into and quite a bit of work) and sold it for $1500. Probably could have gotten over $2000 for the Winnie, but I needed to get rid of it in a hurry, the landlord was having a fit.

Not my first Jeep (when I was 18 or 19 I had a '70 Wagoneer that ran great and drove fine but looked like hell because it had been hit by a snowplow), but unlike the old Waggy this one is something I'm not embarrassed to be seen in and will actually do great off-road.

My immediate plans are to service the motor (want to get rid of that annoying little valve tick), sand off the rust and spot paint with some Rustoleum (hopefully the color will match), have the alignment checked, see if I can fix the minor tranny leak (maybe flush/drain the tranny fluid, new filter & gasket), upgrade the stereo, and buy a small trailer to tow my snowmobile, streetbike, & offroad toys.

Mostly this will be my DD, but I do look forward to getting a little dirty in it, just a little leery of damaging this cherry old rig; I'd like to keep her looking and driving good for at least another 100,000 miles.
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...657203e723dfa0
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...33d6a68a22ffab
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...ac45a75e70f506
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...13241e2e1d294a
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...b842ad7ca58a16
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...2fd9d351b93c45
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...2f446a198b3dac
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...6ab38a9411eee9
http://www.photoshop.com/users/chris...8a22ffab<br />

00-buck

Welcome from alabama

Jmb94

Mask off that grill and spraybomb it with some high dollar outdoor white. It will be smoother if you do it in layers and white is probably the easiest color to do this with. Great find, super sharp!
Join the Limited Club:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/li...xj-club-59011/

xjmuddigger

welcome to the forum

chris87xj

Sweet old XJ there, no doubt.
Stock w/31's?.. got rub?

ol"blue

Looks to be in nice shape, and a great deal.

Cherokeesun

I already bought some white Rustoleum (haven't painted it yet though), is there a better brand you can suggest Jmb94?

I haven't experienced it yet, although the PO told me yesterday that the rears will rub a little if you hit a big enough bump at highway speed. The tires don't have any marks on them though. A small lift would definitely be a really nice addition to this rig, especially considering the size of the tires. A possible future mod. For now, I'm just gonna drive it and see how it does.

I got my trailer 2 days ago, and registered it yesterday, did a little "test tow" around the neighborhood with my snowmobile on it, towed fine and of course the XJ had no problem pulling it. Can't wait to hit up the snow, we had a ton of late season storms this year (Sierras probably still getting snow right now as I type this as it has been cold and rainy in Reno the past 2 days) , so there's still time to go riding (most of the ski resorts are staying open well into May this year) before I have to put away the sled for the summer.

Thanks for the welcome and the compliments. I can see now why so many people love these old Jeeps!

Jmb94

I would say the Rustoleum's as good as it gets, I'm just recommending spraypaint instead of brushing, it comes out smoother. Just did my bumper with Rustoleum black and after waxing it it looks darn near factory. Kudos on the find again, I wish I could have found something that cherry when I bought mine!

Cherokeesun

Cool, thanks Jmb!

Really pretty much dumb luck me getting this thing; I was actually looking for a truck, and I happened to mention to this lady that I do landscape, gardening, and handyman work for that I was looking to buy another vehicle because my beat-up old '93 Aerostar was on it's last legs. Out of the blue she offered to barter the Cherokee to me for $1500 of my labor; she had bought a newer Toyota Tundra and was looking to sell it. Needless to say it was an offer I couldn't refuse, and I am really grateful to have her as a client. Damn good person to work for.

I'm in! https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/li...x6/#post972019

Char92dj8

Very nice find right there!
Good looking jeep... for being stock haha

1ATony

Welcome to the site,it's great to have you on the board.