Looked at a Cherokee today.

[TJDave]

Here is the story:

Some of you met my friend Rick who was riding shotty with me at FYBR. He has a nice restored Flatty with a SBC in it that he and his dad built years ago. He and his wife camped with our group at PUAM, and we almost had him talked into turning his Flatty into a wheeler..............

Then came FYBR! He was very impressed with the Cherokees on the trail that day. "Even the little white one did awesome", said he. I reminded him again that there was a maniac behind the wheel.
The low initial cost, room for the family, and keeping the Flatty safe, made the choice a no brainer for him.

Anyway, that's the story. I hope he will invent a clever user name, register on the forum, and start a "Save the flatty XJ build" thread.

Here's what we looked at today. 1987 Pioneer. Totally stock, AW4 Trans, NP242(?) TC, trailer tow package with factory D44. Runs good, but has high miles-175,000. Everything works, drives straight and smooth, but I could not get it to shift into 4lo. Maybe the vacume disco, or a linkage problem? No clue.

Since I know almost nothing about XJ's, I told him I would ask you guys if you think this is a good one to start with. ???????




EDIT: Model year correction

[OldGreen]

Yes. I don't think it has a factory d44.....not in that year range.

I an almost complete np231 from the same vintage that just needs a chain if the tcase needs replaced.

[OldGreen]

And that is a 1996 at the latest. Last of the square Xj. Look at the rear end. If it is flat across the bottom it is an 8.25. If it is a smooth oval then it is a d35.

[OldGreen]

More: no vacuum disco on that. Could be linkage. Does it have a full time 4x4 position on the selector? If so it is a 242.

[TJDave]

It's not a D35 oval, that much I know. When I peeked under it... Has the solid threaded fill plug. Looked like a d44 but I could be wrong. PO says it's a D44, but that does not necessarily mean it is!

Oh..The year is 1987

TC shift pattern (2 hi-4hi lock-4wd (full-time)-neutral-4 lo lock)???

[toyman2]

If it has the over flow bottle up by the fire wall and that is the coolant fill, those like to over heat. the reason is they are a bit@% to burp all the air out of

[TJDave]

^ I can't remember. I should of took a pic of the engine bay while we were out there.
One small belt driven fan on one side of the rad. One small electric fan on the other.
Weird. Wagons are strange creatures.

[mattawajeep]

^ I can't remember. I should of took a pic of the engine bay while we were out there.
One small belt driven fan on one side of the rad. One small electric fan on the other.
Weird. Wagons are strange creatures.

Is it a diesel?

I believe that the cherokee's with a towing package come with a secondary electric fan to help cool the aw4.

[TJDave]

^Not a diesel. 4.0 litre. Runs pretty darn smooth considering the age and miles.

I think he should get it.

[White trash]

A mechanical clutch fan with a small electric fan is standard issue on that era with a/c. The rear axle could easily be swapped for a cherocar or carmanchy metric ton Dana 44.

[tobyw]

'87 with the factory tow package should have the mythical D44. I'd jump all over that puppy if it's a reasonable price. And by reasonable, I mean like $500 or so... 175k miles is nothing if it's been maintained, and the 4wd simply can't be that difficult. Worst case, you find a complete new t-case for a couple cases of cheap beer and swap it out.

[OldGreen]

A mechanical clutch fan with a small electric fan is standard issue on that era with a/c. The rear axle could easily be swapped for a cherocar or carmanchy metric ton Dana 44.

Yeah, it is an 87. . .so, D44 is likely. Mine has the same Fan set up and seems to work fine.

[TJDave]

Cool. Thank you for all the feedback.

I will let him know....or better yet, maybe he is lurking as a visitor....You getting this? Sign up already!

[toyman2]

If i remember right the electric fan is for AC, and the other fan is for normal motor cooling