[Elrod]

My last 4X4 was a '66 International 1200, in the early seventies.
My dad had a Wagoneer, and a Cherokee, but hated trying to get parts from Mopar dealers.

The Jp magazine is full of modified rock climbers, and talks about Peugot transmissions, etc?

A friend has an '86 Cherokee for sale for $1500, with a 4 banger; five speed; and 180K mi.

I'm a mechanic, and wonder if I'd be happier with an old pre-smog (CA) CJ-7/5?

I haven't had a Jeep, myself.

Who likes/dislikes their Jeeps?

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Elrod,

For what it's worth, living up here in N. Idaho, and back in the boonies to boot, 4WD's are a way of life.  We have several, a Ford F100 4x4 short-bed, Isuzu Trooper, Chevy Suburban 4x4 half-ton, Suzuki Samuri, and lastly a Jeep Grand Wagoneer (full size).  

Of the litter, the Grand Wagoneer is by far and away the very most sure footed vehicle I've ever driven on ice and snow, bar none!  It is absolutely the finest handling of the other 4WD's (at least full size) that I've driven as well.  Parts haven't been a problem thus far, but we also have Spokane, Wa only 75 miles away too, and it is a regional hub for such distribution channels.  

As for your preference, or what you'd be happy with, it's all a matter of what you'll use if for, and the type of driving it will be subjected to.  I've got a couple of friends with Cherokees in the year range you mention, and they are perfectly happy with them, and would purchase another one in a minute if something happened to their current model.

We use our 4WD's daily, but each for different purposes.  The Wagoneer is a well built, heavy vehicle that my wife feels very comfortable with, and is an especially safe rig for the family to travel around locally.  The Suburban is for longer trips with the whole family, and has cargo room to haul a real load if the need arises, and is our primary tow vehicle for boats, utility and travel trailers.  The Isuzu is a run-around locally type of rig, great on the snow and ice, narrow wheelbase makes for easy manuvering when in the boonies with the family.  It's not especially comfortable for longer trips due to cramped quarters.  The Ford F100 SWB is a workhorse, doing any and all hauling tasks and is used entirely as a working vehicle.  The little Samuri is my favorite woods bummin' vehicle!  It'll go where most ATV's will go, having such a narrow footprint, and is sooooo very short, that you can generally pull a U-ball in the middle of most logging roads without backing up or jockeying!  It gets 35+ mpg and has NEVER been stuck, either in snow or mud.... a very fun rig, and super economical.  Soft top is really a blast in summer.  NOT a highway runner.  It can be pretty small, even for two people and hunting gear.... and unless you're traveling light camping, better take a utility trailer along!

Bottom line, choose based on what you'll do with the Cherokee.  

Have fun, and let us know what you do!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[El Lobo]

Elrod,

I have a 1990 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 liter straight six engine with 176,000 miles on it.  In December I got 19 mpg for all driving that month, very good for me.  I plan on driving it until it passes 300,000 miles and will decide then whether to try for 400,000.  

I use it for my daily commute to work, and when hunting time comes I drive back the dirt roads and logging paths.  Some of the other 4x4 guys drive on buy into the "real boonies".  It is essentially stock, and with regular maintenance, has never given me a problem.

Regarding your 4-cylinder prospect, Jeep offered a 2.8 liter (I think) engine at one time, but dropped the engine because of reliability problems….Just not enough engine for what folks were doing with their Jeeps.  FYI

Of course, a friend of mine has a 1949 CJ-2, and you couldn’t pry her away from it for love nor money.

What ever you buy, enjoy God’s country while you’re out.

Lobo in NM

 

[Elrod]

Thanks Guys,
I know those 4.0L sixes are good. Just wondered if the 2.5L was.
The one in question needs at least a clutch cylinder or throwout bearing.

Not sure how much sense a four-banger Cherokee makes. Sure couldn't tow much, but it IS fwd.

My present 2wd Isuzu pickup is gettin' old, and if I'm gonna rebuild something, it's at least got to be American (just a personal bias 'cause I'm labor, myself). I only bought the Isuzu to quickly replace a wreck, and the cab is TINY, though in most other respects I like it well enough.

OK, I could go on, but I'll save bandwidth until I decide.
Got to think (I hates thinkin&#39<!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->!
Thanks again.

 

[MikeG]

Oh I can't resist....

Early Bronco... 66-77... v8 power, good axles (9-inch in back!), room for gear, will pretty much go where a jeep goes, and haul twice as much junk.

Can take the top off for "motorized varmiting" in TX....

Dodge Power Wagon is a close second.

Of course I have a '68... not that I'm biased...

 

[ENGLANDER]

Elrod

There only one 4 x 4 for me ! Its the one i drive every day , a 1982 Series 3 short wheel base Land Rover - Shes cold, shes uncomfortable, shes gives a bumpy ride with her leaf springs.......... But "I LOVE MY LANDIE"

You can keep your Range rovers , Discoverys, Free landers, for me Land rover died in 1985 when prodution of the series 3 finished.


Regards Englander

 

[MikeG]

Oh and it's not American, but who can forget Marlin Perkins in his Toyota Land Cruisers/FJ40s/etc., rolling around Africa in "Wild Kindom"?

I'd like to get an Internation Scout someday, since my dad knows how to work on Internation engines.

 

[Marc]

My wife and I have a 1990 Grand Wagoneer that we are very fond of.  Parts haven't been a problem to find, just when you do they tend to cost a wee bit more.  A fellow Jeep owner friend of mine told me about car-parts.com, and that seems to be a good source to find parts for these things.  Although the mileage is not so hot (12 MPG) there is plenty of room and power.  Thats ok since my  wife feels much more secure driving it in town than she did our Saturn, and thats worth something.

 

[mike]

Howdy all,
       I have an '88 Comanche SWB 4x4 with 248700 miles. It's a daily driver that still gets 20mpg, even here in California, the land of the politically correct everything. The 4.0 has never been opened, other than a water pump and new exhaust stuff. The valve cover ain't even been off. The trans is one of those danged Poo-jo pieces of ----. It makes a little noise, but still gets along OK. I bought 'er new in Jan.1988 for 13K and change. The darned thing is just like a Timex; keeps right on tickin'.

 

[Elrod]

Tks all,
I scored it for $900, and the guy will even let me make payments,
It needs a power steering pump and a slave cylinder for the clutch.
Gotta T-5 tranny  (Borg Warner I think).

So, now I'm a Jeep owner. Bought a Haynes book for it.

Body'n paint are fair; glass is good; interior OK.

I LIKE 4-bangers ('specially pushrod motors).

Yeah Mike, I'm in CA too. Hope it passes smog!