XJ tire-kicking & trip report

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
09/03/2020 at 22:20 • Filed to: unnecessary jeep shopping with jj, jeep

I drove 2 hours each way tonight to check out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

This is the only photo I took of it, which tells you everything you need to know about whether I purchased it.

(Not the photo itself, but the fact that I only took one. As anyone who’s been around for the last couple of years knows, I’m a bit obsessive about taking photos of my Jeep, although I’m no CarsofFortLangley.)

Like the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , this one was a trail rig, not a comfortable street machine. This one not only didn’t have cats, it didn’t have a muffler.

As the owner said, someone before him had “teenager-ized” it.

So, between the cost of a whole new exhaust, a new windshield, new tires, and the hassle of fixing up a half dozen other things that are currently undone, getting an out-of-state title changed over ( something the current and previous owners hadn’t bothered to do )...no.

I will say, however, that the AX-15 5-speed transmission charmed me. I think when I find a second vehicle I’ll send my LJ somewhere to have an AX-15 swapped in.

Anyway, this post isn’t really about the XJ.

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First, or I guess second, I need to give a shout-out to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He stepped up and made my visit to see the XJ possible, by pretending to be me on Facebook...or by making it possible for me to pretend to be him, or something.

Oppo is a great community; if for no other reason, you put up with my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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Anyway, this post is really about the trip there and back.

The first sign that I probably wasn’t going to buy the XJ was a different XJ that trailed me on the highway during rush hour.

Besides the gunmetal color that I like so much despite generally preferring bright colors, it looked clean, or at least the front looked clean. Never got another angle on it.

I’d wager it’s an auto, and there’s probably no lift on it, but it (probably) hasn’t been thrashed, and it struck me that despite my strong desire to have a manual, it’s probably time to accept the fact that there are too few of them out there to find a clean one that isn’t $8k.

(Think I’m exaggerating? !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Were it not 3 and a half hours away, I’d probably be checking it out.)

So, anyway, I looked longingly out my rear-view mirror as much as I could safely do so and contemplated settling for an auto as I drove almost to Ohio to see a manual.

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Interlude the 1st : a golden hour pic of one of my favorite courthouses in Indiana, in Rushville.

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Interlude the 2nd : a CJ-7 for sale on the highway home. The sign reads: “Needs new home by wife”. Thankfully I didn’t call the owner to find out just how desperate he is; he covered up the asking price and just left “OBO”.

It’s a stick.

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If the fates tempted me down a dark path with the XJ I went to see, and the CJ-7 I didn’t, they also gave me a ray of hope.

This XJ is nothing to write home about. It is, of course, an auto. It has, of course, the inescapable (for this region) rocker rust, and the muffler has enough rust to let me know I’d have to replace it. The tires are just meh. It may have the factory Dana 35 rear axle, which is notably sub-par.

But it has the straight 6 engine I’ve come to trust, it has four-wheel drive, and it’s not $7k.

So, I’ll think about finding a local shop to do a PPI, ask the owner to take it there, and cross my fingers that it’s as relatively clean as it looks. Rocker panels are cheap, although I’m not confident in my non-existent bodywork skills, so I might have to outsource that.

Dunno. I can’t get excited about it, but it’s far more sensible than an XJ that’s already been thrashed, and robust enough to make sure I can do my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as scheduled even if my LJ is stuck in the shop as it too-often is.

Or maybe I’ll grab a Commander with the 5.7L Hemi, if I’m going to settle for an auto anyway. But whatever waffling I do, I’ll be sure to bore you with it.

DISCUSSION (25)

Just Jeepin' > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 22:25

Oh, and my new 2nd monitor arrived as I left, so hurrah.

Kinja'd!!!

jminer > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:01

I saw a 2 door, manual, 4.0, 2wd XJ on my CL for a temptingly low price. It was fairly beat up but not as bad as I’ve seen others. If it was 4wd I’d have sent it to you.

Sorry the XJ didn’t work out, better luck next time.

Just Jeepin' > jminer
09/03/2020 at 23:06

I’ve considered getting a manual 2wd model and doing the swap, but that would make more sense for one that hasn’t been beat up (why would someone beat up a 2wd XJ?).

Curious to see it if you can send the link.

sony1492 > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:09

Tbh i don’t see the appeal of an already lifted XJ, the stock examples look way better.(in a, this hasn’t been completely hacked, sort of way)

Just Jeepin' > sony1492
09/03/2020 at 23:16

I lack the skills/tools/knowledge/lower back strength to do it myself, so I can either buy one pre-lifted or pay someone else to do it (or, I suppose, leave it alone, which I might well do).

Point being I’m fine with buying a well-built XJ, but it’s hard with my level of relative ignorance to recognize what’s well-built or not. It’s not hard to recognize that so far the built ones are also the ones where the owner just doesn’t care about everything else, like functioning exhaust systems.

jminer > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:20

They’re supposed to be pretty easy to swap to 4wd, but likely more expensive than buying a 4wd drive to begin with.

I think the 2wds get so beat up because they’re cheap.

It’s even at a dealer so I’m surprised it’s this cheap, but it is fairly rough from the pics.

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/ctd/d/columbia-1997-jeep-cherokee-se-2-door/7183771893.html

St. Louis isn’t close, but it isn’t that much further than you’re already driving on your hunt.

sony1492 > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:21

And that makes since but the owners of the lifted examples keep seeming to be the wrong type, just looking to build a crawler and slap a crown royal bag for a shift boot. But as long as you get the p pe, should negate that problem

Just Jeepin' > jminer
09/03/2020 at 23:28

I mean, sure it’s cheap, but isn’t it worth 5 minutes of cleaning it out before taking photos? Wow.

jminer > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:29

Also if you’re interested I can scope it out for you before you make a trip.

I’ll admit I am not intimately familiar with XJs like I am with CJs but I can take decent pics and check overall condition.

jminer > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:29

I had the same thought, just a damn trash bag and vacuum on the inside!

Just Jeepin' > jminer
09/03/2020 at 23:32

As tempting as it is for that price, that’s a lot of miles and clearly a lot of apathy on current/former owners’ part.

I’ll have to think about whether I’d rather have manual/2wd or auto/4wd. I just so loathe the driving experience with automatics.

Thanks for the offer. I’ll let you know if I decide it’s interesting enough to investigate further.

jminer > Just Jeepin'
09/03/2020 at 23:39

That is a a tough choice for sure, let me know if you find anything you want scouted around here though and I can take a look for you.

Just Jeepin' > jminer
09/03/2020 at 23:43

Thanks.

And now you’ve inspired me to try the teal XJ owner YET AGAIN. Criminy it shouldn’t be this hard to get someone to let me see their Jeep.

jminer > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 00:01

That one is definitely tempting

adamftw > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 07:31

It’s gonna be hard to find a well built and not beat XJ now. They’re all ridden hard and put away wet, with the clean examples as you know already getting silly money. 10 years ago, well built XJs were a dime a dozen and old Toyota pickups were hard to find that weren’t beat or rusted to death. Now those yotas are fetching crazy money. When I was trying to sell my XJ in 2014 I couldn’t get $9k for it, and I had about $20k in it. I ended up parting it out, but that’s whatever.

Find a clean unmodified one (like that one you are looking at) and put money into it. If you do want to wheel it at all, the rockers being rusty are a GOOD thing... you can weld in some rectangular steel in instead for high clearance rocker guards.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 13:31

Kinja'd!!!

Just Jeepin' > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/04/2020 at 13:35

Incidentally, a friend/co-worker of mine is talking me into checking this one out. Clean, manual, 4wd, but the 4 cylinder...and steeply priced, although it’s dropped $400 since originally posted.

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/d/martinsville-1999-xj-cherokee-4wd/7184791635.html

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 18:00

I would certainly want the manual transmission if it were a 4 banger. But the straight 6 is what you want. So you should hold out.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 18:01

If you get what you want, and it's ultimately a letdown, that's a lot better than buying something that isn't what you want and never knowing.

Just Jeepin' > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/04/2020 at 18:05

Good point. Of course I’m still probably going to settle on something .

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 18:48

Four-banger would be a greater comedown than an automatic transmission. If you buy one with an auto, maybe find one that needs a transmission for cheaper and get a proper replacement installed, and they can replace the rear main engine seal and engine mounts and such all at once.

Just Jeepin' > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/04/2020 at 19:09

I figured I’d try autotempest.com. Guess how many hits (disregarding CL) I got within 300 miles for a manual XJ.

G o ahead, guess.

Zero.

But hey, there’s one 400 miles away in Gainesville for $18k. 18k!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 19:22

Look for some in Northern California. ROAD TRIP! Seriously, though. You won’t get rocker rust out here.

Just Jeepin' > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/04/2020 at 19:24

Sure, I’ll fly out...wait.

Ok, I’ll take the train...wait, that’s bad too.

I could drive my Jeep...but it would break down halfway there, and how would I drive both back?

Sigh. Damn you COVID.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Just Jeepin'
09/04/2020 at 21:58

Find a suitable vehicle first, okay? The rest is just a short list of trivial details. Fly out on Southwest Airlines and drive home.