Guess it's time to put 'er up for sale...

"Brighammer" (balcorn80)
08/02/2020 at 20:46 • Filed to: None

So... 6 years ago this fine steed of a jeep was dropped off at my house. My uncle was aba ndoning it on his way from Washington to Utah.

It proceeded to languish in my field for 4 years. I was too busy working and commuting to care about it. Because I didn’t care about XJ Cherokees. I was a euro car guy. The fleet of Volvo’s and vws in my driveway did their best to prove that.

One day I decided to poke around on it and discovered that my uncle installed the timing belt incorrectly and once I sorted that it’s been a pretty dependable rig.

Once it was running, the wife and I tore out the carpet and addressed the surface rust that was starting under the carpet before in stalling a new molded rubber floor kit. We also took out the headliner, fiberglassed it, and upholstered it in speaker felt.

Then I bought a set of new tires for it.

I started driving it in 2018 at 132k. It now has 160k.

It ha s been a great little rig. But I cannot wait until this 4d56 swap into my Mazda(motor is about ready to drop back in. Just waiting on the IP which is at the rebuilder) is done. And here’s why.

I spent the last 3 days driving my wife’s 98 jeep Cherokee. And those 3 days reminded me how old my Jeep is, and how much restoration-t ype work it really needs, despite having been my daily driver for the last 2 and a half years. Every one o my window seals and felts are shot. There’s no ac. So much cracked plastic inside the interior.

An d yet it truly is a unicorn in the XJ world: it’s a rust-free non-overheating 4wd Cherokee that gets over 20mpg(I get 21-23).

I need to finish up my 4wd linkage repairs(eliminating the vacuum control) and install a front driveline. Because functioning 4wd is, I feel, the difference between getting what it’s worth and giving it away...

So soon, I will be that guy. You know. the one who’s selling something but he “knows what he’s got”. But hopefully I can also temper that with “I know how much work it needs”

I’ ve got my eye on a new-to-me Pajero.

Anyone here have experience with a 4m40 vs 4d56 in the Pajero?

DISCUSSION (34)

Just Jeepin' > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 21:21

Hmm.... manual? what engine? And where?

Asking for a friend.

Brighammer > Just Jeepin'
08/02/2020 at 21:22

It i s an auto. Has the rare Renault 2.1 turbo diesel. And it's in Oregon.

Just Jeepin' > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 21:23

Alas. Good luck finding a good home for it; shouldn’t be hard.

Brighammer > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 21:24

The engine is fairly rare around here. My uncle rebuilt it(new sleeves and cylinders and all) before I got it. Has a pile of spre motor parts and new mirrors and bumper end caps too

Just Jeepin' > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 21:27

I have to imagine it’s pretty rare around anywhere. I think it’s only the second time I’ve spotted diesel mentioned in conjunction with an XJ.

Brighammer > Just Jeepin'
08/02/2020 at 21:32

Ye ah in the states it was an option for 85 and 86. Renault oned jeep at the time so there you go. Go to Europe and half the Jeep’s there ran the Renault j8s diesel. Then in 94 they switched to the VM Motori diesel in the European market.

The j8s motor was in vans, wagons, and sedans across Europe. We got in the 85 and 86 Cherokee as well as the 85-85 Winnebago lesharro motorhomes(the Spaceballs machines) that were built in Renault van chassis shipped here and built into motorhomes.

I have been dubbed a "car pervert" by friends of mine because I like weird cars. It wasn't until I got this jeep that I accepted that title with pride.

Just Jeepin' > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 21:35

Everyone who couldn’t afford to be in the automobile manufacturing business has owned Jeep at one point in time or another.

Except for most foreign manufacturers, but a lot of them have made Jeeps on license.

Brighammer > Just Jeepin'
08/02/2020 at 21:37

Fair evaluation.

But the Renault connection is my guess of how thy landed on that motor vs something like the 4d55 that was also common elsewhere.

Just Jeepin' > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 21:45

Sure.

You might find this article interesting, although I recall someone indicating they thought the meat of it was very, very dubious.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/renault-and-the-non-jag-xj-1831032071

onlytwowheels > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 22:23

For reference:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-jeep-pioneer/

https://jalopnik.com/this-super-rare-diesel-jeep-cherokee-xj-for-sale-in-ida-1841996666

Brighammer > Just Jeepin'
08/02/2020 at 22:28

Great article. Thanks.

I had read another one that talked about the assassination of the Renault guy, but did not realize that lead designer also went with the sale and how he helped Chrysler that much.

My grandfather had a 2 door with the 4.o and that thing was fun. So much more fun than his ranger or S10 blazer. My wife's with the 4.0 is a hoot to drive compared to mine, too. It's not QUITE as bad as my diesel rabbit pickup vs my 83 GTI, but it's pretty significant.

But like I said. I’m a car pervert. And had this one not had the weird turbo diesel, it would likely still be sitting in the field, rusting away with 132k on it. Plus 21 mpg in an auto xj is not too bad.

Just Jeepin' > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 22:32

I get 12-13 with my LJR, so no, not bad at all.

Brighammer > onlytwowheels
08/02/2020 at 22:35

Yeah. I’ve talked to the guy with the red one when he had it listed in eBay(8000 b.i.n. it never sold there). Hadn’t seen the one in Idaho.

Mine is not as nice inside as either of those...

onlytwowheels > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 22:48

Bidding didn’t go past $5600 on the red one, his reserve was $7500. My guess in pricing would be to start around $3500. There maybe some veggie/ bio fuel people that want a 4x4.....

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 22:50

I have no experience with a 4d56 , but the output is on the order of 20% less than the intercooled 4M40 in the 2nd gen Pajero . At least in my 4-door Pajero, I simply can’t imagine it having ANY less power and still being drivable at modern interstate speeds.

Brighammer > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/02/2020 at 23:42

Good to know, thanks. I have been running a 4d55 in my 91 Mazda b2600i that I’m switching to a 4d56.

After driving this jeep for 2 years and setting my expectations fairly low, the tires 4d55 seemed pretty peppy(it had a manual vs the auto here) but was afraid the added heft and creature comforts of the Pajero would not let the 4d56 feel s o robust.

Did you buy yours f rom an importer or did you do the legwork yourself?

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Brighammer
08/02/2020 at 23:56

David Tracy has freed up some space recently. I’m sure he’s in the market for yet another “unicorn”.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Brighammer
08/03/2020 at 00:31

4m40 is/was a crap motor

4D56 is a much better one

With the 4m40 expect it to literally eat glow plugs all the time

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Brighammer
08/03/2020 at 00:40

A 2nd-gen, 4 door Pajero is a lot heavier than an b2600i. Curb weight is right around 4600lbs. The Pajero is stout truck, and that comes at the cost of weight. There is a lot of structure and hardware that is way beefier than what would be found on a ‘merican vehicle of the same class. As an example 4M40 Pajeros run a 9.5" rear differential (US market Monteros with gas motors got various smaller rear axles), which is the size differential found on 3/4-ton trucks in our world.

I bought it from an importer, Japanese Classics in Virginia. If I lived close to a port I probably would feel okay not using an importer. The thought of dealing with all that from a thousand miles away from any port made me think it wasn’t worth doing for something readily available from importers.

Brighammer > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2020 at 00:50

Good to know.

My pickup tips the scales at 3900 pounds(according to my monthly exit tickets from the dump) And some change with me in it . I’ve got 2 7 foot tool boxes(on my 6 foot bed) and 2-3 00 pounds of tools and supplies when my bed is “empty”.

Another 500-600 pounds plus whoever is in it with me and you're likely right. I'm gonna wish I had the 4m40.

Brighammer > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/03/2020 at 00:52

See, we never had the 4m40 here. What, in your estimation, is butter about it? More robust? More available? I can get a brand new head and short block for a 4d56 to my door for $2135. So that’s a plus for me...

But I'm also American and like more power.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Brighammer
08/03/2020 at 00:56

Get a 4m41

If you want power

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/03/2020 at 01:01

The very oldest 4M41 trucks can’t be legally imported into the US for another 8 years. Right now, really only the oldest 4M40 trucks are becoming eligible to import under the 25 year rule. But yes, I could totally foresee myself importing a 3rd-gen Pajero down the road when they’re legal to bring in.

pip bip - choose Corrour > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2020 at 01:57

Wait till you can then and make sure you buy an auto

They go like shit off a shovel

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/03/2020 at 02:02

Why an auto?

pip bip - choose Corrour > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2020 at 03:03

They go that well

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/03/2020 at 09:00

Good to know. I’m deeply enjoying my 4-door, 4M40, 5- speed manual Pajero, but by the time a 3rd gen are eligible to import I may well be ready for a newer adventure mobile . Mine turned over 110,000KM on this weekends adventure.

pip bip - choose Corrour > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2020 at 09:09

110k km is nothing for them.

but the 4M41 is a fantastic unit

drive them hard and just keep up the servicing and it WILL NOT let you down

Brighammer > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
08/03/2020 at 09:19

I just sent him an email. He just asked me for more details.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Brighammer
08/03/2020 at 13:00

He really is an addict.

Brighammer > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
08/03/2020 at 19:40

Yeah. We’ll see. I told him I’d list it for $350o. But I’d sell it for $1500 to the right car pervert(because I would... That is the $$ I have in it).

“Damn it that’s tempting... -DT”

The trap has been set. We'll see if he takes the bait.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Brighammer
08/05/2020 at 22:07

I take it he did, given that 2400 miles west of Troy puts him squarely in western Oregon, perhaps around Salem.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Brighammer > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
08/06/2020 at 09:36

If he did, he has not hit me up. Yet!

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Brighammer
08/06/2020 at 13:19

Does your email provider have a rust filter? Missives from David may have been rejected as a protective measure.