Well I Bought an XJ

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
08/01/2016 at 22:57 • Filed to: None

I bought an 95 XJ with 190k miles for $1800 last week. Its a 4.0L 4x4 Manual with a Chrysler 8.25 3.07 rear axle and a dana 35 230mm front axle.

When I bought it I knew it needed a rear diff service, so the second I brought it home I cracked open the diff cover fully expecting it to be low on fluid and needing bearings.

NOPE, Instead I found this:

Eeeep! I later found out that Chrysler stopped making the ring and pinion set for a 8.25 3.07 rear end about 10 years ago, and NOS units are anywhere from $500-$800. So I went on Car-Part.com and found the only 8.25 3.07 in the state of Colorado east of the Rockies. Today My mom and I drove 105 miles out to Pueblo, CO and picked it up for $350. The guy at the yard had it waiting for me on a forklift to inspect the gears, when I bought it he joked that it wouldn’t fit in the Honda, Lol.

Btw its in really good shape, look at those gorgeous 130k mile gears:

It also leaks from the oil pan, valve cover, rear main and has rod knock on startup and shut down. So I’ll have to replace seals and rod bearings within the following month after I replace the rear axle.

Also it pains me to say Veronica will be listed on craigslist once I can yank my wheels and bed topper. I’m asking $800 because its got next to no rust, the body is in amazing shape, the diff is a 3.55 LSD 8.8 that was serviced in the last 3 years and everything works but the engine. It even has its original fuel pump and functional R-12 AC. Once I can afford it though, I’ll be in the market for another Pre-Airbag 4.0 manual RWD Ranger.

This Jeep is just a reliable POS that I wont hate driving until I can afford another Ranger.

DISCUSSION (30)

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/01/2016 at 23:10

I wonder if the oil filter is causing the knock by not having the proper drain-back valve in it.

XJDano > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/01/2016 at 23:11

Front axle is a 30. Dana 35 is rear axles before the 8.25 and was in a lot of TJ, & YJs.

It'll be a lot of fun. I did a lot of stuff to my 93XJ.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
08/01/2016 at 23:12

Nah, this is a normal issue on 4.0s above 180k

BAM- Before Anything Melts > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/01/2016 at 23:12

Congrats! Sad, but exciting. Hopefully someone picks up the Ranger who appreciates what it would be with a new engine, and maybe even will be that someone who might someday turn around and sell it back (if a car guy or something).

At any rate, the XJ is badass and will be a lot of fun.

Rock Bottom > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 00:02

Welcome to the sickness.

Kinja'd!!!

E92M3 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 01:05

My first XJ was a 96, same color. I only paid $800 for it (It was hit in both quarter panels). I drove it for 3 years, and then sold it for $1600.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 01:19

Everybody is getting jeeps here on Oppo, congrats! I’m probably wrong but a ford 8.8 with the brackets adapted might fit the xj. I know it works on the yjs when the dana rear goes out.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Rock Bottom
08/02/2016 at 01:56

Honestly replacing all the damaged body panels and painting it a matte or satin brown or tan wouldnt make it look half bad, would be cheap too

Rock Bottom > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 02:05

Only cost me a case of pray paint and a case of beer. Got a free spray-paint-high out of it, too.

Birddog > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 02:15

I’m going to devote a lot of time watching your future posts. 4.0 and a 5 speed? That’s going to feel like a genuine Hot Rod compared to the Ranger.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 06:57

I still don’t get why you’d EVER go back to a Ranger after a Jeep. It’s better than the Ranger in every conceivable way as well as being something that can be considered ‘cool’ without people snickering behind your back.

adamftw > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 07:09

Dana 3o front axle. And why would you get another set of 3.07s????? Get a set of 3.55s and then go up a tire size or two. And you can buy probably stock XJ rear ends for like $50 in CO from any enthusiast message board. I’m sure theres a “colorado jeeps” or something on Facebook.

Anyways, congrats and good luck.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 10:07

Not really... what's the oil pressure like?

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 10:24

Also what oil are you running in it?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2016 at 12:15

I like what I like

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 12:27

But it’s objectively worse in every measure.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2016 at 12:40

Hey I dont criticize your love for shitty 90s FWD luxobarges

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Birddog
08/02/2016 at 12:43

Yeah, Its a little too much for me to handle. I think its mostly because the rear axle is directly below the rear bench

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
08/02/2016 at 12:43

Oil pressure is fine

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
08/02/2016 at 12:44

I have no idea, the PO was a Volvo Mechanic and said he ran castrol... I assume he ran 5w30 line hes supposed to

Party-vi > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 13:02

That’s a Dana 30 up front. Dana 35 was only a rear axle in Jeeps. I’m surprised it’s knocking at 190k miles - seems like the owner didn’t take good care of it. I would replace the timing cover and water pump as well; when the water pump goes it tends to fuck up the timing cover and you’ll end up replacing both anyway. The 4.0L is an easy engine to work on - minus getting the front suspension out of the way you should have no problems replacing bearings, seals, and gaskets. Also, I would suggest checking the floor boards as well - those are probably toast. If not, clean them up and give them a nice thick undercoating of rubberized paint. Might want to check the exhaust manifold for cracks while you’re doing all this work too. Also Borla makes a very nice sounding cat-back exhaust for these that won’t break the bank.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 13:07

I’m not getting rid of a Camaro so I can buy a LeSabre, either.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Party-vi
08/02/2016 at 13:09

The floor boards are rusty but not toast and the exhaust is tip top. Also yeah I realize its a 30.

Party-vi > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 13:32

For more power Pacesetter and Borla (again) make good headers, but you won’t see many gains outside of better exhaust and possibly a fancier intake. The 4.0L should make some decent power, it’s a shame you’ve got granny gears in it.

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 13:38

Kinja'd!!!

does this mean your family’s woes with the honda have been resolved? Is that the Odyssey in the picture?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle
08/02/2016 at 13:44

No thats the CRV. The Ody is sitting at Accurate Honda awaiting its fate

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 13:46

well, good luck with the jeep.

I’m off to see a 300ZX for parts (for a friend’s project) today, might have to involve some local opponauts talent in the stripping of parts if I buy it.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle
08/02/2016 at 13:49

Well jakes not in town, but as long as Im not working Id be glad to help. Fyi the jeep wont drive till the axle is in...

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 15:07

Well there’s your problem. A 5W30 will be too light during warmup unless it’s below 0F. You’ll also want to go to a 40 weight with that many miles on it. Then there’s the other common issue, that the engine was designed for use with SG rated oils, which have a much higher ZDDP content than modern SN engine oils do. A CN (yes, a diesel oil) will have a much closer profile to SG than an SN will.

Both my running Jeep 4.o’s currently have Rotella 15W40 in them, although I change out to a 5w40 from about October to April. Synthetic is better but more expensive. One has around 200,000 miles on it and the other 140,000 (but it was in a plow truck for a while). My 300,000 mile 4.0 (currently sitting on the ground) has some 20W50 in it, which was just to keep it limping around the yard for a while after it developped a severe rod knock while doing 115 mph for a half-hour. It didn’t knock at all on startup or shutdown before that happened...

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2016 at 17:19

bah! the 300zx turned out to be a turbo model, and the parts wont work. craigslist sellers are the worst :P