XJ Jeep - still one of the answers?

A rust free XJ 'classic' Jeep (automatic), with 150k miles has come up for sale locally. Looks really clean other than some sun damaged clear. 
I've always appreciated these from a distance: what are they really like? Reasonably reliable? Likely to be a mild father/ 12yr old son project, and relatively simple to work on is key: I want him to enjoy this. Anything to look out for? what is parts availability like these days? 
I know the these were considered part of the GRM trifecta (miata/p71/XJ), but that was over a decade ago, I think!

Reasonably reliable if it isn't one of the 80s renix models. All parts should be available. Watch out for rust but repair panels are available to rebuild them. Clean ones are worth decent money now.

They are simple to work on but some jobs can be annoying with limited space in the engine bay.

The inline 6 is a very reliable lump, though not particularly exciting.  

They are becoming more rare, so if you find a clean one, even if it has higher miles, I'd snap it up.  The counter to that is they made a million of them, so parts are available.  I'd say it's right in the sweet spot for a project like this.  

Post pics if/when you get it!

Engines either last forever or blow head gaskets. The known overheating issue can be fixed by installing the factory (or aftermarket) auxiliary electric cooling fan. The exhaust manifolds are nice and light tubes, and therefore crack. The automatic trans does not seem to have any problems in the XJ. There are some easy engine updates (intake manifold) for getting a little more power, assuming it is old enough that newer parts are an update.

Edit: voltage regulator is in the ecm (at least my 98 was), and those are going NLA. Figure out a one wire alternator while everything is still happy.

What year?

98-01 used COP that isn't as well regarded as the distributor

The charging system is not good. My alternator tests good, but I get 13.25V with everything running. Scares me a bit.

Learn to replace the CPS. It will cause a no-start and is best accessed from behind the transfer case with a 2' extension and a wobble socket.

Is it a 6 or a 4? The 4 cylinder is not a fast car, the 4.0 6 cylinder is actually relatively quick. The old 2.8, not so much.

I love my 96 cherokee. Just turned over 333,333 miles. Gets 21mpg mixed driving. Handles better than it should. Parts are available at every auto parts store across the country.

I could never find a comfortable driving position for road trips. 96 XJ. Seemed like the trans tunnel was where my right leg wanted to be. I'm not a big dude, 5'9" with a 32" inseam and was about 165# at the time.

Sorry, a few more details:

1996, completely stock

4.0 I6

Recent shop work includes rear main seal, sump gasket, brakes including rotors.

Okay, I did not check before... Parts are available everywhere in the USA, I cannot comment on parts in Perth. They are pretty easy to work on, though. You will be reminded that Jeep engineers are morons, particularly since you are an engineer.

In reply to matthewmcl :

No worries - I cut my teeth on Dodge neons back in the day, and know what you mean.  Sounds like there may be some similarities (alternator control in ecu, cps failures, unusual engineering)

Jeeps aren't as popular over here, but as long as parts aren't becoming NLA, then I'm happy to work with that.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

I had the drivers seat tabs extended about 4" and that made all the difference for my gangly 6'4" self.  I miss everything about that truck except the horrible gas mileage.

Mine has just under 300K on it. My son's has 260k on it. Reliable as a stone. Fairly easy to work on. Fun to play around off-road. I'll probably keep mine forever. It's by far the best cheap off-road vehicle I have found. I don't run a bunch of lift or huge tires but with a locker in the rear and a limited slip in the front it is almost unstoppable. Build Thread Here.

XJs are definitely a solid choice.  And when an XJ isn't available or a bit more size and comfort is needed, a ZJ Grand Cherokee is also a solid pick (and in many ways very similar to the XJ). 

For XJs, 2000 and 2001 should be the only years with the coil pack 4.0.  It's not a bad engine, but it does have 1 big flaw in the cylinder head.  Some portion of them will crack (totally unprompted) and puke coolant directly into the oil.  Not a big deal to fix if caught quickly, but if ignored, it usually ends in wiped bearings and no oil pressure at idle.  And any 4.0 from 96 and up will occasionally crack off a piston skirt.  Fortunately that failure is pretty rare. 

They're awesome.  I still wish I had my '98.  To paraphrase popular YouTuber Matt's Offroad Recovery "...you take a stock XJ and you've got something that won't offroad any better than anything else.  You add just 2" of lift and a lunchbox locker in the rear that snaps in in an hour's time, and now suddenly you've got a rig that will offroad better than almost everything else.."

Protip: get the automatic.  I had a 5 speed stick that I searched high and low for.  What I didn't know was that all sticks came from Mopar with 3.07 gears.  Autos got at least 3.55 and sometimes 3.73.  Everything being equal an auto will leave a stick for dead on the road.  And it doesn't suffer an mpg penaly either.  

The only negative is that they aren't exactly cheap anymore.  Those that have them usually hold them dear.  

Edit: oh and Vive la France.  That's where the XJ was designed despite everybody thinking it's so American.  

Mine:  good for picking up junk like this canoe nobody wanted 

While I've always liked XJs, I would be remiss if I didn't admit that Matt's off-road recoveries played a role hear. Thanks for the feedback, all of you!

Had a 91 for many years, it was my brother in laws high school car.  I'd ignore it for months, then need it for something, go out, turn the key and drive off.  It was sort of a heap, but in a good way.  My wife got tired of seeing it parked in front of our house and made me get rid of it.  I've always regretted that, as having a pile of an SUV that you don't care about is really useful.  Want to carry the wet, muddy dog or lawn mower?  So nice to just throw them in there and drive away...

Ours never really gave us any problems, it didn't like to pass smog, so if I'd kept it I think a new cat would've been needed at some point

Death wobble.

Headliner comes unglued and will fall into your face.

Sunvisors will disintegrate in the sunlight and certain years/colors can be hard to find replacements.

Leaf springs will sag and droop.

Idler shaft bearing in the bracket for the A/C compressor will go out and be hard/expensive to replace.

All that being said, I owned a '97 for over 20 years and 200,000 miles and it took me everywhere I wanted to go. Not the fastest thing on four wheels, but it was ok. If you're on the large side, it can get a little cramped. 

This photo explains it all. The mileage, the voltage, and my love of the 3.07 gears 

earlybroncoguy1 said:

Death wobble.

Headliner comes unglued and will fall into your face.

Sunvisors will disintegrate in the sunlight and certain years/colors can be hard to find replacements.

Leaf springs will sag and droop.

Idler shaft bearing in the bracket for the A/C compressor will go out and be hard/expensive to replace.

All that being said, I owned a '97 for over 20 years and 200,000 miles and it took me everywhere I wanted to go. Not the fastest thing on four wheels, but it was ok. If you're on the large side, it can get a little cramped. 

Anything will death wobble if you lift it until you have no or negative caster- which isn't hard on these.  Adjustable LCA's plus alignment.  Problem solved.  

I should know.  I'm self proclaimed King of Death Wobble.  I got into it so hard once that my dog looked at me like she thought we were inside a jackhammer and I was sure the windows were about to explode.  I did the research and the work and quit band-aiding it and ended up with something that drove better than stock.  I didn't use a steering stabilizer (band-aide) either.  

buzzboy said:

Is it a 6 or a 4? The 4 cylinder is not a fast car, the 4.0 6 cylinder is actually relatively quick. The old 2.8, not so much.

Fast relative to what? :) Because I've gotta say, they're not exactly rocket ships. They work well enough in the dirt and they can keep up with most traffic on the pavement.

Loads of them out there, so parts are easy to get and there's a strong knowledge base. They're actually a really good size off-road, much more compact than a modern Wrangler so they fit places the new Jeeps cannot. They're just a useful package with an effective and simple drivetrain/suspension setup. The off-road vehicle, distilled.

matthewmcl said:

Okay, I did not check before... Parts are available everywhere in the USA, I cannot comment on parts in Perth. They are pretty easy to work on, though. You will be reminded that Jeep engineers are morons, particularly since you are an engineer.

Jeep engineers are pretty good.  The problem is that Jeep beancounters are even better.

Seemingly questionable engineering decisions usually boil down to "we had to reuse as much tooling as possible per corporate, outsource from whoever had the best price that year per corporate, and were given an engineering budget of $3.50 and a couple McDonald's coupons"

This is why AMCs usually had components from all of the Big 3's suppliers, and you would get interesting questions when getting parts for a Concord (the hand me down '59 Rambler) like "front steer or rear steer?"

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

matthewmcl said:

Okay, I did not check before... Parts are available everywhere in the USA, I cannot comment on parts in Perth. They are pretty easy to work on, though. You will be reminded that Jeep engineers are morons, particularly since you are an engineer.

Jeep engineers are pretty good.  The problem is that Jeep beancounters are even better.

 

Seemingly questionable engineering decisions usually boil down to "we had to reuse as much tooling as possible per corporate, outsource from whoever had the best price that year per corporate, and were given an engineering budget of $3.50 and a couple McDonald's coupons"

This is why AMCs usually had components from all of the Big 3's suppliers, and you would get interesting questions when getting parts for a Concord (the hand me down '59 Rambler) like "front steer or rear steer?"

Just Everybody Elses Parts

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

matthewmcl said:

Okay, I did not check before... Parts are available everywhere in the USA, I cannot comment on parts in Perth. They are pretty easy to work on, though. You will be reminded that Jeep engineers are morons, particularly since you are an engineer.

Jeep engineers are pretty good.  The problem is that Jeep beancounters are even better.

 

Seemingly questionable engineering decisions usually boil down to "we had to reuse as much tooling as possible per corporate, outsource from whoever had the best price that year per corporate, and were given an engineering budget of $3.50 and a couple McDonald's coupons"

This is why AMCs usually had components from all of the Big 3's suppliers, and you would get interesting questions when getting parts for a Concord (the hand me down '59 Rambler) like "front steer or rear steer?"

Just Enough Engineers Present

-humm just thought of that

Keith Tanner said:

buzzboy said:

Is it a 6 or a 4? The 4 cylinder is not a fast car, the 4.0 6 cylinder is actually relatively quick. The old 2.8, not so much.

Fast relative to what? :) Because I've gotta say, they're not exactly rocket ships. They work well enough in the dirt and they can keep up with most traffic on the pavement.

Loads of them out there, so parts are easy to get and there's a strong knowledge base. They're actually a really good size off-road, much more compact than a modern Wrangler so they fit places the new Jeeps cannot. They're just a useful package with an effective and simple drivetrain/suspension setup. The off-road vehicle, distilled.

Relative to their contemporaries.  Back in '91 or so there weren't many SUV's that could keep pace with a 190 hp 4.0 HO.  Hell, a good many cars couldn't.  That's why cops liked them - at least where I lived.  State Police had a bunch and the ones I talked to bragged them up.

A 4.0 in an XJ isn't all that slow.  XJs are light, typically in the 3100 - 3200 lb range for a 4wd one IIRC.  0-60 should be in the 8 second range.  It's a big difference compared to a 4.0 in a 4200 lb Grand Cherokee...