To buy, or not to buy. - Great Lakes XJ

Yodwinder

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Date: Jul 8, 2008

To buy, or not to buy.	Permalink

Tomorrow I'm going to look at a 1997 XJ. It's bone stock, and it's forrest green (which is probably my favorite color for XJ's.) It's got 170k miles (I know these machines can do upwards of 300k) with an auto tranny. The guy says that "mechanically it's at 110%, it doesn't burn oil, there are no leaks, no rust etc..." Did say something about a windshield though. Will have to check into that. I can take it for $1500 cash. Only thing is, it has some pretty big dents in the doors. Hopefully big enough to be taken out with a plunger. It would be my DD, just want to add a 3" non-AAL, stuff some 31's in there, maybe bushwhacker cutouts and call it good. If anyone has pictures of this setup (prefer just "setting in the driveway" look, and some good ones where you're wheelin') , please post them here, along with the mileage you're averaging. Tire suggestions are much appreciated, by the way. Also, was looking at getting a K&N FIPK. Anyone here got one? Does it really increase gas mileage by any noticeable amount. Lastly, when I go look at it, what should I check out mechanically before I decide to buy. And, if I do get it, what are some of the first maintenance things I should do to it? __________________

LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW

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Date: Jul 8, 2008

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Hmmm... lets see where do I start?

Price - Sounds like a good price if it's as mechanically set as he says it is. I'd put it threw it's paces and check to see if anything looks out of place.

Windsheild - If the windsheild is busted don't even try to repalce it yourself. You'll hate yourself for even trying as they are a pain. Pay someone else to install it for you, it's worth the extra $$.

K&N - Not worth the $$ in my opinion. Bang for the buck they just don't have it. Spend the $ elsewhere on your rig.

Bushwackers - With 31's they will look funny in my opinion. BW's make the tires look at least 2 sizes smaller. I don't think I've seen a XJ with BW's with less than 35" tires that I've thought actually looks decent. To each thier own, but with 31's I think you'll regret dropping the money on them.

Pre Purchase / Maintance - Change plugs/wires. Check the TRE's on the draglink, tierod, and trackbar. Check bushings on the control arms. I'd replace the air filter with a K&N drop in if your wanting some more "omph". I'd check the exhaust manifold for cracks; as this is a common problem.

Tires - I'm partial to the Maxxis Bighorns myself. biggrin

As for pics I know MysticfireXJ's rig is sitting on 3" and 31's. I've attached a few pics of my wife's rigs (past and current). The gray one was at 4" with 31's and the white one is running a RE 3.5" with 31's in the 1st pic and 33's in the 2nd pic.

4" with 31's on 15x10 American Racing Gambers:

RE 3.5" w/31's on factory rims (wouldn't recomend it, felt to unstable)

RE 3.5" on 31x10.5 BFG MT's with Eagle Alloys (3.5" BS)

And now at it's current state. RE 3.5" with 33x12.5 Maxxis Bighorns on 15x8's with 4" BS.

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aci4369

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Date: Jul 8, 2008

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I would agree that it sounds like a good deal if it is as he stated it is.

Agree with Lead on the Bush Wackers. I don't think that it would look good with 31's. I know that Chris99XJ has Bush Wackers on his XJ with 33's. So that will give you an idea of what you are going to look like. I don't think that his look bad but any smaller.... hmm

. Here is a link to his topic when he put his on.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=43793&p=3&topicID=16745575

I also don't think that the K&N will give you what you want. I don't know how much they cost but I think that they are pricey aren't they? Just a thought, if they are pricey why not just get a Snorkel? They will be more then the Intake you are talking about but, this will actually help your performance esp. offroad and they look awsome. Here is a link to one:

http://motionoffroad.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_114&products_id=143

Pics of a XJ on the street with 3" and 31's. This is my old XJ MystickfireXJ now ownes it. In these pics it has a 3" AAL from Rough Country. The tires are 31's HighTech Retreads. They are very cheap price wise. I had no complaints while I had them, they were loud on the road, but handled well both on and off road. You do have to watch the pressure in them more, but I spoke to someone that had them on thier rig for almost 50k before replacing and no problems.

The one in front is Mystick's the one is back is my current one:

Closer pic with the MTR's:

Pic with 3" lift and 31" street tires.:

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threeEs99

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Date: Jul 8, 2008

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Heres mine with the old 3" Skyjacker kit and 265-75-16 bfg a/t (32-10.5)

Also used a K&N replacement, outerwares prefilter(to keep it dry) and cheese holed the bahgezus out of factory box. Now it can breathe better and no longer holds water. hmm

With the use of proper bumpstops you dont have to trim fenders, as I did.

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Yodwinder

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Date: Jul 13, 2008

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Well, you're right. Those flares do make the tires look really undersized. And the pic of a 3" lift with 31" street tires looks goofy IMO.

Now, about the Jeep I went and looked at. It had a considerable amount of body damage (tree fell on one side, looked like it would start leaking through the windshield area soon, not good). I don't think there was a panel on it that wasn't dented/scratched, although in a weekend you could probably take out all the major dents. Also, the 2 rear doors didn't open (one the lock mechanism was funky and wouldn't unlock all the way.) The interior was very clean also.

Now, mechanically, the engine ran good, idled well and everything. The transmission didn't slip and didn't have any trouble finding the right gears. However, the steering was sloppy and had a lot of play. I didn't like that AT ALL.

Bottom line, if not for the damage by the windshield that looked like it would leak soon and the sloppy steering, it wasn't a bad deal. But I don't really want to have to have the whole front end rebuilt. I'll buy a good one from the start.

And I've heard about a lot of problems on the 97+ models. Vapor locking due to not enough heat shielding or something? The electric window problems (only working from the driver's door.)

Any other common ones with these years?

I'd really like to get a 1996 4.0 with a 5 speed and manual everything pretty much, but it seems that all the ones I see online have power windows, locks and everything else you can imagine...

And another question, do 96's have ABS, because if I got a snorkel (safari at least) I know that the ABS fluid thing is in the way. Not that that's a problem because I'd just tear it out anyways, not like ABS is useful. My car's is DC'd right now, I have no problems stopping. It would just make for more work.

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aci4369

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When I was out looking for a new XJ I was instructed to steer away from 2000 and 2001. Anything else would be fine. I have a 99 and don't have any of those problems.

The newer the XJ the fewer that were made in manual just so you know. I wish mine was a manual. hmm

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Topic: To buy, or not to buy.