please tell me all the good, bad, and indifferent about this Jeep....It looks like I will be buying one and want everyones opinion on it before I do. its got the 4.0/AW4 combo also the front vacuum disconnect replaced with a homemade cable lock for the axle disconnect--allows 2wd lo range. waht do you think of the 4.5" rusty's system with coils, rear packs, shocks, lower control arms, track bar ...how good of a system is this?..thanks For your input, Chris

pretty good jeep. Non HO. lots of wires under the hood from the factory, messy smog system. tubes and hoses all over the place! not the best cooling system the world has ever known. probly a 35 rear axle, How much do you intend to drive it? DD? as far as RUSTY"S... pass! Spend the money and go with RE. Can't even begin to mention the ways its better than Rusty! HTH

Good to know...What does everyone else have to say? It has the 4.5 rustys system on it, olympic bumper and rock rails k&n filter ramsey 6000 or 9000 winch(don't remember)..What would you pay for it?..Let me know...Its getting close for time to buy. Chris

I'd rather buy a stock XJ and build it myself because I would ditch every mod on that thing due to low quality.

thats what I am starting to think.....get one that has the HO 4.0 neater/safer underhood wiring. 91-93 I think Is the best for a build, It seems that ther are alot of those year XJ w/ 90k to 160 k miles on them that I can get cheap here in FL..1,400-2,300.

That is definately a better idea.

I have an 89' larado and it is a good jeep, but Rusty's sucks, the cooling system sucks and things like the window motors and such will start dying soon......good luck in your search.

Originally posted by 5150xj
I have an 89' larado and it is a good jeep, but Rusty's sucks, the cooling system sucks and things like the window motors and such will start dying soon......good luck in your search.

Ditto. I've got a stock 90 XJ and agree on all accounts. The closed cooling can be convertered to an open system though which will improve it substatially. On my XJ I tossed in a new radiator and a 180* thermostat and haven't had any cooling probs in the year and a half thats been in, but it's been driven maybe 1500 miles in that time.

Thanks Guys for your input!

Originally posted by ItsaJeepThing95


Ditto. I've got a stock 90 XJ and agree on all accounts. The closed cooling can be convertered to an open system though which will improve it substatially. On my XJ I tossed in a new radiator and a 180* thermostat and haven't had any cooling probs in the year and a half thats been in, but it's been driven maybe 1500 miles in that time.

Which Radiatior did you put in it?????How much was it? also....later down the road if I do decide to swap the motor out to say an newer style the tranny and everying lines up right? Well at least from 89-97, Right?I understand that the computer will have to be changed and fuel system,

Thanks, Chris

The 87-89s aren't that bad, if you know how to work on them. If you can get a good deal, like around 2000-2500 I would go for it. I had a Pioneer (manual windows, thank god) and I had no radiator probs. I replaced the leaking one with a 3-core and was done. I had Rusty's 3 in, not bad for the price. The 4.5 and 6 packs are prety stiff, but the rest is quality.

Well I am paying 3k for the whole rig......I think its worth it..What do you guys think?
-- 89 laredo with cold a/c, pwr windows, locks, tilt , cruise
--strong running 4.0 with aw4 auto. d30 & d35 axles--still open. front vacuum disconnect replaced with a homemade cable lock for the axle disconnect--works great & allows use of 2wd lo range. shows 183k but the original owner that i bought it from used to tow behind motorhome & over half the mileage was while being towed. no leaks or fluid consumption of any kind.
--rusty's air tube with k&n filter
--new injectors & plugs
--4.5" rusty's system with new coils, rear packs, shocks, lower control arms, track bar installed a year ago--all in great shape & articulates great while riding & handling far better than stock.
--31x10.50 trxus mt's on 15x8 ar767 black wheels, lots of tread left
--jks quicker disconnects for swaybar
--olympic rockrails, retrofitted tc skid & gas tank skid
--bpi winch bumper (9k ramsey pro 9000 available)
--retrofitted 2" factory receiver hitch
--interior good--no tears
--exterior good--paint not peeling--passenger side rear door has small dent & scrape from a tree that could probably be pushed out easily

It sounds like a good deal to me. It does have quite a few miles so check the unibody for stress cracks and rust, and start it when cold, and see if the trans shifts well.

Originally posted by pcoplin
It sounds like a good deal to me. It does have quite a few miles so check the unibody for stress cracks and rust, and start it when cold, and see if the trans shifts well.

Cool, I will do that...Now heres a question......Since it was towed behind a winnie....If the transfer case was in nutural, would it still rack up miles???? Also...he swear that there re no fluid leaks at all....Do these have rear end seal problems?....At least thats what I have heard....Thanks, Chris:confused: