Is a 1987 cherokee any good. Just want it to pullaround
behind my motorhome. I don't want to buy a P.O.S.Figured ya'll would know . It is a 4.0l ,auto.
Thanx

Originally posted by FORZUKIOTA
Is a 1987 cherokee any good. Just want it to pullaround
behind my motorhome. I don't want to buy a P.O.S.Figured ya'll would know . It is a 4.0l ,auto.
Thanx

nope.. but buy it anyways...

j/k

If its the 87 model.. chances are it has the dana 44 with 3.54 gears with a trashlock in the rear..

If you dont plan to wheel it.. but want a 4x4.. go ahead and get it

It might have a D44 rear. If it had the towing option it might have a D44 rear. Most likely it's a D35.

If it looks like it's in good shape and the previous owner can prove he has maintained it with receipts and a service log, buy it. Cherokees are very robust vehicles. If properly maintained they run and run. On the NAXJA (http://www.naxja.org) board, there quite a few guys driving XJ's with 200-300K miles on them.

RR3

Didn't 87 XJ 4.0s have the lo-po Renix TBI induction?

i have an '87. Chances are it doesn't have a D44. If it does juist buy it. Yes it has the non-HO 4.0L. There is only about a 12 hp difference between the two and one foot lb of torque. Not much difference. How much are they asking and how many miles. Any thing over 100k and i don't think I'd want to go much higher than $1500.

the torque curve of the renix 4.0s peaks LOWER than the HO 4.0s i love my renix 4.0 in my 89, and i definitely would NOT call it low-po. damn thing will run a 16.8 sec 1/4 mile with my fat ass in the driver's seat. (runs 15.9 with my skinny friend driving, because i'm morbidly obese)

87 & newer Cherokees are a good value as long as the guy selling doesn't think it's plated with gold. The automatic trannies (AW4) are robust and decently geared. In 87 the 5 speed was the marginal Peugeot BA10. It won't break the first time you engage the clutch but when it finally gives out it isn't worth fixing. My BA10 had over 200,00 miles and two Cherokees behind it before it imploded.

87 & up XJs came with either the 4.0 6 cylinder or the 4 cyl and both are durable engines. My 4.0 has over 213,000 miles on it- that's what the clock showed when the speedo broke. As far as horse power goes the 6 cyl definitely gets the nod. The 4 cylinder is adequate as long as you're patient. Most came with a reverse cut D30 in the front and a standard cut D35 in the back. Some had 44s hung out in the rear but don't hold your breath. Stock axles with the 260 U joints can handle up to 32 inch tires.

Don't let it's SUV/Station Wagon status fool you. Properly set up a Cherokee will go anywhere any other rig will go and because it's a unibody, it's frame doesn't flex as much as a body-on-frame does and is much more stable on the trail. I'd buy another XJ in a heartbeat

Thankyou Mistwolf

My memory is unclear, but here is what I do remember.
Weren't the 87-89 XJ 4.0Ls notorious for electrical or electronic related problems? Or was this just a myth put out by Kelly Bluebook? My wife brought this to my attention, since I was looking into replacing my 84 (with the 2.8L v6) with a 87-up 4.0L model.

In 1987 they used a connector box for the wiring harness to pass through the firewall. It may sometimes work loose. Another problem is the box is below the master cylinder. If brake fluid gets spilled on it the fluid will begin eating away at the plastic causing all kinds of ugly problems. A simple fix for this is to clean it with a full can of electrical cleaner. They changed the harnees in 87 then again in 88. I had an 88 and currently own an 89. I haven't had any problems. Another thing you want to do is take a tie wrap and use it on the CPS connection so it won't come loose. Without the CPS being hooked up the Jeep won't run

Not to sound stupid, but what and where is this cps
yuo speak of. Thanx

Crankshaft position sensor. I think they are on the top of the bellhousing.

If its under $1800 Buy it! I have an 86 and a 89, my 4.0 has 200k and running strong with 32's. Everything that MistWolf said is true they are good jeeps and great offroaders.

xj are and either ends of the spectrums they can be good and run forever or they could have broken down coming off the asembly line it is a mixed bag drive it if it feels like it has more than a bunch of small problems then i would not buy it because chances are it really has several more problems that are covered up xjs are like women they can be cool 3 out of 4 weeks out of the month but in that one week they can destroy everything you have worked for

Don't know if this will help any, but my 84 model with the doggy 2.8L chevy v6 has NEVER left me stranded anywhere, and I have put it through some rough use. Get the right one and it'll take care of you. By the way, I have 197,000 miles on mine. It has been kept well maintained. It only has a minor rust problem.:D

I'm sure you will be very happy with the 4.0L model.

(in fact, my wife just drove it to work, again).:rolleyes: