Is it worth it?

[Zoro]

I looked at an 85 Cherokee Chief today. The guy says it has Selec-Trac and wasn't sure if the 4wd works or not. It's got a 2.5(4 banger), auto trans and 165k, the interior looked great with the exception of the headliner which sagged. The only thing that made me think of not getting it was the fact that it had large patches of rust along the sides and along the bottom of the floorboards but none of it was thru the metal which is good, he said it had been rust proofed and that's why it wasn't thru, the rear bumper was AWOL and the brakects were rusted off which doesn't matter because I have spares.

The guy wanted about $300 for it but I think I can get it for $250 at best, is this worth it or is that way too much for it? Also did these things come with a D44 rear? If not it should have a D30 front and a D35 rear, right?

[OT]

It will have a D-35/D-30 unless someone swapped in different axles.
AFA if it's worth it or not, I think that's a good price for a parts Jeep.
If it runs then it's even more worth it.

[Zoro]

Yea it runs and drives, the guy fired it up right in front of me &it sounded good but not like a hole in the exhaust.

[85xjwoody]

I own an 85 wagoneer with the 2.5 inline four cylinder that is carbed. I also have the automatic and select trac. My tranny is a three speed 904 and my tranfer case is a 229. The truck you are looking at could have a tranfer case than mine as there were the 228 and 229 model. The 229 does not have a sensor for fluids and the 228 does. What do you plan on doing with the jeep? Do you have another like it to use this jeep for a parts jeep? If it runs than I would drive it or wheel it. I bought mine for 500 bucks and have not looked back. I have done quite a bit with this jeep as mods and wheeling go so I have gotten pretty familiar with it. So in my opinion it is worth it so I would buy it. Any questions let me know.

Kim.

[Zoro]

I was thinking trail-rig for the Chief so I could bang it up all I want and not really care.

[Eagle]

If the transfer case is the 228/229 it's not ideal for trail use, but it is strong. They are the same case, except that one (the one used in '84 and '85) has a viscous coupling for the full-time position, and the one used in '86 has an internal differential. Sorry, I don't recall off-hand which case is which number.

The downside is that high-range 4WD is only a full-time position. It is not a locked transfer case in high range, and there is no option for locking it. Low range 4WD is locked, however.

If it has the Selec-Trac option, it probably also has true CV joints in the front driveshaft and front axle shafts. These are not exceptionally strong, and are expensive to service or replace.

The '85 2.5L is a much better engine than the 2.8L V6, but the carburetor is junk. Rusty's sells (or used to sell, anyway) a Weber conversion that's a terrific improvment over the factory carb (unless you live in a state with strict emission equipment laws, where you would be required to keep the original carburetor).

Axles will be D30/D35. The D44 wasn't offered until 1987.

[85xjwoody]

If the transfer case is the 228/229 it's not ideal for trail use, but it is strong. They are the same case, except that one (the one used in '84 and '85) has a viscous coupling for the full-time position, and the one used in '86 has an internal differential. Sorry, I don't recall off-hand which case is which number.

The downside is that high-range 4WD is only a full-time position. It is not a locked transfer case in high range, and there is no option for locking it. Low range 4WD is locked, however.

If it has the Selec-Trac option, it probably also has true CV joints in the front driveshaft and front axle shafts. These are not exceptionally strong, and are expensive to service or replace.

The '85 2.5L is a much better engine than the 2.8L V6, but the carburetor is junk. Rusty's sells (or used to sell, anyway) a Weber conversion that's a terrific improvment over the factory carb (unless you live in a state with strict emission equipment laws, where you would be required to keep the original carburetor).

Axles will be D30/D35. The D44 wasn't offered until 1987.

Thanks for the info Eagle. I have recently replaced one of my CV axleshafts and it costed me $79.00 for the axleshaft from Carquest and took me about thirty minutes to replace besides the two days it took me to get my caliper off. Just thought I would mention that to let people know that it is about as hard to replace one as a u-joint axleshaft. I would say the price is good for a CV axleshaft. The 2.5 is an excellent engine in my opinion. For the trails the 2.5 in 4lo is great and does what I need it to.

As far as the tranfer case goes the first one the previous owner pretty much ruined it. The rebuilt tranny and tranfer case that I have in there now have not failed me yet under some pretty hard wheeling. The only problem is the vacuum switch for the tranfer case. It is a pain and should be replaced with cable to lock in 4wd.

Kim.