new, confused, and lost

[confsdkid06]

okay so here's the deal right now im driving a 91 nissan 240sx :skull1: ((biggest mistake i have made yet in my 18 years of life)) and i got a ticket and hit a deer in it all with in a month so i have come to the conclusion i need to get rid of it and live life at a slower, "safer" pace with a bit more fun invovled. i got hooked on four wheeling two summers ago at my buddies house in his 01 tundra when it got stuck in a mudhole.

what im trying to get at here is that im getting rid of my p.o.s excuse for a "sports car" and trying to find an xj and as i have looked thru all 113 pages of readers rides i saw alot that i enjoyed and wanted to emulate certians parts from. and i was just wondering what you guys had to suggest as a good starting point and what i should look out for and look for in getting an xj.

thanks
-tank :viking: ((nickname))

[PosiDave]

Most people are going to tell you to do a search parts wise. (lifts) and stuff. But what is you budget and future plans for you XJ .

[MoparManiac]

Depends on what you are willing to spend. In my eyes, mostly from what I have read and partially from personal experience, if I had the money I would look for an early built '99 XJ.

-Better flowing intake
-HP D30
-29-spline 8.25 rear end (non-abs)
-Newer styling
-Upcountry package would be nice (skids, 1" lift, tow hooks)
-NP242 if it's gonna be a DD
-4.0/AW4 auto is a no-brainer for me

EDIT: Oh and also to stay away from the 0331 head as it's supposedly prone to cracking when overheated

[mavinwy]

Definately look for the 4.0 litre. The 2.5's are OK, but your pace would definately be "slower"

Past that, it depende on what you plan to do with it. You don't have to lift it or anything immediately to enjoy it. Check the unibody/box for rust, engine for major leaks (rear main seal is kind of common), trans for slippage, make sure the 4X4 goes in and works properly. Check the rest as you would any car you are looking at purchasing. Depending on how mechanically knowledgable you are....you may want to have it checked by a friend who turns wrenches, or have it checked at a shop.

If a PO has service records, so much the better. Maintenance is key on any vehicle.

I don't worry about tires, external accesories, Stereo etc except as a barganing point. I'll likely change them anyway.

Jim

[MUDFLAP]

I bought a stock XJ and modified it (lift,tires,discos,etc). Looking back if I had to do it over again, Id probaly shop for one already modified. Normally you can buy a lifted xj cheaper than modifying a stock one. The lift,tires etc normally dont increase the price much unless its something really big. A used XJ with a 3"-4-1/2" should be pretty easy to find in your (red) neck of the woods!
Definetly look for a 4.0L with the D30 up front and a 8.25 out back. My $.02.

[casm]

Depends on what you are willing to spend. In my eyes, mostly from what I have read and partially from personal experience, if I had the money I would look for an early built '99 XJ.

Few things to add to this:

-Better flowing intake

Improved again for 2000 and 2001.

-HP D30

Which the 2000 and 2001 models didn't have, but it's not a killer.

-29-spline 8.25 rear end (non-abs)

Only if specified; there are non-ABS D35s out there. Really, the D35 is fine for moderate wheeling and everyday use; if you're building past the point that the D35 will hold up to you'd likely need to be swapping axles anyway.

-Upcountry package would be nice (skids, 1" lift, tow hooks)

Good luck finding one, though: I ran across mine by accident. Things I'll add about the skids: the gas tank skid is OK, the transfer case skid kinda cheesy, and the steering skid useful but a PITA to have to work around at times. Notice that there're no oil pan or transmission skids on that list; they didn't come from the factory with them.

-NP242 if it's gonna be a DD

Agreed. I've had both and wouldn't go back to the 231; the ability to have full-time 4WD is way too useful.

EDIT: Oh and also to stay away from the 0331 head as it's supposedly prone to cracking when overheated

Overblown, IMHO. There're thousands of XJs with the 0331 head out there (mine included at 116,000 miles) and zero problems. They seem to have a higher failure rate than other heads, but not all 0331s are bad.

I'll also add to the list that 2000 and 2001 got distributorless ignition and a slight power boost over the earlier models.

My best advice would be to narrow down the spec on what you want, then buy the cleanest, most well-cared-for example your budget will allow. Drive it stock for a while, then decide on where you want to go with modifications once you know the vehicle's capabilities and how you intend to use it.

[UNCC_99XJ]

Agreed. I've had both and wouldn't go back to the 231; the ability to have full-time 4WD is way too useful.

i'll 3rd that one. I've got the 242 (AKA Selec-Trac) in my XJ and the 231 (AKA Command-Trac) in my mom's KJ and I much prefer the 242. The Full-Time feature is really nice when you need it....especially if you're like me and your tires are becoming racing slicks....makes driving in the rain MUCH easier.

Other than whats been covered, it's really a matter of what you're willing to spend. You can't go wrong with the 4.0/AW4 (automatic transmission) combo. The AW4's can take alot of crap before they begin to show signs of needing attention. I've seen other kids that I used to go to High School with beat the living piss out of their XJ's and they keep right on goin like nothin happened.

If you can give us an idea of what years you're looking at, or if you dont know what years, how much you're willing to spend to pick one up, we can give you a better idea of what to look for and what you could get.

[confsdkid06]

sorry should of givin better information:banghead: . uhm with the budget ill have is some where in the ball park of 2g-2500 depending on what i can sell my 240sx for. and the only xj's i can find in my area that fit my budget are the 88-91 time frame (first gen ?) i know my dad told me to shoot for 92 an newer since the 4.0 motor was a better built one. and im looking for it to be a dd but eventually become full blown rig. i spend alot of time going to the mountians with friends as well as the local mud pits and parie city, lately and also last year spent alot of time on the mountian ((im about an hour and half from tahoe)). so i was looking for some thing simple for now but eventully turn it into a pretty swet ride.

thanks so far for all the advice.

-tank:viking:

[Matthew Currie]

I would be inclined to take a different approach, especially since you're young and poor. First of all, good as the XJ is, it's a different beast from what you're used to driving, and I think it's probably not a great idea to go straight from the sporty car to a lifted and modified one, especially if you do not have very expert guidance on determining whether the modifications were done correctly and safely. A box stock XJ has plenty of power, and can go plenty of places off road with nothing but good tires and some skill. On the road, it's a nice predictable handling safe vehicle, but it's not a sports car, and it takes some getting used to. You can go fast, and drive with enthusiasm, but those lapses of skill and judgment that might just scare the crap out of you in a 240SX might well have you on your roof in an XJ.

I'd look for the best stock one you can find, and worry about the mods later. As you go you'll figure out what you really need, and what you can afford, and you won't end up having to redo half-a$$ed work done by somebody else, and you won't get one that's already been thrashed on rocks and drowned in mud.

For the vehicle itself, worry less about the year than the condition. I'd stick to the 4.0, automatic unless you're really set on stick shifts (the 5 speed is geared pretty tall for wheeling, and the automatic is nearly bulletproof), and for the rest, shop for condition.

eta: By the way, the 4.0 begins its run in 87. 87-90 use a different fuel injection system from the later ones, and have a few less horsepower, but they're very good and very durable. Some people even prefer them. All 4.0's use the same AW4 automatic tranny, which is very good.

[confsdkid06]

hmm great advice and deffinately appricated. and yes im sure having a lapse of judgement in an xj woul be a rather costly mistake. im use to have to switch from my 240sx to my work truck (04 ford 4 door harley edition ) which is a pain but have gotten use to it. and i learned with this car (the 240) that replacing peoples half assed work is twice as price as it should of been. so i fully understand that. and no im set with an automatic just becuase its what im use to driving and working on.

-tank:viking: