1989 XJ for $650 - Need Thoughts Please

[MischiefMan]

OK...as any of you who have read my posts know, I am having issues with my '86. Well, today I stumbled across an ad for an '89 2 door for $650. I didn't think to ask what tranny was in it, but it does have the 4.0L. The interior is basically gone and driver's side door and front fender are "pretty beat up." The guy said it does run and is drivable, but it hasn't been licensed or inspected in over a year. He bought it for strickly offroad use. I haven't gone to look at it, so that's basically all the info I have.

I'm concerned that I'll end up with something else that is another project. I'm a poor college student trying to survive so money isn't in abundance. :laugh3:

What should I be looking for when I go look at this thing? The damage to the door and fender concerns me.

[xxmidianxx]

Like I said last night. 2+2= one bad XJ!

[MischiefMan]

I just envision another emissions nightmare!

[mk153smaw]

isnt the 86 immune now for emissions? 21 year rule I think it was? If that is the case mix the two jeeps and use all the laws from '86 with the 89 gear.

[MischiefMan]

Nope, it has to be 24 years old....2 more years to go.

[xxmidianxx]

He atleast our Jeeps can go out drinking w/ us.

[MischiefMan]

He atleast our Jeeps can go out drinking w/ us.

BONUS!!!! :cheers:

[Dirt]

If you can't afford to fix the one you have now or, don't know how to fix the one you have...why buy another one that you won't be able to fix? ;)

[MischiefMan]

Yano Dirt, I don't think you ever responded to my question about whether you've ever owned a 2.8L or if you just repeat other trash others say.

As for being able to fix them, ability isn't the issue. Putting good money out for bad is an issue with me however.

Not being able to do work and determine if I've fixed the problem without having to pay $39.75 every two trips to the emissions inspector get very old very fast!

[Dirt]

Yano Dirt, I don't think you ever responded to my question about whether you've ever owned a 2.8L or if you just repeat other trash others say. Sorry, I have a tendancy to ignore retards. I can afford to tear up my 2k xj. I looked at a 2.8 once and was smart enough to stay way back.

As for being able to fix them, ability isn't the issue. Putting good money out for bad is an issue with me however. You seriously sound retarded now..You could buy something reliable for 3k.

Not being able to do work and determine if I've fixed the problem without having to pay $39.75 every two trips to the emissions inspector get very old very fast! Uhhhh guys...I have a 1986 xj with a 2.8.. It's a real piece of shit. I don't know why though... It's only 22 years old.

22 is prime age for a stripper...not a vehicle.


:cool:

[Ramsey]

Who the hell likes a 22 yr old stripper, 18 my friend.

[MischiefMan]

Ah, the Internet....a place where anyone can feel tough, important, and like he makes a difference in the world. I hope you truly feel superior man.

[Ramsey]

That's what his dog is for.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4034/jrsdongjk8.jpg

[xxmidianxx]

Hey Dirt... I have an 86 2.8L and it runs great! I wheel it all the time and have NEVER had a problem I couldn't fix within a few hours. No major breakdowns OR breakage. It's all in how ppl have taken care if it. And don't take your anger out on other ppl ok? Its not very mature.

[Ramsey]

Look at him, does that face scream maturity...I don't think so.

[Dirt]

Ah, the Internet....a place where anyone can feel tough, important, and like he makes a difference in the world. I hope you truly feel superior man.
I simply made a statement the first time. Complete with winky smiley dude. Don't hate on me 'cause you drive a pile of shit.


Just so you know... I feel tough and important away from the internet as well. ;) <---winky smiley dude again!


Hey Dirt... I have an 86 2.8L and it runs great! I wheel it all the time and have NEVER had a problem I couldn't fix within a few hours. No major breakdowns OR breakage. It's all in how ppl have taken care if it.

You're 100% right! If you have the time, money, resources and skills...you can go a long way... with any vehicle! However, our friend has made it abundantly clear that, he has none of those.



And don't take your anger out on other ppl ok? Its not very mature.

Thanks for the counseling but, I'm not angry...just honest.


This place has turned into the vagina of the internet.

[in2fords]

I actually agree with Dirt
Most any $650 vehicle is a project, trust me I've done all the research there is on that one. He's allready telling you that it isnt even worth getting legal so he just abused the hell out of it as a toy, it's all in interpetation. Dont you think you could take your 2.8 to the shop and get it fixed properly with that $650? then you could actually save money and buy a vehicle that has a better motor.
or you could buy a toyota so when people ask if you have sand in your Taco you wont be as offended.

[MischiefMan]

I appreciate the responses, I truly do. All opinions are always welcome. I was, however, looking for something useful however....

As for trying to get my toy to pass inspection, it is kind of a necessity. The law enforcement community frowns on driving to and from 4-wheeling locations without a valid inspection sticker. I suppose I could turn my Porsche into a tow vehicle, but that doesn't sound real practicle; hence the need to have a street legal 4x4.

Sure, I don't have loads of coin to dump into this particular hobby, but that doesn't mean that I should just walk away from it. Sure, I could take the '86 to a shop, but where's the fun in that?

But back to the original question. If the motor and drive train are good, what else should I be looking at in the '89?

[goodburbon]

look for rusty floorboards, rusty rockers, look at the inside of the radiator if you can, look inside the oil fill cap, look at the battery tray, stick your finger in the diffs, check color of tranny fluid. test 4wd for function, test hvac for function, etc.

In other words, if you're buying a used vehicle, inspect it ;)

[MischiefMan]

Thank you Burbon, your response is leaning the way I was hoping for.

[Ecomike]

I bought an 89, 2wd for $950 plus axes and tags, but it was still registered and tagged. It had a rough idle that I was sure would be an easy fix, turned out to be blown head gasket between 2 cylinders, #4 & #5, with no other signs of the head gasket problem other than the rough idle. Only had 114,000 miles on it, nice interior so I still think it was great deal. Paid 1,500 for my 87 4x4 in 2004, and spent about $3,000 in parts on it since then just to fix all the worn out oem stuff that died since I bought it. Had 224,000 miles on it when I bought it, has 250,000 now.

Some options are to sell, trade or part out the 2.8 Jeep for cash. Or fix it and drive it. Just what is the problem with it anyway????? Is there a thread I missed on it where you were troubleshoting it?

I would offer the guy like $300 to $350 for the Jeep, and keep looking for a better deal. Have you, or are you going to inspect it?

I find that CarFax reports are an excellant tool, sometimes, for avoiding problem cars so I always use it when shopping for used cars.

Adding to GB's list also check the wiring harness for brittleness, carfax can tell you if the odometer is accurate, or if it has been swapped out for a low mileage one. Listen to the engine for noises, check the exhaust. Ask why it has not been inspected and stickered.

Lastly, you could consider renting a tow vehicle for offroad trips or get an XJ friend to tow you to the events, and keep your 86 2.8!:cheers:

[Ecomike]

Nope, it has to be 24 years old....2 more years to go.

IIRC it is has to be 25 years old. My 73 LTD, recently sold, was exempted in 1998. 98-73 = 25

[Ecomike]

OK...as any of you who have read my posts know, I am having issues with my '86. Well, today I stumbled across an ad for an '89 2 door for $650. I didn't think to ask what tranny was in it, but it does have the 4.0L. The interior is basically gone and driver's side door and front fender are "pretty beat up." The guy said it does run and is drivable, but it hasn't been licensed or inspected in over a year. He bought it for strickly offroad use. I haven't gone to look at it, so that's basically all the info I have.

I'm concerned that I'll end up with something else that is another project. I'm a poor college student trying to survive so money isn't in abundance. :laugh3:

What should I be looking for when I go look at this thing? The damage to the door and fender concerns me.

Regarding your question " What should I be looking for when I go look at this thing" I would say a lot more cash!!!!!! LOL.:laugh:

[MischiefMan]

Some options are to sell, trade or part out the 2.8 Jeep for cash. Or fix it and drive it. Just what is the problem with it anyway????? Is there a thread I missed on it where you were troubleshoting it?

There really isn't a thread about the '86. As far as I can tell, most of the emissions garbage has been removed. I've replaced most of it, but I still need to get an air pipe, proportioning valve, and whatever else is missing.

Lastly, you could consider renting a tow vehicle for offroad trips or get an XJ friend to tow you to the events, and keep your 86 2.8!:cheers:
Well, the plan was to keep the '86 anyway....I just wouldn't have to worry about fixing it anytime soon.

Thank you for your input!

[Ecomike]

Proportioning valve for emissions or brake system?

[MischiefMan]

Not real sure atm. I'm basically going off what xxmidianxx told me is on his based off the pics I have showing where things are missing on mine. If that makes any sense.

OK...let's see if I can clarify. There is nothing connected to the air pump. The exhaust manifolds have no place to connect anything to them either. There is a whole in the air cleaner housing where a valve should be. There is a vacuum tree with three ports that isn't connected to anything. These are both on the pass.side of the air cleaner. From there it is going to be a matter of tracking down where the vacuum hoses really belong. I'm hoping to get some idea from xxmidianxx's '86.

[Ecomike]

Not real sure atm. I'm basically going off what xxmidianxx told me is on his based off the pics I have showing where things are missing on mine. If that makes any sense.

OK...let's see if I can clarify. There is nothing connected to the air pump. The exhaust manifolds have no place to connect anything to them either. There is a whole in the air cleaner housing where a valve should be. There is a vacuum tree with three ports that isn't connected to anything. These are both on the pass.side of the air cleaner. From there it is going to be a matter of tracking down where the vacuum hoses really belong. I'm hoping to get some idea from xxmidianxx's '86.

I saw one of these on Richey St., Pasadena, Tx, 2 weeks ago for $900, a 4x4 IIRC, but I passed it up and drove by with out looking at it. Got enough projects of mine own already.

Has one of you two found an FSM yet on that engine-emissions set up. PM me your email address....I just checked my Haynes book and even it has some pictures of the V-6 hoses and emissions parts in it. See page 6-4 and 6-5 for the 86, V-6. There were three different layouts for that same year, and they are all in the Haynes book of all places! All three had carburators, no fuel injection. One was for manual tranny, 2nd for auto tranny, third was Canadian.

GAHD, that thing had a HUGE bunch of hardware and hoses on it! Including a Choke TVS, air control VLV, Dual CTO, non linear VLV, Prim Vac BRK, TAC Temp sensor, TAC vac motor, VAC RSVR W/ chk valve, sol, decel valve, a spark TVS, EGR, 7 different vac hoses just on the carburator, and a few other odds and ends. And I have no bloody idea what those accronyms stand for either!:laugh3: No wonder they went to FI and computers in 87.

[Ecomike]

Page 6-10 of the Haynes book also has the air pump injection system drawing for the 86 V-6 also!!!

[MischiefMan]

ROTF!!! Now you see why I was asking about the cheap '89 I found.

I really don't mind putting the time and effort into bringing the '86 back to life. Decoding those damn acronyms and finding parts is starting to be a drag though. Also, it leaves me without anything to play in until then. It does run, and is drivable. It just doesn't like to idle.

A local car lot has an '86 for sale, they want $5K for it....LOL

[Ecomike]

ROTF!!! Now you see why I was asking about the cheap '89 I found.

I really don't mind putting the time and effort into bringing the '86 back to life. Decoding those damn acronyms and finding parts is starting to be a drag though. Also, it leaves me without anything to play in until then. It does run, and is drivable. It just doesn't like to idle.

A local car lot has an '86 for sale, they want $5K for it....LOL

We could probably guess at some of them,

T for throttle or temperature
V for valve or vacuum
S for solenoid of sensor (not for sucks, LOL)
R has me baffled, :confused1, RSVR????

[MischiefMan]

We could probably guess at some of them,

T for throttle or temperature
V for valve or vacuum
S for solenoid of sensor (not for sucks, LOL)
R has me baffled, :confused1, RSVR????

T for thermo too
V yeah
S..sucks *snickers*....switch is one, I know that, for the spark delay switch
R uumm...reserve? relay?

[MischiefMan]

Page 6-10 of the Haynes book also has the air pump injection system drawing for the 86 V-6 also!!!

Uh.my Haynes book does not have that on any page!!!

page 0-6 has a pic of a Comanche
page 1-6 has a pic of the rear axel
page 4-7 does have a drawing of the air cleaner though...that's a step closer...LOL

[Ecomike]

Uh.my Haynes book does not have that on any page!!!

page 0-6 has a pic of a Comanche
page 1-6 has a pic of the rear axel
page 4-7 does have a drawing of the air cleaner though...that's a step closer...LOL

It's fig 5.6 in my book. What edition, version do you have? Mine is #50010, Jeep Cherokee, Wagonneer, & Comanche, 1984-2000, Haynes Repair manualISBN 1 56392 400 5, and it lists 7 different copyright years with 2000 as the last year.

So this begs the question, are we all holding different versions of the Haynes manual????? all with different details in them???????

Page 0-6 0f mine has engine identification number details and picture of engines. My 1-6, and 4-7 seem to be the same as yours.

[MischiefMan]

It's fig 5.6 in my book. What edition, version do you have? Mine is #50010, Jeep Cherokee, Wagonneer, & Comanche, 1984-2000, Haynes Repair manualISBN 1 56392 400 5, and it lists 7 different copyright years with 2000 as the last year.

So this begs the question, are we all holding different versions of the Haynes manual????? all with different details in them???????

Page 0-6 0f mine has engine identification number details and picture of engines. My 1-6, and 4-7 seem to be the same as yours.

Yep, mine only goes up to 1997. I still had it lying around from when I owned my '87 several years ago. But that does explain why I was probably sounding like I was too stupid to look in my Haynes or Chilton manuals. I did look the info just isn't in mine...LOL