Best year?

[Nine Mile]

1995 is by far the best year.

 

[wim hoppenbrouwers]

In Holland It is the 92!!!

 

[Jeepcreep]

You're all wrong! 93 was the best year, bulletproof.

 

[falcon556]

In Holland It is the 92!!!

I can't help it, I'll bite.
Why?

 

[88xjchief]

99 for the new body style and 88 for the old body style.

 

[tkjeeper]

woohoo!! another vote for 93. yeehaa.

 

[ColoradoRaptor]

As far as drivetrain and powertrain go, any one from late 96 to 99. The late 96s (manufacturered, after Sept. 96) are virtually identical to the 97s as far as drivetrain and powertrain components, which are the same as 98s and 99s. The 96s do have the older body style and interior though.
For strength and aftermarket get one with the 8.25 rear and the 231 TC.

X2 I love my 98

 

[xjtrailrider]

We just had this debat on our local forum. I have 4 XJ's, 90', 94', 96', 00'. All are 4.0, AW4, NP 231, and they all now have 29 spline 8.25's.

I'm partial to the 87-90 RENIX, I have a 90', just did a full resto on it. My 96 has been bullet proof(my trail rig). My 00' is still going strong on the original head(100k). My 94 has had some issue's and needs a rebuild now at 115k.

With all of that said, realisticly the 97-99 are a great choice for DD or trail rig.

I need to buy a 97-99 just to try one out!

 

[TheAlmightySam]

I can't help it, I'll bite.
Why?

Because I own a '92, and they love me over in Holland.

Get a new bodystyle one if you can ('97-'01) and avoid the '00-'01 because of the 0331 head nonsense and the low pinion front axle.

 

[Tinman93]

Best year.

Wow!,
That was a great response. The info is great. I think I'll start looking at '99s first, and keep the 97's and 98's on tap. I'm still not going to ever say my 84 was the best, even if it was a waggy, wood trim, stacked headlights, 2.8 and all! I think the north 40 is still a good place for it. Thanks again for all the help.
And,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TINMAN

 

[99ClassicXJ]

I'm all for the 99 Ive had mine for the last 4 years with no problems. New body style, H/P D30 up front 8.25 out back and 4.0l under the hood :eeks1:

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

As far as drivetrain and powertrain go, any one from late 96 to 99. The late 96s (manufacturered, after Sept. 96) are virtually identical to the 97s as far as drivetrain and powertrain components, which are the same as 98s and 99s. The 96s do have the older body style and interior though.
For strength and aftermarket get one with the 8.25 rear and the 231 TC.

Ray, didn't they start manufacturing the 96's in July of 95? And anything made after July of 96 would be a 97 model? I'd think a build of Sept 96 would be a 97 model?

My build date of April 96 has the C8.25 rear axle, and OBD II diagnostics.....

 

[Ray H]

Ray, didn't they start manufacturing the 96's in July of 95? And anything made after July of 96 would be a 97 model? I'd think a build of Sept 96 would be a 97 model?

..

It usually is that way. I think Jeep held off introducing the 97s until most of the 96s were gone because, as far as I know, they didnt cut off the old model until the 97 calender year. I bought my 96 in November of 96. Its manufacture date is in October 96, It is the older body style, is titled as a 96 but has 97 drivetrain components such as the 29 spline 8.25. When I got mine in Nov of 96, the dealer didnt even have, or hadnt even seen a 97 yet. they had brochures on the 97s but thats it. They didnt even have a 97 there for me to look at. They didnt even have prices for the 97s yet, (or so they told me)

Youve got me wondering know. Just out of curiosity, I think I'll start another thread to see if anyone has bought a 97 model in 96.

 

[ManBearPig]

I have an 8 1/4 but it did not come with my rig. Any way for me to find out if its 27 or 29

 

[tjmwr7]

distributers SUCK Love my 2000. No wires no water stalling my motor. no problems with my manifold. ya the high pinions nice....but if your that worried buy a 44

 

[cwstnsko]

Just to add to the mix a couple more milestones. I believe that 94 was the last year w/o an airbag. IMO, one less thing to wory about on a trail rig. 94 was also the 1st year of 134 A/C, but it was a build date of Jan 04 or later that was the changover, not the model year

 

[Ray H]

94 was also the 1st year of 134 A/C, but it was a build date of Jan 04 or later that was the changover, not the model year

Thats interesting. 95 was the first R134 year for Wranglers.

 

[ManBearPig]

My 8 1/4 didnt come with my rig. Any way of finding out if its 27 or 29

 

[Ray H]

My 8 1/4 didnt come with my rig. Any way of finding out if its 27 or 29

Probably going to have to pull a shaft out. Thats how I verified my 29 spline

 

[wim hoppenbrouwers]

I can't help it, I'll bite.
Why?

Some new modification done this year. Cheap model and nice.
The 4.0 HO engine and the AW4 combo is bullitproof.:wave1: