Bought a new XJ...

[Zaedock]

...well, not exactly new. It's an '89 2 door with 4.0L/Auto/NP231(aka Command Trac), Dana30/35 axles(hoping for the D44, but that's ok). It has 87,000 miles (not even half-life for a 4.0L) and the gentlemen who owned it bought it new in '89 for his wife and has stacks (I mean STACKS) of service receipts back to '89. It has new everything(the list is too long) and only a little rust on the bottoms of the doors, and just surface rust at that. It fired right up, runs pissah, and really scoots.

This XJ is going to be my commuter and light wheeling rig

My '92 Wrangler trail rig on 35's and '59 CJ5 aren't the best commuter vehicles. The previous owner just had the oil changed, but stay tuned for a future UOA to see how she's really running.

 

[MarkC]

Good score.

 

[Kestas]

I knew a guy who owned a car that was always maintained and repaired by the dealer. After 100K nearly everything was replaced on that car before he decided to sell it. That's simply the way it goes if you don't do the work yourself. I'd say you got a good find.

 

[TheLoneRanger]

I had a red 89 2-dr XJ that was replaced with my present 96 green 2-dr. Great vehicles.

That's really low mileage for an 89. One good thing about the Renix EFI system that you have, is that troubles can be diagnosed with nothing more than a multimeter. It's a simple and mostly trouble-free system. Good luck with it.

 

[The Critic]

Is it replacing the Malibu Maxx?

 

[MarkC]

quote:

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Originally posted by TheLoneRanger:

I had a red 89 2-dr XJ that was replaced with my present 96 green 2-dr. Great vehicles.

That's really low mileage for an 89. One good thing about the Renix EFI system that you have, is that troubles can be diagnosed with nothing more than a multimeter. It's a simple and mostly trouble-free system. Good luck with it.

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I also have a 96 green 2-door XJ.
Well...it's sorta greenish. They call it Bright Jade or something.
It's photo is over in the Photo section.

 

[gtx510]

XJ's are solid SUV's. Only problems we've had were the power brakes and the mount engine (which ended up cracking the exhaust manifold).

If you switch to the '91-95 head you can use the chinese knock-off of the banks header. +96 head might flow even better?
And the +96 intake manifold flows much better, and you get more low-end too boot.

Also look into adding an extra fan like the '90 or '91 models got.

 

[Zaedock]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Critic:
Is it replacing the Malibu Maxx?

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Seriously, I wish...but no, we're still in legal dispute with GM. Actually, I need to take it in and have the driver's half-shaft seal on the transmission replaced because it leaks. The electric steering also "clunks" and it isn't the struts.
These, plus the original hard-start issue with only 27,000 miles on the ticker. Argh. When this is over, it will be such a relief.

I've bought many new vehicles (usually for the wife, I like "old stuff") and one thing this experience has taught me is that brand loyalty is bogus. I've always been a Chevy guy and have always bought Chevy's, but after my personal dealings with corporate GM, even before the legal action, it will be a cold day before I buy another one. I was treated like ****. I used to be of the "buy American" mindset, but these days most, if not all, vehicles are either built here or have parts sourced from all over the world. I don't think "buy American" applies to vehicles anymore.
We like the new Jeep Compass, but I really like the new Camry and would consider an Accord as well. My brother has always had Honda's and I have driven in coworkers Toyota's. I know there are countless threads on domestic vs import quality, and I don't want to contaminate my own thread with this, but domestic automakers need better quality control and need to stop using the customer as the final quality check. The imports have one up in this respect. Granted, imports have issues too, but everytime my brother brought his Honda in for any issue, he was treated well and in a professional manner.
Anyway...getting off my soap box...

TheLoneRanger : This one is red too. Despite being in the salt belt, it's wicked clean. The guy said he washed it after snow storms (how many people do that?!?!).

gtx510 : My wife says I tinker with everything. This one runs so well, I'm actually going to leave the Renix alone. I will probably upgrade the factory motor mounts to a set from Mountain Off Road Enterprises though.