I need advice from the group on the best Cherokee to buy...

[Geminiroq]

Hello guys,

I have been reading on the boards for a long time but have not been able to score my first FSJ!! :(

I guess I am having trouble narrowing down what I want out of a cherokee.

So here it goes...this is what I have been doing and what I am looking for and hoping that you guys can direct me in the right direction.

First off...I cannot seem to locate a decent rig...I have used Jaxed, and Hanks helper and ebay. Where is the best place to look for a good rig or are there any members that have a good rig for a good price that they want to sell?

Second, I cannot deciede on what year model to get...this is where I need everyones help and input. On one hand I want all power everthing like in our modern cars and trucks but on the other hand...I want a tough rig that is tough enough to go light wheeling yet practical and efficient enough to drive daily.

I have heard that 76-79 are the tough ones and 80-83 have all the power everything?

So I guess my question is....what year FSJ is the best bang for the buck?? :banghead:

I hope this makes sense and any and all advice is appreciated.

Thank you...

[Chris P.]

The main difference between the 76-79 and 80-83 rigs are the transmission, transfercase, and rear axle. There are no real strength differences. The 80-83 rigs will probably have a slightly higher gear ratio. I prefer Cherokees older than '79 just because of styling, but if I found a clean newer one I wouldn't pass it up. The trim can always be changed.

[bigun]

Sine you live in Komifornia The earlier the better since you must pass smog laws. The neat thing with these rigs is they didn't change much through the years so you can add the power stuff to the older rigs, if you just have to have it

[flatbackdragon]

craigslist offer..

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/1163756671.html

oh, and it is "Rare" lol

[Geminiroq]

Thank you Flatbackdragon...I appreciate the link!

[will e]

I had been on a search for a CHerokee too. I just picked one up.

If I lived in California, I would focus on one that had the least emissions requirements.

From a 'power options' standpoint you pretty much are looking at side windows, rear window and mirrors.

Additional luxury items might include cruise control, intermittent wipers and tilt column.

I am not sure what was/wasn't available leading up to the 80's.

For me, the biggest 'must have' was a Wide Track. I wanted to be able to get bigger tires with less lift. But here in AZ we do a little rougher wheel'n sometimes.

Of course, you said 'efficient enough' for daily driving. The six cyl that Flatback linked to might be a good choice. They have less power but they also have decent torque and are good for light wheel'n.

Don't exclude the waggy's those 4 doors can be nice. THe biggest drawback is the wheel opening limit the tire size compared to a WT. But you can fit 31's on a waggy with a 4" lift and have a good light duty trail rig.

[mrtazwrench]

The others have made good points, over here in salt country, we just go for the one that is not a complete pile of rust.

[georgiajake]

I posted a note similar to yours (from a Waggy perspective) back in November. Got lots of good information on what to look for in a Waggy and what to avoid. After some shopping and a bit of luck I found a great deal on a 78 Cherokee. I like the 4 speed manual transmission and bench seats. Never had good luck with an automatic transmission and the bench seats let her slide over and help me shift. Plus im looking forward to not having the electrical issues ive read about on here.

"Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler" Issac Newton
He must have owned a jeep.

[newtojeeps]

Now that they will be smogging Motorcycles here in California. It's either going to be smog for Classic cars (maybe pay for pollution points), The state will give you $1,000.00 to give your vehicle to Mexico (they won't alow the paid for vehicle to end up being parted out it must be scrapped or sent elsewhere), but you have to spend the money on a new vehicle made in USA?:mad: Or maybe the Smog only station will put a few rounds through your block if it does not pass. Any rate the best year to buy is a 1975 at this point in time. as long as you have the tub that came with a V8 you can pretty much do what you want to. There are limits to lift (hieght of bumpers) and noise from the exaust. You can put a 100,000 watt amp in it and make the body panels vibrate off however.:eek: Of course these are all rumers that i am hearing at cassic car shows.

[Geminiroq]

Thanks for all the info and tips....

[Marvin Gates]

The best thing to do is move out of Kalifornia (like I did) we have no smog checks at all here. You can do anything you want to any kind of car or truck or anything with a motor in it. And $42 a year for your licence plate tabs. No salt and lots of parts and Jeeps.
I lived in Huntington Beach for 45 years and wouldn't go back if it was free.
Anyway, good luck, my favorite is 77 or 78 wide track, after that they had the plastic grilles (that seem to always have cracks)

[PlasticBoob]

Since you're in L.A., in my opinion emissions should be your #1 priority.

If you don't want to get a '75 or older then get something with the Quadra Trac. The only thing those sleazy no good scum sucking make-their-living-off-of-your-failures smog shop owners can do with a QT rig is a stationary test (which simply consists of idle and 2000rpm I believe?); most actual emissions failures (not stupid stuff like vacuum hoses and such) come from the 15 and 25mph load tests.

SCREW 'EM RIGHT BACK! :mad:

[Rider99XX]

Here's one for ya on fleabay, Item number: 280343140756

[kahula]

i had a 1983 n/t cherokee that was manual, no power inside, was a great ride. till some drunk totaled it in my driveway.

i gave up trying to find another cherokee like that after a year of searching, now i'm getting a 79 w/t

i'm partial to the no power option and no wood stickers either way IMO there are less cherokees then wagoneers, any cherokee is better then no cherokee

[Fiodh. Argus]

Hey
I've got a 77 WT I really like - you may remember that wag you looked at of mine a year or so ago - that went up to Washington, I actually am now regretting sending it - it was so hooked up with lockers etc --- but with CA smog I would say have a look for a 75 WT even with the post mount springs, you could always refab the mounts if you wanted to run a newer lift kit.

good luck!

Drew

[seventynine]

Here's one for ya on fleabay, Item number: 280343140756

Whats the deal with this Cherokee anyway...only 21 hours left and only a $610 high bid:confused: . No reserve too. I haven't looked too closely at it but it looks like a pretty nice rig.

Here's the "tiny" link: http://tinyurl.com/pxcdp5

Dean

[suzq044]

There's another one posted up there; it's been vandalized up; needs new windows (all of them); it's got a rebuilt 360 v8 with a new Holley carb. We went and checked it out as a parts-jeep for our Cherokee; but with exception to the windows, exposed transmission gears and no front wheels, the thing will drive, and they only want $500 for it. It's in east county, way off the 78 highway. Oh yeah, it's a '76 and has the manual 4spd with full time 4wd. signs of rust in the usual places, but nothing huge; the body is very clean though.. I'll be posting it for them in the 'fo sale' section when they send me the pics I took (I forgot my own camera, so they let me use theirs for the pics I wanted).. oh yeah; narrowtrack btw.

PS:
If you can prove it was manufactured (not delivered) before 1976 (meaning, 1975 and earlier) you will be able to avoid the CARB emissions bs. As far as the decibel laws, those vary from city to city; the lifts, cops don't really care about too much, it's the low-rider ricer vehicles they try to get out here really, and teens. I got stopped in my neon once because of no front plate; which after searching my vehicle, he let me go with a "warning" about the front plate (which he couldn't see until he pulled me over).

PPS:
My 82 is a WideTrac Laredo, it's not power everything.. in fact it seems to be non-power everything, except tailgate. lol

[Chris P.]

Oh yeah, it's a '76 and has the manual 4spd with full time 4wd.

There weren't any manuals built with a Quadratrac. Probably a D20.

[suzq044]

Well I'm a noob at this; but I asked, and that's what she said, and I can see that it's a manual, cause it's got a clutch pedal. lol

[Geminiroq]

Thanks Drew...I remember that rig...it was nice!! :fsj:

[Geminiroq]

Hey guys...

What other internet "search" sites are there other than Jaxed and Hanks Helper??

Thank you...

[tgreese]

Hey guys...

What other internet "search" sites are there other than Jaxed and Hanks Helper??

Thank you...

How about crazedlist.com

[RubiconMike]

I'd look for a Wide Track, you can put on a larger tire with less lift than a narrow track.

If you can find a '74 or '75 you can avoid the smog ordeal. Besides making it easier to register, you can swap any motor you want without having to go to a "referee".

Try to find one with as little rust as you can. That will save you a lot in the long run.

As far as the power stuff, that is really pretty easy to add to an older model. I bought a couple of power mirrors from a member on this list for $25 - they bolted right on. I'll be adding power windows and locks soon also.

I bought an '82 6cyl/5spd and after the usual tune up stuff it passed smog. That will not always be the case with some older vehicles.

[seventynine]

5 minutes left on that auction and its only at $1300....someone might get a deal.

http://tinyurl.com/pxcdp5 (http://tinyurl.com/pxcdp5)

[seventynine]

****...it went for $1,725.00.

Seems like a pretty good deal....though the there wasn't a lot of info about it on the auction. Look nice in the pics though.

[Geminiroq]

Hey tgreese....crazedlist.com...doesnt seem to work?

[flatbackdragon]

use www.crazedlist.org (http://www.crazedlist.org)
says it doesn't like IE so best to put Mozilla Firefox on your machine then go to site

[yankeedog]

the one you can find. if you find more than one,the one with the least rust.

[seventynine]

Hey guys...

What other internet "search" sites are there other than Jaxed and Hanks Helper??

Thank you...

http://www.searchtempest.com/

[Langdon]

I would say get an 80-83 rig, simply because it is more flexible for updating with driver/centered drop.

I used a 79 Quadratrac rig as a daily driver for 4 years. Glad to be done with that transfer case.