XJ owner wants to get into a FS cherokee....help!

[austinaubinoe]

Ok so my current ride is a pretty heavily modified 2000 Jeep cherokee. I was actually looking for a stock XJ as a DD, but then I found this beauty on craigslist:

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/austinaubinoe/100_0588.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/austinaubinoe/100_0585.jpg

Anyways the guys on NAXJA sent me here. Basically, I want to know if this thing is for the asking price of $7500. I think it is because it has little to no rust, new paint, pretty nice tan interior, 107,000 original miles on the 2 barrel 360. oh and not only is it with its second owner, but the first owner was his grandfather!!

he seems to know what he is doing with the truck, but also confused on some specifics. he says it has the "spicer" rear end. Does he mean D60? I would think it had a lp d44 up front and an AMC 20 out back.

It also has a factory 12,000 pound winch! anyone know anything about em? rare? electric or hydraulic?

from the pictures, this is the nicest cherokee i have ever seen remotely close to where i live (potomac, md). There is usually quite a few late model grand wagoneers floating around, but I like the look of the 2 doors.

As he sends me more pictures I will post them up. I appreciate any advice you can give me.

-Austin

[fulsizjeep]

Welcome from SW CO! That is a shiny one! Since it has been in his family maybe he could tell you what the body looked like before or show pictures for comparison. It may be worth the price to someone really set on that Cherokee. Drive it. Look underneath. Listen for rattles. Floorboards? Spicer is same as Dana. This would have 44s front and back. Looks like a QuadraTrac set up. When was last time the chain was replaced?

[austinaubinoe]

I know spicer is the same as dana haha, he just threw me through a loop when he said it had the tough spicer rear end...the one the race car enthusiast want.


he says the only thing done to it is regular tune ups. so im guessing it has the original chain. but it only has 107k miles, I mean my 2000 XJ has 150k! he says he does drive it regularly up to the store, etc. but it spends most of the time under a car cover.

I asked him it it had a low range, and he said yes, but hardly uses it. he was even telling me that he rarely drives it in the snow because he would be crushed if he wrecked it. I get the feeling the body is really as good as it looks.


Any input about the winch?


oh and it was repainted the original color and only once. and he says that the carpet is still nice!

[auzjtruck]

Hi looks nice, but looking at the photos you posted, the rear wheels on the first shot is off center,it looks like the diff is twisted off center,........they are a differant position each side...Joey:banghead:

[austinaubinoe]

I did not notice that! but it may not be a bad thing because seems like a fix I could definitely handle, and could save me a bunch of cash up front!


what is the likely cause of the wheel being in a different position on each side? could just be the centering pin snapped off right?

edit: could just be the picture angle.

[timeflies]

Nice rig. Good eye on the rear tires, I had to look back at em after he called it.

[austinaubinoe]

so is this a common problem on these things? Any info on the factory winch? I searched the web and i could only find very limited info on a factory 8000Lb Ramsey winch. nothing on a 12,000 pound one.

[KJ Ryu]

Looks like it's leaning to the passenger side a bit, too. Could be a bent spring, maybe? Or maybe just a bunch of weight on that side in the back? It would have to have had the shackles moved to the front of the rear springs for that, though. Most likely you're right and it's just a broken center pin.

[jaber]

Well, first off, Welcome to the land of empty pockets and unfinished projects...

That looks like an awesome Cherk. If you can afford it, I say jump on it. You will be years ahead of the fight. The factory winch might be a PTO mechanical model. Usually they are Warn's.

[hennikerjd]

Nice looking rig!

Like others have pointed out it does look like the tires are off a bit in the wells. The drivers side front and passenger side rear seem off center in the pics but that could be photo angle. I'd crawl under there and take a peek when you see it again. maybe pull up a carfax if you haven't already.

[joe]

I want to know if this thing is for the asking price of $7500. I think it is because it has little to no rust,
I love it when rust belt folks say "iittle or no rust" Which is it it can only be one or the other? I'm from MI so I know rust.

OK, I'll play the bad guy here. For $7500 that thing should be 100% perfect ready to drive around the world. At that price any rust at all is unacceptable. Electrics should be perfect as should interior, mechanicals etc etc.
Don't get sucked in by shiney new paint. Rebuilding the paint job does not add $4000 to the value of the rig. Sheesh there was a Chero in the for sale section awhile back in excellent shape with a Cummins motor for less than that.

Insane price for the one you're considering!

[skeletor]

the rear wheels on the first shot is off center

the front of the rear flare on the passenger side is the what makes it look like a suspension problem. that flare has been messed with. in the picture you can see that the top is not level with the body line. if you go back and look at it bring a magnet, i imagine a lot of bondo in that jeep. but if it really doesnt have rust its pretty decent for a 76-78 era cherokee, not worth 7500 to me.

[FSJ Guy]

$7500 seems REALLY high. I'm always leery of new paint, too. What are they trying to hide?

Where's the winch? Does it have the hidden winch kit? Hard to see without a front shot.

It sounds like you haven't seen it yet, yes?

[azpackrat]

If I remember right 12,000 pound electric winches were pretty uncommon in the seventies, 9,000's were the big boy's back then.
I would also be concerned about the fender flares, the way the light hits them in the photos the lines are not good/clean. They look like they've been re worked, and as this is the worst area for rust on the Wide Tracs, along with the floor boards.... Anyway welcome from the Valley of the Sun, and if you don't get this one, good luck on another.

[Tad]

... if you go back and look at it bring a magnet, i imagine a lot of bondo in that jeep. but if it really doesnt have rust its pretty decent for a 76-78 era cherokee, not worth 7500 to me.
Maybe not too much bondo, I'm thinking possibly a good portion of that panel has been replaced. How they got it that off center, that crooked and if it has been replaced how was it done would be real concerns for me. I'd bring the magnet and pull the rear panel on the inside.
It is a nice looking rig but as others have said, not $7,500 nice.

[1983 j10]

also none of the body lines match on the drivers side. also look at the gap between the hood and fender compared to the passenger side.

[skeletor]

Maybe not too much bondo, I'm thinking possibly a good portion of that panel has been replaced. How they got it that off center, that crooked and if it has been replaced how was it done would be real concerns for me. I'd bring the magnet and pull the rear panel on the inside.


i agree about the panel, but considering that this is a maryland jeep it has seen rust...

[True Horsepower]

Sheesh there was a Chero in the for sale section awhile back in excellent shape with a Cummins motor for less than that.

That Cherokee I know is still for sale. It's about an hour from our house and doing diesel swaps for a business Greg knows his stuff. Very easy to import into the US I'm pretty sure of it. It's about a 8-9 hour drive I know for a fact as I'm originally from MD. He's asking $7000CDN for it. My father in law has a 5.9L cummins in his truck and he's getting WELL over 20mpg even towing. Something to consider for sure as if we hadn't already bought our Waggy I sure would be looking at Gregs Cherokee.

[Tad]

i agree about the panel, but considering that this is a maryland jeep it has seen rust...
Oh heck yes.
Even AZ jeeps have rust.
When folks say "Rust Free" I expect none, none at all.
I have yet to see that on any FSJ.
I guarantee you we can find rust on any of our rigs, and if you can't find it, give me 10 minutes and I will. Shoot, the back sides of our dash and up above the headliner were not even painted on most of these rigs, so don't tell me "none" or "free".
If they used the term "normal rust for it's age", I would not have such a problem with the "rust" statement.

[jeepguzzi]

mmmmm, green is goooood.http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

I think they may have reversed the spring on the passenger side when they installed the lift. They might have also flipped the front springs, too.

I agree, it has probably had rust fixed. I had mine done, but after a few more unavoidable winters it has resurfaced.

What are your emissions laws like? I see that it has dual exhaust, which is not stock.

Oh, and the body lines didn't line up real well on these when they were new, either!

[seventynine]

Hard to say on the value without seeing some pics of the interior and engine. Nice condition interiors are hard to find...and bring the value up in my opinion.

Looks like the paint is new but mechanically it may not be real fresh. 107k miles isn't a ton of miles but it's not a few either.

Based on the current FSJ market it seems like it might be priced a bit high.

What year is it? It looks like a pre-1979 based on the three piece bumpers. Factory winches are definitely a bit rare in general on these things. Some pics of that would help too.

For reference I though I'd mention this:

I came across an '82 Cherokee Laredo over the weekend here locally and snapped a few pics. I live out in Marshall Va which is about an hour west of Potomac MD. This rig is a few miles from my house.

It looked really rust free from what I could tell with a quick look. The floor boards looked pretty clean underneath though I suspect the cowl vent drains were clogged with debris as I did see some rust around them.

It looks to have a rather cheap re-paint on it but the body looked really solid. It looks pretty decent inside though there are covers on the front seats...and it had a bit of a mouse piss smell. The headliner fabric had been stapled back up all over.

Anyway he wants $2750 for it...which I think seems fairly reasonable. It could probably be had for a bit less. It's got a rebuilt straight six and a rebuilt manual trans....which is a bit rare in these things.

Here are a few pics...I have more if you are interested:
http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-backlaredo-01.jpg

http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-blacklaredo.jpg

http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-backlaredo-02.jpg

[toyjeep]

Hard to say on the value without seeing some pics of the interior and engine. Nice condition interiors are hard to find...and bring the value up in my opinion.

Looks like the paint is new but mechanically it may not be real fresh. 107k miles isn't a ton of miles but it's not a few either.

Based on the current FSJ market it seems like it might be priced a bit high.

What year is it? It looks like a pre-1979 based on the three piece bumpers. Factory winches are definitely a bit rare in general on these things. Some pics of that would help too.

For reference I though I'd mention this:

I came across an '82 Cherokee Laredo over the weekend here locally and snapped a few pics. I live out in Marshall Va which is about an hour west of Potomac MD. This rig is a few miles from my house.

It looked really rust free from what I could tell with a quick look. The floor boards looked pretty clean underneath though I suspect the cowl vent drains were clogged with debris as I did see some rust around them.

It looks to have a rather cheap re-paint on it but the body looked really solid. It looks pretty decent inside though there are covers on the front seats...and it had a bit of a mouse piss smell. The headliner fabric had been stapled back up all over.

Anyway he wants $2750 for it...which I think seems fairly reasonable. It could probably be had for a bit less. It's got a rebuilt straight six and a rebuilt manual trans....which is a bit rare in these things.

Here are a few pics...I have more if you are interested:
http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-backlaredo-01.jpg

http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-blacklaredo.jpg

http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-backlaredo-02.jpg

Hijack on ...

I would like to see what a "slant 6" and the 5-speed are ....

Hijack off

For the OP ... more pics would be helpful, but I agree ... $7500 is a lot of cash unless it is pretty mint or really built.

[joe]

Hijack on ...

I would like to see what a "slant 6" and the 5-speed are ....

Hijack off


In 82 the 5 speed would be the T-5. So far as the slant six goes..poor owner prolly thinks its a Chrysler rig?

[SEdmonds]

The Slant Six was an inline six Mopar engine in a lot of early 60's to early 80's Mopars. My best friend in High school drove a 65 Belvedere with one. Tough engine. Not sure why these guys think this car has it - maybe it does - or maybe they see a six in an AMC and don't realize that AMC was NOT part of Mopar at the time They have heard the term Slant Six used for Mopar's six and are applying it incorrectly here on the AMC six.

If it has had a slant six installed - get pix - it would prolly be pretty interesting.

[joe]

The Slant Six was an inline six Mopar engine in a lot of early 60's to early 80's Mopars. My best friend in High school drove a 65 Belvedere with one. Tough engine. Not sure why these guys think this car has it - maybe it does - or maybe they see a six in an AMC and don't realize that AMC was NOT part of Mopar at the time They have heard the term Slant Six used for Mopar's six and are applying it incorrectly here on the AMC six.

If it has had a slant six installed - get pix - it would prolly be pretty interesting.Agreed the Chryco slant sixes were great motors but the AMC and other non-chryco sixes are known as inline sixes. At least he didn't call it a v6. Seen too many XJ ads with 4.0 v6's
Bottom line: if you're selling something at least know what you're selling.

[SEdmonds]

Bottom line: if you're selling something at least know what you're selling.

:) Yup...what the man said......

[seventynine]

Right...he must have had a '70s Chrysler at some point. My first car was a '75 Plymouth Scamp with a real slant six in it. I've always heard they were bullet proof engines but I threw a rod in mine with about 110k on the clock:thumbsup:

That turned into my first engine swap...and the rest is history....

[austinaubinoe]

here are a few more pictures that the owner sent me:
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/austinaubinoe/100_0867.jpg
I brightened this one so you can make out the winch:
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/austinaubinoe/100_0868.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/austinaubinoe/100_0869.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/austinaubinoe/100_0870.jpg

Ive been really looking around on ebay, etc. and almost all the full sizes I see are in good shape, but rough. You know, faded paint, cracked dash, ripped seats.... but good enough that it could be brought back, or just left alone.

I think if it is as mechanically sound and rust free as he describes, I would be willing to shell out the 7k.


EDIT: the only thing that worries me is the diamond plate cover on the rear hatch, and if the electric window works (doesn't have a handle, so im guessing its electric)

oh and another though I had was how the winch itself may be worth a grand or so....

[austinaubinoe]

Hard to say on the value without seeing some pics of the interior and engine. Nice condition interiors are hard to find...and bring the value up in my opinion.

Looks like the paint is new but mechanically it may not be real fresh. 107k miles isn't a ton of miles but it's not a few either.

Based on the current FSJ market it seems like it might be priced a bit high.

What year is it? It looks like a pre-1979 based on the three piece bumpers. Factory winches are definitely a bit rare in general on these things. Some pics of that would help too.

For reference I though I'd mention this:

I came across an '82 Cherokee Laredo over the weekend here locally and snapped a few pics. I live out in Marshall Va which is about an hour west of Potomac MD. This rig is a few miles from my house.

It looked really rust free from what I could tell with a quick look. The floor boards looked pretty clean underneath though I suspect the cowl vent drains were clogged with debris as I did see some rust around them.

It looks to have a rather cheap re-paint on it but the body looked really solid. It looks pretty decent inside though there are covers on the front seats...and it had a bit of a mouse piss smell. The headliner fabric had been stapled back up all over.

Anyway he wants $2750 for it...which I think seems fairly reasonable. It could probably be had for a bit less. It's got a rebuilt straight six and a rebuilt manual trans....which is a bit rare in these things.




while this looks like a pretty clean jeep, im really looking to get into something with a V8. and I dont think i could get over all the black. I wonder how much it would cost to get a new headliner, seats, carpet, and paint?

oh, and I like the earlier grille better :D

Thats pretty cool though that it and you are so close to me... is there any FSJ meet and greets around here?

[austinaubinoe]

no one has any thoughts on the new pictures I posted? ANy more info on that winch?

[Tigger4X]

Taking into account angles of the pics when they were taken shows enough for me to steer clear of it unless he comes WAAAAAY down on price. She still looks to be sagging on the passenger side and that diamond plate along the bottom of the tailgate can easily be hiding a ton of cancer underneath if not contribute to it holding moisture and other junk that will start it. The interior for sure has recently been cleaned. I would be real sure to get underneath the front pieces and look for rust in the floorboards and behind the side kick panels.

You can find MUCH better and spend WAY less even if you had to go to FL or TX to get one.

[FSJ Guy]

I have no idea about the winch. I don't recall there ever being a factory winch like that. But even if it costs $1,000 for a NEW winch, having a winch on the truck is NOT worth PAYING an "extra" $1,000.

It's NOT a $7,000 truck. Sorry.

It's usually not a good idea to buy the FIRST one you see. Look around and get a feel for things first.

For $7,000, you could buy another truck and PAY SOMEONE ELSE to lift it and add a winch. You'd be money ahead, too.

[seventynine]

The diamond plate on the lower part of the tailgate is likely hiding some rust. That is a common place for it to develop.

I'm sure it has other rust in places too...they always do. I'm always suspicous of any rig where the owner says categorically..."No Rust". He hasn't given you any picture underneath? If it is close by you should just go and look at it yourself.

It looks really nice and Id say it's nicer than 75% of the rigs on this site. The FSJ market is not real hot though.

The thing that I would like to see for 7k on a rig like that with those miles is an engine and or trans rebuild etc.... Not sure what year it is but it's at least a '78 and if it has all of the original components you will be tinkering with it replacing things.

It's not that original in that it's been re-painted and lifted so having the oringinal motor and trans etc. doesn't sweeten the deal.

It sounds like you really like it though...I say go for it...see if you can get him down a little on the price. There is a real value in having it local in that you can crawl under, drive it, and you don't have to ship it.

Good paint and body work is not cheap...and IMO harder to do right than mechanical work. If you bought one that needed paint, a lift, and tires you could easily spend 5k on just that stuff....assuming you wanted a professional quality paint job.

Regarding the winch...It's a hidden winch set up but I'm not sure the brand....it looks a little different than the ones I have seen. They are a pretty rare accessory. There are other folks on here with more expertise on them...ping Red Mistress...

Dean

[KaiserMan]

The diamond plate is cut and screwed on in a similar fashion to the trim used on higher end Wagoneers. Maybe he just liked the look.

Winch looks like a Hickey(sp) Side Winder. Good winches, no longer made.

IIRC they where installed by dealers, and are NOT Jeep Special Equipment winches like the Ramsey R200/RE200 or the Warn 8274 winches.

[austinaubinoe]

thanks alot for the replies, I literally know nothing about FSJ's specifically, but I do think of myself as mechanical. I grew up working on my dads '51 and '59 chevy pickups, and a '65 vette.

The guy seems really trustworthy, he just hasnt sent me that many pics because he works alot (owns a construction company or something). The paint is definitely a professional job, and was just done because the original was faded. pretty much my only worry is that rear plate on the hatch as far as rust goes.

yeah Im a real sucker for rare OEM parts, so that winch is a big deal to me. Is there any way to rebuild the old winches? like do companies still make the motor, or at-least replacement brushes?

I plan to throw on some mild lift springs, I dont really think its fare to complain about 30 year old leaf springs being uneven, hell my 3 year old 6" packs on my XJ are uneven!

Oh BTW its a 78 sport (s) 2 barrel 360. So these engines can require a rebuild at 107,xxx?

thanks alot for the info!

[fasteddy]

"No rust" in a FSJ means that only small pieces fall off the truck when you slam the doors. Trust me, I've looked at about 50 in the past 90 days, all in the "no rust" south...

[austinaubinoe]

"No rust" in a FSJ means that only small pieces fall off the truck when you slam the doors. Trust me, I've looked at about 50 in the past 90 days, all in the "no rust" south...


well I really hope thats not the case. well, I guess the truth will come when I see it up close sometime next week.

But WOW 50 FSJ in 3 months! Ive only seen 3 in person my entire life, and never a cherokee. one at a gas station, one driving, and an old couple in my neighborhood had an old grand. I actually was going too there house to talk to them about it, but I noticed piles of paint chips around it, all 4 tires were flat, and I could see into the cargo area through the rear quarter!

[jeepguzzi]

Please reread my first response,,,,,it has already had a lift installed. I am really sure of it.

[CutterN55]

I'm thinking blocks in the back and maybe some sagged lift springs in the front. Maybe some shifting in the back as well.

I'll sell you mine for cheaper than that. Paint is not as nice but it's got a fresh 360 in it and I just dropped and sealed up the tranny this weekend.

Don't get all hot and excited before you go check this thing out. Be skepticle! I'd rather buy a garage kept wag with regular service that nobody has messed with for 7K than something somebody slapped some paint on and lifted that doesn't have a proper stance.

Be ready to spend some money on that thing...none of these jeeps are maintenance free.

I'd let this one go....

[FSJ Guy]

Sorry, but YOU ARE NOT LISTENING.

IT IS NOT A SEVEN-THOUSAND DOLLAR TRUCK!!!!

Just because the SELLER spent $5K on paint doesn't make the truck WORTH $5K MORE.

But if you really like it, it's YOUR money. (Well, it would soon be the seller's money, but you get the idea.)

[suzq044]

Hard to say on the value without seeing some pics of the interior and engine. Nice condition interiors are hard to find...and bring the value up in my opinion.

Looks like the paint is new but mechanically it may not be real fresh. 107k miles isn't a ton of miles but it's not a few either.

Based on the current FSJ market it seems like it might be priced a bit high.

What year is it? It looks like a pre-1979 based on the three piece bumpers. Factory winches are definitely a bit rare in general on these things. Some pics of that would help too.

For reference I though I'd mention this:

I came across an '82 Cherokee Laredo over the weekend here locally and snapped a few pics. I live out in Marshall Va which is about an hour west of Potomac MD. This rig is a few miles from my house.

It looked really rust free from what I could tell with a quick look. The floor boards looked pretty clean underneath though I suspect the cowl vent drains were clogged with debris as I did see some rust around them.

It looks to have a rather cheap re-paint on it but the body looked really solid. It looks pretty decent inside though there are covers on the front seats...and it had a bit of a mouse piss smell. The headliner fabric had been stapled back up all over.

Anyway he wants $2750 for it...which I think seems fairly reasonable. It could probably be had for a bit less. It's got a rebuilt straight six and a rebuilt manual trans....which is a bit rare in these things.

Here are a few pics...I have more if you are interested:
http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-backlaredo-01.jpg

http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-blacklaredo.jpg

http://www.concrete-blues.com/jeep/82-backlaredo-02.jpg

I agree. This black laredo looks much nicer than the green machine. And less than half the price.