interested in a Cherokee Chief.

[MisterKeith]

Hello! This is my first post so bare with me. I currently own a Jeep XJ (bone stock daily driver), but have wanted to start a project on an FSJ, particularly a Cherokee Chief. I live in Northern Michigan so we have mud, snow, dunes, and plenty of water to play in. Searching craigslist I found a particular Chief I was interested in. The seller sent me plenty of pictures but I'm not keen on FSJ's or their weakpoints. I was hoping to find someone here at the IFSJA to peak at them for me before I make the trip to inspect the vehicle.

The seller is asking less than $2000.

Here are the specs:
81' Cherokee Chief
72,000 Miles
258 I-6
727 3spd Tranny
229 Transfer Case
AMC 20 in back, Dana 44 up front

Good tires and brakes

New:
Starter Solenoid
Battery
Front and Rear brakes
Transmission line
Power Steering line
Transmission Pan gasket and filter and fluid flush.
new floor pans in the front but back floor is rusty.

Frame, diffs, and springs are rusty. Looks to be surface rust in the pictures but I'm not positive.

If you are interested in looking at pictures I will email them to you...Just send me a PM.

Thanks for reading my post. If you have some advice on purchasing FSJ's I would really appreciate it! Great forum!

[shackwrrr]

post up the pics would all love to check it out.

[men in black]

Welcome from Grand Blanc, Mi

[jeepjerry]

Yeah, go ahead and post up the pics.

[babywag]

Look closely @ driver's side frame rail by the front mount for the rear leaf spring.
The skid plate and frame can rot badly there if road salt and crud build up in there.

I'd be suspicious of the above especially given the mention of floorpan work & rust.

If you go to look @ it, offer to change the transfer case fluid...(it's just ATF in there)
Drain it and look for gray material, if you see any the viscous coupler inside may be heading south.
I'd also check all the other fluid levels and condition, maybe find a local shop to give it a quick inspection.

[MisterKeith]

You guys are fast! here's the link.

http://img5.imageshack.us/g/1000066e.jpg/

[vintagetrks]

Looks pretty rusty,but what do you expect for a Michigan rig. looks like a D44 front & AMC 20 Rear for axles. If your looking for a trail rig that your not gonna dump a lot of money in and the heater works I say go for it.

[sidewinder]

In my opinion $800.00 truck. Sorry if the seller is a member of this site - but that's my opinion.

Mark

PS - Vintagetrks - Just 'cause you live in warm country you don't have to rub it in about the "heater works" for us freezin' northerners up here - laugh! Gawd, I'm not lookin' forward to this winter!

[MisterKeith]

I agree that it it's worth less than $2k. I forgot to ask if the heat worked! Should have been my first question!

I'd like to use it for the Jeep Jamboree in Drummond Island in the Upper Peninsula, and for pulling my sailboat out of the water once a year

I will beat this thing up.

oh...What did you think of the engine bay? Look like a 72,000 mile motor?

[littlebuck23]

If your plan is to keep a fsj for a long time you should look for one with less rust. That frame doesnt look all that strong anymore.

if ya look around youll find that there are great rigs out there for under 2 grand with a v8 and no rust. makes for a GREAT project platform. I drove the one I wanted home 650 miles. No big deal. had to travel a bit but got what I wanted.

Fsj's are great and you should defiantly get one but you don't want to spend half of forever fixing rust issues.

as mentioned before you cant blame the poor thing its spent its life in Michigan.

[sidewinder]

Check out " 89 grand wagonner for sale real cheap - ohio" in the for sale section of this forum. Looks like a pretty good truck for a reasonable price and he can't be more than a 300 mile drive from you.

[talntar]

you west coast guys are harsh.
thats not that bad by ct standerds,and is a 1k truck anyday here