Georgia Trail Riders Forum

MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: Cannonballkev on January 18, 2015, 03:49:33 PM

Title: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Cannonballkev on January 18, 2015, 03:49:33 PM
Getting ready to go look at a 87 Cherokee 4.0, manual.
For $1000 ( working on trading some electronics)
I know very little about jeeps.  This would not be a daily driver.
He said that headlights work but nothing else, dash or no brake lights.
Is this a project worth building?
Thanks
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Big Dave on January 18, 2015, 04:20:18 PM
No lights is probably just a fuse. I drove my XJ  like that for  few months... until I figured out it was a fuse I overlooked.
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Cannonballkev on January 18, 2015, 04:37:56 PM
It has command trac. Is that a good or bad thing?
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Big Dave on January 18, 2015, 05:43:46 PM
The Command Trac  is a 207 t case with a 2.61 to one low range. The 231 is the most popular Jeep t case.......ever. It has a 2.72 to 1 low range.
If you wanted to replace it,  a 231 from another similar year model Jeep with the same transmission is a bolt in.
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: DOUG on January 18, 2015, 06:04:35 PM
Does command Trac have 2wd or full time 4wd? @bigmike
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Cannonballkev on January 19, 2015, 07:07:13 AM
Well, I bought it for $600.  Can't really go wrong at that price.
Runs well, drove it 30 miles home from Clayton to Hiawasee, no issues. 
Electrical is rough,ignition key cylinder is gone, wired up to a push button start. A few lights come on when you engage the ignition , but no gauges work.  Headlights only work.  Fuse box under dssh is unscrewed, doesn't seem to be any power to it.  Looked corroded also, like it got wet at one time.  We will see what I got myself into!

Wish me luck!
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: DOUG on January 19, 2015, 07:08:55 AM
Nope can't good deal
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: clark123456 on January 19, 2015, 07:11:44 AM
I'd like to find a deal like that.

- Torg

Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Cannonballkev on January 19, 2015, 07:30:28 AM
I bought my truck for $700.  Fixed 4x4 for $175, fixed brakes for $1.68 ( copper washer was missing causing it to leak bad) plugs, wires, ( was running on 7 cylinders, wire was burnt into) $900 for five 33 mud tires.
Anyway,  it's been a blast on the trails, but I'm limited to what I can do to it (long bed full size, IFS, open/open). So that's why I bought a Jeep,  so many options.
  Damn that "bug" I've been bit by hurts!  Ha ha!
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Cannonballkev on January 19, 2015, 07:50:07 AM
Not doing it anytime soon, but can you stuff a chevy 350 in there?  Conversion kits?
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Raisinhead on January 19, 2015, 08:21:00 AM
Nice buy
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: 94xjsport94 on January 19, 2015, 08:43:41 AM
There are motor mount brackets and bell housing adapters, but unless you're doing an LS series I wouldn't. If the 4.slow is strong I certainly wouldn't replace it with a carb'd 350.
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Mortalis5509 on January 19, 2015, 06:52:40 PM
There are motor mount brackets and bell housing adapters, but unless you're doing an LS series I wouldn't. If the 4.slow is strong I certainly wouldn't replace it with a carb'd 350.
Agree. Wouldn't stroke a 4.0 because a good stroker build will be more than a 5.3.
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: lt99ls1 on January 20, 2015, 08:01:05 AM
There are motor mount brackets and bell housing adapters, but unless you're doing an LS series I wouldn't. If the 4.slow is strong I certainly wouldn't replace it with a carb'd 350.
Agree. Wouldn't stroke a 4.0 because a good stroker build will be more than a 5.3.
It's all the stuff that you have to buy or change to put that 5.3 in that makes a stroker cheaper.
Title: Re: 87 4.0 Cherokee
Post by: Cannonballkev on January 20, 2015, 05:58:12 PM
Ok, this wiring under the dash is a mess!  There is no power to the fuse box, which explains why I have no blinkers, brake lights , tail lights, parking lights, dome lights, wipers, blower, radio, dash lights, gauges.  I think that's it.
  Somewhere ing the line someone broke the ignition cylinder, to start it you put a screwdriver in a slot and slide it to the right, this turns the ignition on, then a push button start  had been " installed". It starts up fine.
  Furs box had been unscrewed from firewall,  where do I look to find what's feeding fuse box? 
I'll post pics of the mess.