xj-digest Monday, June 6 2005 Volume 01 : Number 2107 Forum for Discussion of XJ cherokees and wagoneers Brian Colucci Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Re: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. Re: xj: good and bad zj's? XJ Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/jeep/xj/ Send submissions to xj-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to xj-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to xj-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 17:02:24 -0700 From: ernest breakfield Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? hi! as i understand it, ZJs only got the beloved 4.0/AW-4 combo in the first *part* of their first year of manufacture. sadly, as you're already clueing in to, the ChryCo trannys aren't nearly as good. i'd say if it's reliability you're interested in, hold out for one of those rare ZJs, or stick with the XJ... but keep in mind; unless it's just breakdowns you're concerned with, is your young daughter really going to be interested in keeping the same old-school design 4WD station wagon-type vehicle for 200K+ miles anyway (like we might)? ;-) cheers! e Aaron Storms wrote: > I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for my > youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. However, I > have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem with > tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm assuming that > with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to avoid? > We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going that way, > but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the chrysler > vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience here, or am > I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The prices are > about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being a little > more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2005 17:34:17 -0700 From: "Jim Blair" Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? A: Transmission wise, only the early '93 ZJ has the AW4 trans. The 42RE can be built to handle a lot, but it take$ or time to learn how to do it (I trained years ago and plan to build one if I get it) From: "Aaron Storms" Subject: xj: good and bad zj's? I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for my youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. However, I have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem with tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm assuming that with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to avoid? We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going that way, but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the chrysler vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience here, or am I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The prices are about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being a little more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2005 18:50:50 -0600 From: "Aaron Storms" Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Thanks for the input Ernest! Actually Brooke indicated that she preferred the somewhat boxy xj design over the plastic-clad zj style, so guess she's seen the light as well...:) If we do get another xj for her, it'll be her second as she helped me build one for her earlier while in HS, but was sold to help pay for college. Her two older sisters also drive xj's, so we're doing our part to let Jeep know what we all really want! We'll see how this all plays out and what jeep ends up being the best bang for the buck. Thanks, Aaron Aaron Storms, Publisher Gilpin County News PO Box 93 Black Hawk, CO 80422 303.582.0133 aaron.storms-at-mindspring.com www.gilpincountynews.com - ----- Original Message ----- From: "ernest breakfield" To: Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 6:02 PM Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? > hi! > > as i understand it, ZJs only got the beloved 4.0/AW-4 combo in the first > *part* of their first year of manufacture. > sadly, as you're already clueing in to, the ChryCo trannys aren't nearly as > good. > > i'd say if it's reliability you're interested in, hold out for one of those > rare ZJs, or stick with the XJ... but keep in mind; unless it's just breakdowns > you're concerned with, is your young daughter really going to be interested in > keeping the same old-school design 4WD station wagon-type vehicle for 200K+ > miles anyway (like we might)? ;-) > > > cheers! > e > > > Aaron Storms wrote: > >> I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for my >> youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. However, I >> have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem with >> tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm assuming that >> with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to avoid? >> We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going that way, >> but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the chrysler >> vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience here, or am >> I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The prices are >> about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being a little >> more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2005 18:51:31 -0600 From: "Aaron Storms" Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Thanks Jim - there sure seems to be plenty of the 42RE's out there to practice on...:) Aaron Aaron Storms, Publisher Gilpin County News PO Box 93 Black Hawk, CO 80422 303.582.0133 aaron.storms-at-mindspring.com www.gilpincountynews.com - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Blair" To: Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 6:34 PM Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? > A: Transmission wise, only the early '93 ZJ has the AW4 trans. The 42RE can be built to handle a lot, but it take$ or time to learn how to do it (I trained years ago and plan to build one if I get it) > > > > From: "Aaron Storms" > Subject: xj: good and bad zj's? > > I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for my > youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. However, I > have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem with > tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm assuming that > with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to avoid? > We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going that way, > but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the chrysler > vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience here, or am > I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The prices are > about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being a little > more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 07:26:54 -0500 From: "Allen Zylstra" Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? I got a ZJ with the 42RE. It is original with 143K. The usually fail due to a hard life or lack of maintenance. But I would prefer the AW4. My dad has a early 93 ZJ with the Aw4 and it works much better with the same miles. I have a friend who knows how to build the chryco trans. He will probably have to do the one in my Jeep. They don't shift well and tend to jump gears or stay in a gear to long. I would have bought another XJ, but I wanted a bit larger vehicle and the ZJ is the next best choice. No Exploders or Blazers for me. > From: "Aaron Storms" > Reply-To: xj-at-digest.net > To: > Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? > Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2005 18:51:31 -0600 > > Thanks Jim - there sure seems to be plenty of the 42RE's out there > to practice on...:) Aaron > > Aaron Storms, Publisher > Gilpin County News > PO Box 93 > Black Hawk, CO 80422 > 303.582.0133 > aaron.storms-at-mindspring.com > www.gilpincountynews.com > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Blair" > To: > Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 6:34 PM > Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? > > >> A: Transmission wise, only the early '93 ZJ has the AW4 trans. The >> 42RE can be built to handle a lot, but it take$ or time to learn >> how to do it (I trained years ago and plan to build one if I get >> it) >> >> >> >> From: "Aaron Storms" >> Subject: xj: good and bad zj's? >> >> I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for >> my >> youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. >> However, I >> have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem >> with >> tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm >> assuming that >> with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to >> avoid? >> We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going >> that way, >> but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the >> chrysler >> vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience >> here, or am >> I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The >> prices are >> about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being >> a little >> more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 07:32:45 -0500 From: "Allen Zylstra" Subject: Re: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. I drove the ZJ the last couple of days. It started fine with the oil pressure was good, but the guage would bounce up and down. Then it dropped to about 20 and stayed. I started it again and it stayed at 20 psi while I drove for about 10 miles and was fine at idle another 10 miles it was back to dropping to 0 at idle. Today it was fine all the way to work whick it 22 miles. I am leaning toward a failing sending unit because the motor is at the full mark and makes no noise as far a bearings go. It did it with two different filters also. Maybe it time for the diesel. Thanks, Allen > From: "Jim Blair" > Reply-To: xj-at-digest.net > To: > Subject: Re: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. > Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 23:00:15 -0700 > > A: At least you can get an AW4 and swap the trans harness and computer with > that of a '93 GC. I've been trying to find a croe 42RE I can beef up with > 518 internals, converter, front pump and hydraulic shift valve body (manual > switch for converter lockup) > > > From: "Allen Zylstra" > Subject: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. > > I plan to use the 2" spacers because I don't want to spend alot of money and > I use it on the freeway. It is not for hardcore wheeling either. I just > want a set of 31" tires to make it look more agressive. I use the ZJ for > pulling my utility trailer and that is about it. > > The filter is a new FRAM from walmart. Same filter I use on all my rides. > Is is possible that the oil is the problem. I used 5W30. I was thinking > that maybe the sending unit was malfunctioning. It is good thing that I > have a fleet so that I another car to drive. > > My big plans are to put in a Cummins 4BT and a better trans. Probably never > happen, but I dream. > > The 42RE is the real weak link in the ZJ otherwise it is a great vehicle. I > wanted an XJ again, but it is just too small for my needs. > > I wish for more power so maybe some intake and exhaust mods will be done to > the 4.0L. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:11:37 -0600 From: "Aaron Storms" Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Thanks for the input Allen. Aaron - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allen Zylstra" > I got a ZJ with the 42RE. It is original with 143K. The usually fail due > to a hard life or lack of maintenance. But I would prefer the AW4. My > dad has a early 93 ZJ with the Aw4 and it works much better with the same > miles. I have a friend who knows how to build the chryco trans. He will > probably have to do the one in my Jeep. > They don't shift well and tend to jump gears or stay in a gear to long. I would have bought another XJ, but I wanted a bit larger vehicle and the > ZJ is the next best choice. No Exploders or Blazers for me. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 13:23:07 -0700 From: ernest breakfield Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? congrats; sounds like you raised some daughters with good taste! ;-) now if only we could get Daimler to understand the 'Jeep Thing',... cheers! e Aaron Storms wrote: > Thanks for the input Ernest! Actually Brooke indicated that she preferred > the somewhat boxy xj design over the plastic-clad zj style, so guess she's > seen the light as well...:) If we do get another xj for her, it'll be her > second as she helped me build one for her earlier while in HS, but was sold > to help pay for college. Her two older sisters also drive xj's, so we're > doing our part to let Jeep know what we all really want! We'll see how this > all plays out and what jeep ends up being the best bang for the buck. > Thanks, Aaron > > Aaron Storms, Publisher > Gilpin County News > PO Box 93 > Black Hawk, CO 80422 > 303.582.0133 > aaron.storms-at-mindspring.com > www.gilpincountynews.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ernest breakfield" > To: > Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 6:02 PM > Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? > > > hi! > > > > as i understand it, ZJs only got the beloved 4.0/AW-4 combo in the > > first > > *part* of their first year of manufacture. > > sadly, as you're already clueing in to, the ChryCo trannys aren't > > nearly as > > good. > > > > i'd say if it's reliability you're interested in, hold out for one of > > those > > rare ZJs, or stick with the XJ... but keep in mind; unless it's just > > breakdowns > > you're concerned with, is your young daughter really going to be > > interested in > > keeping the same old-school design 4WD station wagon-type vehicle for > > 200K+ > > miles anyway (like we might)? ;-) > > > > > > cheers! > > e > > > > > > Aaron Storms wrote: > > > >> I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for my > >> youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. However, > >> I > >> have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem with > >> tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm assuming > >> that > >> with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to > >> avoid? > >> We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going that way, > >> but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the > >> chrysler > >> vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience here, or > >> am > >> I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The prices are > >> about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being a > >> little > >> more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 13:21:13 -0700 From: ernest breakfield Subject: Re: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. 4.0, right? sounds similar to the symptoms of a dying OP S/U in a 4.0. (i've been through several; don't ask!) good news (if it is) is they're cheap and easy to replace; i've done mine in less than 5 minutes in the parking lot. cheers! e Allen Zylstra wrote: > I drove the ZJ the last couple of days. It started fine with the oil > pressure was good, but the guage would bounce up and down. Then it > dropped to about 20 and stayed. I started it again and it stayed at 20 > psi while I drove for about 10 miles and was fine at idle another 10 > miles it was back to dropping to 0 at idle. Today it was fine all the > way to work whick it 22 miles. > > I am leaning toward a failing sending unit because the motor is at the > full mark and makes no noise as far a bearings go. It did it with two > different filters also. > > Maybe it time for the diesel. > > Thanks, Allen > > >From: "Jim Blair" > >Reply-To: xj-at-digest.net > >To: > >Subject: Re: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. > >Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 23:00:15 -0700 > > > >A: At least you can get an AW4 and swap the trans harness and computer > with > >that of a '93 GC. I've been trying to find a croe 42RE I can beef up > with > >518 internals, converter, front pump and hydraulic shift valve body > (manual > >switch for converter lockup) > > > > > >From: "Allen Zylstra" > >Subject: xj: 96 ZJ oil pressure. > > > >I plan to use the 2" spacers because I don't want to spend alot of money > and > >I use it on the freeway. It is not for hardcore wheeling either. I > just > >want a set of 31" tires to make it look more agressive. I use the ZJ > for > >pulling my utility trailer and that is about it. > > > >The filter is a new FRAM from walmart. Same filter I use on all my > rides. > >Is is possible that the oil is the problem. I used 5W30. I was > thinking > >that maybe the sending unit was malfunctioning. It is good thing that I > >have a fleet so that I another car to drive. > > > >My big plans are to put in a Cummins 4BT and a better trans. Probably > never > >happen, but I dream. > > > >The 42RE is the real weak link in the ZJ otherwise it is a great > vehicle. I > >wanted an XJ again, but it is just too small for my needs. > > > >I wish for more power so maybe some intake and exhaust mods will be done > to > >the 4.0L. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 00:22:30 -0600 From: "Aaron Storms" Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? Thanks to everyone for their help - Amber (another daughter I paid to drive one way) and I just got home from Scotts Bluff, NE with the "new" jeep cherokee - a 91 that's not pretty, but is sound at least. Nine hour impromptu round trip - tired! Aaron - ----- Original Message ----- From: "ernest breakfield" To: Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 2:23 PM Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? > congrats; sounds like you raised some daughters with good taste! ;-) > now if only we could get Daimler to understand the 'Jeep Thing',... > cheers! > e > > > Aaron Storms wrote: > >> Thanks for the input Ernest! Actually Brooke indicated that she preferred >> the somewhat boxy xj design over the plastic-clad zj style, so guess she's >> seen the light as well...:) If we do get another xj for her, it'll be her >> second as she helped me build one for her earlier while in HS, but was sold >> to help pay for college. Her two older sisters also drive xj's, so we're >> doing our part to let Jeep know what we all really want! We'll see how this >> all plays out and what jeep ends up being the best bang for the buck. >> Thanks, Aaron >> >> Aaron Storms, Publisher >> Gilpin County News >> PO Box 93 >> Black Hawk, CO 80422 >> 303.582.0133 >> aaron.storms-at-mindspring.com >> www.gilpincountynews.com >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "ernest breakfield" >> To: >> Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 6:02 PM >> Subject: Re: xj: good and bad zj's? >> >> > hi! >> > >> > as i understand it, ZJs only got the beloved 4.0/AW-4 combo in the >> > first >> > *part* of their first year of manufacture. >> > sadly, as you're already clueing in to, the ChryCo trannys aren't >> > nearly as >> > good. >> > >> > i'd say if it's reliability you're interested in, hold out for one > of >> > those >> > rare ZJs, or stick with the XJ... but keep in mind; unless it's just >> > breakdowns >> > you're concerned with, is your young daughter really going to be >> > interested in >> > keeping the same old-school design 4WD station wagon-type vehicle for >> > 200K+ >> > miles anyway (like we might)? ;-) >> > >> > >> > cheers! >> > e >> > >> > >> > Aaron Storms wrote: >> > >> >> I have been researching used '90-97 xj's and '93-96 zj's to buy for my >> >> youngest daughter Brooke, and have bid on a dozen or so already. >> However, >> >> I >> >> have noticed a reoccurring theme among some of the zj ads - problem >> with >> >> tranny, or needs a new one, or it's already been replaced! I'm >> assuming >> >> that >> >> with the years I can afford, there were some motors and tranny's to >> >> avoid? >> >> We all know that the 4.0L 6-cyl is great, so I don't mind going that >> way, >> >> but when did they switch over from the good AW4 auto tranny to the >> >> chrysler >> >> vs which I understand is not so good? Anyone with zj experience here, >> or >> >> am >> >> I probably better off just sticking with xj's for Brooke? The prices >> are >> >> about the same by the way for comparable years, with the zj's being a >> >> little >> >> more plush if you like that sort of thing. Thanks, Aaron ------------------------------ End of xj-digest V1 #2107 *************************