BHG 4runner Edit: 96 Cherokee

[ret]

[strike]I found and emailed someone earlier today about a 1994 4runner with a blown head gasket. He posted it on craigslist for $700. I haven't heard back yet, but I'm wondering if there's anything in particular I should look for in this thing, or if I should avoid it entirely.

Here's the link: http://lynchburg.craigslist.org/cto/2015700893.html
Requested pictures, can post when he gets them to me.[/strike]

Talked to a friend who I found out still has his Jeep. Has a bad motor, but otherwise it's fine. It's a 96 Cherokee, I should be able to pick up a motor for a few hundred bucks. Anyone around here advise against it?

 

[hvyman]

Might want to call toyota and ask about recall on hg for that year. Iirc there was a hg recall for 4 runners but i dont remember what years.

If it applies you could get a major deal adn toyota would pay for all the work and parts.

 

[ret]

I looked into the recall a year or two ago and I'm pretty sure it applied to all 3VZ-Es (Or maybe it was the next generation, 5VZ-FE), but looking around now I haven't seen any recalls aside from exterior lights and steering linkages. I think that recalls expire after a decade, though I have heard of instances where Toyota dealerships will still honor the recalls. I also think that since I would be buying it with BHG as a pre-existing condition I'd run into trouble there, too.

 

[hvyman]

Never heard of recalls only lasting 10 years but idk.

 

[ret]

Turns out he already sold it. My hunt for a 4runner continues.

 

[shaeff]

The 3vz sucks anyway. I'd rather have an underpowered 22re. (and I do, for that matter)

 

[ret]

Talked to a friend who I found out still has his Jeep. Has a bad motor, but otherwise it's fine. It's a 96 Cherokee, I should be able to pick up a motor for a few hundred bucks. Anyone around here advise against it?

 

[steven89]

Talked to a friend who I found out still has his Jeep. Has a bad motor, but otherwise it's fine. It's a 96 Cherokee, I should be able to pick up a motor for a few hundred bucks. Anyone around here advise against it?

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! The XJ jeeps' inline 6 4.0 litre engine is a GREAT engine. Itll last FOREVER if you take care of it; and it has a nice amount of torque for what it is imo. We used to have two in my family, only have one currently. And the chassis is at like 300k miles, we changed the engine at about 285k because my aunt let it overheat. It overheated because the cooling system they had on em BEFORE 89 was crap. If you get one thats pre 89[I think], id highly recommend changing the cooling system to a 91 and up. Youll be able to tell if you have this cooling system by having a coolant tank up against the firewall that has a pressure cap on it. What usually happens is that this lil pressurized plastic tank explodes or cracks. Its very easy to convert. I can give you a lil more info on this swap if you want. Just LMK.

 

[airhead04]

I had a 96. Man those things are TANKS. I tried to break that thing and couldnt do it. lol. Id say get it.

 

[ret]

I think I'm going to get it. I already found a few motors floating around for it for around $400, I'm sure I can find them cheaper if I call a couple junkyards but I've only checked craigslist so far. I'm going to check it out Friday morning, will post pics. I know it has a little front end damage from hitting furry forest animals. If I remember correctly the grill is pressed up pretty close to the radiator, but that's not anything I'm too concerned with.

 

[ret]

Went to look at the jeep this morning, pictures as promised.

He does have the fender flair messing in pic 3 and the wheel missing in pic 4. It looks like to get it to pass inspection, it'll need a new long block, headlights, 4 tires and little doo-dads here and there like fixing the turn signal on the front driver's side. MAYBE a new front bumper but I'm not sure.

And then of course eventually I'd go by and replace things that need the attention that bother me, like both front quarter panels, the back bumper, so on and so forth.

Any opinions?

 

[fixitman04]

i wouldnt give more than 300$ for that hunk. there are lots of running examples of that thing in nashville and the surrounding areas for less than a grand. looks like it has had a very hard life.

 

[ret]

Nothing like that around here. The cheapest XJ I've been able to find is $1500 for an auto 94. I may have found the only shortage of Cherokees in America, or it may just be that people aren't willing to part with them due to the reliability. Either way, fixing this one up is my cheapest option. If I pay him the $500 I initially told him I would (before having gone to look at it, assuming it had been in better condition), that puts me at $900 if I still can't find a cheaper motor, probably looking at $1200 to get it to pass inspection if I did everything myself and strive for the minimum. Throw in another couple hundred for the inevitable "This build won't go smoothly" parts, and it's about even with the 94 but I still get the comfort of having a 5 speed.

As for the life of the jeep, it shows the worst. Mechanically, aside from the motor of course, everything's working great. I drove it at 200,000 miles and everything was functioning fine - transmission shifted smooth, clutch grabbed well, steering felt solid - it drove better than my Nissan with 100k less miles. The body's had a lot of abuse but no damage to the frame or any other components.

Ordinarily I would straight up offer $300-350 for it, and still might, but since it is a good friend I don't mind paying the $500 I initially said I would, especially because he's in between jobs right now.