[tjfun]

I've been thinking about getting into an XJ, need a little more room than the TJ has to offer and want to carry kayaks etc. Found a '98 with 192k miles. Is 4.0/auto, air/clean body. What do you think about the mileage? Are there any model years that are more desireable/features? What kind of fuel mileage can I expect with a 2-3" lift and 31's? Thanks.

[bigsky89]

fuel mileage in an XJ with 3" and 31's is going to decrease like crazy unless you gear up for it. but for a highway/DD/offorader, XJ's are awesome. if you want to find a good XJ look for one with the 4.0 h.o. with little body cancer. 4.0's are reliable to pretty high mileage, and easy to rebuild/replace so any XJ with a 4.0 is a good bet... good luck, hope you find something you love!

EDIT: sorry forgot to mention any newer 4.0 xj... 96+ is your best bet

[bmyohn]

how bad will the gas mileage go down with 3" lift and 31s???

[bigsky89]

i coudlnt tell you exactly, but i brun about 35% more fuel now than before the lift... i could drive five hours on one tank now i get about three hours on one tank and i have to fill up to get the rest of the way home. in town it takes more tourque to turn everything over, i can get the same mileage as before if i granny it all over the place, but im not good at that, no patience. if you drive really carefully its not bad but highway mileage is pretty bad in comparison

[bmyohn]

i get around 24 highway and 15 (little high) now...im gonna be friving 16hrs to North Carolina this summer 32 total...its gonna eat up gas like a mofo!!!

what gearing do u have...i think i have 3.77

[bigsky89]

i need to get 3.73's one of these days, im stock geared right now, 3.55's. i have an auto though, i need a rebuilt trans and tq. converter soon... i think my 31's are killing my already ailing trans. you should be alright with 3.77's but youll still lose some mileage, wind resistance and rolling mass will drop it some

[r6dink]

Originally Posted by bigsky89

EDIT: sorry forgot to mention any newer 4.0 xj... 96+ is your best bet

fyi... new body style and options started in '97

[bigsky89]

sory, thought it was 96

[tjfun]

Thanks for the input. I heard it run yesterday, engine sounded good and ran smooth, no rough idle etc. I didn't get a chance to drive it yet though...I'm still concerned about the high mileage (192k). Body looked pretty good, a couple of small rust spots but overall not too bad, interior was very clean also - drivers seat sides cracked like a wrangler seat. Any ideas what this would be worth? It's priced in my budget but if the engine or trans takes a dump I've just spent way more than I want to. I know it's tough to guess without seeing it. I am looking for a '98 or '99 4 door and so far this is the first one I've looked at.

[bigsky89]

its hard to say sometimes what a jeep is going to throw at you once you buy it, sometimes condition isnt a good indicator, sometimes it is. my dad always told me never buy the first one you look at, its been good advice so far, a few 'first ones' would have been total disasters... just something to think about. sounds like a nice Xj youre looking at though

[ChemeXJ]

Originally Posted by bigsky89

sory, thought it was 96

96 is when the Chrysler 8.25 axels went to 29 spline instead of 27. If you are looking to turn it into a wheeler you might want to hold off for one with a decent rear axel.

See sticky at top of forum for specific axel info.

[camjeep3]

Originally Posted by bmyohn

i get around 24 highway and 15 (little high) now...im gonna be friving 16hrs to North Carolina this summer 32 total...its gonna eat up gas like a mofo!!!

what gearing do u have...i think i have 3.77

what you doin down here

[2000paxj]

Originally Posted by ChemeXJ

96 is when the Chrysler 8.25 axels went to 29 spline instead of 27. If you are looking to turn it into a wheeler you might want to hold off for one with a decent rear axel.

See sticky at top of forum for specific axel info.

you deffinitaly want a 97 or newer. and they switched the 8.25 27splines in 97 to the 29 splines.

[2000paxj]

Originally Posted by bigsky89

i need to get 3.73's one of these days, im stock geared right now, 3.55's. i have an auto though, i need a rebuilt trans and tq. converter soon... i think my 31's are killing my already ailing trans. you should be alright with 3.77's but youll still lose some mileage, wind resistance and rolling mass will drop it some

if you think your 355s are bad on gas what do you think a lower rear will do via 373s?

[matmknot]

i looked at about 20 xj's between 95 and 01. only a couple each were 00 or 01. i settled on a 99' with 135k because it was in the best shape for the money. if you can afford it go with an 00 or 01, the 4 i saw were in great shape and very low miles, but they were in the 8500-10000 price range.