so im 18 yr's old and i live with my parents and have three xj's but they only know about two of them. within the past month ive bought two xjs . one being a red 88 4 door 4.0 aw4, np207 t case, 8.25, and 6/12 lift trimmed. i bought it for 400$ because it needed a new radiator and had shifting problems. replaced radiator and it runs good. beside that it wont shift out of first. next thing i know i find a 96 2 door stock with a blown head gasket 4.0 aw4, 231, 8.25. ive owned six xj's.! whats going on. so what should i do. let me know, here's my thought process. take the 96, get it rebuilt, bored, port and polished, etc. then take the steer and suspension out of the 88 and drop it under the 96, and is the 207 better than the 231? should i just part out all three and get a sweet 1? help

 

my baby the first

the 88


the 96

 

Let me get this straight. You claim to have a XJ addiction and your looking for advice from a forum full of junkies and pushers who will only drag you deeper into the void of moneyless offroading. That's like giving a drunk a job as a taste tester at the Bud plant.

 

keep the '96. The 231 is a better t-case. Plus 2 doors are awesome. Wish I could've found one when I was buying mine. Pull the 4.0, lift, and steering components out of the '88 and swap it all with the '96 stuff then sell the '88.

 

The 88 should have a NP231 or a NP242, the 207 was only used through 87. Unless of course a previous owner changed it out for some dumb reason. The 231 is definately a better tcase.


Transfer Cases

All the transfer cases used are all chain driven with aluminum housings. T-cases were designated either NP or NV. They are essentially the same t-case...just a different "brand name" (NP was used for the purposes of this list:


NP ="New Process"
NV = "New Venture"

NP207 - "Command-Trac" part-time only - 2.61:1 ratio low range - used 84-87

NP231 - "Command-Trac" part-time only - 2.72:1 ratio low range - shift pattern 2H - 4H - N - 4L - used 87-01

NP228/NP229 - "Selec-Trac" - 4Hi(full-time) - N - 4Lo (part-time) - used 84-87

NP242 - "Selec-Trac" part-time OR full-time - 2.72:1 ratio low range - shift pattern 2wd - 4part-time - 4full-time - N - 4LO - used 87-01

 

 

wait so youre saying put the 88 motor in the 96? dont i want to keep the h.o obdII?

 

^^^ he has it almost to a T, but in the spirit of a true XJ addict part out the 88 when ur done!!!

 

sorry so swap motors or rebuild the 96 motor?

 

Soulda quoted no rdplz! Also u said the 88 has a 8.25, are u sure of this???

 

yeah the guy before must of swapped it out. and come to think of it. pretty sure it's an 87' so sorry bout that.

 

Have no idea what you should do, but those round headlights are freaking me out....

 

Ya swap in the running 4.0 cause well I don't know many 18 year olds that have the money to bore, port, & polish!

 

Ya 2doors ROCK & I'm diggin the round lights, just replace the white grille... As far as renix to HO I know it can be done & isn't all that hard! I think there is a wright up on it!

 

well ive got connections with a machine shop. i work 60 hours a week at least as a tech at a local shop. so i guess i just want a brand new engine you know? + the 96 has a better front axle setup as opposed to the 89. i was almost thinking of building the 96 the same as my 89.