Hey guys I'm about to trade my 1997 XJ for a 1987 MJ short bed, 4.0, 5 speed, 4wd. I've got a few questions about it.
1: Are there any major issues with a 87 MJ? Besides the usual small things for a 30 year old truck?
2: Are there any places prone to rust?
3: The seller said he things it has a dana 35. I'll be running 33s and a locker. I know that dana 35s are known for being weak. Should I swap for a 8.25 from a 1999 XJ that I have laying around?
4: In the trade, I get to keep my wheels and tires and front bunper. My tires are 33x12.5r15s. It has a 3" lift. Do you think I'd be able to drive it home with them or will it rub severely?
5: Is there a reason why more people don't do SOA more often? It seems like a pretty easy way to add some lift for cheap and keep the stock ride quality in the rear. Everybody that I know who has a MJ keeps it SUA.
6: This will be my first manual vehicle. How is the transmission in the 1987 MJs? Is it easy to learn on and easy to control offroad?
Thanks guys. I'm going to check it out this evening and trade in a few days if everything looks good.
