1979 Jeep Cherokee Chief 360 V8 from North America

Faults:

Let's see...

The transfer case chain stretched. I replaced that and the case blew up and left me on the side of the road in Indiana.

The transmission always leaked.

The rear window track thingy rusted out and had to replace that.

Never started in the cold.

Eventually had to hot wire it.

Timing chain gear stripped out and left me and a friend stranded in the middle of the desert in the heat of the summer for 2 days with no food, no water, and no cell reception. Almost died there due to a mountain lion, but that's a different story.

The intake manifold warped and had to replace that and the carb.

The alternator died.

The battery died, many times.

The starter.

The transmission.

Power steering pump.

Brakes always sucked.

4WD never really worked right.

Water pump died on road trip. Had to carry 50 gallons of water and stop every 5 miles to fill it up. Almost killed me with boiling water.

Headlights could never be aimed.

Door handle fell off while turning.

Catalytic converter guts shot out the tailpipe.

VAPOR LOCK!

Fuel pump.

Ignition module would keep leaving me stranded.

Smoked and burned oil over 70MPH.

Oil blow-by.

Many other countless things I've chosen to forget.

General Comments:

The Jeep was very cool looking. That was about it.

It did save my life when I hit a bear, spun off the road and hit a tree. The body was trashed, but drove it across country like that, had to have met every tow truck driver between New York and Denver... No longer allowed to drive it in Indiana.

Steering was always loose.

Various rattles.

Don't know why, but I'd probably buy another one, regardless of what other people advise me not to do.

If I ever want to see the lesser known places in our country ever again, I'll just hop in one of these things as I know it will get me there, but take multiple weeks, tows, thousands of dollars, and countless hours of aggravation sitting on the side of the road.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 27th November, 2007

1979 Jeep Cherokee Chief 360 c.i.d. V8 from North America

Summary:

Best Jeep ever built

Faults:

Nothing in particular, but nearly everything was replaced within 3 years.

General Comments:

Absolutely the best off-roader, at the same time perfectly capable of being driven at 80 mph on the highway, has a turning radius smaller than the Ford Explorer's.

Best hardware for the money - big V8, bulletproof automatic transmission, decent transfer case, good axles - and all can be had for as little as $1500!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd February, 2001

12th Mar 2001, 08:31

I have a 1987 Chief with 192,000+, and so far, nothing serious has gone wrong. A totally awesome car!

24th May 2001, 17:20

Where can we buy a thrust pin and spring for my 1988 Cherokee Jeep 4.0 Liter in line six 4x4, it is on the cam shaft.

I love the Jeep. It runs wonderfully. Am having a reworked motor put in it.. so I can get back on the road.

Where in Birmingham area can I find this. An early reply will be appreciated.

Thanks, Jerry R. Hill, Jr.