A friend and I tried to do the conversion and while it looks staight
forward, you would have to ensure you had the exact (not close enough but
exact) 4wd version or nothing will work. Parts houses won't be willing to
sell that one... part you are missing unless you take the hole assembly.
To do it you will need to replace the entire drivetrain. My suggestion is
to sell the 2wd and but a 4wd.

 

A friend and I tried to do the conversion and while it looks staight
forward, you would have to ensure you had the exact (not close enough but
exact) 4wd version or nothing will work. Parts houses won't be willing to
sell that one... part you are missing unless you take the hole assembly.
To do it you will need to replace the entire drivetrain. My suggestion is
to sell the 2wd and but a 4wd.

 

A friend and I tried to do the conversion and while it looks staight
forward, you would have to ensure you had the exact (not close enough but
exact) 4wd version or nothing will work. Parts houses won't be willing to
sell that one... part you are missing unless you take the hole assembly.
To do it you will need to replace the entire drivetrain. My suggestion is
to sell the 2wd and but a 4wd.

 

Hi Fred,

Because the YJ has a shorter wheel base than the XJ, it is more prone to
spin out on ice and snow. Also, XJ is available with the 'Selec-Trac'
full-time 4x4 transfer case with a center differential. Gives you the
convenience of staying in 4x4 on dry, wet, or intermittently snowed
roads without risking windup damage that can occur in a part-time 4x4
system where there is too much traction.

Sell the 2WD XJ, and look for another with the full-time 4x4. Buy a set
of proper snow tires like Blizzaks or Nokians and get them studded.
Consider having a limited slip differential installed in the rear and
possibly the front too.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Fred Mau wrote:
> I have two Jeeps - a '2000 2-Wheel drive XJ Cherokee with about 60K miles,
> and an '88 Wrangler with about 250K miles that needs lots of work including
> an engine overhaul.
>
> I bought the XJ Cherokee new in 2000 when I lived in Florida, no need for
> 4WD with no snow. Now I live in Oregon, wish I had it.
>
> My first thought is, sell the old Wrangler, use the proceeds to buy the
> necessary pieces from a junkyard to convert the cherokee to 4WD.
> HOWEVER - A friend in the hills of Tennessee that has a 4WD XJ says, NO,
> the XJ with 4WD isn't that good in the snow anyway - too light for it's
> size - I'd be better of leaving my XJ as 2WD and fix up the Wrangler for the
> bad days that the XJ can't handle.
>
> Anybody here have an opinion ? Is a Wrangler indeed vastly superior to a 4WD
> XJ in Ice and Snow ?
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> - FM -
>
>
>
>

 

Hi Fred,

Because the YJ has a shorter wheel base than the XJ, it is more prone to
spin out on ice and snow. Also, XJ is available with the 'Selec-Trac'
full-time 4x4 transfer case with a center differential. Gives you the
convenience of staying in 4x4 on dry, wet, or intermittently snowed
roads without risking windup damage that can occur in a part-time 4x4
system where there is too much traction.

Sell the 2WD XJ, and look for another with the full-time 4x4. Buy a set
of proper snow tires like Blizzaks or Nokians and get them studded.
Consider having a limited slip differential installed in the rear and
possibly the front too.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Fred Mau wrote:
> I have two Jeeps - a '2000 2-Wheel drive XJ Cherokee with about 60K miles,
> and an '88 Wrangler with about 250K miles that needs lots of work including
> an engine overhaul.
>
> I bought the XJ Cherokee new in 2000 when I lived in Florida, no need for
> 4WD with no snow. Now I live in Oregon, wish I had it.
>
> My first thought is, sell the old Wrangler, use the proceeds to buy the
> necessary pieces from a junkyard to convert the cherokee to 4WD.
> HOWEVER - A friend in the hills of Tennessee that has a 4WD XJ says, NO,
> the XJ with 4WD isn't that good in the snow anyway - too light for it's
> size - I'd be better of leaving my XJ as 2WD and fix up the Wrangler for the
> bad days that the XJ can't handle.
>
> Anybody here have an opinion ? Is a Wrangler indeed vastly superior to a 4WD
> XJ in Ice and Snow ?
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> - FM -
>
>
>
>

 

Hi Fred,

Because the YJ has a shorter wheel base than the XJ, it is more prone to
spin out on ice and snow. Also, XJ is available with the 'Selec-Trac'
full-time 4x4 transfer case with a center differential. Gives you the
convenience of staying in 4x4 on dry, wet, or intermittently snowed
roads without risking windup damage that can occur in a part-time 4x4
system where there is too much traction.

Sell the 2WD XJ, and look for another with the full-time 4x4. Buy a set
of proper snow tires like Blizzaks or Nokians and get them studded.
Consider having a limited slip differential installed in the rear and
possibly the front too.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Fred Mau wrote:
> I have two Jeeps - a '2000 2-Wheel drive XJ Cherokee with about 60K miles,
> and an '88 Wrangler with about 250K miles that needs lots of work including
> an engine overhaul.
>
> I bought the XJ Cherokee new in 2000 when I lived in Florida, no need for
> 4WD with no snow. Now I live in Oregon, wish I had it.
>
> My first thought is, sell the old Wrangler, use the proceeds to buy the
> necessary pieces from a junkyard to convert the cherokee to 4WD.
> HOWEVER - A friend in the hills of Tennessee that has a 4WD XJ says, NO,
> the XJ with 4WD isn't that good in the snow anyway - too light for it's
> size - I'd be better of leaving my XJ as 2WD and fix up the Wrangler for the
> bad days that the XJ can't handle.
>
> Anybody here have an opinion ? Is a Wrangler indeed vastly superior to a 4WD
> XJ in Ice and Snow ?
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> - FM -
>
>
>
>

 

I agree with this advice completely. Much better off sellig 2wd and buying
a 4wd.

NT

"ephines" <ephines@***.net> wrote in message
news:NW58d.13064$pN6.1602@fed1read06...
> A friend and I tried to do the conversion and while it looks staight
> forward, you would have to ensure you had the exact (not close enough but
> exact) 4wd version or nothing will work. Parts houses won't be willing to
> sell that one... part you are missing unless you take the hole assembly.
> To do it you will need to replace the entire drivetrain. My suggestion is
> to sell the 2wd and but a 4wd.
>
>

 

I agree with this advice completely. Much better off sellig 2wd and buying
a 4wd.

NT

"ephines" <ephines@***.net> wrote in message
news:NW58d.13064$pN6.1602@fed1read06...
> A friend and I tried to do the conversion and while it looks staight
> forward, you would have to ensure you had the exact (not close enough but
> exact) 4wd version or nothing will work. Parts houses won't be willing to
> sell that one... part you are missing unless you take the hole assembly.
> To do it you will need to replace the entire drivetrain. My suggestion is
> to sell the 2wd and but a 4wd.
>
>

 

I agree with this advice completely. Much better off sellig 2wd and buying
a 4wd.

NT

"ephines" <ephines@***.net> wrote in message
news:NW58d.13064$pN6.1602@fed1read06...
> A friend and I tried to do the conversion and while it looks staight
> forward, you would have to ensure you had the exact (not close enough but
> exact) 4wd version or nothing will work. Parts houses won't be willing to
> sell that one... part you are missing unless you take the hole assembly.
> To do it you will need to replace the entire drivetrain. My suggestion is
> to sell the 2wd and but a 4wd.
>
>