Roughly 5/2/04 07:38, k-9king@webtv.net's monkeys randomly typed:

> I have finally acquired my first Jeep. It is a '96 Grand Cherokee Orvis
> edition with 95K miles, v8, leather, ...and a few problems.
>
> 1st, What is an 'Orvis' edition?

Excerpt from Edmunds review of GC, aka ZJ:

"The Orvis edition was a Cherokee Limited that featured a questionable
color scheme of green paint with red and gold accents and a two-tone
green and champagne interior with red accents."


>
> 2nd. I need to replace at least one tire. It now has 3 good shape
> Michelin XC LT 4's. Size 225/70/16 This tire is only available at Sears
> and cost $122+install. Should I replace the one or should I buy a new
> set of BFG AT KO's (same size) @ $120 each including install and
> warranty? Or should it have a different size...?

Do not replace just one tire. You want all 4 tires to be very
close to the same diameter, which includes tread depth.

You can pick up the Michelin LTX M+S from folks like Tire Rack
or Discount Tire or Americas Tire. This is somewhat similar to
the slightly overpriced XC. These are pretty good tires for
a mix of highway and *light* moderate off-road duty not
involving deep snow, mud, or really big rocks, etc. The Pirelli
Scorpion A/T is similar with a slightly stronger sidewall
available, but with cold start thump due to the belt design.
>
>
> 3rd. What size(s) tires will fit this Jeep without modification or
> lifts? I was thinking about buying a set of goodyear mtr's (245/75/16)
> from Ebay....will they fit? What mod's would be needed?

A 235-75/16 should fit nicely, dimly think a 245-70/16 was an option
so a 245-75/16 should fit.

>
> 4th. How serious an off roader is a stock GC ? What mods does it
> (eventually) need to make it a serious on & off road vehicle? Or is its
> best used to tow a wrangler to the site, and make my trips to the
> grocery store?

Get a small ATV and drive it up into the back. The GC is fairly
capable of moderate trail duty, but you'd want to put lifts and
new axles for serious duty...and the body is not a frame on rail,
so it tends to flex "just a tad" more than is good for it when
rock crawling. Still, you can go places most Mall Trailer Queens
shouldn't attempt.

The factory gas shocks are ok, but you can get rid of a bit of
the head toss with the Edelbrock IAS or the Rancho 9000SX
adjustables. The Rancho is IMNHO a bit stiff for a Wrangler, but
with the softer suspension of the GC, they tighten it down
quite a bit...but then I drive classic sports cars where springs
were an extra cost option.

>
> thanks for taking time to read all this!

Poke around on the Full Size Jeep website. Also get a Factory
Service Manual from www.jeep.com if your dealers parts guy
doesn't know how to get them. Pick the For Owners link and
poke for the manuals, which actually takes you to
www.techauthority.com, the Chrysler tech pubs house.



--
Evolution is merely survival of the minimally adequate

 

Roughly 5/2/04 07:38, k-9king@webtv.net's monkeys randomly typed:

> I have finally acquired my first Jeep. It is a '96 Grand Cherokee Orvis
> edition with 95K miles, v8, leather, ...and a few problems.
>
> 1st, What is an 'Orvis' edition?

Excerpt from Edmunds review of GC, aka ZJ:

"The Orvis edition was a Cherokee Limited that featured a questionable
color scheme of green paint with red and gold accents and a two-tone
green and champagne interior with red accents."


>
> 2nd. I need to replace at least one tire. It now has 3 good shape
> Michelin XC LT 4's. Size 225/70/16 This tire is only available at Sears
> and cost $122+install. Should I replace the one or should I buy a new
> set of BFG AT KO's (same size) @ $120 each including install and
> warranty? Or should it have a different size...?

Do not replace just one tire. You want all 4 tires to be very
close to the same diameter, which includes tread depth.

You can pick up the Michelin LTX M+S from folks like Tire Rack
or Discount Tire or Americas Tire. This is somewhat similar to
the slightly overpriced XC. These are pretty good tires for
a mix of highway and *light* moderate off-road duty not
involving deep snow, mud, or really big rocks, etc. The Pirelli
Scorpion A/T is similar with a slightly stronger sidewall
available, but with cold start thump due to the belt design.
>
>
> 3rd. What size(s) tires will fit this Jeep without modification or
> lifts? I was thinking about buying a set of goodyear mtr's (245/75/16)
> from Ebay....will they fit? What mod's would be needed?

A 235-75/16 should fit nicely, dimly think a 245-70/16 was an option
so a 245-75/16 should fit.

>
> 4th. How serious an off roader is a stock GC ? What mods does it
> (eventually) need to make it a serious on & off road vehicle? Or is its
> best used to tow a wrangler to the site, and make my trips to the
> grocery store?

Get a small ATV and drive it up into the back. The GC is fairly
capable of moderate trail duty, but you'd want to put lifts and
new axles for serious duty...and the body is not a frame on rail,
so it tends to flex "just a tad" more than is good for it when
rock crawling. Still, you can go places most Mall Trailer Queens
shouldn't attempt.

The factory gas shocks are ok, but you can get rid of a bit of
the head toss with the Edelbrock IAS or the Rancho 9000SX
adjustables. The Rancho is IMNHO a bit stiff for a Wrangler, but
with the softer suspension of the GC, they tighten it down
quite a bit...but then I drive classic sports cars where springs
were an extra cost option.

>
> thanks for taking time to read all this!

Poke around on the Full Size Jeep website. Also get a Factory
Service Manual from www.jeep.com if your dealers parts guy
doesn't know how to get them. Pick the For Owners link and
poke for the manuals, which actually takes you to
www.techauthority.com, the Chrysler tech pubs house.



--
Evolution is merely survival of the minimally adequate

 

Roughly 5/2/04 07:38, k-9king@webtv.net's monkeys randomly typed:

> I have finally acquired my first Jeep. It is a '96 Grand Cherokee Orvis
> edition with 95K miles, v8, leather, ...and a few problems.
>
> 1st, What is an 'Orvis' edition?

Excerpt from Edmunds review of GC, aka ZJ:

"The Orvis edition was a Cherokee Limited that featured a questionable
color scheme of green paint with red and gold accents and a two-tone
green and champagne interior with red accents."


>
> 2nd. I need to replace at least one tire. It now has 3 good shape
> Michelin XC LT 4's. Size 225/70/16 This tire is only available at Sears
> and cost $122+install. Should I replace the one or should I buy a new
> set of BFG AT KO's (same size) @ $120 each including install and
> warranty? Or should it have a different size...?

Do not replace just one tire. You want all 4 tires to be very
close to the same diameter, which includes tread depth.

You can pick up the Michelin LTX M+S from folks like Tire Rack
or Discount Tire or Americas Tire. This is somewhat similar to
the slightly overpriced XC. These are pretty good tires for
a mix of highway and *light* moderate off-road duty not
involving deep snow, mud, or really big rocks, etc. The Pirelli
Scorpion A/T is similar with a slightly stronger sidewall
available, but with cold start thump due to the belt design.
>
>
> 3rd. What size(s) tires will fit this Jeep without modification or
> lifts? I was thinking about buying a set of goodyear mtr's (245/75/16)
> from Ebay....will they fit? What mod's would be needed?

A 235-75/16 should fit nicely, dimly think a 245-70/16 was an option
so a 245-75/16 should fit.

>
> 4th. How serious an off roader is a stock GC ? What mods does it
> (eventually) need to make it a serious on & off road vehicle? Or is its
> best used to tow a wrangler to the site, and make my trips to the
> grocery store?

Get a small ATV and drive it up into the back. The GC is fairly
capable of moderate trail duty, but you'd want to put lifts and
new axles for serious duty...and the body is not a frame on rail,
so it tends to flex "just a tad" more than is good for it when
rock crawling. Still, you can go places most Mall Trailer Queens
shouldn't attempt.

The factory gas shocks are ok, but you can get rid of a bit of
the head toss with the Edelbrock IAS or the Rancho 9000SX
adjustables. The Rancho is IMNHO a bit stiff for a Wrangler, but
with the softer suspension of the GC, they tighten it down
quite a bit...but then I drive classic sports cars where springs
were an extra cost option.

>
> thanks for taking time to read all this!

Poke around on the Full Size Jeep website. Also get a Factory
Service Manual from www.jeep.com if your dealers parts guy
doesn't know how to get them. Pick the For Owners link and
poke for the manuals, which actually takes you to
www.techauthority.com, the Chrysler tech pubs house.



--
Evolution is merely survival of the minimally adequate