The AMC/Jeep Cherokee & Wagoneers
(1974-1987)
The SJ series Jeep Cherokee was a full-size SUV produced from 1974 through 1984 by the Jeep division of the American Motors Corporation (AMC). It was similar to the Wagoneer. The trim levels of the Cherokee included the S, Limited, Classic, Chief, Sport, Pioneer, and Laredo. It was designed by Brooks Stevens, and was a reintroduction of the two door body that had been available in the Wagoneer line from 1963-67.
Based on the Jeep Wagoneer, the Cherokee was marketed as the "sporty" two-door variant of Jeep's station wagon. A four-door was not added to the lineup until 1977. Engine choices consisted of AMC I6 or V8 engines. The Cherokee was marketed in left and right hand drive countries (such as the UK and Australia). Main production of the Cherokeee took place in Toledo, Ohio.
Around the world
Cherokees were briefly assembled in Brisbane, Australia from 1981, although their heavy fuel consumption and high cost in comparison with Japanese four-wheel drive vehicles made them uncompetitive in that market. The Australian arm of Jeep was denied permission to assemble the upcoming XJ model under the Button car plan, and all Cherokee assembly was discontinued in Australia in 1986, two years after the model name had been supplanted in the U.S. by the XJ.
Mechanical
4 Jeep Cherokee S, 401A broad range of AMC engines were offered: the 258 in³ (4.2 L) inline six-cylinder, a two-barrel 360 in³ (5.9 L) V8, a four-barrel 360, or the 401 in³ (6.6 L) V8. The durable 401 V8 had a forged crankshaft and forged connecting rods, as well as the high nickel content block of the other AMC V8s. The 401 was discontinued at the end of 1978. A T-18/T-18a four speed manual gearbox was standard for all years, while, prior to 1979, one could opt for the bulletproof General Motors TH400, which was more commonly found in 3/4- and 1-ton trucks, rather than small SUVs.
As a comparison, the Chevy Blazer used the TH350 lighter duty automatic. A Dana 20 transfer case with 2.03:1 low range was standard with the manual gearbox (which had much lower first gears), while the TH400 automatics received the full time four-wheel drive QuadraTrac system. QuadraTracs included a center differential lock which other full time cases at the time were (and even many new ones today are) lacking. A 2.57:1 low range was optional on QuadraTrac. After 1979, the TH400 was dropped and replaced with the Chrysler 727.