Specs, fluids & service · 1963–1983
Jeep Wagoneer & Cherokee (SJ) specs, fluids and service intervals
The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.
Spec sheet
| PLATFORM | SJ (shared with Gladiator / J-Series pickups) |
|---|---|
| PRODUCTION | Wagoneer 1963–1983 (then Grand Wagoneer) · Cherokee 1974–1983 |
| PLANT | Toledo, Ohio · also Brampton (Canada), Rocklea (Australia), Córdoba (Argentina), Mexico City |
| DESIGNER | Brooks Stevens |
| ENGINES | 230 OHC I6 · 232/258 I6 · 327 V8 · Buick 350 V8 · AMC 304/360/401 V8 |
| TRANSMISSIONS | T-18 4-speed · TH400 (to 1979) · TorqueFlite 727 (1980–) |
| TRANSFER CASES | Dana 20 · Quadra-Trac BW 13-39 · NP208 · NP219 · NP229 |
| AXLES | Dana 44 front · Dana 44 or AMC 20 rear |
| WHEELBASE | 108.7 in |
| LENGTH | 186.4 in |
| WIDTH | 74.8 in · up to 78.7 in (wide-track Chief) |
| WAGONEER BUILT | 28,871 (1978) · 27,437 (1979) · 10,481 (1980) · 18,478 (1983) |
By year
| YEARS | PLATFORM | ENGINE | OUTPUT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1965 | Wagoneer (Kaiser) | Tornado 230 OHC I6 | 140 hp | Two- and four-door wagons and a panel delivery. IFS optional on 4x4s until 1965. |
| 1965–1968 | Wagoneer · Super Wagoneer (1966–69) | AMC 327 V8 · AMC 232 I6 | 250 hp (270 hp Super) | About 3,989 Super Wagoneers built. |
| 1968–1971 | Wagoneer | Buick 350 'Dauntless' V8 | 230 hp / 350 lb-ft | Two-doors gone after 1968; solid axles only from 1969. |
| 1972–1973 | Wagoneer (AMC) | AMC 258 I6 · 304 / 360 V8 | Varies by year | Quadra-Trac full-time 4WD arrives for 1973. |
| 1974–1978 | Wagoneer · Cherokee (2-door, 4-door from 1977) | 258 I6 · 360 V8 · 401 V8 | 110–215 hp (net) | Cherokee launched 1974; Chief wide-track from 1976; Limited Wagoneer from mid-1978. |
| 1979–1980 | Wagoneer · Cherokee | 360 V8 (258 I6 returns as an option) | Varies by year | Square-headlight 'pig nose' restyle; 727 auto replaces TH400 after 1979; NP219/NP208 replace the Borg-Warner case for 1980. |
| 1981–1983 | Wagoneer Custom/Brougham/Limited · Cherokee | 258 I6 · 360 V8 | Varies by year | Selec-Trac standard on the 1983 Wagoneer; Laredo and Pioneer Cherokees. The SJ Cherokee ends after 1983. |
Fluids, capacities & service intervals
Every SJ in this range is over 40 years old, so treat every fluid, hose and ignition part as original unless there are receipts. The drivetrain changed so often that the first job is identifying it: Quadra-Trac, Dana 20, NP208, NP219 and NP229 each need different fluid. We couldn't find a sourced factory capacity table for these years, so engine and axle capacities are marked for confirmation.
| ITEM | SPEC / CAPACITY | INTERVAL | NOTES & PARTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | AMC 258 I6 or 360/401 V8 · grade and capacity confirm in manual | Baseline now; then per your owner's manual | Filters are listed by engine and year: 4.2 L 1974–80 and 1981–86, V8 1974–83.Wix oil filter, V8-360/401 1974–1983 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Wix oil filter, 4.2 L 1974–1980 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Wix oil filter, 4.2 L 1981–1986 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Air & fuel filters | Air-cleaner element · inline fuel filter | Baseline now; inspect every oil change | A clogged element makes the carburetor run rich. Replace the air-cleaner-to-carb gasket at the same time.Air filter, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Fuel filter assembly, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Air cleaner to carburetor gasket, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor | Gap per underhood label confirm in manual | Baseline now | A full tune-up is the cheapest drivability fix before you blame the carburetor.Champion spark plug 8-piece set, V8 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Ignition wires, OE look, V8-360/401 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Distributor cap & rotor, V8 1978–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Spark plug wire set, 4.2 L 1972–1986 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Coolant, thermostat & hoses | Coolant type and capacity confirm in manual | Flush and refill now | Replace the thermostat, gasket and radiator hoses together on a truck with no records.Thermostat & gasket, 1963–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Radiator hose set, V8-360/401 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Automatic transmission (TH400 or 727) | ATF · pan drop with new filter confirm capacity in manual | Baseline now | 1974–79 automatics are GM TH400s; from 1980 it's the TorqueFlite 727. The filter kit listed fits the 727.100% synthetic automatic transmission fluid, 1963–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗A727 transmission cover gasket with filter & bolt set, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Quadra-Trac transfer case (1974–79) | Quadra-Trac lubricant only · no multigrade detergent oil | Baseline now | The factory manual blames the wrong fluid for most stick-slip noise. Drain the low-range unit too if fitted, then drive slow circles both ways for 15 minutes.Quadra-Trac transfer case fluid (TCL-1) · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Transfer case (NP208 / NP219 / NP229, 1980–83) | ATF-type fluid (Team Grand Wagoneer) · 3 qt NP208/228/229, 2 qt NP219 | Team Grand Wagoneer: every 50,000 mi in severe use, 100,000 mi normal | Check the yoke seals and, on Selec-Trac, the vacuum hoses while you're there.100% synthetic transfer case fluid, 1980–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗NP208/228/229 yoke rubber sealing washer, 1980–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Front & rear differentials | 75W-90 gear oil · add limited-slip additive for a Trac-Lok · capacities confirm in manual | Baseline now | Dana 44 front; Dana 44 or AMC 20 rear depending on year. Team Grand Wagoneer's Dana 44 kit is 2 quarts of 75W-90 plus additive.Dana 44 differential fluid kit, 1976–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Lube Locker Dana 44 differential cover gasket, 1968–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Lube Locker AMC 20 rear cover gasket, 1980–1986 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Front wheel bearings | Clean, inspect and repack; new seals | Baseline now | Bearing preload is set by hand on these hubs, so follow the manual.Front hub bearing assembly kit, 1977–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Front brake hub seal, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| U-joints & driveshafts | Grease every zerk; check for play | Every oil change | Check the front axle U-joints at full lock and the slip yokes for clunks.Spicer front axle U-joint, 1968–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Spicer rear driveshaft U-joint, 1968–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Power steering | Power-steering fluid; flush the old fluid | Baseline now | Look at the rag joint and the box seals while the system is open.Synthetic power steering fluid, 1963–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Power steering box rag joint, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Brake fluid, pads & lines | Fluid type per the master-cylinder cap confirm in manual | Flush now; then every 2 years | Confirm whether an early Cherokee has front discs or drums before ordering pads.Front ceramic brake pad set, 1971–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Complete stainless pre-bent brake line kit, 1977–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Accessory belts | V-belts on the V8; serpentine on the 1981–86 4.2 | Baseline now | Replace the V8's alternator/AC belts as a matched pair.Alternator / AC belt pair, V8-360 1980–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Power steering belt, 1981–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Serpentine belt, 4.2 L 1981–1986 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
| Leaf springs, bushings & shocks | Stock-height packs front and rear | Inspect now | Sagging springs and dead shocks make the truck wallow; replace bushings while the springs are out.Team Grand Wagoneer complete front & rear nitrogen shock set, 1974–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗Leaf spring & shackle bushing 12-piece set, 1977–1991 · Team Grand Wagoneer ↗ |
Capability
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in (2,761 mm) |
|---|---|
| Length | 186.4 in (4,735 mm) |
| Width | 74.8–78.7 in (1,900–1,999 mm) wide-track Chief at the top of the range |
| Curb weight | 4,514 lb (2,048 kg) Wikipedia infobox figure |
| Low range | 2.03:1 (Dana 20) · 2.57:1 (optional Quadra-Trac low-range unit) |
| Fuel economy | EPA 18 city / 25 hwy 1983 Wagoneer, 258 six, automatic and Selec-Trac, per Wikipedia; V8s are far thirstier |
| Top speed | Over 100 mph (161 km/h) 401-powered Cherokee with 3.07:1 gearing, per Wikipedia |
Wheels & tires
| Factory tire | 225/75R15 (1976–83 Wagoneer, per TireSize.com) · 235/70R15 (alternative listed for the 1976 Wagoneer) |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | 6x139.7 (6x5.5") from 1974 · 5x139.7 (5x5.5") on 1962–73 trucks |
| Center bore | 108 mm |
| Lug thread | 7/16" (Quadratec, 1974–91 full-size) |
Open the Jeep Wagoneer & Cherokee (SJ) in the tire fitment tool →
Common Jeep Wagoneer & Cherokee (SJ) repairs
- Cure Quadra-Trac stick-slip and chain slap (1974–79)DIFFICULTY 2 / 5 (fluid) · 4 / 5 (chain)
- Rebuild the carburetor or convert to throttle-body injectionDIFFICULTY 2 / 5 (rebuild) · 3 / 5 (TBI)
- Fix the power tailgate windowDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Patch floors, rockers and lower quartersDIFFICULTY 4 / 5
- Selec-Trac or NP208 won't engage 4WD (1980–83)DIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Tighten up sloppy steeringDIFFICULTY 2 / 5 (rag joint) · 3 / 5 (box seals)
- Service the front hubs, bearings and ball joints (Dana 44)DIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Replace the rear main seal (258 or V8)DIFFICULTY 3 / 5
Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.