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Source: Just 4x4's Magazine
These documents are
not completed, I am looking for specs and pics to be able to have them totally
comprehensive. The Jeep Cherokee was introduced to the media in October 1973 on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina. It was released in 1974 available in two models, a base model I6 version and a more luxurious model 17 Cherokee Sports. The Cherokee was aimed at positioning Jeep to compete against the Chevy Blazer, International Scout, and Ford Bronco in the multi-purpose vehicle arena. The Cherokee was identical to the 1974 Wagoneer but was packaged to appeal to a different customer. The Cherokee was built on the same 109 inch wheelbase as the Wagoneer and with only two doors and distinctive grille used on Jeep trucks since 1970 created its own aggressive character. At the rear the Cherokee used vertically positioned tail lights rather than the wrap around units used on the Wagoneer. The Cherokee's standard engine was the AMC 258 cubic inch overhead valve 6 cylinder. With a one barrel carburettor and 8.0:1 compression radio it developed 110 horsepower at 3500 rpm and 195 lb/ft of torque at 2000 rpm. Three V8s were also available, beginning with the two and four barrel versions of the 360 V8 and including the 401 cub. in. V8 with a 4 barrel carburettor. The Quadra-Trac full-time 4WD system was standard with both the 360 engine with 4 barrel carburettor and 401 engine. Quadra-Trac was not available for the 6 cylinder engine. The standard transmission offered for the 6 cylinder engine was a 3 speed manual gearbox. Turbo-Hydra-Matic was optional and a limited slip rear 'Trac-Lok' differential was available. The Cherokee used a Dana 44 open end front axle with a 6 stud pattern. The semi-floating hypoid rear axle for V8 Cherokees had a standard 3.07:1 ratio. Power disc brakes and power steering was available. The base model 16 Cherokee retailed for $3986US and the model 17 Sport $4549US. The base model had black window mouldings, painted bumpers, rubber floor mats and full width front and rear seats. The S Cherokee had side body and lower tape striping, chrome bumpers, flip-per quarter windows, aluminium styled 15 x 7 wheels, roof rack, and 'S' medallion on the rear side panel. The interior of the Cherokee was similar to that of the Wagoneer with the 'S' model equipped with embossed vinyl seat trim, cigarette lighter, dash mounted 'S' medallion, custom door and rear side panel trim, a locking glove box, dual horns, armrest overlays, vinyl cargo mat, courtesy lights and two rear seat ash trays. Numerous options were available, including tinted windows, power tailgate window, electric clock, AM/FM radio, power steering, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, fuel tank skid plate, cargo light and Convenience Package. In 1975 in common with the Wagoneer, the Cherokee received a new electronic ignition system, and on V8s, new carburettors with smaller primary and larger secondary metering valves. Front and rear springs were new multi-leaf units and longer shock absorbers were mounted in a staggered position at the rear. The Cherokee Chief made its world debut at the Detroit Automobile Show in January 1975, with the Chief Package which featured distinctive exterior trim with black 'Cherokee Chief' lettering on the tailgate and lower side body. Importantly the Chief had wider front and rear axles allowing 10 x 15 Goodyear Tracker A-T tyres to be fitted. Wider front and rear wheel openings with fender extensions accommodated these wider tyres. Standard Cherokee equipment included a roll-up tailgate window, front bucket seats with rear bench seat, 12 in day/night mirror, colour-keyed vinyl floor covering, colour-keyed cargo area covering, padded vinyl instrument panel, padded sun visors, and folding rear seat. The Cherokee's chassis frame was strengthened in 1976 with stronger cross members and box section side rail construction. The rear springs were of a new asymmetrical design which provided a smoother ride and for the first time a front stabiliser bar was optional. Two Cherokee Chief Packages were offered, with the Chief Package including 10 x 15 'Tracker AT’ Goodyear tyres with raised white lettering, mounted on special 8 in wheels, 3.54:1 ratio, flared fenders, upper and lower body two-tone paint in low gloss black and lower body accent striping with 'Cherokee Chief' lettering. Other items were leather wrapped steering wheel and bright trim. The Chief wide-wheel and Tyre Package included the same tyres, special wheels and flared fenders. Standard on the Chief were power disc brakes, power steering and fuel tank skid plate. Four door Cherokee 1977 Cherokee Wide Track The 'S' Package included chrome front and rear bumpers bright windscreen and vent window mouldings, 15 x 7 in alloy wheels, new body side and tailgate tape stripes, 'S’ medallion, flipper quarter window trim on two door models, cigarette lighter, glove box lock, bright armrest overlays, dual horns, carpeted wheelhouse covers, rear seat ashtrays, high line trim, all-vinyl bucket seats with folding centre armrest, custom door and rear quarter trim panel engine turned instrument panel cluster interior pillar covers for the four-door model, and folding driver seat-back for two door Cherokees. Five new colours took the exterior colour range to twelve. Technical changes included anew ambient air-intake system for V8 engines, power front disc brakes became standard and replacing the single barrel carburettor version of the 258 cub. in.6 cylinder engine as the standard Cherokee engine was a two barrel model. An interior vertical spare tyre cradle was an option for the previous under vehicle only, spare location. 1978 Cherokee The 1978 Cherokee was offered in three models - the base 2 door model, the 2 door with wide wheels and tyres and fenders extensions, and the four-door model. The 'S' Package remained optional for all models, with the Cherokee Chief Package exclusive to the wide track 2 door. A new grille guard and 7 inch chrome-plated spoked wheels were new options. Previously optional equipment, bright windscreen and vent mouldings, cigarette lighter, glove box lock and dual horns became standard. New factory options were an AM/FM/CB and AM/CB radios, and an AM/FM/Multi-Plex 8 track tape system. Three new colours - sun orange, golden ginger metallic and captain blue metallic - were available in 1978. Driver leg room was increased by 2.5 inches with a modified toe board and relocated accelerator pedal, and optional 'Levis' cloth bucket seats were available in a new beige colour. 1978 Cherokee Wide
Track 1978 Cherokee 1979 Cherokee A new grille was the prominent distinguishing feature of the 1979 Cherokee range, which included rectangular headlights set within a one-piece grille of bright chrome in combination with dark argent and low gloss paint. The grille design consisted of thin horizontal and vertical dividers and an extruded centre section. One piece chrome bumpers were more substantial.
A new 'Golden Eagle' Package was introduced as an option for wide wheel 2 door Cherokees. The package comprised beige denim fabric bucket seats with centre armrest, passenger assist handle, tan carpets, tan soft-feel Sport steering wheel, engine-turned instrument panel cluster overlay, driver's folding seat, carpeted wheel-house covers, rear seat ashtray, bright door frame mouldings, Golden Eagle decal on hood, special tape striping on hood, cowl, body sides and tailgate, Golden Eagle lettering on lower door panels, flipper quarter windows, bronze tone tinted rear quarter windows, black brush guard,15 x 8 in. styled steel wheels painted gold with black striping, outline white 10 x 15 Tracker AT tyres (available for wide wheel Cherokees only), and two-tone paint. The 'S' package was improved with a new side body Indian graphic theme with either a white or black background. The Chief Package had new body striping, trim and ornamentation. Interior changes found on all Cherokees included a 4 spoke custom steering wheel new armrest design and a new dome light. New Cherokee options for 1979 included an Extra-Quiet Insulation Package, intermittent windscreen wipers as part of the Convenience Package, a lighted visor vanity mirror as part of the Light Package, and for the high-line Chief and Golden Eagle Trim Packages a new dome/reading light and a passenger assist handle. For the first time all Cherokees except the wide-wheel model were available with a smooth ride suspension system. This consisted of special front springs and rear shocks, plus a front stabiliser bar. It was not recommended for extended off-road use and was the opposite to the Extra-duty suspension package which included heavy duty springs and shock absorbers. The Cherokee was offered in 14 exterior colours of which 12 were new for 1979. The Cherokee underwent numerous modifications for 1980 which resulted in improved performance and fuel economy. An all synchromesh 4 speed Tremec Model T-176 with all aluminium case replaced both the standard Borg-Warner 3 speed transmission and optional 4 speed transmission with their cast iron cases. Linked to this transmission was a New Process 208 part-time transfer case which replaced the Dana20 unit previously used. This 2 speed unit could only be used with an automatic transmission which for 1980 was a Chrysler Torque-Flite unit. The Quadra-Trac system also received a viscous coupling limited slip differential place of the cone-clutch friction system used in 1979. This incorporated a low range. Standard equipment included free wheeling front hubs, and a new propellor shaft was used that was in direct line with the engine crankshaft rather than being offset as on older models. Included in the price for V8 or automatic equipped models was a front stabiliser bar and power steering. The 'S' Package received minor improvement, while the Chief Package included all 'S' package features plus upper body 2-tone paint, lower body blackout striping with Cherokee Chief lettering, black and chrome grille and colour-keyed carpeting.
1981-1983 Cherokee With falling sales Jeep introduced a lighter weight version of the 258 cub. in. standard Cherokee engine to improve fuel consumption. The Cherokee also gained lower numerical axle ratios and higher first gear ratios for manual transmissions. Exterior changes for 1981 included new lightweight plastic grille. Both the ‘S’ and Golden Eagle Packages were dropped and the Chief Package became standard for four door Cherokees. The 4 door version used 15 x 7 white styled wheels and P2325/75R Wrangler steel radial tyres, replacing the 15 x 8 wheels and 10 x 15 A/T tyres used on the 2 door models. The circular Indian Chief emblem previously found just ahead of the front doors was no longer used. The rear panel tape strip now angled upward and over the rear wheel cut out. The Laredo Package was available for both the wide wheel 2 door and 4 door Cherokees. Visually little changed on 1982 Cherokees, with the most notable feature being the availability of a five speed Warner Gear T5 manual transmission. Also new for 1982 was a tilt steering wheel option for Cherokees with manual transmissions. 1983 was the last year the original Cherokee body introduced in 1974 was used and a major revision of the trim package occurred. Standard for the 4 door and optional for the 2 door models was a new Pioneer Package consisting of vinyl bucket seats with centre armrests, custom door and rear quarter trim panels, colour-keyed carpeting including wheel wells and cargo area, soft-feel 3 spoke sports steering wheel, engine turned instrument panel cluster overlay, bright armrest overlays with argent insert, passenger assist handle, dual rear ashtrays, driver's folding seat back (2 door model), black vinyl body side mouldings, exterior 'Pioneer' decals, chrome grille, extra quiet insulation and P235/75% 15 radial tyres on steel rims.
Ed Note: The 1983 Cherokee was continued in Australia until 1985. Hence the Australian 84 or 85 Cherokee are really 1983 models. They were marketed as a 'deluxe' package known as the 'DL' such as the one owned by Brian Stephens or as a Cherokee 'Limited'. The Chief and Laredo Packages were only available on wide wheeled models. A new option for automatic Cherokees was Select-Trac two/four wheel drive system. The Select-Trac low range mode was activated only when the vehicle was in 4WD since a sequential lockout system within the transfer case prevented low range operation when the vehicle was in 2WD. 'COMPACT' OR 'LITTLE' CHEROKEES 1984 Cherokee A brand new down-sized Cherokee was introduced in 1984 following 5 years of development. These models weighed 1,0001bs less, were more fuel efficient and compact. The new Cherokee was 21 inches shorter and 6 inches narrower than its 1983 predecessor. It obtained a distinctive slotted grille, squared off front and rear wheel openings and more contemporary styling. The hood opening was recessed from the top of the grille, and a one piece fibreglass rear tailgate was used. A completely new instrument panel with an integrated air conditioning option, storage bin and full-size glovebox was featured. For the first time a tachometer was included, and the windscreen wiper controls were relocated onto the steering column. All transmission controls. manual or auto were floor-mounted. The new model came with front suspension called 'Quadra-Link' by AMC and combined coil springs with four locating arms. An anti-roll bar, constant velocity-joints and hydraulic shock absorbers were also used. At the rear semi-elliptic springs and anti-roll bar were assisted by gas filled shocks. A part time 'Command-Trac system was standard for all Cherokees. It used a New Process 207 transfer case, which had an all aluminium, two-piece casting. Optional: was Select-Trac utilising a viscous clutch and a New Process 239 1imited slip centre differential. Three transmissions were offered for the new Cherokee. Standard was an all-synchromesh 4 speed manual, and optional was a 5 speed overdrive manual transmission. The Chrysler model 904, 3 speed automatic was optional for all models. The Cherokee was available with either Chief or Pioneer Packages. The new Cherokees were powered by an AMC designed 4 cylinder 'Hurricane' engine. It was an all-new design with computer controlled electronic ignition, single-barrel carburettor with electronic fuel feedback and an aluminium intake manifold. All models were available with a 2.8 litre V6 engine supplied by Chevrolet. 1985-1993 Cherokees The Cherokee was available in 2 or 4 door configurations with either four or six cylinder engines in 1985. It was available in four equipment levels - standard, Pioneer Chief, and the top of the line Laredo. Standard equipment included 2.5 litre 4 cylinder engine,4 speed manual transmission,2 speed Command Trac transfer case. New standard equipment for most models included front seat headrests, a rocker/ recliner capability with front bucket seats, cargo area tie-down hooks and passenger assist handles. A new option was a 2.1 litre 4 cylinder turbo diesel, Sentry keyless entry system, and a swing away spare tyre carrier for 4 door models. All 1986 Cherokees were powered by a redesigned version of AMC's 2.5 litre 4 cylinder engine which was equipped with throttle body fuel injection. The Cherokee carried revamped graphics for 1986 and a special Off-Highway Vehicle Package was introduced that consisted of premium high pressure gas shocks. P225/75RWrangler tyres 15 x 7 spoked wheels and underbody skid plate protection. 4.10:1 axle ratio, tow hooks and a high ground clearance suspension, The Trac-Loc limited slip rear differential offered only a combination with the standard Command-Trac 4WD system became available for Cherokee models fitted with the optional Select-Trac 4WD system. 1987 Cherokee models were available with new optional 4.0 Litre 6 cylinder engine, and wide ratio 4 speed automatic transmission. This was electronically controlled and had an overdrive 4th gear and a lock up converter. Select-Trac featured a New Process 242 full-time 4WD transfer case in which all modes were controlled by a single lever. The standard Cherokee transmission retained the part time 4WD system. Exterior graphics were again revised and a new option for the Cherokee base and Laredo 2-door models was a two tone paint configuration. New door trim panels with stowage bins were also standard for all 1987 Cherokees. During 1987 a new Cherokee Limited was offered in four-door configuration. Powered by 4 litre engine it was equipped with Select-Trac and featured a comprehensive level of functional and luxury appointments. In 1988 Jeep expanded the Cherokee Limited series to include a two-door model. The Limited models were equipped with electronic fuel injected 4 litre 6 cylinder 'Power Tech Six' engine. The turbo diesel was dropped for 1988. The Cherokee range featured a new eight-slot grille for 1988, and the Laredo model received a new exterior package. A Sport Package was introduced for the 2 door model, and was fitted with 10 hole aluminium wheels, 5 speed manual transmission, unique exterior graphics and floor carpeting. The Cherokee range underwent continued improvement in 1989 with power steering standard and a larger 20 gallon capacity fuel tank. Cherokees fitted with the 4.0 litre engine, auto transmission and Select-Trac were available with four wheel anti-lock braking system, which operated in both 2 or 4WD. The Cherokee Limited was offered with a new Power Equipment Package which included power windows, power door locks and a keyless entry system. 1990 saw the Cherokee's optional swing away spare wheel carrier designed and an AM/FM electronically tuned radio with 4 speakers became standard on all models. The Cherokee Limited had a new standard overhead console housing holders for garage opener, sun glasses, outside temperature display, compass, lights and remote control door lock unit. The Power-Tech Six engine standard on all Cherokees except the base model was now rated at 190 horsepower and 225 lbs/ ft of torque. It was fitted with multi-point electronic fuel injection for 1991. The Pioneer version of the Cherokee was dropped for 1991. The Cherokee Briarwood with new wheels and teak woodgrain exterior replaced the Wagoneer Limited. A new four-door Sports model was also introduced. The Cherokee limited was further upgraded with new body colour wheels, bumpers and cladding. The Cherokee was available in base, Sport, Laredo, Limited and Briarwood versions for 1992. Carpeting was now standard on the base models and was available with sunroof and Light Package option. The Cherokee model range was revamped to consist of base, Sport and Country models in 2 and 4 door form for 1993. New features included a standard stainless steel
exhaust system, body colour grille and headlight bezels on the Cherokee Country. The base
engine remained the OHV in-line 4 cylinder. With re-positioned model range the Cherokee is
enjoying strong demand in American and the new Cherokees are now becoming available in
Australia.
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