Hey, I got a Jeep! Let's do stuff to it!
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Hey, I got a Jeep! Let's do stuff to it!
Back in March, without much forethought or planning on my part, I managed to pick up a 1996 2WD Cherokee se with a 4.0 and manual transmission for not much money at all. At the time I figured I'd fix it a bit, clean it up and flip it. Wrong. Once I began driving it and fixing things on it and making it better, I fell hard and fast for this plucky little two-wheel drive beater. I've always liked the look of the XJ Cherokees, but why didn't anyone tell me these things were so much fun to drive?
For a 180k jeep, it runs like an absolute top. It even feels like the engine has been taken apart and the rotating assembly balanced, it revs so smoothly. I don't find any particular evidence that any major repairs have been done to the drivetrain, everything looks original. The body and interior are about what you'd expect for a 180k truck. A few dings and dents here and there, but NO RUST. Inside, it's not ratty, just well-used.
More or less how it looked when I dragged it home.
Since then it's had a full tune-up, new battery, new shocks and sway bar bushings and a few other minor fixes here and there. It has basically been my daily driver since may.
While I now intend to find a 4x4 XJ, (or possibly convert this one) I think this one also deserves some love in the suspension and tire department. I don't plan to spend absurd amounts of money on it, but I do plan on making a fierce little daily driver/weekend fun buggy. I don't really do hardcore off-road stuff, and our winters in central Texas are generally pretty mild, so four wheel drive isn't critical at this stage... More like a "nice to have" in emergencies and bad weather.
Anyhow, let's see where this goes.
For a 180k jeep, it runs like an absolute top. It even feels like the engine has been taken apart and the rotating assembly balanced, it revs so smoothly. I don't find any particular evidence that any major repairs have been done to the drivetrain, everything looks original. The body and interior are about what you'd expect for a 180k truck. A few dings and dents here and there, but NO RUST. Inside, it's not ratty, just well-used.
More or less how it looked when I dragged it home.
Since then it's had a full tune-up, new battery, new shocks and sway bar bushings and a few other minor fixes here and there. It has basically been my daily driver since may.
While I now intend to find a 4x4 XJ, (or possibly convert this one) I think this one also deserves some love in the suspension and tire department. I don't plan to spend absurd amounts of money on it, but I do plan on making a fierce little daily driver/weekend fun buggy. I don't really do hardcore off-road stuff, and our winters in central Texas are generally pretty mild, so four wheel drive isn't critical at this stage... More like a "nice to have" in emergencies and bad weather.
Anyhow, let's see where this goes.
#2
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So a couple weeks after I brought my jeep home I decided the smooth roofline looked odd. A trip to the pick n pull netted me a factory roof rack and the measurements to mount it. Also found several gray interior xjs, so I now have all my armrests and window cranks. Also swapped out a couple of the exterior door handles that had busted springs.
Roof rack installed
Pay no attention to the mud on the jeep, the county was re-paving the road to my folks' house (all my tools are currently stored there). Any resemblance to actual off-roading is purely coincidental.
Roof rack installed
Pay no attention to the mud on the jeep, the county was re-paving the road to my folks' house (all my tools are currently stored there). Any resemblance to actual off-roading is purely coincidental.
#3
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Miami
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 90
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Well. Technically. If the county was re-paving the road, they had to remove the old surface, to put down the new surface, right? So actually, you were "off-road"
That's cool though. Whatever it takes to get some dirt on your jeep, is worth it.
Looks good so far though.
That's cool though. Whatever it takes to get some dirt on your jeep, is worth it.
Looks good so far though.
#4
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Well. Technically. If the county was re-paving the road, they had to remove the old surface, to put down the new surface, right? So actually, you were "off-road"
That's cool though. Whatever it takes to get some dirt on your jeep, is worth it.
Looks good so far though.
That's cool though. Whatever it takes to get some dirt on your jeep, is worth it.
Looks good so far though.
Im posting a lot of stuff retroactively as I get to it, I've actually done a lot more, but I wanted to keep the thread somewhat chronological.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SixShooterXJCherokee
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
9
09-23-2015 06:27 PM
SixShooterXJCherokee
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
9
08-30-2015 08:06 PM
14lgreer
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
3
08-21-2015 01:46 AM
zhunt728
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
08-20-2015 12:37 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)