Project 44
04-14-2009, 09:09 PM
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Project 44
What the heck, let me join in on the build fun...
The find:
1991 XJ Laredo.
The good:
np242
dana 44 rear
dana 30 non disconnect front.
180k on odo.
The bad:
bad carrier bearings
Chevy drive shaft for exhaust.
no rear brakes
paint's clear coat chipping away
worn 32" bfg At's Front
worn 32" bfg Mt's Rear
The Ugly:
after buying i ran car fax.. Salvage title!
it was hit on front driver and you can see where they fixed it under the hood.
The only good part is that it was certified in FLorida.
Owned by a high school kid, spent its life in Olevido(?) FL.
I live in Georgia and they want me to spend $118 for some dude to come out and say my jeep is driveable. Still havent forked out the money..
***UPDATE: I got a tag in FL. with my dad on the title too. So its insured by me and gives 11 months to get a GA tag and still drive it.
Purpose of build:
Light trail riding but mainly for camping and daily driving and make it look good! I have a 04 Rubicon which i offroad non stop.
What it looked like the day i bought it:
picture of when i brought it home:
more to come...
Mark
The find:
1991 XJ Laredo.
The good:
np242
dana 44 rear
dana 30 non disconnect front.
180k on odo.
The bad:
bad carrier bearings
Chevy drive shaft for exhaust.
no rear brakes
paint's clear coat chipping away
worn 32" bfg At's Front
worn 32" bfg Mt's Rear
The Ugly:
after buying i ran car fax.. Salvage title!
it was hit on front driver and you can see where they fixed it under the hood.
The only good part is that it was certified in FLorida.
Owned by a high school kid, spent its life in Olevido(?) FL.
I live in Georgia and they want me to spend $118 for some dude to come out and say my jeep is driveable. Still havent forked out the money..
***UPDATE: I got a tag in FL. with my dad on the title too. So its insured by me and gives 11 months to get a GA tag and still drive it.
Purpose of build:
Light trail riding but mainly for camping and daily driving and make it look good! I have a 04 Rubicon which i offroad non stop.
What it looked like the day i bought it:
picture of when i brought it home:
more to come...
Mark
Last edited by jeepgeek2002; 08-07-2009 at 08:27 AM.
04-14-2009, 09:40 PM
#4
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Project 44.. as in dana44 that came with it. if you havent figured that part out.
The main part of this build with pictures will be appearance.
mechanical wont have many pics.. yet.
So when things seem like they re going well, something has to throw a wrench in things.
The week after buying it i got laid off. What to do? no selling the xj is not even in my mind. Its paid for. not cost anything technically.
You re probably asking, how did he have 32" tires on that cherokee?
well.. heres the funny part..
i ll snap some pics tomorrow to show you it in more detail. But seems as though the previous owner must have read this article:
http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical...oilSpacers.htm
or something similar.. he used 3" piping and welded a plate on top that he grinded down into a circle.
a 2" budget boost for a TJ from Skyjacker for the shocks, 1" block in rear with Teraflex 1.5" shackle. 3" lift all the way around.
Back to build:
Flares? to flare or not to flare that is the question.
I saw on some of the posts how to relocate the flares..
i tried removing the bolts but everyone broke off in my hands.
So i ripped the inner plastic off and pulled the flares off.
At the same time i pulled the moulding off and sanded it down, and painted it black:
the end result was this:
a lot cleaner looking as well.
more
The main part of this build with pictures will be appearance.
mechanical wont have many pics.. yet.
So when things seem like they re going well, something has to throw a wrench in things.
The week after buying it i got laid off. What to do? no selling the xj is not even in my mind. Its paid for. not cost anything technically.
You re probably asking, how did he have 32" tires on that cherokee?
well.. heres the funny part..
i ll snap some pics tomorrow to show you it in more detail. But seems as though the previous owner must have read this article:
http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical...oilSpacers.htm
or something similar.. he used 3" piping and welded a plate on top that he grinded down into a circle.
a 2" budget boost for a TJ from Skyjacker for the shocks, 1" block in rear with Teraflex 1.5" shackle. 3" lift all the way around.
Back to build:
Flares? to flare or not to flare that is the question.
I saw on some of the posts how to relocate the flares..
i tried removing the bolts but everyone broke off in my hands.
So i ripped the inner plastic off and pulled the flares off.
At the same time i pulled the moulding off and sanded it down, and painted it black:
the end result was this:
a lot cleaner looking as well.
more
04-14-2009, 09:51 PM
#5
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
im dividing this up in parts.. to keep the posts short.
So, being that im collecting unemployment and it aint much these days im browsing craigslist like crazy..
I come upon this listing "jeep rims, painted black, need to sell, 1/2 tread tires. $350 firm" Looking at the pics.. they looked like Moab rims from the rubicon jeep.. i call the guy and asked him they were Moab rims:
" dont know man.. they were on my jeep when i got them, dont need them now."
i get there after pulling out $300 hopeing to low ball him out of 50 bucks off Rubicon Moab rims.. Get there find 1/2 treaded GoodYear MTR's on moabs painted black. All 5... i talk with the dude, tell him his tires dont have much tread on them, and i point blank ask him "Whats the bottom dollar you ll take"
-$200 my dad wants them out of his garage!
SOLD!
hurrried them home and mounted them on the jeep!
Budget build and sweet!
As i was in Florida i figured i d go look at the local junk yards, i found a place that had a whole bunch of xj's.. even found a new grill for $25
Sold!
New grill:
Exterior is mainly done for what i need it for.
Paints still chipping clear coat but no rust. Front hood was replaced from previous owner and its faded. no biggy.
now on to the mechical issues:
Mark
So, being that im collecting unemployment and it aint much these days im browsing craigslist like crazy..
I come upon this listing "jeep rims, painted black, need to sell, 1/2 tread tires. $350 firm" Looking at the pics.. they looked like Moab rims from the rubicon jeep.. i call the guy and asked him they were Moab rims:
" dont know man.. they were on my jeep when i got them, dont need them now."
i get there after pulling out $300 hopeing to low ball him out of 50 bucks off Rubicon Moab rims.. Get there find 1/2 treaded GoodYear MTR's on moabs painted black. All 5... i talk with the dude, tell him his tires dont have much tread on them, and i point blank ask him "Whats the bottom dollar you ll take"
-$200 my dad wants them out of his garage!
SOLD!
hurrried them home and mounted them on the jeep!
Budget build and sweet!
As i was in Florida i figured i d go look at the local junk yards, i found a place that had a whole bunch of xj's.. even found a new grill for $25
Sold!
New grill:
Exterior is mainly done for what i need it for.
Paints still chipping clear coat but no rust. Front hood was replaced from previous owner and its faded. no biggy.
now on to the mechical issues:
Mark
04-14-2009, 10:00 PM
#6
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Other details i forgot to mention...
The front bumper is not an XJ bumper.. but in fact a TJ bumper.. lots of washers and long bolts holding it on.
Front brake pads brand new. Rear Drum shoes brand new.. Rotors badly grooved, drums badly grooved.. Why spend money on new pads and get them turned? i got them turned for free!
The interior smells like gas. When i asked the previous owners about that? they said they dumped a chain saw in side and gas spilled inside. I sniffed around and still can not find the location of the smell.
All the tie rods were dieing for grease so bad that when i greased them water came out. More to this later..
No air coming out of vents. Fix this by snipping the globe on front and sticking a bolt in tube.. i know i know.. its for the heater/air, but it works now. go figure.
hard to start... fixed this later on buy buying bosch platinum plugs
Oh yeah.. the tires.. i got a friend give me his 235x70x15 firestone tires to drive around on. they had 4000 miles on them
Ever wonder what a cherokee looks like with small tires and 3" lift and 3.75" bs rims:
Mark
The front bumper is not an XJ bumper.. but in fact a TJ bumper.. lots of washers and long bolts holding it on.
Front brake pads brand new. Rear Drum shoes brand new.. Rotors badly grooved, drums badly grooved.. Why spend money on new pads and get them turned? i got them turned for free!
The interior smells like gas. When i asked the previous owners about that? they said they dumped a chain saw in side and gas spilled inside. I sniffed around and still can not find the location of the smell.
All the tie rods were dieing for grease so bad that when i greased them water came out. More to this later..
No air coming out of vents. Fix this by snipping the globe on front and sticking a bolt in tube.. i know i know.. its for the heater/air, but it works now. go figure.
hard to start... fixed this later on buy buying bosch platinum plugs
Oh yeah.. the tires.. i got a friend give me his 235x70x15 firestone tires to drive around on. they had 4000 miles on them
Ever wonder what a cherokee looks like with small tires and 3" lift and 3.75" bs rims:
Mark
Last edited by jeepgeek2002; 04-14-2009 at 10:13 PM. Reason: forgot to add something
04-14-2009, 10:10 PM
#7
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
the fun stuff:
Dana 30 howling at 55 mph.
Since i belong to a club i asked if anyone had some spare axle bearings or wheel hubs depending on who you talk to,
I got some for $20 with rotors and lug nuts. great deal
Pulled the old ones off and realized they werent the issue.
When i pulled the axle shaft all the way out i found out the carrier bearings must be shot because the axle shafts had a deep grove where the bearing resides. Which would explain the howling noise.
I pulled the cover off and black oil poured out.
Brake cleaner inside diff, checked ring/pinion on visual, no chiping or broken spider teeth. Walmart sells 80w diff oil for 4$ a bottle.
Bought 4 bottles. 2 for front 2 for rear. Sanded down diff cover, bought a gasket from napa for 3$ and slapped it on .. filled it up with oil and let it sit in for a couple hours. Drove it and the noise was 40% better/ still there but i could listen to the radio now.
Oh and the previous owner stripped the break caliper bolts when putting in the brakes.. i m going to replace the axle later anyway. so it shouldnt bother too much.
Dana 44.
Pulled diff cover off. Black Chocolate poured out.. i mean Black and Thick!
Sprayed Brake cleaner, the whole bottle, check gears.teeth and all. no metal shavings. New gasket, new oil, and fresh coat of black paint on diff cover.
Noise reduced but problem not fixed. The rear pinion bearing is fried and its makeing a god awful grinding noise.. either the pinion bearing is bad or the axle bearings are bad.. i didnt have a chance to pull the rear axles out yet.
Mark
Dana 30 howling at 55 mph.
Since i belong to a club i asked if anyone had some spare axle bearings or wheel hubs depending on who you talk to,
I got some for $20 with rotors and lug nuts. great deal
Pulled the old ones off and realized they werent the issue.
When i pulled the axle shaft all the way out i found out the carrier bearings must be shot because the axle shafts had a deep grove where the bearing resides. Which would explain the howling noise.
I pulled the cover off and black oil poured out.
Brake cleaner inside diff, checked ring/pinion on visual, no chiping or broken spider teeth. Walmart sells 80w diff oil for 4$ a bottle.
Bought 4 bottles. 2 for front 2 for rear. Sanded down diff cover, bought a gasket from napa for 3$ and slapped it on .. filled it up with oil and let it sit in for a couple hours. Drove it and the noise was 40% better/ still there but i could listen to the radio now.
Oh and the previous owner stripped the break caliper bolts when putting in the brakes.. i m going to replace the axle later anyway. so it shouldnt bother too much.
Dana 44.
Pulled diff cover off. Black Chocolate poured out.. i mean Black and Thick!
Sprayed Brake cleaner, the whole bottle, check gears.teeth and all. no metal shavings. New gasket, new oil, and fresh coat of black paint on diff cover.
Noise reduced but problem not fixed. The rear pinion bearing is fried and its makeing a god awful grinding noise.. either the pinion bearing is bad or the axle bearings are bad.. i didnt have a chance to pull the rear axles out yet.
Mark
Trending Topics
04-14-2009, 10:28 PM
#8
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Muffler swap.
What do you do when your muffler and pipes rust out? normal people get new ones.. rigga's rig somethng different. How about this
A chevy Drive shaft with both ends cut then capped with holes and pipes welded to a 4" opening tube? Yep.. "thats all i had laying around my shop" said the previous owner.
I went to mom/pops muffler shop, got laughed at me and then they gave me Flowmaster 50 with new cat, for under $150.
SOLD!
the saga continues
Mark
What do you do when your muffler and pipes rust out? normal people get new ones.. rigga's rig somethng different. How about this
A chevy Drive shaft with both ends cut then capped with holes and pipes welded to a 4" opening tube? Yep.. "thats all i had laying around my shop" said the previous owner.
I went to mom/pops muffler shop, got laughed at me and then they gave me Flowmaster 50 with new cat, for under $150.
SOLD!
the saga continues
Mark
04-15-2009, 01:32 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Seems like your project is moving to the right track.
I'm imagining right now on how sweet that Laredo would be.
Lots of great deals you got their for this project.
I'll be watching this one. Gudluck!
I'm imagining right now on how sweet that Laredo would be.
Lots of great deals you got their for this project.
I'll be watching this one. Gudluck!
04-15-2009, 07:39 AM
#10
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Yeah.. considering im not a mechanic but someone willing to learn by trial and error, and the fact that its my 8th jeep, im starting to know what to do.
Found out why my jeep drinks from the bottle.... the water pump is leaking, not bad but its leaking,
Check out this video.. not the best acting but the info is really good!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60877915189818
So thats gona be a project coming up.
Mark
Found out why my jeep drinks from the bottle.... the water pump is leaking, not bad but its leaking,
Check out this video.. not the best acting but the info is really good!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60877915189818
So thats gona be a project coming up.
Mark
04-15-2009, 11:19 PM
#13
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
04-16-2009, 11:29 PM
#14
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
as promissed.. the 3" front "budget boost"
with the budget sway bar drop:
up close pic of the black rubicon rims:
more to come.
Mark
with the budget sway bar drop:
up close pic of the black rubicon rims:
more to come.
Mark
