jay_sco

As you can tell, naming build threads isn't my strong point. However, I'm slightly better with a wrench than with names so this may turn out decent after all.
Now then, the mandatory background info (abridged version)...always wanted a Cherokee, as long as I can remember. Memory is bad so we'll just call it 20 years. After life generaly ****-blocking me forever, the planets have aligned, sky has opened up, and the Jeep Gods have smiled upon this bastard's soul.
Specs: 1994 SE, AW4, 231, 4.0, 240k miles. Leaks, needs work, but runs and drives great!
Does anyone care about words? Probably not...let's have some pics!
Here is Jeep all cozy in the car house:

Here is the rust prevention coating:

More:

More:

Here is stuff to clean the gunk and to prevent future gunk:


I was going to just drive it as-is and fix it up here and there.. LOL! Who was I kidding?! I brought it home Monday, by Friday I had ordered a 3" lift kit, brake lines, steering stabilizer, window strip, and something else I'm sure. I should be getting a nice delivery in a few days. Now how to spin this one to the wife? Safety! Yeah, that's it. Can't be driving the kids in a beater with 20yr old suspension components!
More to come soon.

Lake00XJ

Looks good. Xjs are a lot of fun. Good luck with the build!

XJlimitedx99

Hahah I got a good laugh out of this post. Congrats on the jeep, can't wait to see where this one goes.

jay_sco

Stopped by a Jeep mechanic/dismantler/fix-it-up type shop place to grab a seat belt buckle replacement and decided to check their wheel selection. I was hoping for some Ravine wheels, but they seem to be slightly rarer and more expensive than other take-offs. They did have a set of 15x8 Canyons though, my second choice. Yes, I got them.

jay_sco

Cruising the interwebz flea market I found an ad for "new" 31x10.5 General Grabber Red Letters, for a stupid low price. "Yeah right", I thought; well they're somewhat local so I'll check them out anyway. Loaded them up ASAP! $400 (for all 4), you can hate me now.

My son approves of the purchase. Sitting at the tire shop getting them mounted right now. The tire guy asks if I want red or black facing out. Red of course! Makes the Jeep faster, right?!

XJPat

Man I'm jealous, great find on those tires.

jay_sco

I lucked out when I found those. I seriously thought I was going to be forced into some used crap with my shoestring budget. Here's how they look mounted on the Canyon, next to Jeep for future reference.

jay_sco

Happy happy joy joy! Some items arrived today, hopefully I'll get time this weekend to fiddle-fart around with this thing.

jay_sco

Did my part to deplete the ozone by using 3 cans of the oven cleaner on the underside. Luckily it's 99 cent store brand so when the wind blew it straight in my face/eyes it only burnt slightly. Somewhat cleaner now, compare to the pics in post 1.

Ready to get **** done tomorrow. Don't really like the jack stand placement, note the stacked tires underneath too. I'll burn my face, not fond of 3,000lbs of jeep on my face.

jay_sco

Little update. Got the old suspension off, the only bolt that gave me trouble was one of the body mounts for the rear sway bar. Cut it off, don't plan on running the rear sway anyway. Trying to get my 12yr old interested so I let him take charge of the impact to remove all the fasteners.
Tomorrow I'll install the rear suspension. I'll leave the front axle dropped till I replace the rear main seal, hopefully that will be done tomorrow too.

jay_sco

Ok, got the rear tied together. Pretty straightforward.

Started on the rear main and came across a scored bearing surface.

Quickly assessed the situation and opted to reuse it. Anyway, new rear main seal, new oil pan gasket. That takes care of the bottom end. I want to wrap up the suspension then I'll do the valve cover gasket too.

I know, this should have been a 1 day job, and we are closing day 3. The spousal unit has a broken foot, and PMS, and I'm cleaning crap as I go. She pestered me about parking her new ride in the garage, yet doesn't want me to spend any time fixing Jeep to make room. Go figure, I'll just keep doing all I can to **** her off.
Almost forgot, saw a crack in the exhaust manifold near the collector, and it looks like the entire exhaust was pieced together in 4 phases, none of them really well done. I think the whole thing would make good scrap.

jay_sco

And just like that, it's done!


Of course I'm not serious about it being done. Still need to bleed the brakes, probably tomorrow. And the track bar doesn't line up, reading other posts it looks like it's hit or miss with a 3" and reusing the stock track bar, this one is a miss. I'm not going to drill a new hole, and not cheaping out on a bracket. I'll splurge on an adjustable one.
And I'm using "done" as relative to the lift, not the Jeep. I'm already eyeballing some Spartan Locker sweetness. Even though it's not a dedicated trail rig it'll be more capable than the average mall-crawler.

jay_sco

It's official. I have now spent more on parts than I paid for the Jeep, boy, that didn't take long.
IRO double shear track bar kit and JKS quick disconnects have been ordered.

jay_sco

Spent a couple minutes out in the garage staring at Jeep and 4-wheel dreamin', waiting for my latest order to arrive.
I noticed Jeep was avoiding eye contact, looked guilty. I guess it's my fault for keeping it indoors for so long, so it piddled on the floor.

Tranny fluid, dripping onto and off of the crossmember. Not bad really, pic makes it look larger, plus residual greaseballs from my cleaning mission. Can't tell exactly where it's coming from. Hoping it's something simple. I need to check the torque on the pan bolts. From my understanding the factory used orange RTV, it currently has a black rubber gasket, so maybe the PO just didn't tighten correctly? We'll see.

88whitecomanche

Looking good!!!
Small lift yet simple....great deal on the tires! I love getting deals on jeep parts...