Scorpion8

Just got it, the one I've been searching and posting about. 1998 Cherokee 4.0 ATX that will be the winter refurb project and slow progressive build. Sheet metal has all been replaced, there's a ding in the L rear corner, and the air bag circuitry ist kaput. I'm thinking of a small life 2-3", better tires, and perhaps a stroker build off the 4.0L a la' Trucks! Cheep Cherokee. Better bumpers, of course too.

JakeWI

nice. a stroker with that size lift would be a great streetable jeep!

Destination XJ

Awesome jeep, good luck in your venture!

THENNING

cant wait to see the build for this one! good luck

Scorpion8

Thanks all. My biggest drawback is the lack of junkyards in this town. We crush all the junkers and ship them south for metal recycling. So finding parts or a XJ being parted-out is almost non-existent. Our body shops usually keep a few junkers, but mainly because they think they can fix them and resell them so they won't sell parts off them. I do make frequent business trips North to Anchorage where (luckily!) junkyards still exist so I can haul some stuff back and forth. And I'll be using the classifieds on here quite a LOT.

Scorpion8

Speaking of .... the ding guards/rock guards. Do they have a special name? I don't find them on the parts places and of course eventually I'd like them to match the thicker ones instead of the thin-line-style on the body. I like the type on the front quarter-panel better.

JakeWI

wow. completely spaced. I didnt even notice the front end was the older XJ style. I honestly dont know what those are exactly called. Good luck finding some. I would think someone on here would rip them off their rig and ship them. If I had some laying around I was just give them to you!

Scorpion8

Yea, vehicle is a 98, but the previous owner (claims) used a rear-ended 93 to replace the front sheet metal on the front-dinged 98. Can someone confirm that the front end is 93-specific so I can move on to get turn signals, etc?

Scorpion8

Well, got the passenger side airbag replaced with a good one, and on order or on-the-way are the airbag control unit, and the clockspring. I got the driver's airbag removed, and the clockspring looked to be in bad shape so it's gonna get replaced before I slap a new airbag in there.

Regarding the airbag controller, the Haynes manual says it is "either under the driver's seat or under the center console". There's a spot under my driver's seat, but there's no control unit there. And no wires leading to what I would believe would go to it. Can anyone confirm if it goes under the seat, or under the center console?

I also got the front end grille rebuilt, and a fan shroud put onto the mechanical fan. My electric supplemental fan is gone, so one of those will have to be obtained IFF I get the engine running again.

bikerider

That's the first time I've ever seen somebody put an older front end on a Newer Cherokee.

Scorpion8

Front end was wrecked, which is why I'm having airbag issues. besides, I like the look of the pre-96 front end over the 98+'s the way the side marker lights are carried, etc.

Anybody got that air bag ECU info above?