Body Repair: Front Fender and Grill Header 94'Cherokee.
12-02-2008, 08:33 AM
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Body Repair: Front Fender and Grill Header 94'Cherokee.
I'm new to the forum here and am looking for any help possible in trying to repair my beloved 94' Cherokee. She has 160,000 miles, 5-speed and is a 4x2. Everything works great on the Jeep and I don't want to scrap it so I'm going to attempt repairing the body damage myself.
If anybody has any experience or tips regarding my type of repair I would love to hear your thoughts. I'm including 2 pictures of my damage in the attachments.
If anybody has any experience or tips regarding my type of repair I would love to hear your thoughts. I'm including 2 pictures of my damage in the attachments.
12-02-2008, 08:53 AM
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Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: l6 HO
Hi and welcome to CF. I'm not a body guy but I can tell you that eBay has headers for $29 for your jeep, here is the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...%3AIT&viewitem= I bought one from this seller because the old owner cut mine to get into the hood when the cable broke...Tj
12-02-2008, 09:01 AM
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Hi and welcome to CF. I'm not a body guy but I can tell you that eBay has headers for $29 for your jeep, here is the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...%3AIT&viewitem= I bought one from this seller because the old owner cut mine to get into the hood when the cable broke...Tj
12-02-2008, 09:08 AM
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Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: l6 HO
I just did some sanding before I primed it and it came out Great and for less than half the price. I guess it would be how much you have to spend in the decision on where to get one, in my case I went for eBay...Tj
12-02-2008, 09:17 AM
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Year: 1987
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING HERE, opps caps...
http://www.pershingauto.com/19842001...ot-grand-.html
http://www.pershingauto.com/19842001...ot-grand-.html
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12-03-2008, 04:14 PM
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Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
even with cruise control, you still need to steer
Check out salvage yards, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I bet you'll find a spare part, and another two in case you mess up the first one.
The XJ's design is cookie-cuttertastic.
even with cruise control, you still need to steer
Check out salvage yards, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I bet you'll find a spare part, and another two in case you mess up the first one.
The XJ's design is cookie-cuttertastic.
12-03-2008, 05:04 PM
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Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Looks like a pretty easy fix. Just check and see if the upper rail is bent at all when you take off that fender. If it is, it'll make aligning the new fender a pain in the ***.
12-03-2008, 07:20 PM
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Thanks again for the tips.
12-04-2008, 01:00 AM
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Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
It has a small bend in the rail... I have an airline mechanic friend who's going to give me a hand this weekend, I'm feeling confident it will come out ok. My local salvadge yard has 7 Cherokees... Hoping one is the same color, if so my repair costs might be less than $75.00 and a 12-pack
Thanks again for the tips.
Thanks again for the tips.
12-04-2008, 01:10 AM
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Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
well, get a header panel from a junkyard...cheap, and it will have all the parts which got broke in the accident.
judging from the pic, I'd say the impact was above the bumper...this is good. your frame rail isn't bent or collapsed then, and you shouldn't have developed any week points near the steering box (Xj's need all the strength they can get in that department. don't fret, this is probably nothing you need to concern yourself about)
the inner fender is probably pretty bent up...any chance you can give us a pic of the inside of the front left corner of your engine bay? I'd like to see how crumpled up it is before I give you a full opinion.
I had a similar accident on my 87 MJ, though I got it after they covered it up with new body panels. the best answer was to drill out spot welds and replace the damaged section, but I didn't have time. so, I got out the torch, a slide hammer, and a few BFH's and just had at her until it was pretty straight, then welded up the broken pinch welds...it's not pretty under there, but it gets the job done until I tear the motor and such out in the next few weeks.
it's a straightforward fix, and there's no need for "professional help"
remember, beer is liquid courage, so don't be discouraged. have at 'er, but leave the keys in the house
judging from the pic, I'd say the impact was above the bumper...this is good. your frame rail isn't bent or collapsed then, and you shouldn't have developed any week points near the steering box (Xj's need all the strength they can get in that department. don't fret, this is probably nothing you need to concern yourself about)
the inner fender is probably pretty bent up...any chance you can give us a pic of the inside of the front left corner of your engine bay? I'd like to see how crumpled up it is before I give you a full opinion.
I had a similar accident on my 87 MJ, though I got it after they covered it up with new body panels. the best answer was to drill out spot welds and replace the damaged section, but I didn't have time. so, I got out the torch, a slide hammer, and a few BFH's and just had at her until it was pretty straight, then welded up the broken pinch welds...it's not pretty under there, but it gets the job done until I tear the motor and such out in the next few weeks.
it's a straightforward fix, and there's no need for "professional help"
remember, beer is liquid courage, so don't be discouraged. have at 'er, but leave the keys in the house
12-04-2008, 01:20 AM
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Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
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Your XJ can take a punishment, don't be afraid to get a little (carefully) violent with it if the part isn't quite doing what you want it to. As with all things jeepin and otherwise: think, solve.
*Slaps roof* P'diddle!
12-04-2008, 06:59 AM
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12-04-2008, 07:07 AM
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well, get a header panel from a junkyard...cheap, and it will have all the parts which got broke in the accident.
judging from the pic, I'd say the impact was above the bumper...this is good. your frame rail isn't bent or collapsed then, and you shouldn't have developed any week points near the steering box (Xj's need all the strength they can get in that department. don't fret, this is probably nothing you need to concern yourself about)
the inner fender is probably pretty bent up...any chance you can give us a pic of the inside of the front left corner of your engine bay? I'd like to see how crumpled up it is before I give you a full opinion.
I had a similar accident on my 87 MJ, though I got it after they covered it up with new body panels. the best answer was to drill out spot welds and replace the damaged section, but I didn't have time. so, I got out the torch, a slide hammer, and a few BFH's and just had at her until it was pretty straight, then welded up the broken pinch welds...it's not pretty under there, but it gets the job done until I tear the motor and such out in the next few weeks.
it's a straightforward fix, and there's no need for "professional help"
remember, beer is liquid courage, so don't be discouraged. have at 'er, but leave the keys in the house
judging from the pic, I'd say the impact was above the bumper...this is good. your frame rail isn't bent or collapsed then, and you shouldn't have developed any week points near the steering box (Xj's need all the strength they can get in that department. don't fret, this is probably nothing you need to concern yourself about)
the inner fender is probably pretty bent up...any chance you can give us a pic of the inside of the front left corner of your engine bay? I'd like to see how crumpled up it is before I give you a full opinion.
I had a similar accident on my 87 MJ, though I got it after they covered it up with new body panels. the best answer was to drill out spot welds and replace the damaged section, but I didn't have time. so, I got out the torch, a slide hammer, and a few BFH's and just had at her until it was pretty straight, then welded up the broken pinch welds...it's not pretty under there, but it gets the job done until I tear the motor and such out in the next few weeks.
it's a straightforward fix, and there's no need for "professional help"
remember, beer is liquid courage, so don't be discouraged. have at 'er, but leave the keys in the house
Under the front fender there is a slight bend in the rail (no camera at work, I'll post a picture later), it looks like it will be fairly easy to bend back without too much fussing. It's maybe a 15 degree single bend, a rubber hammer should get it close.
Looking at the front end I keep getting the feeling that replacing the panels will be easy, but I don't want to take it lightly. My main mission at this point is to get a headlight in there and some straight panels.
Thankfully I have been able to sucker some people over to the house on Sunday... It goes like this "hey, come on over Sunday for the Dolphin game, I've got beer and wings and uh, bring your tools too".