Hey Everyone!

Alright I need some help.

I'm new to Jeeps. I'm a Ford guy.

I own a 2002 Ford Mustang GT that's my Daily Driver. Mustang's and Ford's are my specialty, as I also work at a Ford dealership here in Colorado. But Mustangs suck in snow and so it came time to get a 4x4 as a second car.

My Fiancee and I bought a 1990 Jeep Cherokee Laredo from a buddy of mine this afternoon. He was just looking to get rid of it because he's moving to New York so he sold it to us for $300.

Here's the breakdown.
1990 Cherokee Laredo 4x4
149,565 miles
Engine runs great
Paint is TERRIBLY oxidized.
Needs tires.
There is a slight clicking/shutter from the undercarriage that feels like its coming from the rear axle as you let off the accelerator and get back on it over 30 mph. I haven't quite figured it out yet though as to what could be causing that. I've got a few ideas but nothing definite yet.
SUPER loose steering column (read a how-to on that already from these forums and will be taking care of that Sunday morning)
Missing wedge window on the passenger side.
Rear View Mirror is missing.
And the back hatch won't stay up.

But honestly...I got the car for $300. It only has 149k on it. I'm not complaining at all. This car is going to be my new weekend project and snow driver. Then come spring, my "lets go to the most remote camping spot in Estes Park we can" car.

Since it's a project car functionality comes first. First is a set tires. I've heard 30 950 15 is the biggest you can go on there. Any suggestions for tires? Then I'll fix the steering column, change the oil, throw it up on a lift and all of that this weekend so I can have a better look

Any ideas on that shuttering? Anyone have the same issues in their Cherokees?

Next: paint.

Do I rattle can it or just sand it down, throw a $200 macco job on their till i've got some cash, or do a $75 at home rustoleum paint job. I'm strapped for cash at the moment (getting my teaching degree in college...just paid tuition ) and need something that'll just look good for the next two years.

Notice the back hatch is still in great shape....???? Is that normal?

Anything I mentioned above thats wrong with the car, if you can help on telling me how to fix it or how best to maintain these 4.0's that would be awesome. They are amazing motors and I was excited to buy a Jeep with one.

Mostly I need help with paint, the shutter issue, the steering column, and suggestions as to where I can get a new wedge window.

Thanks guys!

 

first i would get a 2" shackle a 2" spacer kit then throw some 31's on there. also the paint...leave it, its a jeep! but the clicking can be back. i would jack up the rear, pop the cover and spin the tires to see if there is anything wrong back there or of it is just a low brake pad making that stupid noise. good buy and welcome to the forum. good to have you, now lets talk about that other problem you have, u said you drive a mustang...lol just messing with you. i am a jeep and GM guy my whole life so a little fun cant hurt. my second car is a cammed 99 Trans Am WS6. i gave up on mustangs when my old 5.0 tried to kill me and my little brother, twice.

 

Ouch! hahaha. I love my Mustang man. It's been so good to me. 102k miles and running stronger in many ways than it did when it was new (unfortunately not the original owner...but I've had it a while and put a ton of miles on it). You MUST drive the new 5.0 though. It'll blow your mind and exceed any previous notions you had about Mustang being an actual sports car and not just a muscle car. The new 2011 is the best muscle car on the market and definitely walks right into the sports car territory.

And yeah, tires and spacers are a must. So thanks! Are there any tires to avoid for snow? It should snow here in Greeley in...oh...a week and half or so. Again...I'm used to buying stuff like Drag Radials and High Performance street tires. Off-Road vehicles are new to me. This is the first SUV I've ever owned. MazdaSpeed6 and then my Mustang.

I would like to restore the Jeep a bit though, like I said about it being a project car. So the paint is something I want to look somewhat decent until I have money to actually do it right.

And yeah, I need to throw this sucker up on a lift and figure out what that clicking noise/ shutter is. It only happens when you let off the accelerator, and then when you get back on it.

and thank you for the welcome! I appreciate that a bunch.

 

yea the new 5.0's got some *****, they put up a better fight then the gt500's do! but it is still no match for my car. i took the first one i ever raced by 4 cars at the 1/4 mile. but i run an average 11.1 with a best time of 10.973 @ 131mph. but i didn't run the 10, my brother did. i did all this cam only with bolt on's and a 6-speed! so i am looking forward to a modded 5.0's in the near future! but yea i usually just drive around on drag radials down here in San Diego CA but i move to Washington state in 2 months, guess i better swap them tires out!

on a side note, you can get any spacer off like eBay or something, but just make sure you use your rubber spring isolator along with it or it will squeak like a little red wagon you pulled as a kid. also, NEVER EVER use blocks. blocks are a cheap way to lift but horrible for offroad as they pose the threat of breaking your u-bolts easier and wrapping your axle. you can use any shackle you want, but an add-a leaf will help a lot. just go to a junkyard and pick up a leaf pack from a jeep and take the top two leafs and separate them and put them on your leafs. you could always just sand down your jeep and primer it with some spray primer. use 120 grit to sand before primer, then sand the primer with 320, then paint. nice even strokes and you should be good. good luck with your build, just remember to make a build thread, cause that is what everyone else is doing (peer pressure peer pressure!!!!)

 

Welcome to CF! Looks like a good first XJ you picked up, especially for the price. So to answer your questions:
1. Paint - what trans_am said is perfect. Just make sure you do nice even spray coats to keep it from running. Also, work from the top down. Just to play it safe, I'd throw a light clear coat on top of it, just to keep it from fading real quick. Even though you'll be getting a better paint job later, this will make your spray job look better.
2. Tires - First, like trans_am said, a simple 2" spacer and shackle budget boost lift will cost you about $120 new and it's easy to install yourself. I'd recommend either Rough Country or Rusty's Offroad over eBay just for knowing where it's come from. This will let you run 31x10.5's, but you may get some rubbing on the lower control arms at full lock. If you don't lift it at all, 30x9.50's will fit without rubbing. Whichever size you get, your stock rims will fit up to a 31x10.5, but you'll probably need spacers to keep from rubbing at full lock with 31's. Easiest way to fix this is to get some 1.25" wheel spacers from Spidertrax.They're the best quality and this is an area you don't want to go cheap. The other option is to buy new rims with 3.75" back spacing. As for tires themselves, for a DD, I'd recommend either a BFG All Terrain or a General Grabber All Terrain. Their pretty much the same tire, but the General is about $20 cheaper. They're great on the road, will last forever (my last set of BFG's went 47k with a mix of DD and regular offroading), and give a good amount of grip in the snow, dirt, and rocks. Their one downfall is mud. They pack quick and don't clean themselves out well. If you're looking for more offroad traction, I'd go with with a BFG M/T or a Yokohama Geolander M/T. These are both great Mud Terrain tires and you can get a set of either off Tirerack.com for about $600.
3. The shudder/clicking - Since it's only happening when you let off the throttle, I'd recommend checking the rear drive-shaft u-joints. Mine was doing the same and this fixed it.
4. Steering column - Great job using the search function on here!
5. The vent window - Junk yard. If you don't have one near you, get 25 posts, go to the for sale section on here and find someone parting out a 84-96.
6. Rear view mirror - either the JY or your local parts store.
7. The rear hatch - You need to get new struts for it. Try the JY, parts store, or the for sale section.

Good luck with the build and keep us up to date!

 

Paint doesnt "oxidize". The paint is fine, just your clearcoat is gone. Wet sand it and apply a new clearcoat.

 

this is my firstposting on here signed because i bought a 96 xj, a few days ago.talking to people on the net is also new to me so forgive my (naiveness?). i had a 05 wrangler a couple years ago could'nt keep it too many kids (5). yes i know what causes that. any way this 96 xj had slight front end damaged getting a new rad, condensor fan marker lights for now just to get her road worthy again. the rad is a cfs 2 row all metal and fan is a dorman it looks alot like the ones on the 80ish xj's. does anyone forsee any problems with the parts ive selected? oh and i also dig fords worked for classic mustang parts back home for a while. like the jeep looks good. i will post some pics as soon as i figure how

 

149k on that engine!?! Oh man, be prepaired to replace it in another 200 thousand miles! Oh, and more bad news, once you get all of the little things fixed and start driving the Jeep more often, you will sell the Mustang because you'll never want to drive it again. You will fall in love with the Cherokee and find out just how rugged they are, then you will be hooked and start doing all kinds of mods, spending days at a time working on making the perfect off road machine. The UPS guy will become your best friend. You will sit and stare out the window, looking at the Cherokee the same way a pervert stares at hot co-eds. You will explore all of those dirt roads that you have always wondered about. You're about to be sick with a case of XJ fever, you're in for it now sucker.

 

sad but true isn't? My 1948 Chevrolet p/u is sitting still for the last two years because of my jeep. Also... you just need clear coat. Do what the other poster recommended for the clear coat and it will last a while longer. Best of luck with your new addiction to cherokee's.