Bought a wrecked XJ. Need help.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, Va
Model: Cherokee
Hi there people,
I bought a wrecked XJ from my work for 600 bucks. It runs and drives fine and it has the ax-15 trans and ****ty 3.07 gears. Blah.
Anyway, it got hit in the front. I'm looking to fix it and make it a beater. Trying to keep the miles off my Evo. lol
I need to know if any year xj hood will work and same goes for the driver side door, will any year xj door shell work as long I swap my components over?
Am I better off swapping whole axle assy or just find me a axle housing? I do not know how to set gears.






I bought a wrecked XJ from my work for 600 bucks. It runs and drives fine and it has the ax-15 trans and ****ty 3.07 gears. Blah.
Anyway, it got hit in the front. I'm looking to fix it and make it a beater. Trying to keep the miles off my Evo. lol
I need to know if any year xj hood will work and same goes for the driver side door, will any year xj door shell work as long I swap my components over?
Am I better off swapping whole axle assy or just find me a axle housing? I do not know how to set gears.






Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 918
Likes: 6
From: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Assuming you want every thing to look right and line-up (once you straighten the inner fender/upper rail) you want to look for 97-01 parts. Any year parts will bolt up but changes were made in 97 so 96 and older fenders won't line up correctly with the grill and header panel, and pre-96 doors have wing windows and different mirrors so they won't match the other door. I believe the hood did not change and you can use any year but an not 100% sure on that, I definitely know a 97-01 hood will work.
For the axle look for a complete assembly, I doubt a yard would sell a housing separately anyhow and Dana 30s are cheap. 3.07 gears aren't as easy to find as 3.55 but they shouldn't be too difficult to find. Since you are replacing it anyway you may want to look for one from a 99 or earlier. 99 and older had the HP (High-Pinion) Dana 30, 00-01 had the LP (Low-Pinion) Dana 30, the HP is better if you ever want to lift it.
For the axle look for a complete assembly, I doubt a yard would sell a housing separately anyhow and Dana 30s are cheap. 3.07 gears aren't as easy to find as 3.55 but they shouldn't be too difficult to find. Since you are replacing it anyway you may want to look for one from a 99 or earlier. 99 and older had the HP (High-Pinion) Dana 30, 00-01 had the LP (Low-Pinion) Dana 30, the HP is better if you ever want to lift it.
Last edited by dmill89; Dec 21, 2013 at 08:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, Va
Model: Cherokee
Thanks,
Well, I'm planning to still use 97-01 header panel and fender, no doubt. reason why I ask about pre 96 because local junk yard have plenty of them. I was trying to see if a hood, driver door will bolt up. I plan to swap my driver door parts over to the new door.
I'm already having issues finding a 3.07 axle. Some tell me it not worth keeping the 3.07. I wonder why when it will be stock after all the repairs. I'm also keeping the HP axle. I hate the LP. swapping front and rear axle sounds like a big headache.
Well, I'm planning to still use 97-01 header panel and fender, no doubt. reason why I ask about pre 96 because local junk yard have plenty of them. I was trying to see if a hood, driver door will bolt up. I plan to swap my driver door parts over to the new door.
I'm already having issues finding a 3.07 axle. Some tell me it not worth keeping the 3.07. I wonder why when it will be stock after all the repairs. I'm also keeping the HP axle. I hate the LP. swapping front and rear axle sounds like a big headache.
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 2
From: Roanoke, VA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks,
Well, I'm planning to still use 97-01 header panel and fender, no doubt. reason why I ask about pre 96 because local junk yard have plenty of them. I was trying to see if a hood, driver door will bolt up. I plan to swap my driver door parts over to the new door.
I'm already having issues finding a 3.07 axle. Some tell me it not worth keeping the 3.07. I wonder why when it will be stock after all the repairs. I'm also keeping the HP axle. I hate the LP. swapping front and rear axle sounds like a big headache.
Well, I'm planning to still use 97-01 header panel and fender, no doubt. reason why I ask about pre 96 because local junk yard have plenty of them. I was trying to see if a hood, driver door will bolt up. I plan to swap my driver door parts over to the new door.
I'm already having issues finding a 3.07 axle. Some tell me it not worth keeping the 3.07. I wonder why when it will be stock after all the repairs. I'm also keeping the HP axle. I hate the LP. swapping front and rear axle sounds like a big headache.
then you can be over geared and do burnouts!Jk, but really, if you wanted to throw a set of like 32s or somethin on it to look cool, the 3.55 axles would be met perfect methinks? I'm on mobile so I can't use the gear calc
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, Va
Model: Cherokee
Anyone have experience of ebay or aftermarket header panel? Like this one specific. Good price but how the fitment? It comes with 8 pieces and good time to replace it all.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-01-00-99-98-JEEP-CHEROKEE-GRILLE-BLACK-HEADER-PANEL-/170567029176?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AJeep%7CModel%3ACherokee&hash=item27b69651b8&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-01-00-99-98-JEEP-CHEROKEE-GRILLE-BLACK-HEADER-PANEL-/170567029176?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AJeep%7CModel%3ACherokee&hash=item27b69651b8&vxp=mtr
Trending Topics
Are you planning on off-roading it? If not, You can probably find a Dana 35 w/ 3.55 gears for free/dirt cheap from people who upgraded their offroad rigs. When I replace mine, I plan on selling it on the cheap. edit: That is, if you are trying to go to 3.55 gearing on the front axle, and wanted to get a matching rear.
Also post dat evo
Also post dat evo
Last edited by kgm; Dec 21, 2013 at 10:35 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 3
From: Canton, GA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
What are you planning on doing w/ that inner fender? Your sig says you work for an auto body/paint shop, does that mean you have access to equipment to straighten stuff out? You have a good bit of work ahead of you. Rockers are messed up, it looks like.
Doors from pre-97s have different hinges. It'll fit, but you'll have to swap the hinges out. The mirrors are different. Fender should bolt on, but the lines are a tiny bit different. Same for the hood. I'd say if you used a 97+ header panel and pre 97 hood/fenders, 99% of people wouldn't be able to tell a difference. You could probably get away with the pre 97 doors, too, as long as you bolted on the 97+ mirrors. However, I doubt the door panel would go right on.
As other people have said, the gear ratio you have is for manual transmissions only... what I would do is pick up a d30 and an 8.25 from a 97+ XJ.
Doors from pre-97s have different hinges. It'll fit, but you'll have to swap the hinges out. The mirrors are different. Fender should bolt on, but the lines are a tiny bit different. Same for the hood. I'd say if you used a 97+ header panel and pre 97 hood/fenders, 99% of people wouldn't be able to tell a difference. You could probably get away with the pre 97 doors, too, as long as you bolted on the 97+ mirrors. However, I doubt the door panel would go right on.
As other people have said, the gear ratio you have is for manual transmissions only... what I would do is pick up a d30 and an 8.25 from a 97+ XJ.
if the inner fender/upper rail is bent far beyond recognition, how can i swap the part can i cut out the inner fender from another xj?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 918
Likes: 6
From: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Yep, you can cut a section out of a donor and weld it in. Make sure the welds are good, the lower (main) rail takes most of the load but the upper rail/inner fender does provide some support to the shock/spring mounts.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: shebly twp mich
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MidwestNick
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
10
Feb 28, 2016 02:05 AM
Jeepy11
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
2
Sep 3, 2015 09:32 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)



