first day... Oh no or Hell yeah?
 

All:

I am glad to join a resource I have been using for quite some time... SO I FINALLY bought a jeep. Since I was 12, all I wanted was a CJ7. It was the first thing I ever drove and I went over 85mph (Jeep Renegade 86; straight roads in SC @ 12; I have a photo of our departure)... Enough with the history. Now 24 years later, I bought an XJ... the why is easy, I have 2 dogs and an open roof is a no go. That said, I purchased a 1999 Cherokee Sport 4 Door 4L. Body is sweet! Only 104K. 8.25 Chrysler RA (stock tow package). Stock rims, crap wheels. Can you believe, newer front brakes and someone recently replaced rear drums; maybe 15k on them (today {first day with it} I took off a front and a rear tire to see what I was working with... shocked with what I found!!).. paid 2100.

There is an an oil leak from the head gasket.. so that has to be addressed. so I know what lift I want (4.5 rough country, CV drive shaft, and SYE) and I know what size wheels and rims I want, (33 inch; yes I will be doing a little trimming), I gotta replace the entire exhaust (have not found a leak in the manifold, but I have a pretty good idea that it needs to be replaced, and with the head gasket work....I think it will be only prudent that it gets replaced.)... my question...

I have no weird noises, no big leaks (just the head gasket), a new gas tank (plastic; mounted oddly), not a single good bushing (everything is dead, none have been touched), dead rusted exhaust, a leaky head gasket, and new brakes... Do you think that I ended up with a partial build? Did I miss something? I expected completely dead brakes (not to sound unhappy; but I am worried that the engine is fried)! Do you think that someone opened the header and said, "Oh no... For sale." I went through 3 months of research and test drives, looking at tons of 1997-2001 XJ's. I really thought I at least would not get surprised. I passed on so many XJ's, for a variety of reasons... what have I missed? or should I be happy, continue with my build, and wait to find out when I replace the head gasket?

thanks!

Boomsticktmo

BTW

The only reason I bought a XJ is this site... THANKS!

Perfect color. Its 14 years old, expect some issues. Old jeep is old. Make sure its not actually the valve cover that's leaking oil

color is perfect... i was floored when I got to see the body. Straight as an arrow... just a few scratches on the lid, but otherwise amazing. clearly, for a great deal of time, this Jeep was well cared for... But I am thinking that some time ago, the level of care fell off. It has early rust on the rear axle and underneath the rear passenger foot wells (I am hoping to address the slight rust with some brushes and paint this weekend)... Thinking it had flats in a damp location... lots of stock parts, but the gas tank and the brakes have thrown me off... I have a leak from the gas tank (from the area around the filter), but it looks like a vent line is rusted solid (so, its on the list, I am thinking that there might be a hole in the line or a clog causing back flow (complete guess, I have not searched gas vent lines yet)... right along side two semi new lines... please take into consideration, I am learning on the go... and this site and the internet are my resources. But changing gears...

If it is just the valve cover gasket, that would be sweet! But, if you are going to replace the gas tank, the rear drum brakes, and put new shoes and rotors on the front, would you not replace the valve cover gasket when you see a leak?

Sorry, back on topic...

Valve cover gasket looks to be relatively easy to replace... should I take the extra time and go ahead and replace manifold (cracked or not)? then put 150 hard miles on it before the lift? see if I have any new leaks?

THIS WILL NOT BE A DONOR CAR! IT HAS 150K LEFT, regardless of cost... She is far to pretty. :) Thanks for any ideas, new concerns!