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XJ Ask the Question Thread
CF Veteran

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 0
From: Chickamauga Ga.
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Year: '99 and '91
Model: Cherokee
Alright.
I got some ideas stirring in my brain... and if I find some XJs at the right price, I might under take this project.
Basically it would be the rear of a 2dr xj (the front seat back), atached to the front of another 4door xj.
Effectively making a 3row long XJ, where the front seats of the 2 door would be the 2nd row of seating (they'd fold down) and the rear seats would be the 3rd row.
I've thought about it before. To make it all look right, I'd need to slice the 2drs doors in half, and mate them to the other half of the 4doors rear doors so the door seam is straight, not curverd like normal 4 door rears.
I know it wouldn't be easy. Besides the fab and body work. There's also all the fuel and brake lines. The driveshafts. That doesn't really bother me. Wiring is probably what I'd have the most trouble with. If I sit down and write out a plan, I'd probably find more things that'd need adressed.
What are your guys' thoughts? Also, could someone PLEASE photochop me a pic of what the end result would be?
I got some ideas stirring in my brain... and if I find some XJs at the right price, I might under take this project.
Basically it would be the rear of a 2dr xj (the front seat back), atached to the front of another 4door xj.
Effectively making a 3row long XJ, where the front seats of the 2 door would be the 2nd row of seating (they'd fold down) and the rear seats would be the 3rd row.
I've thought about it before. To make it all look right, I'd need to slice the 2drs doors in half, and mate them to the other half of the 4doors rear doors so the door seam is straight, not curverd like normal 4 door rears.
I know it wouldn't be easy. Besides the fab and body work. There's also all the fuel and brake lines. The driveshafts. That doesn't really bother me. Wiring is probably what I'd have the most trouble with. If I sit down and write out a plan, I'd probably find more things that'd need adressed.
What are your guys' thoughts? Also, could someone PLEASE photochop me a pic of what the end result would be?
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 2
From: Glendale,Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l 6Cyl
Mines a 91, it has one. Maybe they stopped half way thru, or didn't start til 92, dunno.
From my experience with it, I kept it in sport, because that's where it was when I bought it. One day I was driving and it took like 5 mins (ok, it was like 10secs, but it felt like 5 mins lol) to shift. Kept doing it, and downshifts were weird. I thought for sure my trans was shot... looked down, my knee had hit the switch to comfort.
I don't think it changes shift points, I think it might change how quick it shifts. Or maybe mine was ****ed. Either way, I'm gonna find a way to remove it and put another light switch where it was.
In comfort it shifts sooner at lower rpm to drove casual, not jerk and stay in the gear to higher rpms. When not on the pedal or needing the extra power thats when it shifts to a cruising gear.
You get better gas mileage in power mode btw.
CF Veteran

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 0
From: Chickamauga Ga.
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Alright.
I got some ideas stirring in my brain... and if I find some XJs at the right price, I might under take this project.
Basically it would be the rear of a 2dr xj (the front seat back), atached to the front of another 4door xj.
Effectively making a 3row long XJ, where the front seats of the 2 door would be the 2nd row of seating (they'd fold down) and the rear seats would be the 3rd row.
I've thought about it before. To make it all look right, I'd need to slice the 2drs doors in half, and mate them to the other half of the 4doors rear doors so the door seam is straight, not curverd like normal 4 door rears.
I know it wouldn't be easy. Besides the fab and body work. There's also all the fuel and brake lines. The driveshafts. That doesn't really bother me. Wiring is probably what I'd have the most trouble with. If I sit down and write out a plan, I'd probably find more things that'd need adressed.
What are your guys' thoughts? Also, could someone PLEASE photochop me a pic of what the end result would be?
I got some ideas stirring in my brain... and if I find some XJs at the right price, I might under take this project.
Basically it would be the rear of a 2dr xj (the front seat back), atached to the front of another 4door xj.
Effectively making a 3row long XJ, where the front seats of the 2 door would be the 2nd row of seating (they'd fold down) and the rear seats would be the 3rd row.
I've thought about it before. To make it all look right, I'd need to slice the 2drs doors in half, and mate them to the other half of the 4doors rear doors so the door seam is straight, not curverd like normal 4 door rears.
I know it wouldn't be easy. Besides the fab and body work. There's also all the fuel and brake lines. The driveshafts. That doesn't really bother me. Wiring is probably what I'd have the most trouble with. If I sit down and write out a plan, I'd probably find more things that'd need adressed.
What are your guys' thoughts? Also, could someone PLEASE photochop me a pic of what the end result would be?
Moderator of Jeeps
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21,029
Likes: 3
From: Frederick, MD from Cleveland, OH
Year: 1993 YJ Wrangler
Engine: 4.0 I6
In power mode it shifts at a higher rpm keeping you in a higher rpm for power/performance.
In comfort it shifts sooner at lower rpm to drove casual, not jerk and stay in the gear to higher rpms. When not on the pedal or needing the extra power thats when it shifts to a cruising gear.
You get better gas mileage in power mode btw.
From my understanding, all auto MJs had P/C switches. Renix XJs and HOs with the tow option also had it.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Year: '99 and '91
Model: Cherokee
It sounds like a ton of work, and I don't know about splicing two unibody a together, you may need to cut the unibody rails off both xjs and make a frame for it to ever be sturdy enough to work. Also you would have to brace everything before you cut the xjs in half so that all the flimsy sheet metal wouldn't get bent out of shape. It seems like more trouble than its worth, although it sounds like an awesome project. The wiring wouldn't be bad if you used manual doors. You would only need a few circuits to the rear for tail lights blinkers brake lights and reverse lights. Maybe rear defrost if you wanted to dd it.
As far as the actual mating of the two. I was thinking some kind of box steel for an "inner sleeve" as long as I can make it, plug welded to the unibody "frame" as well as stiffeners all the way down.
I've seen pics of a quad cab comanche, a redish one, but couldn't find a build thread or any other info on it.
As far as the strenth goes, I don't intend to wheel the creation if I ever make it. It would be a weekend driver, taken to the 4x4 shows. I probably would lift it a modest 3" though.
I'm trying to work out the details in my head, it would be easier if I had the donor vehicles in my possesion. I'm also wondering if I could just hack the back of the 2 door off of a JY xj, since it wouldn't have to have the VIN.
Anyone care to photoshop this? Still wanna see it lol.
Member


Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 210
Likes: 18
From: Plymouth, England
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
After changing the XJ's oil for the first time in 5 years (I know, my dad had it previously and maintenance isn't his thing) it developed what I'm pretty sure was a rear main leak.
I kept having to top it up, but after two weeks it seems to have stopped leaking again
What could explain that??
And before you ask me, yes there is oil in it!!
I kept having to top it up, but after two weeks it seems to have stopped leaking again
What could explain that??And before you ask me, yes there is oil in it!!
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 0
From: Springfield Virginia
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
After changing the XJ's oil for the first time in 5 years (I know, my dad had it previously and maintenance isn't his thing) it developed what I'm pretty sure was a rear main leak.
I kept having to top it up, but after two weeks it seems to have stopped leaking again
What could explain that??
And before you ask me, yes there is oil in it!!
I kept having to top it up, but after two weeks it seems to have stopped leaking again
What could explain that??And before you ask me, yes there is oil in it!!
If not when you changed the oil all the sludge in the engine got knocked loose when you put new clean oil in. A bit was holding a leak in by the RMS and now it's moved. After two weeks all the extra sludge that's developed over the years might have Maude's it way back into the RMS
Member


Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 210
Likes: 18
From: Plymouth, England
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Nope, no exaggeration.
She only did about 6000 miles in that time, but it's still shocking.
Somehow she was still running pretty much perfectly, and is even better after new dizzy cap, plugs, etc.
What should I do to clean out any sludge if everything's running fine??
She only did about 6000 miles in that time, but it's still shocking.
Somehow she was still running pretty much perfectly, and is even better after new dizzy cap, plugs, etc.
What should I do to clean out any sludge if everything's running fine??
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 0
From: Springfield Virginia
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Nope, no exaggeration.
She only did about 6000 miles in that time, but it's still shocking.
Somehow she was still running pretty much perfectly, and is even better after new dizzy cap, plugs, etc.
What should I do to clean out any sludge if everything's running fine??
She only did about 6000 miles in that time, but it's still shocking.
Somehow she was still running pretty much perfectly, and is even better after new dizzy cap, plugs, etc.
What should I do to clean out any sludge if everything's running fine??
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 0
From: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 stroked to 4.6, Thanks to Teasdale'sMachine!
Oh, I've been reading a lot on body mods like chopping tops. Keeping bodys fom flexing is definitely something I'm aware of. 10 fold for the unibody XJ. Lol
As far as the actual mating of the two. I was thinking some kind of box steel for an "inner sleeve" as long as I can make it, plug welded to the unibody "frame" as well as stiffeners all the way down.
I've seen pics of a quad cab comanche, a redish one, but couldn't find a build thread or any other info on it.
I'm trying to work out the details in my head, it would be easier if I had the donor vehicles in my possesion. I'm also wondering if I could just hack the back of the 2 door off of a JY xj, since it wouldn't have to have the VIN.
Anyone care to photoshop this? Still wanna see it lol.





thanks!