Jeep Cherokee Forum - Looking for an XJ Project?

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Looking for an XJ Project?

Anyone interested in a 95 XJ project (located in north Delaware)?
Its stock and I've been using it as a daily driver for the last 16 years, and my dad owned it before me. It has 192K on it, and runs well.

The Good: The engine, transmission, 4WD are all good. It has new front brakes. The body is good except for a little damage at front passenger quarter panel and some rust behind the passenger rear tire. Interior is ok except for headliner.

The Bad: The frame and floor have some rust. The gas tank leaks if filled above 7 gallons. I add 1/2 quart of oil between oil changes.

The should scare away any typical buyer, but if you are looking for a Cherokee project, understand (or are willing to learn) the characteristics of XJs, and know someone with a welder, this might be for you. Its ready for a Modification project or to live out its life on the beach.

And a few more pics of the XJ from underneath- Most of the rust occurs at the floor between the unibody "rail" and the rocker panel, but one of the factory holes through the unibody rail is enlarged because of rust (in front of the rear passenger side leaf spring).
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d0be7aec9b.jpg

rust in unibody frame in front of rear passenger side leaf spring.

that frame is scary. but should/could be a good base for a crawler

Thanks- That's what I thought too. Aren't there kits for reinforcing the existing frame? Are they any good? I assume rust at the floor and frame is a common problem for XJs.
It seems like it would be relatively easy to clean and treat rust, and then weld in plates to reinforce the frame, but I've never done that kind of work before.

there are kits but there has to be good metal to weld to. id like to grind some of the rust down and see how bad it actually is

I have hit the frame with a hammer to check the extent of the rust. The first time I did it, a couple quarter-sized flakes came loose around the factory-made hole in the frame at the right rear corner (in front of the leaf spring connection). The rest of the frame has some orange color on the paint but seems ok. I checked with the hammer a second time later on and did not get any new loose flakes. My guess is that there is still good metal to weld to.

The floor between the frame "rail" and the rocker panel is pretty shot. I could probably easily poke holes through most of it with a screw driver. I can see carpet padding visible at areas behind the front tires.

On the body, there is some rust through the metal directly behind the right rear tire, and I previously cut away some rust, prepped, painted, and covered the rocker panel with an aftermarket heavy gauge metal cover. There was plenty of good metal on either side to fasten to.

I have searched around other posts on XJ unibody rust and its hard for me to get a good idea on how difficult this is to tackle. Some posts say walk away if there is rust. Others post have pictures of builds with extensive welding on jeeps far rustier than mine. I have seen some aftermarket unibody repair kits. Some look flimsy and I would not trust. I am not a welder, but it seems like it could be repaired with a 3" x 12" x 1/4" plate welded over the hole in the frame, and some new floor panning. However, I don't think its a job I will do. I'm trying to find out how many other people get into this all the time.

Try posting on Southern Delaware Jeep Club Classifieds page on facebook

Thanks for the advice unidentifiedbomb- I just posted it on Delaware Craigslist, but I will check out SDJC too. Thanks again-

was there an asking price?

Thanks for your interest but I already sold it. listed for 800, sold for 600. It served me well and should hopefully do the same for the next guy too.

Wow, I bought mine for $800 running with a good uniframe 10 years ago, give me hope for my profit if I ever sell mine