warrpath4x4

So where do i begin? last week the transmission went out in my daily driver at 70MPH which then grenaded my engine. So i needed a new daily driver because i didnt want to put 90 miles a day on my Cummins. I wanted something i could work on, something i knew, and something that was cheap to repair. Enter the Cherokee.


1993, 4.0L, AX15/NP231, 30/8.25 (welded), 3" freedom off-road lift, 33x12.50x15 Cooper tires, 175K miles.

The last owner (second owner) installed a header, mustang injectors, tie rods, hubs, shocks, passenger axle, clutch kit, u-joints. previous owner also installed a new radiator and water pump. came with a spare open diff rear axle from a 98.

I ordered up a bunch of typical maintenance items for it, valve cover gasket, breather grommets, plugs, cap, rotor, plug wires are new and quality so i will leave them, oil filter adapter seals, u-joints, new lift struts for the rear hatch.

still need to pick up oil and filters on my way home

depending on what the family has planned for this weekend i may be able to get the front bumper modded for my 12K pound winch with synthetic rope.









first thing, the raider stickers had to go

warrpath4x4

stopped last night and picked up the o-ring kit for the oil filter adapter.... only to find out there is no adapter. Looks like the PO removed the adapter, the filter just screws directly to the block.

Ozalid

Hi Warrpath, Nice looking Jeep..Glad to hear Raiders sticker is going away !!!

warrpath4x4

warrpath4x4

when i got it the rear hatch wouldnt stay up, not my first XJ with blown lift struts, the previous owner said they were not even a year old.

well heres your problem

warrpath4x4

did basic tuneup last night, plugs, cap, rotor. i left the wires because they look brand new. Runs smoother, had ac delco plugs in it and number 5 or 6 had buildup on it, not sure how much spark it was actually getting.

warrpath4x4

last weekend between pine wood derby, working overtime, and installing a new hot water tank in my house i put a new speedo gear in. now with a correct speedo/odometer i was able to figure out my correct mileage..... 17.5 MPG freeway

XJIrish4x4

Not bad I wouldn't think! I drive vehicles with worse and works for me so far so I can only imagine getting that it would be like driving a prius lol

warrpath4x4

The jeep knew it was being replaced, i went and picked up a new daily driver and when i went to leave the driver door will not open now. i still have not been able to get it open, inside or outside door handle wont open it, i took the door panel off and as far as i can tell the rods are moving but of course its not easy to see the actual latch. i tried the "hold the handle and kick the door open" method with no luck. im gonna have 2 drill out the 2 rivets that hold the mounting spot for the arm rest so i can see into the door latch easier.

so its a good thing i picked up a 2006 VW Jetta TDI because its a pain climbing into the jeep from the passenger side.

warrpath4x4

well the latch is F'd internally, it will not release no matter what i do. today i was finally able to find new door striker bolts so i ordered up a set and a new driver door latch from teamcherokee, pretty sure i can squeeze a sawzall blade in between the door and the post and cut the striker bolt.

if this thing was white or another common color i would have just hacked the crap out of the door skin and just put a new door on it lol.

warrpath4x4

warrpath4x4

more parts gathering, ordered up a M.O.R.E steering box brace and a Dirtbound high clearance steering kit.

warrpath4x4

some of my parts showed up, i didn't realize when ordering my steering that they had to build it so that's 10-15 days out plus shipping. my steering box brace showed up and is pretty beefy. my door latch and striker bolts didn't get delivered even though USPS said they did, and when i did finally get them i was shorted a striker bolt.

Saturday we are going hiking and cave exploring but Sunday the wife and kid will be out of the house and it will be Jeep time!!

warrpath4x4

after getting the new latch in the mail and having a chance to look it over i found a bar that when pushed released it, so i go out and lay across the seats, reach up in the door, lift the bar and the door pops right open. So i pulled the jeep over under a tree for shade (true shade tree mechanic style) and got to changing parts.

since i was planning on the worse option of having to cut the striker bolt, i might as well install the new one anyways, as you can see there were some flat spots in the old one.






installing the latch is fairly straight forward



while working on it before i drilled out the rivets in the arm rest bracket so i could get more room to work, not having big enough rivets to replace them i chose to bolt it back on with allen head bolts and lock nuts. then i used some double sided tape to put the vapor barrier back up.



the center screw that holds the interior handle and latch was not the right one for the screw clip so it would only go in half way and destroyed the clip. so i ran to Ace hardware and picked up a new clip and screw for it.



and then our final product with a working door again

warrpath4x4

nevermind the dust and cob webs, she has been sitting for a couple months.

i just figured i would take some overall pics of it, i started disassembly of the front clip to be able to weld the door hinge supports in.







not a huge fan of the previous owners bumper, but for now i am just going to modify it to hold my winch. later down the road i will build a new one.




i will also be modifying the rear bumper, i think they built it just a little too close




and the "rock sliders" they built, just a little thin for me