Here is the "build" for my 96 Cherokee HO 4.0L that I got a few months ago due to the owner passing away. I was called that his brother was selling it and luckily for me I'd just gotten off work, I got there just as he put the for sale sign in the window! It was in rough shape with 4 blown shocks, leaking coolant (that was just pure rusty water) and the interior was complete but falling apart/very dirty. So I so spent the next few months cleaning it up and repairing what I could as time allowed. Not really sure the reason I bought it because I have a perfectly reliable Toyota Sienna but something sentimental must have gotten into me (my parents had one of these in the early 90's)




In order I did:
New Distributor cap/cleaned rotor
New spark plug wires + spark plugs
New oil pressure senor
New vacuum lines
New blower motor resistor
Front bumper caps replaced
New front speakers (old ones were blown)
3rd brake light bulbs
License plate bulbs
Parking light bulbs
New taillight housings
Smoker's vents (they keep the Jeep cool in summer)
Alignment with warranty
Remove gross purple peeling 90's tint with razor blade (took 5 hours...)
New coolant reservoir
New dome light bulb (and wiring)
New front and rear PCV valves
4 New KYB G-Excel shock absorbers
All new Trico wiper blades (all 3)
New steering damper shock
New valve cover gasket
New Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads/greased calipers
Cup holder installed (gotta have that in America)
New grill (old one was shattered)
New grill attachment plastic push-rivets
New blinker light housings
New driver's door weatherstrip seal (that sucks)
All new TE under-hood junction box relays (all 6)
New coolant temp sensor
New cooling fan
New thermostat (OEM Mopar 195F)
New 3 row all-aluminum MAUI spec radiator and cap
New upper/lower Gates radiator hoses
New Gates water pump
New Prestone 60/40 mix coolant
Steam cleaned the interior and added a southwest throw rug to protect the clean rear seats
Removed speedometer cluster and replaced all the cluster illumination bulbs, also carefully polished the lens and cleaned the gauges
Added wood-grain instrument cluster bezel to replace shattered black one
Cleaned battery terminals + added distilled water to Bosch battery
Washed/waxed and polished

So after all that it runs really well and it surprisingly has a lot of power for something so old! I wouldn't have believed an old Cherokee would get up and go like this does, even my much newer V6 Sienna doesn't do it as eagerly. I drive it to work sometimes and the grocery store mostly but it never has any problems. I'd like to check the AC pressure sometime since it doesn't work but the compressor is complete and appears to spin freely (just doesn't lock up when engaged). Still I really enjoy this little suv, that being said it rides like an old school suv that's for sure, even with new shocks it's a rough ride but super fun contrasted with the sleek apple inspired ecoboxes of 2019. It's the look I enjoy mostly













Here's a shot at night of the instrument cluster. Should have just put a whole set of them in because now one side is brighter but at least it works now, before it was just half dead lol

 

Very nice! I just bought a white '96, 4wd, 5 Speed in April and doing some of the same stuff you have done. I had never driven one before I bought this one and I was also surprised by the torque-y get up and go. My interior also has manual everything which is so nice due to the simplicity. The only thing I miss is having a clicker to open or lock all of the doors.

 

Thanks for the reply! I love the all manual interior but I wish I had power windows like the one we had when I was a kid, cranking them down is hilarious though haha. On all the cars I've had I've never used the clicker, even on my current Toyota Sienna I don't use it, no idea why

Recently the Cherokee sprung a coolant leak at the bank so I had to put new hose clamps on all the hoses and flush the coolant again. The original clamps had just worn out and weren't holding anymore, easy fix. Less easy the blower motor started making a horrendous screeeching noise so I took it out and lubricated it, no go...still screeches at certain speeds. Gotta order a new one, it's not too hard to get in and out but in sort of an obnoxious place. Also the winter came and took with it the rear hatch strut supports so they got all floppy and sad. Got some new ones installed from a brand called ISO. They work absolutely great but the quality is bad. They are just a tiny bit too long and the sockets are a bit off so you really have to force them on there. But man once you press the key button on the trunk the hatch comes FLYING open ready to take your head off lol