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I have a 208xxx mile 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ Country in moss green with a tan interior. It's an inline six with an automatic transmission and 4 wheel drive. The previous owner installed LED headlights and a new headunit, but other than that, it's completely stock. I've added a receiving hitch, and I plan on inatalling the transmission cooler soon. The reason I chose a 1996 is because it's the last year of the old body style (which I prefer) and the first year OBDII was introduced. My plans for this jeep is to convert it into a Briarwood. I loved the way they look, but with them only being produced from 1991 to 1992, they are hard to come by. With the limited numbers, they usually come with high mileage and in degraded condition. Because of this, if you find one that isn't that, then they are expensive. So what I would like to do, is to clone a Briarwood, with the added benefits of being newer and more options. I want to add the wood vinyl and trim outside (of course) with a few other slight cosmetic mods. I don't really like the chrome, and will keep most of it stock. I hope you all enjoy my Jeep as I find more parts and build this modern time capsule. I am of course open to any and all suggestions and comments!
Last edited by Travis Mudrich; Apr 16, 2021 at 08:05 AM.
If anyone has or knows where I can buy used upper door trim from a Briarwood for the front doors, that would be helpful. I thought about swapping the entire door panel to be more authentic, but I don't like the small door pocket. I like the small wood strip obove the door pocket, but not sure if its worth it to me. I do not want to do a 100% clone, and a mix of country and Briarwood is the best of both worlds. I really love the Briarwood tag on the padding. Also, since I've never seen a Briarwood in person, is the color of the wood grain the same as the country? Or at least real similar? Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Travis Mudrich; Apr 16, 2021 at 07:59 AM.
I added a roof rack. I'm not too sure if I like the look, but I came across it cheap. I also pulled 2 roof rack bars from a 97+ because bothe of the buttons on one of my factory ones was busted. I like the look of the stock -96 ones more. I'll probably convert it back when I can find more. I want 4 total on the roof.
Last edited by Travis Mudrich; Apr 20, 2021 at 09:02 PM.
If anyone has or knows where I can buy used upper door trim from a Briarwood for the front doors, that would be helpful. I thought about swapping the entire door panel to be more authentic, but I don't like the small door pocket. I like the small wood strip obove the door pocket, but not sure if its worth it to me. I do not want to do a 100% clone, and a mix of country and Briarwood is the best of both worlds. I really love the Briarwood tag on the padding. Also, since I've never seen a Briarwood in person, is the color of the wood grain the same as the country? Or at least real similar? Thanks in advance.
So I was comparing pictures of Briarwood interior trim and the country trim, and it looks like the Briarwood is more dull and brown where the country trim package is more vibrant and red. I still want the upper door panels that say "Cherokee" so I may just remove the pads and put them on my country woodgrain to keep the current look. I'm going to go for an "updated Briarwood" look.
That truck looks in real good shape. I personally always liked the Brairwood models myself, but like you, could never find a good one. I came across one once, but the rust was just too much.
I don't know where you would be able to find the material for the woodgrain for the outside. If you are dead set on the Briarwood look, you might be able to get some of the material for Grand Wagoner restorations and see if you can adapt it to your truck.
That truck looks in real good shape. I personally always liked the Brairwood models myself, but like you, could never find a good one. I came across one once, but the rust was just too much.
I don't know where you would be able to find the material for the woodgrain for the outside. If you are dead set on the Briarwood look, you might be able to get some of the material for Grand Wagoner restorations and see if you can adapt it to your truck.
The Grand Wagoneer restoration material is a different color and look though. I figured I would find a vinyl company that could match my country wood grain as close as possible and just go that route. I'm still debating the boarder though.
Today, my GEN light came on. After a bit of research, I found out what it meant. After I popped the hood, I could clearly see the problem was a corroded battery terminal. A bit of a clean up made it go away.
I've been thinking for a while about mods I wanted to do that would be inline with a modernized Briarwood, and I've made a decision today. I am going to install a Dodge Durango alternator, a complete 2 gauge battery wiring kit, and a new battery. I have also considered a dual battery setup as I would love to go camping in this.
I'm sure this is going to guarantee a long-lasting electrical life, but I'm excited about the possibilities it will allow me. I will continue to post pictures of this jeep as I progress, and I will link my other mini threads that are getting me to my final goal. Thanks for following!
Today, my GEN light came on. After a bit of research, I found out what it meant. After I popped the hood, I could clearly see the problem was a corroded battery terminal. A bit of a clean up made it go away.
I've been thinking for a while about mods I wanted to do that would be inline with a modernized Briarwood, and I've made a decision today. I am going to install a Dodge Durango alternator, a complete 2 gauge battery wiring kit, and a new battery. I have also considered a dual battery setup as I would love to go camping in this.
I'm sure this is going to guarantee a long-lasting electrical life, but I'm excited about the possibilities it will allow me. I will continue to post pictures of this jeep as I progress, and I will link my other mini threads that are getting me to my final goal. Thanks for following!
I bought a new battery and terminal connectors because the same thing happened again. I still plan on buying and installing the new wiring kit. And of course the larger alternator and second battery.
Oh and I forgot to mention, I also want to run another stock fuse block. The reason I want to to this is because I want all of my accessories and aftermarket wiring to run through it. I don't want to splice into wires and muddy things up. This case, if something were to fail, it would be easier to diagnose what went wrong starting on which wiring harness (main or accessory)
Also the reason why I want to reuse a stock fuse block instead of an aftermarket one is because if something needed to be replaced, I can just go to the junkyard again. Matt with BleepinJeep on YouTube, showed how he was able to repin and reuse a factory one.
I have also thought about using a 97+ fuse panel that goes under the passenger side kickplate. I could get a 97+ kickplate of the same color as my interior with the acess door, and it would bolt up to the fuse block with little modification.
97+ kickplate inside of a -96.
Size differences between the two.
I don't know what the top would loom like with the lower dash installed (these pictures were taken at a junkyard)
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. I love having the community's help and perspective. Thank you for following my build so far!
For anyone who is reading or following the thread, this is a walk through of how I am building my 96 Briarwood, but it also a thread on my entire jeep, so my apologies for the additional amount of information on here that isn't necessarily Briarwood related.
With that being said, today I finished installing a new alternator. I put in a alternator from a Dodge Durango. There's lots of threads specifically on this so I did not take any photos. Apart from everything you will find in the threads, my experience was slightly different.
I purchased a 160 amp alternator for a 2002 Dodge Durango from Advance Auto Parts, part number 19850446. With Chrystler being a parent company of both dodge and jeep, some parts are somewhat compatible. The threads I read online said I will have to change the plug on the back since I own a -96, I'll have to shave down quite a bit of the bracket, and i will have to swap out the pulley, but other than that, it's plug and play.
After removing the alternator and doing a dry fit test, I realized that it fit perfectly and I wouldn't have to trim the main bracket (the thin front one I did though) This was strange to me because everything I read said I needed to clearance it. I even called them back and asked what the amperage was for that part number (that is why I included it) I'm not sure if it has been changed, or if I found out something new. Regardless, I didn't have to shave down the main bracket.
The parts store quoted me $50 for the pigtail, and so it was pulled from a local junkyard. I pulled it from a 97+ cherokee. It was easy to wire; I cut off the field terminal box, and wired the plug to the green wires. My 96 cherokee and the 97+ plug had two green wires, with one having a red stripe, so it was pretty self explanatory. I soldered and heat shrinked the wires, and put on an wiring harness cover. The other wire in the field connector was a 8 gauge black one that I soldered and crimped an eyelet on and grounded to the back of the new alternator. The eyelet on the original B+ cable was too small for the new alternator and didn't have enough meterial to drill it out, so I put a not one on there the same way as the other one.
The pulley was left on due to time constraints with my work schedule. I also had to adjust the tensioner as it was squeeking. But other than that it was a painless job, and took a few hours by myself.
Let me know if you've done this and also experienced not having to shave down the main bracket!
1996 Jeep Cherokee Briarwood
