Bright Red 97 XJ Build
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Sooooo. Hello all, decided to start my build threat finally. Been stalking on the forum for a few months and I'm just now starting to get active on my Jeep. So the back-story... Got my 1997 Jeep Cherokee Country off Craigslist in March of 2014. Paid 1700 buckaroos for it, the guy was asking 2000 so I say I did okay on that part. Bone stock, absolutely no mods except for a "bigger battery".
Little rust on the rockers and tiny spots by the front fenders, which is pretty lucky for being in the NW suburbs of Illinois. I am the 4th owner and plan to keep it that way for a while. This is my 2nd car and my first Jeep. Attachment 258804 Here's the first day I got it. |
I got my build sheet a few weeks ago.
Vehicle Description JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT UTILITY 4-DR Model Year 1997 Body Model XJ J L 74 Color PR4- Flame Red Clear Coat ISD 05/07/1997 Sales Code Description *XJ Cloth Low-back Bucket Seats ADAP Light Group APAS Monotone Paint ARXP Country Decor Group AWHP Power Equipment Group BAUS 117 Amp Alternator BCDS 500 Amp Maintenance Free Battery BGAS Power Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes CACP Low Back Bucket Seats CBVP Cloth Door Trim Panel w/Map Pocket CDBS Reclining Front Seats CFMS Rear Fold w/Removable Cushion Seat CGGS Traveling Inboard Seat Belt Buckle CGWS Next Generation Front Air Bags** CKAS Carpets - Floor and Cargo Area CKNS Cargo Compartment Carpet CKTS Cargo Tie Down Loops CKXS Plastic Liftgate Trim Panel CLEP Front & Rear Floor Mats CSAP Spare Tire Cover CSRS Passenger Assist Handles CSSS Lift Gate Assist Handle CUFS Full Length Floor Console DGB All 4-Speed Automatic Transmissions DGSS 4-Speed Automatic AW4 Transmission DHAP Lock-Up Torque Converter DHNS Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System DHSP Floor Mount Automatic Shift Lever DJHS Dana M30/181MM Front Axle DMDP 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio DRAS Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle EAAC All Engines ERH 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine GAL Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass GBBS Tinted Windshield Glass GCBS Front Door Tinted Glass GEEP Deep Tint Sunscreen Liftgate Glass GFA Rear Window Defroster GNAS Rear View Day/Night Mirror GNCP Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors GTS Power Heated Mirrors, Fold-Away GVBC All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors GXMP Remote Keyless Entry HAAP Air Conditioning HGDS Deluxe Insulation Group JAYP Instrument Cluster w/Tach JBGP Instrument Panel Woodgrain Bezel JCDS 100 MPH Primary Speedometer JHAS Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers JHBP Rear Window Wiper/Washer JJAS Cigar Lighter JJBS Dual Note Electric Horns JJJS 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet JPAP Power Windows JPBP Power Locks LAJS Headlamps On Warning Chimes LBBP Courtesy Lamps LBCS Glove Box Lamp LCDP Map/Dome Reading Lamps LDAP Underhood Lamp LDBP Cargo Compartment Lamp LHDP Headlamp Off Time Delay LMAS Halogen Headlamps LNJ Fog Lamps LPSS CHMSL Lamp MBPP Body Color Front Bumper MBQP Body Color Rear Bumper w/Step Pads MCAS Front Bumper Guards MDAP Front License Plate Bracket MFKP Body Color Grille MHAS Black Windshield Moldings MMCS Rear Qtr Solid Window Insert MMGS Belt Moldings MMKS Body Color Drip Trough Molding MNAS Black Door Handles MWGP Roof Rack NAA Federal Emissions NBKS EVAP Control System NFAS 20 Gallon Fuel Tank NHMP Speed Control PR4 Flame Red Clear Coat QR4S Flame Red Clear Coat RAAC All Radio Equipped Vehicles RAZ AM/FM Cassette Compact Disc Radio RCDP 4 Speakers RDDP Fixed Long Mast Antenna SBAS Power Steering SCGP Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel SDAS Normal Duty Suspension SHAS Front Stabilizer Bar SHCS Rear Stabilizer Bar SUAP Tilt Steering Column TBB Full Size Spare Tire TBLS Inside Mounted Spare Tire TRVP P225/70R15 Eagle GA OWL AS Tires TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires WJ7P 15X7.0 Luxury Aluminum Wheels WKBP Matching Spare Wheel WLZC All Aluminum Wheels XCYS Delete Remote Start System XJFS Tethered Fuel Filler Cap YAAS Build To U.S. Mkt. Specifications |
I haven't done too much too it since I got it. I've put a new Kenwood header in and an autotuba subwoofer in the the back. Got a Safari rook rack of CL for 100 bucks, couldn't pass that up, and slapped it up top. Finally some new tires, Kumho Road Venture A/Ts, just in time for winter. Even though they aren't winter tires they are really good in the light snow we got the past couple days, but I guess anything is better than the bald Hankooks it had on it. They're still stock size, 225/75/15. I also have a no-name Amazon 50" LED light bar I have yet to mount and 4 3x3 Amazon Cree LED pods. I plan to make it an expedition type build. It's my DD and being in Glen Ellyn there's quite literally nowhere to try and wheel w/o going 3 hours away.
I plan on getting an RE 3.5" Super Ride lift sometime next year, with 31s or 32s. Going to have someone I know fab a front and rear bumper for me as well. |
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Here she is with the brand new tires
Attachment 258807 And here's how she sits today (11/16/14) Attachment 258808 The 3x3 Cree LED pods. I'm using 2 to replace my factory fog lights Attachment 258809 And the 50" no-name Amazon LED bar Attachment 258810 |
The only things internally I've done are: replaced the front brakes, alternator, an new battery (an AutoZone Gold something), and 3/4 shocks (PS one just won't budge and I don't want to snap another bolt). waited too long to fix my rear drums (all the breaks were shot when I got it) and the DS one broke while getting my tires... at least it was at the dealership when it happened. I get about 12.5 mpg on a good tank, which is horrendous, and average around 11 mpg any other time.
Around me there are a few other XJs here and there, but almost all of them are stock or on the losing side of a battle with rust. Most of the modified ones I see are at school, or the 2 or 3 I'll see around town. |
Bought a bracket for my 50" light bar from FarmerJohns Offroad to mount on the gutters, rather than welding a piece of steele onto my roof rack.
So far it's taking a while to get here, issues with the post office, supposed to be 2-3 day priority mail but it's been a week and still no show. |
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Got my Farmer Johnsons Offroad 50" light bar bracket. pretty heavy duty, but I think something happened during shipping because I got 2 brackets when I only ordered 1. Not complaining though, but I'm not one to take advantage mistakes, emailed the guy to see what was up.
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Also wrapped some battery powered Christmas lights on my roof rack, just to get in the holiday spirit since it's raining and not snowing where I am in IL right now...
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Not much to update about. Really need to invest in some recovery points and gear, couple weeks ago during the last snow storm helped a kid who slid his Honda Civic into a deep ditch, I wish I could've pulled him out and saved him the $95 tow bill. But I did what I could.
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Also kind of sorted/planned out my build plans and cost.
-Rubicon Express 3.5 " Super-Ride (full leafs): $584.99 (Amazon) -RE Adjustable trac bar: $164.99 (Amazon) -(4) Bilstein 5100s: ~$312 (SeriousOffroad) -(5) 15x8 3.75BS black D-window steelies: ~$309 (SeriousOffroad) -(5) 32"x11.5xr15 Kuhmo Road Venture A/T (not certain): ~$725 All in all will be around $2,096, W/O things like SYE and replacement bolts (for when they all break). But that's a **** ton of money for a full time college student. |
Hey not bad! I know how it is not being able to afford everything you want allllllll at once. Every Jeeper does. But nice work so far!
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Originally Posted by WhiskeyRiverXJ
(Post 3021529)
Hey not bad! I know how it is not being able to afford everything you want allllllll at once. Every Jeeper does. But nice work so far!
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Well since it's been getting colder outside I've noticed my mpg and all around performances diminish. Idles alittle higher than normal (around 750-800 rpms) and takes alittle more umph to shift gears while driving. Dumb vent only blows out of defrost so It takes forever to warm up. My mpgs are really suffering, I know an XJ isn't supposed to get 20mpg, but I'm barely scraping 10.
Any thoughts to improve? 186,XXX miles, A/T tires, and a Safari roof rack on top. |
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So now that my computer finally decided to work I can finally update with pictures. And by update I mean no progress.
Had a Super Bowl snow storm, close to 18" of snow. My Kumho Road Venture A/Ts preformed flawlessly in the snow, really glad I got these tires. A little Before and after of the snow. Attachment 266726 Attachment 266727 About 8am, not even close to the end of the storm. Attachment 266728 The one spot I can't clear. going over 30mph and there would be a white out behind me. Fast forward to a few days ago. Tried to flex on a pile of wood we have just sitting around. Attachment 266729 Stock flex is still flex even when there's no flex. |
Sooooo... brakes have been acting soft and spongey and the fluid was a little low so I took the Jeep to Firestone yesterday to check for a leak. Well there was more than a leak, the whole PS rear drum's wheel cylinder is shot and leaking brake fluid all over the drum, the DS one is okay, for now, but will follow suit soon. How much do they want? Roughly $580. How much is my lift? Roughly $580. How much have I saved? Roughly six hundred ****ing dollars.....
Going to shop around to see if I can get a better quote cause this is my DD and I like to be able to stop when I hit the brake. In other news tomorrow will be the 1 year anniversary of owning my Jeep. |
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