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98 Jeep Cherokee xj - purchased October 20th, 2014 for $400.00
Had a blown radiator - thats all it needed to get it on the road.
It had a 3" Rough Country lift kit installed from the owner prior to the guy I bought it from.
The very first repair I had to do was fix the drivers seat frame. My dad is a pretty good sized fella and he drove it home for me. Needless to say he broke the welds on the seat frame.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:08 PM.
Of course had to ditch the stock stereo, in favor of an aftermarket JVC unit.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:08 PM.
Windshield had a huge crack across the entire length.
Luckily I live right behind a local auto glass replacement shop.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:08 PM.
Shortly after I got Dat Jeep on the road, I noticed a squealing coming from the engine.
Found out it was the water pump, was able to drive it home from work - approx. 12 miles.
I shut it off and got out to hear coolant dripping from the pump.
New pump - courtesy of O'reilly Auto Parts
Decided to give it a paint job, not the easiest thing to do in 30 degree weather inside a 1 car garage.
Installed - tested no more squealing
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:09 PM.
Time to replace the old, worn out stock muffler in favor of...
A Flowmaster Super 44 Series
Installed - My welding skills leave much to be desired, I know.
The muffler clamp has since been removed and the muffler has been fully welded by my cousin - a professional welder.
Kinda hard to see, but I opted to not have the tailpipe exit out the back like stock.
Rather I went with a straight turn down pipe right ahead of the axle. - More rear departure clearance.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:09 PM.
Jeep never had the stock electric fan when I bought it, apparently the previous owner had issues with it not turning on so he removed it and tossed it.
For the time being I went with a cheaper eBay fan for $26 bucks. Wired it in to the stock harness, utilizing the stock relay and fuse.
After all that it still would not turn on, found out the fuse was blown 40 amp MAX fuse.
Probably the whole reason it wouldn't turn on in the first place.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:09 PM.
Time to address the worn out steering wheel.
Now i've always been partial to the leather wrap covers as apposed to the slip-on style.
After some fighting with fitment and stabbing myself with the needle a few times, I was done.
I went with a leather sew on steering wheel wrap with red stitching.
I have since tucked the cover behind the cruise control switches.__________________
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:09 PM.
Wanted to change-up the gauge appearance a bit, but what to do... Hmm...
First I painted the needles bright red to make them stand out a bit more.
After painting, good thing I put down some cover-up papers.
All painted - looks good
Installed some white face gauge decals -- Here's the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-2001-Jeep-Cherokee-Dash-Cluster-White-Face-Gauges-97-01-/380474493807?hash=item58960c0b6f
Added a aluminum gauge bezel
Here's the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Gauge-Cluster-Dash-Bezel-Trim-fits-97-01-Jeep-Cherokee-/301696327750?fits=Make%3AJeep%7CModel%3ACherokee&hash=item463e80a046
Reinstalled in the jeep -- looks great
I also purchased some replacement LED back-lights, but the seller sent me the wrong color.
I messaged him and he agreed to send me the correct color at no extra charge and that I could keep the red ones. - Wonder where I could use them. __________________
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 02-06-2016 at 09:22 AM.
Added a windshield banner - Where we're going... We don't need roads
If you didn't know it, thats a line from Back to the Future -- I'm kinda a big fan, you'll see.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:10 PM.
Added some red LED Glow underseat/underdash accent lighting
Tapped into the wiring for the interior lights, so it turns on and off when the door is open and closed.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:10 PM.
Started my custom built roof rack using EMT conduit pipe.
I'm a Solidworks/CAD major and used my software to design a roof rack using EMT conduit piping
In total the supplies cost me around $110 + some paint I had left over from previous projects.
Keep in mind this is the first version and there are a lot of kinks I will find.
Once it get warmer i'll finish in with a floor and sides.
I just have it bolted to the stock roof rack rails using 1.25" u-bolts. - Not the best way, but it'll work for now.
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:10 PM.
Mounted 2 - 2" Cree LED Driving lights to the front bumper - temporary until I get my front bumper replaced
Pretty bright for driving lights - I only ever use them as brights for the headlights, since we all know Cherokee's aren't known for having the brightest light around.__________________
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:10 PM.
General Grabber AT2 31x10.50R15
mounted on Black Rock 975 Blade wheels
Fitment issues due to greater offset
No problem - cut it out
Glamour shot__________________
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:10 PM.
Since I don't smoke I decided to ditch the ashtray in favor of something I could actually use.
I found this ashtray switch plate with switches on eBay from Prime4x4
Fits good
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1998 XJ Cherokee Sport
Original purchase Price: $400
3" Rough Country Lift, 4.0L I-6, AW4, NP231, D30(Open for now)/C8.25(Open for now)
31x10.5R15 General Grabber AT2 Tires
187,000+ miles
Rochester, MN
Last edited by 98jeepster_xj; 11-19-2015 at 10:11 PM.
09-15-2015, 05:57 PM
In deep with DAT JEEP -- Lots of pictures
