Jeep Cherokee 1999 69k miles Limited 4x4
 

:help:
So I am new here and kinda new to any kind of automotive work (though I'm rather handy). I decided I wanted to get better at some of this stuff and decided to get my hands dirty with a project. I searched for a few months and found a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4x4 with less than 70k miles. Talked the seller down and felt like this would be a reasonable fun project. Thought I'd found a good base for a slow build.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1356632880http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse127dddd.jpg

Besides all of the advantages of any jeep the following were some of my conditions and things I found in this jeep.

Pros:
-The majority of the Jeep has not had any Mod's
-Low Miles
-4x4
-Relatively Clean
-Really cheap
-One owner (who happened to be an older lady)
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1356632938
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7085c965.jpg
Attachment 353209
There are always some
Cons:
-some electrical hack jobs that will have to be undone
-lock work
-window motors replacement
-seat mounts need attention

The Big Con:

The lift gate / hatch was dented in and needed to be replaced. The owners' son(also the seller) had done some welding to make the door close properly. He said that his mother had "backed into a tree after accidently putting the car in reverse instead of drive." I knew that I would have to salvage a liftgate and make some minor repairs but after the price we negotiated I felt life I had gotten away with a good project and a good deal. However, as I uncovered the work he had done on this "light run in" with a tree I have found the problem (and the accident) to be much more severe than described. He had done a good job concealing under and over the true damage done.
I pulled the carpet and removed his weld job to uncover the following:

Here is the damaged I discovered:
Attachment 353210
Attachment 353211
Attachment 353212

He had covered it with steel (seen below) and moded the hatch to fit well:
Attachment 353213

Any suggestions or directions to go in? This all seems like pretty solid material and I'm not sure the integrity can ever be repaired. I dont want to throw any more money into this project until I'm certain this wont be and end all to this otherwise nice jeep.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: Also is this the rear end of the frame? I'm having a hard time specifying exactly what the problem is in parts/service terms.

Could be me but i don't see any of your pictures...

Any Better?

Yes, much.

Man, she did a number on that tree.

I'd climb under and check the unibody back there for creases. Usually if the unibody is damaged there'll be stress wrinkles in the quarter panels as well.

If the unibody is ok, you could cut that section out and weld in a new piece from a straight Jeep... if you want it to be in excellent condition.

Now, I'd personally cut the whole back of the Jeep off and make a buggy out of it. :

^^ haha

Super clean jeep other than the rear it looks like.. Gotta love a low mileage xj.

I also thought of taking all the fenders and bumpers and coating them in a bed liner material. anyone ever had any bad experience with this?

I think for sure once I get through this weld successfully (if it will work), i will replace the carpet in the cargo area with a bed liner spray.

I would leave the fenders and bumper caps like they are, they look pretty good.

Here is what it looks like underneath

Attachment 163803



Attachment 163804



Attachment 163805
What do you think?

As best I can tell from the picture the unibody looks OK. Looks like it just buckled in the middle. The Unibody has to be tweaked some but not a a deal breaker in my mind.

I'd fix it and go wtih it since it's so clean and low miles.

Patch that section in from a donor.

Call insurance company and have them quote it..the blue book value on that thing is over 6k...they may consider it a total loss and pay it out to you..then you could buy another and have money left over!

I just bought it. All this damage was concealed by steel plating welded on. I don't think my insurance will pay for an accident prior to my purchase... Right?

An insurance company isn't going to allow him to make a claim on existing damage.

Now, had he had the vehicle inspected before with the steel on there and they didn't see it.... Then pulled the cover off and filed the claim later...

But that'd be insurance fraud.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

Thought i read it happened right when he bought it. Guess not. Unibody doesnt look mangled...

lol You're way off base. Go re-read.

Granny smith backed into her apple tree.