KyTaylor

I have never owned a Jeep before, and honestly never thought I would buy one. I have been a die-hard Toyota fan, recently selling my beloved 99 4runner.


So after deciding to give this Jeep life thing a try, and searching for a few weeks, today I purchased a 00 Classic from my last boss. He purchased it with a bad engine, only to flip for a profit, and decided he wanted to keep it for a while. So, with 210,000 miles on the odometer and about 1300 on the rebuilt engine, I talked him in to selling it. The body has its nix and dings, with one rust spot on the driver rear rocker. Rust otherwise is surprisingly very minimal. Interior has its nix and scratches as well, but overall in decent shape. The engine runs like a top, with a slight driveline vibration at certain speeds.
Typical work needed: windows only work from master switch, driver window clicks when up or down completely, keyless doesn't work, front speakers do not work, headliner falling down in a couple of spots, and it sits to low with tires that are a tad too small.

This build thread will be to showcase my XJ, and serve as a list of mods and repairs done and when. It may be slow, but I hope everyone enjoys it. And thank you for the large amount of information on this site.

Enough jibber jabber
IMG_1038 by Daniel Taylor, on Flickr









Modifications
Hella H4 Headlight Upgrade
LT245/75R16 Cooper RTX



Milage & Date
209,337 - Engine rebuilt: Polished crank, new main & rod bearings, new pistons & rings, 96 head swap, new lifters.
210,300 - Hella headlight upgrade installed.
210,584 - 1/1/16 - Purchased vehicle.
210,779 - 1/9/16 - Oil change. 10w30 Rotella, Mopar filter
210,779 - 1/9/16 - Stant Superstat Thermostat 195 degree. Flush heater core due to poor heat.
210,870 - 1/16/16 - Replaced left rear wheel bearing. Installed a set of black metal lug nuts
211,376 - 2/12/16 - Rear wheel cylinders erupted. Replace drums, shoes, hardware, wheel cylinders.
xxx,xxx - 2/21/16 - Replace front door speakers and rear roof speakers with Pioneer 2-way.
xxx,xxx - 2/21/16 - Recovered headliner in Multicam fabric.

Bryan98XJ

looks clean! oh and welcome to the jeep family!!

KyTaylor

Thanks Bryan.

KyTaylor

So I am trying to determine if a previous owner installed a small lift. There are not any coil spacers, longer shackles or blocks installed. The rear leaf spring has 4 leafs with a very small length leaf on the bottom making 5 total. The leaf "keepers" look similar to those used when making a bastard pack, exactly like those used by Bleepin Jeep in his video.
Measurements are:
F hub center to bottom of flare - 20.25"
R hub center to bottom of flare - 19"
R axle tube to bottom on unibody rail - 8"

It is sitting on 245/75's.

Anyone have info on what size lift may be installed?

KyTaylor

Current plans:

31x10.5r15 Duratrac's
15x8 4.5"bs Procomp d-windows
AA SYE and front driveshaft (will order new shaft from Adam's once lift is complete)
Swap to a HP D30
Re-gear to 4.10
Durango steering box
Front, center, and rear chassis stiffeners
JCR UTK Steering kit (will later change to OTK)
Install front coils, rear leaf packs, shackles, and relocation boxes to achieve around 3" of lift.

Finn

I've actually considered going the other way and picking up a 4Runner for longer distance travel. Welcome to CF.

KyTaylor

It is an apples to oranges comparison between the two. It really all depends on what your needs, goal, and bank account looks like as to which is better.

KyTaylor

Build sheet came in:

Vehicle Description JEEP CHEROKEE CLASSIC 4X4 SPORT UTILITY 4-DR
Model Year 2000
Body Model XJ J P 74
Color PX8- Black Clear Coat
In Service Date 05/11/2000

Sales Code Description
XJ Cloth Low-back Bucket Seats
AZ Agate
AA5 Classic Value Group
ADAP Light Group
APAS Monotone Paint
AWHP Power Equipment Group
AWS Smoker's Group
A20P 4.0L Engine(ERH)/4Sp Auto Trans(DGS
BASS 124 Amp Alternator
BCDS 500 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
BGAS Power Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes
CACP Low Back Bucket Seats
CBWS Highline Door Trim Panel
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
CLES Front & Rear Floor Mats
CSAS Spare Tire Cover
CSRS Passenger Assist Handles
CSSS Lift Gate Assist Handle
CUFS Full Length Floor Console
CUXP Front & Rear Ash Trays
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
DJKS Dana 30/181MM Front Axle
DMDS 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio
DRAS Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle
EAAC All Engines
ERH 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine
GBBS Tinted Windshield Glass
GCBS Front Door Tinted Glass
GEDS Tinted Rr Drs/Qtr/Liftgate Glass
GFAS Rear Window Defroster
GNAS Rear View Day/Night Mirror
GNCP Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors
GTZS Power Mirrors, Fold-Away
GVBC All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors
GXMP Remote Keyless Entry
HAAP Air Conditioning
HGDS Deluxe Insulation Group
JAYS Instrument Cluster w/Tach
JBFS Instrument Panel Black Bezel
JCDS 100 MPH Primary Speedometer
JHAS Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
JHBS Rear Window Wiper/Washer
JJAP Cigar Lighter
JJBS Dual Note Electric Horns
JJJS 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
JPAP Power Windows
JPBP Power Locks
KDPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - CH
KFPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - CH
KGPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - JE
KRPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - 4
KTPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - JEEP
KYPP RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - 4.0L
K2XS BLACK CLEAR COAT - MOLDING
K3XS BLACK - FENDER FLARES
LAJS Headlamps On Warning Chimes
LBBP Courtesy Lamps
LCDP Map/Dome Reading Lamps
LDAP Underhood Lamp
LDBP Cargo Compartment Lamp
LHDP Headlamp Off Time Delay
LMAS Halogen Headlamps
LPSS CHMSL Lamp
MBLS Body Color Front Bumper
MBMS Body Color Front Bumper End Caps
MBTS Body Color Rear Bumper
MBWS Body Color Rear Bumper End Caps
MCAS Front Bumper Guards
MFBS Body Color Headlamp Bezels
MFKS 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
MNNS Body Color License Plate Brow
MWGS Roof Rack
NAA Federal Emissions
NBKS EVAP Control System
NFAS 20 Gallon Fuel Tank
NHM Speed Control
PX8 Black Clear Coat
QX8S Black Clear Coat
RAAC All Radio Equipped Vehicles
RASS AM/FM Cassette Radio
RCRP 4 Speakers
RDDS Fixed Long Mast Antenna
SBAS Power Steering
SCGS Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
SDAS Normal Duty Suspension
SHAS Front Stabilizer Bar
SHCS Rear Stabilizer Bar
SUAP Tilt Steering Column
TBCS Compact Spare Tire
TBLS Inside Mounted Spare Tire
TRQS P225/70R16 BSW Wrangler HP Tires
TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires
WLZC All Aluminum Wheels
WNLS 16X7.0 Alum"Icon"Quartz Wheels
XCYS Upgraded OBD-II Connectors
XJFS Tethered Fuel Filler Cap
XPFS Protective Coating and Remover
YAAS Build To U.S. Mkt. Specifications

KyTaylor

Yesterday I did the second oil change since the engine rebuild, oil looked and felt great. Using 10w30 Rotella conventional with a OE filter for the time being.
Noticed the o-rings for the oil filter housing are leaking, so next oil change I will replace those.

Engine builder couldn't remember what degree t-stat was used, and since I had luke warm heat at best, along with never reaching 200 degrees engine temp, I decided to replace the thermostat with a 195 degree, and flush the heater core. Had a small amount of brown fluid come out of the core, and now the heat is working a lot better.

Up next is to replace the left rear wheel bearing, and the rear driveshaft u-joints. Once that is complete, I will finalize what I want to do with the lift, and order chassis stiffeners.

rzldzl

why re-gear?

xjtoday

Rock sliders?? Welcome to owning a Heep !

KyTaylor

Diffs need to be overhauled, so I want to go ahead to install gears to match tire size.

KyTaylor

Left rear wheel bearing and seal is now replaced. Took care of the majority of noise when driving. Still have a slight vibration at random speeds, which is not from the rear u-joints like I thought. I need to do a SYE, but that will wait until I finalize the lift.

Also I removed the 30 different lug nuts, and installed a set of black metal lugs from DP Accessories. Purchased them on eBay. This is the second set I have bought from them. Quality seems excellent, price is great, and fast shipping.

b16gsr

looks great will follow along

KyTaylor

First snow since I bought it.