The CheroKeep
 

I finally found a Jeep Cherokee, something I've always wanted. My mom's friend sold her's after driving it around Wichita, KS for the last 20 years. This thing was owned and garage kept it's whole life by a nice, older lady who never abused it, never drove it off road, and maintained it religiously via the dealership, and the Jeep comes with a stack of service recipes as thick as pea soup. That's the only way I would buy any vehicle with 244,000 miles on the odometer, "sight unseen" at that...

Turns out it was a great investment. The only things that don't work are the heater and A/C, and it looks like the valve cover gasket needs replaced. Oh and the shocks are so far gone it's scary.

But everything else has been maintained to perfection! And the stack of receipts is literally 1.5" thick. Sorting through it, the XJ went through 5 pairs of tires, 6 batteries, 3 water pumps, two front bumpers, 2 alternators, etc. It had all the XJ problems taken care of: the neutral indicator sensor, the crankshaft position sensor, etc.

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=M6ZFhbS_

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=kYOJ6h_Q

[SNEAK PEAK: HERE'S HOW IT'S RIDING NOW:]


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b307308f8d.jpg


It's an automatic, 4x4, sport, and green (I love the green!). Very standard stuff. I've been doing some research and the '97 model was a very good year! This was the first year of the slick redesign and second year of the improved engine (right?), but it was before they started putting sub-pare engine heads and rear ends in the two years before the Cherokee was killed off. It has the desirable Christler 8.25" 29-spline rear differential. The transfer case is your traditional 2H-4H-N-4L (that means it's an np241, right?).




I'm going to have to decide if I want to use it as a daily driver instead of my truck, or if I want to put some big tires under it and make it an off-road rig. I'm thinking the later! But first things first, it's very high millage so I'll have to see what needs fixing and how reliable the motor is. So far it's been rock solid. It takes a few seconds to fire up however, and the idle feels more like a V8 than an inline 6.

This isn't my first time dealing with old vehicles, or with 4x4s either. This is my truck:

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file.../finished6.JPG

It has a chevy 350 motor with high compression heads, sm465 4-speed tranny with the granny low gear, a np205 cast iron transfer case with no slip yoke, and manual locking hubs on front axle. (Jealous yet?) But it's about 2000 pounds heavier than the Jeep, gets 15mpg highway on premium gas only, doesn't go faster than 65mph and has a rather small 8.5" rear end.

Ok so.. Rusty's 2" lift kit is on it's way here (full coil springs in front, add-a-leaf in rear) and I'm planning on buying 31" tires and trimming the fenders to fit them.

But first, I needed to test out the stock capabilities. After all, the ol' jeep as been driven by an old lady it's whole life and never gotten to stretch it's legs off road, so that had to change ASAP.

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=1g7j0WUz

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=g6-kGKJV

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=ePwWtZ4L

The trail was less than a mile long, lol, but I still deserved a sandwich and a beer:

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=m9Gj_RDQ

Obviously this was no hardcore proving ground but I'm just glad my jeep finally got to stretch her legs after being driven by this ol' gal her whole life:

http://dannix.net/sites/default/file...?itok=siq0dm32

haha!

Anyways.. I was actually surprised at how smooth the jeep conquered those rather large ditches and mud holes. The 4wd worked flawlessly and there was even a little mud to play in but those street tires are absolutely awful. Can't wait to replace them! I'm thinking Falcon Wildpeak AT3W's.

Nice jeep...but why add a leaf?:cursing: and no you don't want the falken tires bad reviews so far from customers I've gotten feedback from. Go cooper at3, bfg ko2, or general grabber at2 and don't look back.

add-a-leaf because that's what's in the lift kit and because I'm a cheap ass. Right now the springs aren't frowning at all, they're flat as a board, and I'm measuring 17" from center of rim to the fender flare.

And what was wrong with the falken wildpeak tires? Hard to get them balanced or what?

you'really gonna hate add a leafs. Rough as hell. Nah the falkens suck offroad and struggle in wet weather.

edit: just saw you were talking about the at3 tires. Those are better then the other offer ring from falken, but they aren't in bthe same class as the other choices I gave you.

I had Mastercraft Courser AXTs on my last jeep, and plan to put them on the current one since i already have them.

they are pretty good and since they are seemingly a cheaper version of the Cooper AT3s that Martlor mentioned, theyd be a great buy.

They are decent. I had them on for a bit. Since I work at a tire shop I can try out different tires at a reduced price, plus get feedback from customers. The mastercrafts are a middle tier tire. Definitely a cheaper version of the cooper's. They aren't nearly the performers but they do get the job done. I like the khumo AT 51 more though as a middle tier option. Those are some pretty nice tires and nice budget type option as well.

Is the K10 a 74?

Yup, I mean, you're right that it's a K10 and it looks like a 73 or 74, but but technically the body is from an 83 c10 with a front clip from a 73 or 74 c30 and the chassis from an 80s k10 (exact year unknown)

they dont make trucks like that anymore. My dad had an early 80s chevy and the thing was a tough bugger. and plenty of room under the hood to work!

I like that two-tone interior of your clean XJ, btw. ive only seen the insides of 97+s that were grey so i assumed the brown interior was like my 96 and just one color, not accented in black. thats sharp.

Martlor, for my next set i might get either the Cooper At3s, or maybe wrangler authority, which the local wally world has for like 140 a pop.
I ran wrangler radials when i first got the previous jeep. then it started riding funny and thre were about to blow at the same time!

I knew it wasn't a 73 because it has drip rails over the doors. My non xj project is a 73 c10

You're in ICT?

Getting ready for the trip to Colorado that's in a little over two weeks. So far I've only removed the rear sway bar so I'm a little behind on schedule.

Parts are all here though. Rusty's 2" lift w/ shocks, steering stabilizer, larger bump stops, and new brake pads.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c746c7209f.jpg


Wondering if I should replace the rear wheel brake cylinders. They're not leaking and they're not broken and when I last did a brake check all 4 wheels skidded in the dirt.

But I hear that these things break and I'm just looking at preventative maintenance. However, the saying "if it's not broken then don't fix it" might apply hear, and everything int here is pretty rusty and I don't have the special tools for pulling the springs and

What do you think?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d85b16faee.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...a1b996e7a9.jpg


No, I'm in Lawrence KS, but Wichita is where the Jeep came from.

246,000 miles and the original factory starter finally went out. Bravo!

I would give those rear brakes a nice cleaning and make sure they're adjusted properly. Other than that, they look great. Clean your hub up too!!