project: I Must be Out of My Mind
 

I bought this 94 2 door stick 2 years ago for $1200 as a weekend toy
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405641842
Mechanically it was very sound and ran like a champ but had really bad rot. I mean really bad rot. No floor board at all except the hump in the middle. I guess the hole on the roof should have been a clue. I did what I could on the body work knowing it wouldn't last and enjoyed it for a little less than a year and then crashed it.

The damage was fixable so I went looking for a donor.

My objective was to get the body parts I needed and change the gearing because all manual trans came with 3.08 gears and with just going up to 235/75's I couldn't get into 5th gear until almost 75mph.
I was looking for something with auto (i.e. 3.55 gears) under $500 that I could part out but then I came across this.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405641900
It was $900 and also a 2 door but I couldn't pass on the snow plow.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405641986
Then I must have lost my mind because when I started stripping it down. Although it was an 89, the body was in great shape, floor pans, rocker panels, dog legs and quarters were all in tact. There was one rust hole about 6 inches in diameter under the passengers rear seat floor board. Other than that it was all solid metal. Being a renix with 290k and barely functional, I didn't want to get into the mechanicals of it when the 94 had only 180k andran so well. So I decided to completely strip the 89 down to the bare cage and move all the electrical, controls and mechanicals from the 94 into the 89 making some planned improvments along the way.

Here's pic of 89 after sandblasting and the hole repaired in floor board.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405641953
This jig allowed me to roll it from one side to the other without a scratch and I could do it with the help of just one other guy.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405642145
This wasn't rot here but the frame was crumpled a bit. Looked like it had got hit in the hitch bending up on the frame without any damage to the body. Wanted to put my own hitch so I plated it.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405642269
Under-carraige painted
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405642318
Ready to put it down and get started on the top.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405642379
Epoxy primer
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405642429
and now paint.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405642483

More to come!

Attachment 321948

It's so beautiful

Apparently you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Here's the first pics that didn't get in.

The 94 before crash
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405643809
The 89
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405644011
The plow
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405644076
My jig for rotating the car
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1405644148
I think I got the hang of this now

You got my subscription. Going to be great watching the manufacturing process on a 2015 Jeep XJ! :popcorn:

Time for an over due update. These pics are from last summer.

Engine installed
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...16ecac47cb.jpg

Engine going in


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...62fc07f28e.jpg

Straight sixes are awkward

Also the dana below in build got tossed for a 29 spline 8.25.
I put a powertrax lockrite in the front and powertrax no slip in the 8.25

I also added IRO angled LCA's, 3 inch lift Doetsh Tec shocks and IRO exhaust.

I installed all wiring from the 94 and had all dashboard gauges and controls hooked up and working.

Had the engine running and was moving right along then it happened!!!

A gas tank explosion working on another car burned everything. Fortunately the Jeep was outside. Took 6 months to repair garage but Jeep Back in and I'm back to where I left off.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fab0de5150.jpg

The full instrument cluster is from a 91. I was surprised to find that adding the clutch pedal from the 94 into the 89 which was an auto was a simple bolt up job. The lose wires are accessories I haven't installed yet.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...47e25f87f6.jpg

The carpet looks like crap and I only put it in to make sure I mounted the console correctly but I debating replacement. I'm already over budget and have a way to go.

The Jeep and garage look sweet. As far as the carpet goes, I used some Tide laundry detergent and a stiff brush on mine and it worked wonders.

I like the way you think Sir. Just don't have the time or cash to go this route. But big props for doing so to you! :yes:

Sub

this is beautiful. I've always wanted to do this to a 2wd

Awesome work looking forward to the rest!

I'm fiending for an update

Edit just saw updates I missed. Sucks to hear about the fire. Looks so clean. Great work

Found your thread, heart sank when you said your garage burnt. Was/is it attached to the house?
Garage is WAY TOO CLEAN! I have a 30x50 shop and have to work outside, and house is basically a 2.5 car and wifey still parks outside.
I try and keep the flammable stuff in/near shop though.

Saw even your brake/fuel lines.. NEW or sanded and painted silver? AND your harness looks like you re-wrapped it with new connections.
Just like Crabmushrooms said, It's like a brand new Jeep. (i think you're WELL in your mind, and good at it)

Are you using POR-15 or the like?

Happy thanksgiving.
E

Yeah, been a while sorry about the gap in updates. I had planned a lot more but stuff happened. The garage is 22x24 and until I got on this Jeep project it was just storage until I cleaned it out. My project Jeep was sitting alongside the garage covered with a tarp about 8 feet away when the fire happened. Had the fire not gotten under control as quick as it was it would've taken the Jeep. As it is the paint on the top of the roof shows impressions from the heated plastic tarp but no ones ever going to see it. As for the wiring there is a lot of new wiring with new connections and loom I got from CE Electric. The rest is stock that I pulled out of the 94 and laid into the 89 body. Had some electrical issues early on that I pretty much expected trying to retrofit 94 electronics into a 89 but worked thru them. The real delay came when I had to take about 7 months rebuilding the garage and then as soon as I got traction again I got put on a project at work that was one of those all consuming around the clock deals from August until now but I should be able to move along now. Here's some updated pics. The last one is a bumper I fabricated from steel I get from my buddy who makes steel for buildings. It's just tacked up but I'll weld, grind and paint this weekend. More to come.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...169e3148d2.jpg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...e86503805f.jpg

Wow, quite the adventure so far! Glad no one was hurt and there was minimal loss with the fire. The jeep looks incredible. Any plans to stiffen it up for plowing? Unibodies and plows aren't the best of buddies.