"Project Mirkwood - My $500 find"
 

So my oldest son has gotten me jealous of his lifted 98 xj and that lead me to my $500 craigslist purchase. I'm not new to jeeps, but this is my first Cherokee. The kid and I first started with a project 85 CJ7, I've been slowly building a 93 YJ, and I bought the wife a 99' Cherokee Classic a few years back. I have to admit that I'm looking forward to owning and building an XJ more than I thought.

The kid and I found this Black 98' Cherokee Classic and went to go check it out.https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...ab0efead0d.pngI love the vine climbing up the antenna

We looked it over for major leaks and signs of damage and we're told that the owners had some issues getting it to start and had just parked it a year and half ago when they bought a a Jeep Liberty. We played with neutral/park and jiggled wires to get it started, put 2 qts of oil in it, and took it for a spin. During our test drive we discovered a horrible death wobble at 30mph, the electric windows didn't work, the steering wheel squeeked like a happy mouse, the seat frame was broken/held up by wood, and the smell of really old French fries and mildew will make me sick...... I figured what the hell, it's worth more in parts than what they were asking, so I paid for it and drove it 40 miles home.

Well if it runs good you did alright. Mine looked like that on the inside when I got it too. Your death wobble might just be the tires from sitting in one spot for awhile. :)

WOW, it is going to be a big project but should not be that bad. A lot of the things that you need to do should not cost to much. But cant way to see how your project turns out. You can also check my youtube page to get some ideas. "BPT Welding"

Gotta love cheap projects. In for updates!

Ive got a 98 Classic here as well. This was my $200 project.

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Nice score and I see your up in Washington. Not sure your location but I think your a few hours away from mine (Lake Stevens). Any ways not much help I can do locally but it's always nice to see new jeepers and ones nearby. I know you said your not new to Jeeps but still!!! Congrats on the purchase and I think you will do just fine. I have soon found out parts for these XJ's are cheap and easily accesible if your just paitent and search around. Even new parts online are cheap unless your going for big name company parts. What are your plans for it?

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Yup, I can't wait till mine gets to grow up and be a big boy like yours.
I've had this for a month or so already and been doing little bits of work to it, but my shop is freezing cold, the floor keeps getting wet, and the wife has been doing an engine swap for two months in it. So progress has been slow due to lack of time and space.

So it was a long drive home.....the Jeep felt like it was going to rattle apart and vibrated so bad that I couldn't go over 50 mph. It was so loudly vibrating that I couldn't listen to the engine or anything else.
It did make it 40 miles home, so I guess it did ok for what I paid for it. Here's some pics at its new home.https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...3be1769fc1.jpgYou can see the vines still in the grill
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...17002196de.jpgThe front tire looks pretty crappy.


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I gave it a bath the next day and was quite happy at how straight and nice it looked. The clear coat has little lines in it but over all she looks like a good projecthttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...6d3d124762.jpgI was supprised at how nice the paint looked.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...461eaebb0a.jpgLooks good even with the broken tail light.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...01d542ab96.jpgGot the vines out of the grill :)
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...da0061c0ac.jpgI know its wet but even dry it looks damn good.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...68865244de.jpgI took it down to the shop to introduce her to my 93 YJ and my wive's 99 XJ.

Congrats on the new project. It's always fun to have a project vehicle and when you start with something inexpensive, like yours (and mine), it is easy to see the progress you make when repairing or modifying things.

I am trying to find one now for around that price!

Thanks Stealthy and Sav. I'm a build it, not buy it, kinda guy. I wanted something stock and not molested to start with. I bought cheap because I know I'm going to be throwing money at it, BUT it will be exactly how I want it. I think of a build like I do road trips - it's about the journey.

I gave it a bath the next day and was quite happy at how straight and nice it looked. The clear coat has little lines in it but over all she looks like a good project.https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c14ab532df.jpgI was supprised at how nice the paint looked
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...48715e8783.jpgLooks good even with the broken tail light.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...e2a39b479d.jpgGot the vines out of the grill :)
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c69e4914fe.jpgI know its wet but even dry it looks damn good
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d72725c526.jpg
I took her down to the shop to introduce her to my 93 YJ and my wive's 99 XJ.

It does have a straight body and nice paint. Good find! Mine I just bought is mechanically sound but paint challenged. More than half the paint peeled off. But no used vehicle is perfect and mine is 24 years old, so it is to be expected.

Since she was washed, I decided it was time to remove the previous owners personality from the outside as well.