My wife's grandfather gave us his 1999 Jeep Cherokee that he bought new and has taken good care of. It has a few issues and will be working to restore it back to good operating condition. I don't plan on doing a 4WD conversion which will probably make this build boring for most of you but still wanted to document my progress. I have already replaced the most of the brake components, tune up parts and currently working on the water pump, hoses and exhaust manifold. While I have so much removed, i'm planning on removing the harmonic balancer to check the front seal since there is quite a but of sludge built up around that area.

 

That's a good clean looking XJ and it will be nice to keep it in the family. Have fun with it!

 

Here is the current state of the engine. I almost have all the bolts off of the intake/exhaust manifolds but broke my swivel. I'm going out of town for work next week so it'll be in the garage another few weeks.



This is the manifold i'll be installing.

 

In on this. I have the same xj, except classic

 

I wish I had something higher than the base model. The manual locks and windows are really annoying. I didn't mention it in the first post but it currently has 193K miles but I sent the oil in for a analysis with Blackstone and they said everything looked good.

After i'm finished with the engine I need to figure out whats making noise after about 40MPH when coasting and then it'll be on to worn suspension components. The stock radio also does not work and I need to figure out what to do with the hood. My wife's aunt was driving the car a few years ago and didn't close those the hood fully and it flipped up while driving. It will still close but there is a gap in between the rubber weather stripping and the hood near the windshield that will let in rain.

 

Electric is nice but many times I have wanted manual locks and windows. Mine is . . . temperamental. I never know when I roll my window down if it's going to go back up. Locks work - most of the time.

 

Good point, electronics fail just like the radio in mine. I'm planning on making sure everything is good mechanically before shelling out the money for a new car stereo receiver.

 

throw yourself a bone. Receivers are inexpensive unless you want to compete. But then you have to add speakers and wire.

 

I made some good progress after getting back from Austin. The intake and exhaust manifolds are off and I started removing the balancer and timing chain cover.