Supercompact's Budget Build Thread - 98 XJ
 

I just bought my first Cherokee :thumbup1: and I'm excited to get started on it. It's a 1998 that has around 207k on it. This will be a completely budget build. It seems to run well, but the steering is sloppy and brakes are just "okay". It has lots of little blemishes as to be expected. The passenger side of the windshield is busted also. I plan to clean up a lot of the rust and do a junkyard lift soon. Then it will be on to wheels/tires. Time to get started!

Here it is from the night I picked it up:


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I was getting a little scared with all the play in the steering wheel, so I went out and checked all the usual suspects. There didn't appear to be a lot of slop in the pitman arm to drag link or the drag link to tie rod. Also, the tie rod ends seemed to be decent. Then I noticed when the steering rod was turning, it didn't appear to be transmitted through the steering box to the pitman arm.

I removed the electric fan and proceeded to loosen the jam nut and turn down the allen bolt until I felt some resistance. Then I turned the allen bolt counter-clockwise about 1/2 turn and snugged down the jam nut. 90% of the previous slop in the steering is now cured. That was a big reward for a 10 minute procedure. :icon_smile:

Less than a week of owning it and a check engine light appears. Still ran fine, but didn't want to shift into overdrive. Got it home and broke out the scan tool.


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The code thrown was P0700. That's a generic transmission code. I found some info here on the forums about the possible culprit. I did some checking and saw that the reverse lights were not working as well. I was having the common problem of the neutral safety switch. Rather than remove it right away, I just decided to work the shifter through the gears over and over with the key on, but engine off. I erased the code and so far, it hasn't come back. Just in case it does return, I picked up some dielectric grease from the local auto parts store.

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Just more pictures in stock form and the junk yard score from this past weekend:


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Leaf springs from a S10 Blazer, front struts from a 96 V8 Tbird (wanted V6, but none on the yard), and some extra sway bar end links from another Cherokee to make some BPE's out of.

New U bolt kit came in the mail last night for the bastard pack install coming soon.


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Building across the street from where I work. Never noticed it until I got my Cherokee. :rockon:


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Subscribing.

None of the pics are showing up...is that just for me or everyone? Just shows a gray circle with a line across it like it's not available...

I have been trying to put the images up from my google photos, but apparently their links die after a period of time. I uploaded all of the photos here and redid all of the posts. Are they working for you now?

The hatch shocks came in the mail today. Installed in about 10 minutes with the help of the girlfriend.

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Yes sir, sure are right now. Looks good.

Hey it's looking good. My rear hatch shocks are pretty weak too. Where did you order those?
Keep up the pics.

Thanks man! I ordered them from RockAuto. They seem to be pretty strong.

Girlfriend should = wife?? LOL

:whistling2: