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Ye good old fatty project ('94 xj 2.1 TD)
As I promissed, I open my rebuild and restoration thread
She came to me one year ago, with 190.000km (118060 miles), in a not so bad shame, mostly rust free. The worst parts were the battery tray and the clear coat, then a few bad tinkerer things, like bad cables, cheap screws, cheap gas tubes... and a huge amount of dirt. After a year, she had only a few changes, new tires, new trunk door links, new power steering tubes, battery, light bulbs... basic things for an old car. Then... I crashed with a truck and a few things more were replaced and repair, and this is she right now (yep, covered with dirt and bird poop) https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...4b9fc0bf8c.jpg And still with some damage from the crash https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8c9959ce63.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...a4772d03a0.jpg And many scratches And, as I said, ruined clear coat and paint work https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c1c5a62169.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...63bc80712b.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...3a9edc47e9.jpg This will be a long run restoration, basically, I want to mod the less possible, leaving most of it stock, and some things to make it more confortable for camping and light use. |
Having some spare time I decided to disassemble the door panels, refinish and refurbish the interior, but it seems someone smoked (and never cleaned) in the car, and the grey strings now looks like... well, crap, also, the smell is pretty bad too...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...ebf2b2219.jpeg Also, the material under the cloth, something like MDF or cardboard, have mildew and is falling apart, so I'm looking to replace it, probably with yatch grade plywood or plastic panels, and to insulate it, and reglue the faux leather and so. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...1d67c27b3.jpeg If I've found something interesting is this https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...adcda25c9.jpeg January 14th, 1994, probably when the door panel was finished, so gives me some clues about when the car was assembled. The sunvisor's cloth is pretty ruined too, I'm looking forward to change it and the roof cloth too (maybe... plaid?) https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...cb6c000b3.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...3abf48ac8.jpeg The back part of the car had some plastic damaged, and the trunk shock absorbers always jump out, the ball joints were busted, so I've changed those for something more resilent... https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...7b93b1065.jpeg Now, the trunk door won't fall on top of my head again! Also, I repaired with glass fiber and putty the plastic under those, the shock absorbers broke those jumping out... https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...bca902e97.jpeg Really ugly work, but after some work with texturized paint, they look pretty good (also pretty... blackish) https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d45e01380.jpeg This finished the interior part for now... Outside, the hood's clear coat was in a really bad shape, the car looked so much older and ugly with those flaked spots, so I sanded, applied primer, new black paint and new clear coat and this was the result before polishing https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b0a9fa655.jpeg Also, I applied scratch resistant paint to the door's low part (the squared "bump") https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8db8984db.jpeg And refinished the door's handles, now they're deep black again instead of old plastic grey. And that's all for now, I'm waiting to arrive some motor parts (hoses, filters, new electrics fans wich this car didn't have from stock) and new tires, and looking some parts in scrapyards. For a few bucks it looks a bit younger. |
As I said months ago... this is going to take some time :001_unsure:
Tinkering under the car I saw a small rust spot, and now.... https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d4ae6ccb9.jpeg I'm on my quest of cleaning everything, sanding, priming and painting while I'm waiting for a new alternator https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...aa0f7b48a.jpeg Also, I'm changing the control panel lights, the old ones were way too dim and I couldn't even see the speedometer, by the way... wich kind of buld are the tiny ones? https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...05797eacf.jpeg Under the hood, the fiber firewall were rotten, so I threw it to a trash can, and discovered a few rust spots... I'm in love with the GM design in this car, it's mostly like a LEGO, if you can remember the place of every screw, everything is on hand and you can deal with it without much work, also, it seems every electronics part is made in Japan, the good old days when China only made rice things So, until the new battery and alternator arrive, here we're still on xmass holidays, I have some time to deep clean the car. |
Slow, but it goes!
This has been a soft Winter, so I've had time to deal with the old problems (installing new alternator, battery, battery wires, battery conectors and so...) and now runs like a charm. Also, a friend of mine camperized a van, and had a few left overs of insulating mat... had enough for the back doors, and this thing is amazing, now I can talk in the car without screaming https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...3e6b809ec9.jpg And the stereo sounds better after isolating it and separating the speakers from the door with isolating washers https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...352b9099fe.jpg After cleaning the control panel I saw it was something between yellow and grey, a good hand of high reflective white paint, polishing the plastic screen and now I can see what is going on https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...159e851708.jpg We had a few snowy days here (the only freaking part of Spain considered high altitude mountain), and the roads were clossed... except for 4x4 https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...78b42530b2.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8d84daa8fb.jpg And last, but not least... I've recibed the license to change the car color, and get rid of the old paint and rust. (yes, in my country you have to ask for perssion, for free at least) So... who likes a red XJ? |
Well... it's time to say Goodbye to this car, after a crash, the insurance says is too expensive to repair the car with new parts, even being perfectly driveable, it is going to remain as it is right now wihile I'm looking for another car, and to start a new project.
Also, I will upload the scraping of the car (radio, speakers, lights...) the rest is going to give some new life to a friend's cherokee |
So... who likes a red XJ?[/QUOTE]
I do!! Love red color very pop out in snow! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...0de86bd0e2.png That my phone screen and sorry for ur loss, cant u just keep it and fix it urself? Is that serious damaged like frame bend or any? |
Originally Posted by Jeepcherokee1989
(Post 3550771)
So... who likes a red XJ?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...0de86bd0e2.png That my phone screen and sorry for ur loss, cant u just keep it and fix it urself? Is that serious damaged like frame bend or any?[/QUOTE] Thank you Yes, I can keep all the parts, in fact, is parked under my window right now and I'm driving it everyday, but it shakes over 40km/h and tends to go right. I don't know if the frame is bent or not yet, I'm waiting the share of damages, after that I'll make the decission, if it's ok... maybe I'll buy another one anyway, fix this one by myself and lend it to my gf and my father, they only thing is there's not many parts for it here. To be fair, except for the diesel price here, it's been a cheap car to maintain compared to their cars, even the insurance and taxes are cheap due to be over 25 y.o. |
Well, at the end... the chassis is not bend, only exterior (and stering) damage, good news!
The list of parts is quite long, and it seems the insurance will pay the money I payd when I bought the car, wich is really nice, with junkyard parts, doing it myself and so I can keep my XJ and even buy another car. Anyway, the damaged parts...: radiator, water pump, engine supports, front tires (with less than 10.000km...), two ball joints, front bumper, wich I can bend back with the hammer, all bodywork and so... less than 900 euros, both buying used and new parts. I'm still driving it until the mandatory inspection in September, when I go back to college and I don't drive most weeks Now it's mostly red, I'll upload pics when it's done. The other part... well, the old 2.1 from Renault has low Km/L ratio (12L/100km) wich is way too expensive and it starts to feel old after 200.000km, I'm looking foreward to Swap it for any good newer diesel engine I could get it around 130 HP, Probably a VW one, in Spain there're tons of them made for SEAT and they are quite cheap, cheaper than rebuild the 2.1 or buying another one from junkyard. |
I removed the seats (now I'll repair the hole in the drive's side one), the carpet and the lower half of the dash, simply to clean the rust a dirt, and so
And, surprise to no one, there was rusted, way to much to simply clean it, with small holes https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d6cb8386de.jpg Luckily, the unibody beam was just fine. I knew it was taking water from somewhere, I thought it was from some rubber gasket at the door, but it's been a plug that clamps the foam and rubber matt. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c0ff31544a.jpg The rest has superficial rust, so I took the angle grinder with a wire wheel and gave it a good clean, also, I sealed everything again (bolts, handbrake....) and started to weld a new plate. The thickness is on imperial I think (1.23mm?), so I bought a 1.5mm plate and stated to weld. For a cheapo flux core wire welder I'm happy with the result before cleaning and sealing everything. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8314fe69ca.jpg I've never welded before and it's a ton of work (and fun), and MIG welding gives a good penetration without knowing much Tomorrow I'll end the welding part and start the paint with Epoxi primer and Isolation |
Long time after the crash... the Cherokee es running again!
As many of you know, we are on quarentine in Spain, luckily I have all my tools and a tons of sandpaper and pain, and... lets accep it, the red paint was applied like a crap, so I started to sand down all the body to the primer https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...5750039c1.jpeg By hand... so far, this is how it goes https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f941277c3.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8af3fa206.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...4a9e001a5.jpeg Slow and steady. I'm still paring everythin with 180 grit wet sandpaper and a sandblock, I have a month (or more) to do basically this, work 4 hours at home and workout, so... plenty of time, and it's quite therapeutic. Also, someone is uploading 3D models parts in thingiverse, those whic brake in every jeep: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...34c3b5011.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...e69f12c6d.jpeg Printed in PETG, so far, so good, and I'm sure any 3D hub will print those for you almost free See you guys, and stay safe! |
I really like the red painted button for the roof rack, good luck in your project
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