YETI build 2
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 86
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Model: Cherokee
Had to oval out the holes on the hinge part that mounts to the firewall and remove the hood shims on the passanger side only. Shuts good now
Put on the rugged ridge hood lift. The Instructions really suck. It would be nice if they told you where the lower strut mounts goes.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 86
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Model: Cherokee
Took the Cherokee up for it’s first snow run. I let the kid ( now he’s 18) who I have been teaching how to work on car for 6 years drive because I had him do all the wrenching. Went up to Olallie Lake on the other side of Mt Hood in Oregon. The only two problems he had was the new crown valve cover I bought had a hairline crack in it and some how oil was dripping on the manifold and started smoking really bad and the water temp was all over the place. He jb welded the crack and added water because of the notorious air pocket you get from draining and refilling the entire radiator system. I thought putting a filler neck on the upper radiator hose would help and filling it there, but it didn’t work. Then the temp gauge went normal for the rest of the day. He being a Toyota guy and the 5 Toyota’s he went with. The Jeep out wheeled them all. He had to use the winch 6 times on the other Toys. Only had to use the elockers a few times and never got stuck once. Elockers are crazy. If you can afford them,get them.
Last edited by Freddysxj; Jan 13, 2019 at 12:34 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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Model: Cherokee
I
Old grille was looking pretty dull. Decided to change it up a bit. Got a new grille off amazon for $25. Went to Home Depot bought 4 gutter guards for $3 each ( they measure 6”x36” so you only can cover 3 opening per gutter guard)and some jb weld epoxy. Cut out the old opening with a Drexel and made a mesh grille. I will put the final picture up tomorrow, it did turn out.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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Model: Cherokee
Going to start on 2 door body side armor with a rub rail. I could only find a couple places that actually make them for a two door. Most places want over $300 to $475 per side. A lot will just put 4 door armor on and cut the dog leg. I figured I have a descent welder and a harbor freight plasma (but you could easily use a cut off wheel). I can make them way cheaper. A lot of places are making them out of 11 ga steel. I had the local metal supermarket pre cut both sides in 10 ga for $130. Don’t have to cut anything, but the wheel opening and drill some holes. So all I have to do is buy self tapping screws, 2 can of duplicolor bed liner coating spray cans and bought two 48” hand rails off amazon for $56. A couple hours of welding and an hour of grinding if everything goes smooth. For an all in budget around $200. 1st pic is a rough drawing and last pic is what you can buy from most places. Not that there’s anything wrong with buying them. I can just save a boat load of money building them myself
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Model: Cherokee
Going to put these on this weekend. Not bad for $60. Gaskets are still soft and in good condition.so I don’t think I will need new ones. I’m going to keep the clear unvented windows, just in case I don’t like them.
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Model: Cherokee
This build is only happening so fast because of hoarding three years of buying parts,owning Cherokees for 15 years (so I have a lot of parts everywhere) and having lots of time on my hands
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Old grille was looking pretty dull. Decided to change it up a bit. Got a new grille off amazon for $25. Went to Home Depot bought 4 gutter guards for $3 each ( they measure 6”x36” so you only can cover 3 opening per gutter guard)and some jb weld epoxy. Cut out the old opening with a Drexel and made a mesh grille. I will put the final picture up tomorrow, it did turn out.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 86
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Model: Cherokee
Finished picture of the custom grille inserts. Its kinda hard to see them because of the singer and lighting. You can see the aluminum radiator and transmission cooler through the grille. I think I’m going to black those out tomorrow,so they don’t look so obvious.
Last edited by Freddysxj; Jan 15, 2019 at 05:23 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2015
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
For a ZJ you need the '98 5.9 grill IMO. Guessing not the easiest to find and if you did probably not cheap. Whole reason I was looking for grill inserts for the XJ. With the 5.9 louvers and tire cover was kinda was trying to keep a theme.
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From: Anderson, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: L6
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,517
Likes: 1,626
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)