Bought my first XJ
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SoCal
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Year: 99
Model: Cherokee (SJ)
Engine: 4.0
Bought my first XJ
so i picked up a really clean 2WD XJ a little over a week ago for my GF who just turned in her lease.
(please dont shame me on the 2WD. all the 4WD prices within 150 miles of So-Cal are insane. 200k-250k miles for 6500-7500)
anyway this one did need a bit of TLC but had a really great list of recent work including:
new radiator & electric fan
head gasket
oil pan gasket
rear main seal
valve cover gasket
transmission output seal
front and rear brakes
3 new tires (2 rears are mounted and i have 1 loose new tire but someone stole the 4th tire the PO bought before he could get them installed)
bright side:
power windows and locks work
all doors open and shut smooth (no body twist)
ac works
really clean interior
cruise control works
So ended up picking it up and of course the AC wasn't working and it was throwing a CEL but a quick search and found it was literally just changing a fuse
So no more CEL.
AC is ice cold.
Replaced a headlight ballast
Replaced the buggered up battery terminals
Threw on a cheapo light bar with windshield mount ($89 via Amazon)
Wired the light bar to the factory fog switch
eBay roof rack ($112)
Installed some low milage take off XJ Rubicon shocks ($25)
Raised the rear to highest setting on the shackles
i think the rear leaf packs are tired and i should look into picking up a bastard pack or at least another stock set
also may grab a set of black AR-23 wheels and 31" tires locally this week for a deal too good to pass up
anyway we decided to spend Christmas at Joshua Tree National Park and camped on BLM land in the XJ.
needless to say we love this thing!!!
pics from the weekend
XJ was great. no issues at all.
abandoned truck on the trail
sunset at barker dam on Sat
waking up Sunday on BLM land north of the park
Jumbo Rocks
Desert Queen Mine
found a couple of mines we could get into...didnt go very far since its 100 years old and creepy AF
Sunset at Keys View on Sunday
and of course...
(please dont shame me on the 2WD. all the 4WD prices within 150 miles of So-Cal are insane. 200k-250k miles for 6500-7500)
anyway this one did need a bit of TLC but had a really great list of recent work including:
new radiator & electric fan
head gasket
oil pan gasket
rear main seal
valve cover gasket
transmission output seal
front and rear brakes
3 new tires (2 rears are mounted and i have 1 loose new tire but someone stole the 4th tire the PO bought before he could get them installed)
bright side:
power windows and locks work
all doors open and shut smooth (no body twist)
ac works
really clean interior
cruise control works
So ended up picking it up and of course the AC wasn't working and it was throwing a CEL but a quick search and found it was literally just changing a fuse
So no more CEL.
AC is ice cold.
Replaced a headlight ballast
Replaced the buggered up battery terminals
Threw on a cheapo light bar with windshield mount ($89 via Amazon)
Wired the light bar to the factory fog switch
eBay roof rack ($112)
Installed some low milage take off XJ Rubicon shocks ($25)
Raised the rear to highest setting on the shackles
i think the rear leaf packs are tired and i should look into picking up a bastard pack or at least another stock set
also may grab a set of black AR-23 wheels and 31" tires locally this week for a deal too good to pass up
anyway we decided to spend Christmas at Joshua Tree National Park and camped on BLM land in the XJ.
needless to say we love this thing!!!
pics from the weekend
XJ was great. no issues at all.
abandoned truck on the trail
sunset at barker dam on Sat
waking up Sunday on BLM land north of the park
Jumbo Rocks
Desert Queen Mine
found a couple of mines we could get into...didnt go very far since its 100 years old and creepy AF
Sunset at Keys View on Sunday
and of course...
#3
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tarpon Springs, FL / Denver, CO
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Year: '98
Engine: 4.0 I6
Sharp looking XJ, maybe in the future you will get the "mod" bug and swap in front axle from another Cherokee. That would probably be pretty cheap, even with the So-Cal jeep tax
Don't forget to change all the fluids (trans and rear axle I guess), and bleed the brakes to get fresh fluid in the lines. Maybe power steering fluid too, and a quick tune up (NGK copper spark plugs, clean the throttle body and IAC). Throw some new 4-hole injectors in there if you feel the need. Then just upgrade and fix as things come up
Don't forget to change all the fluids (trans and rear axle I guess), and bleed the brakes to get fresh fluid in the lines. Maybe power steering fluid too, and a quick tune up (NGK copper spark plugs, clean the throttle body and IAC). Throw some new 4-hole injectors in there if you feel the need. Then just upgrade and fix as things come up
Last edited by investinwaffles; 12-27-2017 at 03:56 PM.
#5
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Year: 99
Model: Cherokee (SJ)
Engine: 4.0
this weekend we took a trip to Red Rock Canyon State Park area.
Did some reading about the Burro Schmidt Tunnel and Walt Bickel Mining Camp on BLM land a bit north of the park.
It was roughly 10 miles of very light 4WD trails with no problems at all. Mostly just light rocky climbs and loose sand in the wash areas., either way the 2WD XJ did great
set up camp Sat near the Schmidt cabin
Schmidt campsite" target="_blank">[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4686/39455282541_b9e5ded014_k.jpg%5b/img%5d%5b/url%5d%5burl=https:/flic.kr/p/237wCU6%5dBurro
Schmidt campsite
Did some reading about the Burro Schmidt Tunnel and Walt Bickel Mining Camp on BLM land a bit north of the park.
It was roughly 10 miles of very light 4WD trails with no problems at all. Mostly just light rocky climbs and loose sand in the wash areas., either way the 2WD XJ did great
set up camp Sat near the Schmidt cabin
Schmidt Cabin (Schmidt spent 38 years digging a 1/2 mile long tunnel through solid granite with only hand tools and dynamite)
Red Rock Canyon State Park
stopped to explore a few ghost towns nearby.
this is whats left of Garlock, CA
[ame=https://flic.kr/p/234MEF1][img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4681/39424265702_91bcec79d4_k.jpg%5b/img%5d%5b/url%5d%5burl=https:/flic.kr/p/234MEF1%5dGarlock%5b/url
[ame=https://flic.kr/p/JaMbH2][img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4729/27677648779_0c3a335fbd_k.jpg%5b/img%5d%5b/url%5d%5burl=https:/flic.kr/p/JaMbH2%5dGarlock%5b/url
[ame=https://flic.kr/p/237wW2c][img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4599/39455340141_5c6c28d4f7_k.jpg%5b/img%5d%5b/url%5d%5burl=https:/flic.kr/p/237wW2c%5dGarlock%5b/url
then went to go check out Randsburg, CA
this town isnt as deserted as the ruins in Garlock. i would say there are about 20 "homes" around the area and a general store and a saloon.
[ame=https://flic.kr/p/222UWc9][img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4681/38746693934_7eb9ae76b8_k.jpg%5b/img%5d%5b/url%5d%5burl=https:/flic.kr/p/222UWc9%5dRandsburg%5b/url
Randsburg jail museum
Sunday we decided to switch it up and climb in elevation. turned off rt395 and headed up to the Inyo/Sequoia national forest.
found a great campsite near Kennedy Meadows.