So I have a 1989 Cherokee Limited for a few years now and really like it. Rusty's 4 inch lift, BF Goodrich, Jeep.com engine with maybe 15000 miles on it I have rebuilt the front with new carrier bearings, drag link, steering box, bushings pretty much everything. I installed new rear bearings and seals. Has some after market add ons. So a tree fell on it crushed the roof trying to decide which way to go.
If I bought a body to swap my running gears axles motor and so on being the renix do I need to stay with certain years or will any swap over. Not looking for extra work to make the swap. I can probably repair the roof with lots of work.

 

Ouch!!!! and very sad.

Easiest to get an 87 to 90 donor.

 

Definitely Ouch!!

I know this is going to sound extreme but if it runs as good as it looks you could cut off the roof and replace. It's not as hard as it sounds. Welding is required but is doable if you can find a donor.

 

Possible unless they want the sunroof.

 

Man... You are in the same boat I am. I have been hammering on my bent roof and need to share something. These things are soft, like lead. So you might not believe this, but you could probably jack and hammer that almost straight again to use until you find another one.

 

That sucks! But it is fixable. First thing I would do is get a couple of very thick steel plates and rent a Porto Power. One plate on the floor inside and the other plate against the inside of the roof and jack it up. Once you get it close you can then make a better decision on if you want to fix it the rest of the way. Which might require cutting out certain sections and welding in new pieces from a junk yard. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

Yep, it needs to be jacked at a slight angle right where the crease is and it will almost come straight again. I used an old school bumper jack with a 2x4 banded around the top of the jack shaft then dead blow hammered it a little more on mine.

 

 

Cut and replace is the way to go but with the likely loss of the sunroof. MonacaYankee's idea is pretty awesome depending on where you live.

 

Even though technically fixable, still royally sucks to have something like that happen. Good luck on the repairs

 

shocking as it sounds it doesnt look like alot of damage. yes the roof is caved in but the doors look somewhat intact and other parts.

 

And I am surprised that glass survived.

 

That's rough, I think if that roof rack wasn't there the damage would have been a lot worse.

 

You make a good point. And maybe an argument to run a roof rack.

 

Maybe cut the roof out leaving the outer border. get that back right corner back to par the best you can and then skin a donor roof back in..... maybe