I am looking to make some beginner level improvements/enhancements to my 1997 Judy Grand Cherokee, but have no idea where to start.
I wanted to take a stab at her extensive flaking clear coat, but you need a garage for that, and I have non such garage.
The radio and speakers would be great to get updated, but the wiring scares the crap out of me.

What I've done so far (and brag about every chance I get):
• Put in a new battery
• Replaced the terminals
• Changed out headlights (housing and bulbs)
• Joined this forum!

I should mention that she runs really well, as she was a tow vehicle for a motorhome for a few years. Although, she's kinda slow going up hills. There's also a clicking on the front drivers side which my brother said was a blown boot.

Just kind of looking for things I can do on the weekend to get away from my stupid work desk.

I love Judy and never want another vehicle, ever. I want to make her the best she can be, so your help/suggestions are truly appreciated!

 

Any sort of body work outside is a bit hit & miss, you just need a dry, still day for spraying.

To change the radio &/or speakers you don't need to change any wiring except probably adding an adaptor harness for the radio. However any new stereo set-up would certainly benefit from upgraded speaker wiring - but that can wait 'til you want to add an amp, as you probably will.

A clicking sound, especially when turning at low speed is typical of a failing CVJ - which I didn't think your GC had. That can be caused by a damaged boot not being replaced PDQ but if it's clicking I'm afraid it's too late for that. If your brother's been under it, get him to show you the problem, if he's just guessing, get under the front & have a look.

Welcome to the club

 

I really appreciate this info! Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I definitely want to upgrade the radio and speakers, thinking that's where I will start.
My brother lives a bit away, but I'll see if anyone around me can take a look at the wheel situation. I think Judy was dormant for a few years in a rainy environment, so I am assuming there will be a lot of undercarriage/wheel based issues. I did get new tires and brakes though, so those should be solid. It's just everything else around them

Thanks again!

 

I've spent most of my life working outside on a variety of vehicles - & I remember when stereo upgrades were important - so I understand your situation.

Standing in a rainy environment is not good but providing the engine wasn't left open to the elements, ignoring widespread surface rust, it's the brakes that are likely to suffer most - &, very wisely, that's been sorted. Rubber boots on the other hand are not so much at risk, but will degrade with time. Easy enough to check though, just a visual inspection; if any have cracks, they're going to need replacing soon, if they're split, you should avoid using the Jeep 'til new ones are fitted, particularly if they're dry, 'cos that means the grease inside has long since gone, or grit will get in. Of course, it may be too late, the damage is done & the joint will need to be replaced. Let's wait & see the outcome of the damage inspection, but none of it's too scary &, if needs be, can be done out in the street (although better outside your home than by the side of the road somewhere).

 

Before you go plugging in new stereos and speakers i think you have to check to see if your system has the factory amp under the back seat. If it does that is what your stereo wiring harness is sending sound signal to. What is your ZJ? a 4.0 or 5.2? if you said earlier i did not see. But the 4.0 i think would have u joints at the front hubs, a manual locking transfer with part time lock, which is deceiving because it actually means full lock, and full time, which means you can run it in that position full time and your open 2wd.. the 5.2 would have the full time transfer with your 4x4 locking in automatically with a viscous clutch in the transfer case.
One thing you should look at is your control arm bushings. And all other suspension parts. like ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings etc. Bad control arm bushings cause a very dangerous death wobble that can wreck you. I know because on I24 going into Nashville i hit a giant hole going about 70 and nearly bounced off the road and wobbled uncontrollably so bad other vehicles got scared around me. I had to get all the way down to 25mph before it stopped and seriously thought i was going to flip over and hit the concrete median. I don't know your financial situation but i would recommend getting the best lift kit you can afford, i keep hearing the long arm kits are the best. I used to like Iron Rock Offroad but haven't looked at them lately. But anyway a good made in the USA kit if it exists would be the safe way to go and save you money and time in the long run and it would upgrade many worn parts at the same time.
The 5.2 jeeps have weak transmissions, or rather they go bad often. I am driving a 96 that i put a 5.9 in and the 44RE slips when i stomp on it. Although a previoius owner had installed a rough country kit in it that should be illegal to sell without the adjustable upper control arms which i just bought. I'm going to have to do more to make it really right but its worlds different than before with the terrible pinion angles and the spring sorta bent because of bad geometry. I run Dick Cepek tires that are roughly 33" tall but i didn't get the ones i wanted as they were discontinued and the ones i got are a little tighter in the middle than i really like. They do great but i don't like that they pick up gravel, a lot of gravel.. They're going to empty my driveway i'm afraid, lol.
The electronics can go bad in spots, like the little center console thing and the fuse and relay panel near the passenger door foot area can do all sorts of crazy stuff if it gets wet. And it will get wet if you don't keep your cowl area behind the hood and in front of the windshield clean. Ask me how i know, lol. Heat control units will go bad because of this also. and the blower motor or resistors. Pay attention to vehicle specifics as some of these parts changed between years even though for like 8 years they are called a ZJ.
Other than that i love my ZJ's, even the 97 4.0 ZJ that my girlfriend blew up and came from Ohio so its rotted out. ( theres ways to fix the rot that's pretty cool and not as hard as one might think, it'll take some rectangle tubing and a good welder and is way cool for an off roader. ) I plan on trying to make a UTV out of it, Maybe cut the roof off the back and make it have like a truck bed, or leave the roof but at any rate make it a work/trail vehicle with better accessible cargo area in the rear. Anyway back to owning a ZJ, they are great and to me the best SUV you can get. Properly maintain them and they will last and be reliable and not expensive to keep up. You can hit trails and some mud and do a lot of cool stuff right out of the box stock then get on the highway to go home and cruise at 70mph like a luxury vehicle. Anyway that's a few things i know of about ZJs