Project: free xj restoration/build

Jakes01234

Explorer
I received a 1995 Cherokee sport 4.0 4x4 auto with 173k miles on it for free. I talked to the previous owner about it and he handed me the title and said have fun. So 32 dollars later for a new master cylinder and I'm on the road with this gem. A little background on me. I have 5 four wheeled, registered vehicles. None of them are a SUV. I have a classic 64 ford a sedan for the fiancee my TJ, a work truck and the newest vehicle, an XJ.

Fun things keep surrounding this Jeep. We found a roof top box on the side of the highway that we normally would not have been able to retrieve but that to this little guy we strapped it on the roof and BAM free roof box.

I've been driving it for 3 weeks now and working out the kinks. I had to install a new radio and speakers seeing the factory stuff was blown. I changed the blower motor and resistor and today I will be changing the switch so that I can hopefully have more than one speed. A new thing to tackle for the very near future is getting rid of the 55mph death shake. Front end is tight so not sure what it is.

The fiancee hates this thing. It has missing paint, some rot holes on the side, and a little dent in the door. So I enjoy her embarrassment in it and take it everywhere we go. Yesterday was the best. We drove into Worcester to get the kids there school uniforms, as I merge onto highway I see a truck coming quick so I decide to just hit the gas harder than normal and it just so happens a clamp broke and the pipe slid off another piece and one end landed on the ground with sparks and banging and let's not forget the now open exhaust hahaha. She was horrified that I am now on the side of the highway fixing this thing. I loved every minute of it.

Now that story time is over i will give you some ideas of what I will be doing to it. I will be putting stock height suspension on it instead of drooping suspension. Not sure on shock choice yet but probably just some severe duty Monroes. Replace all the other old tired suspension with just anything I can buy at the local parts stores. No special order anything on this Jeep. I want it to be more comfortable and reliable so I will be researching there weak points and fixing them the best way I can. On board air is a must as it always comes in handy on the other jeep day to day. I will be on the lookout for aluminum bumpers if anyone knows where to find them. I want to keep it light and usable for day to day use. It will some just some dirt fire roads and back roads nothing crazy.

I will update with some pictures this afternoon when I start tinkering with it again.



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Jakes01234

Explorer
This is my exploring buddy chewy. She starts in the back of the jeep then always ends up next to me.
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We went out this morning to get an exhaust clamp to fix the little problem we had yesterday. On our way out we kept going past the house to look at some roads we never went on.
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Here's a few shots of the Jeep.
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Jakes01234

Explorer
I went for a little test ride on an old cart path and my temporary exhaust repair let go.
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I still had clamps in the jeep and some plastic twine crap that made do for ghetto short ride home. Only had one pair of gloves so my brother in law used a stick in the tailpipe.
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This week I will mend the exhaust in a more proper way.

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Jakes01234

Explorer
I have motorcycles also and that's why I mentioned 4 wheel vehicles lol

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Septu

Explorer
They're pretty capable little vehicles. We went 30k into the bush last weekend. 4 JKs and 1 XJ. That little XJ followed us everwhere, and only got stuck twice - and once was just because he picked a bad line.

Put a small lift on it (2-3"), SYE (for the angle due to lift) and some decent tires, and it'll go everywhere. Enjoy the XJ. I still miss mine from time to time.
 

ZMagic97

Explorer
Free?! Man I am so jealous. I had a 2WD XJ that I used as a dialy driver and that thing never let me down at all. Sold it with 185K and it was still running like new. Congrats!
 

Jakes01234

Explorer
YES FREE!!
I always find weird deals and things like this. I guess I must just hang around strange folks..
Its been fun so far and hopefully I will have some time tonight to try and get this exhaust fixed correctly.
Just a little parts list of what I have into it.
4 Brand new tires mounted and balanced on wheels $400
Blower motor $29.72
2 U joint repair kits to eliminate any future problems with the threaded yoke $11.07
Blower switch $11.37
Cup holder $6.62
Blower motor resistor $8.02
Master cylinder BRAND NEW $32.00 (thanks to an error)
So im just under $500 so far.
I did all the normal maintenance plugs, wires, etc but I had them all from when I was maintaining a few jeeps so no idea what I paid for that stuff years ago..

One thing Im not a fan of is the seats.. They are not very comfy but being a somewhat long distance motorcycle traveler I have ways of coping with discomfort.
Anyone have any seat ideas for the 96 and older XJ's?
 

88Xj

Banned
I love my older Laredo seats...they are practically a budget bucket seat, very comfy to me. And I installed seat heaters :)
ALOT of people swap grand cherokee seats in, which I may end up doing. Those ****ers are like lazy boys!
 

Jakes01234

Explorer
I love my older Laredo seats...they are practically a budget bucket seat, very comfy to me. And I installed seat heaters :)
ALOT of people swap grand cherokee seats in, which I may end up doing. Those ****ers are like lazy boys!


Those laredo seats seem like they would be rare.. I was under the assumption that the WJ seats didnt fit the older generation XJ's but Im not sure where I heard such a thing. Are you referring to the ZJ or WJ?
Thanks for your help
 

Jakes01234

Explorer
I grabbed some used exhaust parts I had laying around, went to the local exhaust guy and had it all installed. New cat, muffler and tail pipe. Its a little louder than stock but definitely not falling off anytime soon like the exhaust that was on it.
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Today I ordered the Dorman replacement leaf springs with new bushings, bar pic eliminators, shocks, and grade 8 U bolts. I'm hoping to get to this mid week next week. I already have new ish front springs and while I'm there I'm going to swap out the old control arms with some I took off my TJ at 20k.

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bob91yj

Resident **************
Nice score, XJ's will go some places for sure.

Where did you find Grade 8 u-bolts?
 

Jakes01234

Explorer
I bought them from fat bob's garage. I was doing a large amazon order and they were the only ones I could find on amazon.



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Jakes01234

Explorer
My best friends stopped by there names are FedEx and UPS.
Received the shocks, leaf springs and U bolts. Just need to get the bar pin eliminators in for the rear shocks and I will start the install. Hopefully I can do front sometime this week.
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