99 Jeep XJ Intro and expedition "build" attempt! Plus some restoration.

[HercDriver]

NOTE: Some of the pictures from Tinypic/Photobucket are not loading or are no longer being hosted. Im still trying to find the originals left on USB drives. Ill upload as I find them.

Ive got a thread on CherokeeForum already. Ill update both of them simultaneously.

Hello all!

This will be my intro/build thread.

Im relatively new to Jeeps and/or overlanding/camping them. Or taking anything off road for that matter!

Ive always wanted a Jeep Cherokee (xj body) so I snagged one for a project.

Ive had imports but never anything American made, let alone an SUV/Truck. I know right? Where have I been and what have I been missing!?

Now that Im older (hurts to say!) with a wife and pups I wanted something I could tinker with (and from what I hear owning a Jeep Ill get to more than tinker) as well as load up and take a weekend trip camping.

This may be a slower build thread as far as updates as I usually research until my eyes bleed and budget parts that are worth it to put the money into vs things I can replace easily and inexpensively.

Here it goes!

Enter my tired, old, future expedition (aka camping) vehicle:
1999 Jeep Cherokee SE (XJ obviously)
It’s a 4x4 Auto with an NP231/AW4 Combo

Its some sort of light blue slate color. I think its probably been repainted but for what I got it for and what Im going to do with it Im ok with some of the imperfections. The inside of the Jeep is more blue than the outside. The outside has a bit more green I think.

Whatever. Its light blue!

The day I purchased it off some hole in the wall dealer.

I learned on the drive home to check the lug nuts of vehicles you purchase in these types of lots. I almost had the right rear tire fall of on me!

The same day my wife and I ripped it apart to clean it. It was kind of gross- ok, really gross. Enter Dawn dish soap, shop-vac and hours later we had the carpet and all but a few interior pieces.

The goal is to rino/hercu/raptorline the interior before installaing the carpets. Ill also be running new wires for the speakers in the back as well as wires for outlets in the back cargo area for camping and such.

Ill let the pics do the talking…

 

[HercDriver]

I went to the local pull pay and got some goodies!

I got a spare NP231, a tach from a 99 classic with the speedo on it, a genuine mopar tow hitch with harness and some misc odds and ends Ill put on eventually. Plan for the extra 231 is to open it up and rebuild it with an HD chain and an SYE.

 

[HercDriver]

Made great progress! Now before anyone says "You should have pulled up the sound deadening material!" I left them on purpose. The lining is to protect against rust when water seeps through the floor carpets, not to be the primary boundary.

Btw I used Herculiner for anyone who wanted to know. (I had $60 worth of AutoZone points to use. Made it $28 bucks out the door. Even got 10% for military!) It was pretty easy to use. I picked up an extra roller and brush so my wife and I could put it on simultaneously.

I did all the prep work on the painted surfaces. Used a angle grinder with a wire brush to clean off the rust spots. Cleaned it and wiped it with mineral spirits. Sprayed a rust inhibitor paint over pretty much most of the floor. Then scuffed it per the directions for the Herculiner.

Overall I'm pretty happy with it. It's still drying at the moment. Once it's fully cured I'll slap the carpets on top of it and I'll be good to go!

 

[HercDriver]

Saved #3.

 

[jswift716]

Bedlining the floors were the best thing I ever did in my 99. sounds like your off to a good start

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[HercDriver]

Bedlining the floors were the best thing I ever did in my 99. sounds like your off to a good start

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Thanks! I havent decided whether or not Ill be using Duplicolor, Herculiner or Raptorliner. Ive read good things about all of them.

 

[Mitch502]

XJ's always look good. Looks like you're starting right, by cleaning up the important stuff first. (rust, etc).

I hear you about researching until your eyes bleed....I'm the same way! Took me forever to get a lift kit for mine...I searched everywhere on CL for 500 miles and ended up buying a never used "new" kit from someone...saved $500 or so by taking my time!

 

[HercDriver]

XJ's always look good. Looks like you're starting right, by cleaning up the important stuff first. (rust, etc).

I hear you about researching until your eyes bleed....I'm the same way! Took me forever to get a lift kit for mine...I searched everywhere on CL for 500 miles and ended up buying a never used "new" kit from someone...saved $500 or so by taking my time!

Nice! I usually (to my wife's dismay) check CL every day haha! Theres a few wheel/tire setups near me I almost pulled the trigger on but I need to put the money into maintenance at the moment. I can hear the rear brakes dragging somewhere. The tires on it are 10 years old and vibrate hella bad on the highway. I may just get a set of cheap tires to last it until I get a lift/wheel/tire combo.

 

[jswift716]

The duplicolor wore fast on mine, this time I'm going straight to monstaliner it's colored too

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[Zeiderman]

Might as well do the head liner since your there, couple hours and your done.

Edit : Saw the pic where it dismantled itself, fun times when the Jeep helps take itself apart for ya.

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[GetOutThere]

Kicking some *** here through the dirty nitty gritty. Good work.

 

[JPsLC]

Ill be replacing all the brakes. Possibly trying to do a ZJ rear disc conversion. Maybe.

I found the conversion to be worthwhile and very enjoyable for daily driving. Don't forget to install longer wheel studs when you do the job.

 

[ibanezer]

Looks like you have a good start to a nice XJ. I like the Limited wheels and color.

I'll second Monstaliner. Here is a guy on Youtube that put chassis saver and monstaliner in his xj: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5oi_R0nPdo
The video can be hard to watch at times, but it looks like it turned out good and I plan to do something similar to mine once I start messing with the interior.

Oh, and check the oil filter adapter O-ring on yours. Mine leaks pretty bad from there, planning on tackling that this weekend.

 

[HercDriver]

Kicking some *** here through the dirty nitty gritty. Good work.

Thanks! I cant take credit for the cleaning. My wife is responsible for the cleaning. I just pulled everything out of the jeep!

I found the conversion to be worthwhile and very enjoyable for daily driving. Don't forget to install longer wheel studs when you do the job.

Thanks! I just picked up rear ZJ calipers from the local yard. Ill be going back to pick off the backing plates and rotors. I didnt have a size 7 wrench for the carrier pin bolt :/ .

Looks like you have a good start to a nice XJ. I like the Limited wheels and color.

I'll second Monstaliner. Here is a guy on Youtube that put chassis saver and monstaliner in his xj: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5oi_R0nPdo
The video can be hard to watch at times, but it looks like it turned out good and I plan to do something similar to mine once I start messing with the interior.

Oh, and check the oil filter adapter O-ring on yours. Mine leaks pretty bad from there, planning on tackling that this weekend.

Thanks for the info. Ill check it out. Ill be putting the carpet over the liner. The liner is more for preventing further rust on the inside as well as add a bit of insulation.

 

[ibanezer]

Thanks for the info. Ill check it out. Ill be putting the carpet over the liner. The liner is more for preventing further rust on the inside as well as add a bit of insulation.

Yea I will most likely also. My carpet has quite a few stains. Shortly after I got mine I discovered that the floorboards stay a little moist under the mats in the front. Not entirely sure where it leaks, but I'm a little worried what might be hiding under there.