The PDXJ: Project 2001 Jeep Cherokee

[SilicaRich]

Range is only a tick over 200, however.

What is the tank size? 15 gal?

 

[Thirty-Nine]

What is the tank size? 15 gal?

I believe it's 20 gallons.

 

[Cottontail]

The Monroney sticker on my 2001 XJ shows that a 20 gallon tank was standard equipment. However, I've never, even from empty with the light on, gotten more than about 17 gallons in it.

 

[Thirty-Nine]

The Monroney sticker on my 2001 XJ shows that a 20 gallon tank was standard equipment. However, I've never, even from empty with the light on, gotten more than about 17 gallons in it.

I hear you. Plus, the pumps rarely seem to ever actually fill the tank all the way up. Do you notice that? It always is under the hash mark.

My Suzuki Sidekick was like that, too, by the way. It was an 11 gallon tank, and the most I ever filled it to (with the needle under the last hash mark) was 10.5 gallons.

 

[Thirty-Nine]

I talked to the folks over at BajaRack, and it turns out the Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series Standard racks fit the Cherokee.

I ended up removing the factory roof rack and polished up the paint underneath. The BajaRack for the 80 Series went on without issue and is much sturdier than a roof basket on the factory crossbars, and bigger than the Mule, too. The only modification I did was replaced the six supplied nylocks for the rain gutter clamps with shorter ones so the nylon actually gripped the bolts. The factory roof rack would rattle and shake over bumps; the new rack alleviated that.

 

[WyoCherokee]

i ran 4.56's on 265/75/16's and the AW4 and was getting about 16 highway at 70mph running about 2800 rpms. For city driving and backroad driving the setup was just about perfect. would have preferred 4.10's. Compared to the 3.55's and 265/75/16s, i was getting about 17 to 18 at 75mph, but driving anywhere with hills was foot to the floor to keep it at or above 70

 

[Thirty-Nine]

i ran 4.56's on 265/75/16's and the AW4 and was getting about 16 highway at 70mph running about 2800 rpms. For city driving and backroad driving the setup was just about perfect. would have preferred 4.10's. Compared to the 3.55's and 265/75/16s, i was getting about 17 to 18 at 75mph, but driving anywhere with hills was foot to the floor to keep it at or above 70

I'll be curious as to my all-highway MPG. Around town I'm getting around 11-12. I haven't done a full day of Interstate cruising since I first got it regeared. I'll be driving to Easter Jeep Safari next month, so that should give me a better idea.

 

[Thirty-Nine]

A lot of work been done on The PDXJ since my last update. The biggest thing was the addition of the JCR rear bumper and tire carrier. Install was simple, straightforward. The thing is extremely solid and the spindle is HUGE. It also has a couple of RotopaX on the back, too. I also had a Magnaflow cat back installed.

I was a participant on the Jp Dirt 'N Drive on the way to Easter Jeep Safari, too. The truck did great off road, however, I had a bunch of issues getting down there. (AC compressor seized up, front caliper locked up, rear shoe was cracked, and a few other things.) Needless to say, I'm done wrenching in hotel parking lots for a while!

I did notice that I've developed a pretty bad driveline vibration, so it looks like a SYE is in my future as is a new rear driveshaft. Got to get it all done by Expo—22 days and counting.

 

[Mr_Miyagisan]

Jeep looks great! How did you end up doing on gas mileage?

 

[Thirty-Nine]

Jeep looks great! How did you end up doing on gas mileage?

Thanks.

Best tank was 15.5 mpg, which was doing mostly 70 mph. A lot of not-so-great tanks, too (hills, wind, etc.). Probably averaged about 14.5 mpg.

I'm going to experiment using mid-grade for a while and see if that does anything other than drain my wallet faster. I've always been a believer in using 87 for anything that doesn't call for it, and 91 for all vehicles that need high-octane. We'll see if it makes any difference or not.

 

[RubiconGeoff]

Thanks.

Best tank was 15.5 mpg, which was doing mostly 70 mph. A lot of not-so-great tanks, too (hills, wind, etc.). Probably averaged about 14.5 mpg.

Is that number corrected for the increased tire diameter?

 

[Thirty-Nine]

Is that number corrected for the increased tire diameter?

We changed out the speedometer gear, so I believe so, yes. It should read true; no?

 

[Mr_Miyagisan]

You should be running a 42t gear with 4.56 and 31s, I think. If so, it'll read true

 

[Thirty-Nine]

You should be running a 42t gear with 4.56 and 31s, I think. If so, it'll read true

Yep. You go it.

In other news, I just ordered a new SYE and rear double cardan driveshaft from Tom Wood's today. Should be in next week.

Also putting the JCR Off Road rear corner armor on soon.

 

[Thirty-Nine]

New Tom Wood's double cardan driveshaft on as well as the SYE and the vibrations are gone. So far, so good.

Kind of funny thing: I just assumed I had an AX15 transmission on my XJ. Bought four quarts of Redline MT-50 to change it out. Got under the rig and saw the drain/fill plugs were not 15/16, but were instead 17mm hex. OK. So, I got the plug out (pretty sure the fluid wasn't ever changed, and the magnetic plug looked like the dude from Hellraiser), drained the fluid, and started filling it up with my MT-50. Should take just under four quarts, right? Well, just over 2 quarts went in and it started puking out. ******? Well, full is full, so I sealed it up and went inside. I began Googling a few things, and then realized: 2000-2001 XJs had the NV3550 NOT the AX15, which explains the difference in capacity. Also found out that the damn thing doesn't like 75W90 GL-4. Figures. Anyhow, filled it up with Royal Purple Synchromax last night, and it drives great.

As an aside, here's a post I wrote about how the Jeep community really came together to get our broken-down selves to Easter Jeep Safari. Talk about the kindness of strangers!

http://crankshaftculture.com/2017/05/01/the-amazing-jeep-community/