TNjeeper97's XJ project [Archive]

TNjeeper97

01-03-2007, 09:46 PM

This is my first attempt at a "project" so bear with me. I guess I need to start off with a little background on this Jeep. It's a 1997 Cherokee SE. It was my granddad's until he passed away in Feb 06. I expressed interest in the Jeep and since no one else in the family had it was mine a short time later. My granddad bought the Jeep brand new in 97 and put all 158,000 miles on it. It has the 4.0L Inline 6, automatic, and very few options. It had air and a cassette player when he bought. I miss my granddad greatly and keeping his Jeep up and driving it is just a little way that I can keep a little of him with me.

TNjeeper97

01-03-2007, 09:57 PM

Unfortunately, I took no pictures of the Jeep as it was when I got it. This thing was plain! It had no tinted windows, steel six spoke wheels, no hitch, no nothing. It had some bad paint on the hood and a little on the roof, the fender flares and bumper caps had faded from dark grey to almost white, and so on. Well, it didn't take long for me to start making changes/progress. I removed all the fender flares and bumper caps and painted them black, had the windows tinted, added a set of Cragar 15x7 Soft 8s (4" BS) and installed a CD player. Well, the paint was the next thing to need attention so the exterior was torn apart (again ](*,) ) and made ready for new paint. At that time I also repainted everything that was black (wipers, door handles, etc). I installed a Dynaliner Hood Liner from Dynamat to help eliminate the heat from completely cooking the new paint. I've also had the bumpers sprayed with RhinoLiner.

I'm sure I'll think of more later and I'llpost the progress. Here's where it sat as of 2 weeks ago.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0225.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0223.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0222.jpg[/img]

Gubni

01-03-2007, 10:06 PM

I love you color scheme. The dark green looks great with the black trim and tinted windows.

TiredIronGRB

01-03-2007, 10:11 PM

I love you color scheme. The dark green looks great with the black trim and tinted windows.
X2, that my favorite color that Jeep makes, I'm pretty sure it's what they used on the "Willys" edition.

TNjeeper97

01-03-2007, 10:15 PM

Thanks, the dark green (moss green, think) is the factory color. It had a cracked silver pinstripe on it when I got it. All the badges and lettering were silver also. After it was painted, I had everything redone in black. It's still a work in progress. I finished installing new rear shocks on the back last week. I'll take more pictures and post up more later.

Thanks again

Gubni

01-03-2007, 10:15 PM

So, that's a factory color? Double cool.

Gordon

01-03-2007, 10:23 PM

Man, that does look great.

TNjeeper97

01-03-2007, 10:41 PM

Thanks guys. Gordon, give a shout and stop by this weekend and check it out if you want.

Hilla-GO-Rilla

01-04-2007, 12:13 AM

That thing is nice & clean...I remember my red XJ had great paint & body. So do you plan on keeping it in that great condition and using for a daily driver? Maybe do some wheeling on a group ride ;-) and keep it off the trees.
I'm growing fond of XJs....they picked me. I got my first one from my wife and kept lifting it until she had a hard time getting into it - then it became mine :grin: .
After I started playing rougher, I bought my buddy's XJ since it was built and my red XJ started to show some body damage.

By the photo, It makes me think you live near my neck of the woods in Jonesborough too...I'm over on Oliver Edwards Road off of Greenwood drive.
PM me and we'll check them out neighbor!

Gordon

01-04-2007, 07:27 AM

Thanks guys. Gordon, give a shout and stop by this weekend and check it out if you want.

Maybe Sat afternoon. We live near Hilla. I could swing by and we could swing by his place (will you be around Sat, Chris & is the project there or still down 107?). We could also see if Shawn's around and we could go over there so you could meet him, too. (Shawn, will you be at your shop on Sat?). Probably 2:00 or 3:00 or so.

Hilla-GO-Rilla

01-04-2007, 03:00 PM

Sat may be test day for the Hillamobile...its only a couple of miles down 107 Clarks Creek is where we'll be testing it out. There's some trail back there. Not sure of the time...maybe in the afternoon. Let me post up again when I find something out. Ted would love to see two other potential XJs pull in at his garage :thumbleft:

Dino1967

01-04-2007, 07:47 PM

nice rig

ive been to clarks creek couldnt find no trails but campers we every where so i didnt look to hard
tried to find the falls but didnt know where to go hiked for a little while figured we was on the wrong trail

redwings5

01-05-2007, 12:54 AM

who did your paint work and what color was it before?

TNjeeper97

01-05-2007, 08:53 PM

That was the original color. This new paint appears to have a little more metal flake to it than the original paint though. Surprisingly enough, I had it painted at Maaco in Kingsport. It's the second time I've used Maaco for a complete paintjob (different vehicles of course) andI've been pleased with both.

stumpdogxj

01-05-2007, 09:33 PM

I think I sprayed ur bumpers

TNjeeper97

01-05-2007, 09:37 PM

These pics were before you sprayed them. By the way, they look great on the Jeep and I'm well pleased with them so far.

TiredIronGRB

01-05-2007, 09:40 PM

I remember when I had nice paint :cry:

TNjeeper97

01-05-2007, 09:44 PM

I plan to do some mild wheelin' with it but nothing too crazy. At some point it might be a different story but just mild for now.

Gubni

01-05-2007, 10:08 PM

I plan to do some mild wheelin' with it but nothing too crazy. At some point it might be a different story but just mild for now.

It becomes addicting and you always want more.

TiredIronGRB

01-05-2007, 10:10 PM

He's right...after the first dent it's all down hill :oops:

Gubni

01-05-2007, 10:13 PM

Wait untill you see my Bronco - just a few love marks here and there.

Thumpszilla

01-06-2007, 01:35 PM

Yeah after the first dent I quit caring

TNjeeper97

01-08-2007, 07:17 PM

I've taken a few more shots since I last updated. Here is a before and after shot of the front bumper with Rhino-Liner.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0224.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0324.jpg
Sorry the lighting isn't real good.
Here's a shot of the rear bumper. I'm very pleased with how they turned out.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0322.jpg
Having the flash on distorts the color some. They're very black and match the end caps well.
Here's a couple of overall shots since I got the new shocks on. The rear looks like it's alot higher than in actually is. The slight slope of the driveway is affecting the stance a little bit.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0327.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0328.jpg

redwings5

01-08-2007, 11:27 PM

i hope to maybe get a new paint job for mine.. i just dont want white again.

Hokie_YJ

01-08-2007, 11:33 PM

That's one good looking XJ. I like the wheels, I use to have the same wheels on my YJ. I sold them to Gordon and he has them on his XJ now.

duke_lover_13

01-08-2007, 11:34 PM

It looks Very nice....... :grin:

TNjeeper97

02-06-2007, 09:57 PM

Well, I've made a change to the XJ. I've purchased a set of Moab wheels from a Rubicon and got them on the Jeep. I've also gotten rid of the black Soft 8s and replaced them with a set of stock Ecco wheels from another XJ. Here's a couple of pics with the Moabs on it. I'll get some more later.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/RubiconWheels2.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/RubiconWheels1.jpg

pplblazerdude

02-06-2007, 09:59 PM

I really like the look of those ruby wheels on XJ's

Redman_30_06

02-07-2007, 12:56 AM

Looks good!

r1ng3l78

02-07-2007, 01:14 AM

is that factory paint? it looks more od than hunter.

Gordon

02-07-2007, 07:19 AM

Lookin' good!

TNjeeper97

02-07-2007, 10:39 AM

The paint is the factory color but is has been repainted. It's dirty in those pics and it affects the color a little. Thanks for the positive comments!

Dino1967

02-07-2007, 06:24 PM

looks good

sams_pf

02-07-2007, 08:49 PM

:roll: yep.. to after the first dent. I used to keep Red sparkling, but she's losing her shine with the scrathes and dings, not to mention the parts I've took off just to keep from dragging or rubbing something it shouldnt. Need to park her, but it's hard to say "no" now, or as long as her tires will turn anyway. Must have pushed my bumper in some Saturday, the tire is rubbing the front of my fender when I turn, thought it was the plastic cover inside the fender where it'd fell, but it's tied :roll: up at the moment, and the tire rubs the fender now. Oh well, you only live once, LOL.

NC_James

02-07-2007, 11:18 PM

Sam, we need to put a lift under red and some 33's!

sams_pf

02-08-2007, 12:27 PM

Yeah, that would work :grin:

TNjeeper97

02-27-2007, 06:29 PM

Just an update. I'm running a set of stock Ecco aluminum wheels for now until I save up for a lift and some larger tires for the Rubi wheels.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/Ecco1.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/Ecco2.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/Ecco5.jpg

TNjeeper97

08-17-2007, 04:00 PM

Unfortunatly, this is NOT the way I wanted to update this thread. I've a run-in with another vehicle and done a bit of damage to the Jeep. So, without further ado, here's the way it sits right now. Actually there's also about 50lbs of oil dry in the driveway with it.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0485.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0487.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0486.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0489.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r292/TNjeeper97/100_0491.jpg
I'll just see where this road leads move on from here.

TiredIronGRB

08-17-2007, 04:31 PM

OUCH :cry:

Want2Wheel

08-17-2007, 04:40 PM

That makes me want to cry.

Gordon

08-17-2007, 05:10 PM

Oh boy -

You could grab that stuff from Chris, boost it taller, and get some 33's and a little sheet metal.

Looks cosmetic from the pics, well, I should say it doesn't look like the unibody is hurt behind the axle. Some new steering gear and it could live on.

Best thing to do is nothing for a few days, the right answers will come forward.

And, thank the Lord no injuries.

BroncoMike

08-18-2007, 12:21 AM

^ X2

I know those things don't have frames but it looks like it's bent in the 3rd pic with the front wheel sticking out pretty far. If it's salvagable, you could build you a nice trail rig.

Hadfield4WD

08-19-2007, 10:07 AM

If its not totalled I'd let a body shop fix the frame. If it is, buy it back, have the frame only straightened (so it will track straight) and them build a trail only wicked trial rig with the left over money from the insurance.

BillM

08-19-2007, 02:10 PM

He only had liability on it I think.

TNjeeper97

08-19-2007, 04:43 PM

Jeep07

08-19-2007, 07:23 PM

Well, it's Sunday afternoon and after stepping away from it for a few days I think I'll get some estimates on making it driveable only (unibody straightened, no sheetmetal, no paint, etc, etc.) and see what happens after that.

Maybe Ted could do that? He could also strengthen it like he did his XJ. Then your ready to upgrade drive train. :)

TNjeeper97

08-19-2007, 08:12 PM

KTaylor660

08-19-2007, 11:48 PM

You need to get it fixed and hit the trails! We used to hang at the car shows, now we can hang in the woods! LOL

BroncoMike

08-20-2007, 12:42 AM