Project 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic

[Jeff]

On Nova there is a guy selling an aftermarket HD skid for XJ. I am going to get the trailer hitch from him for my buddy down in Bedford.

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I gave $45 I think for the stock front skid I had. It is pretty useless and if you are going to lift it don't even waste your time with the front skid.

[V1GiLaNtE]

^ Sounds good.. Seems like the more important one is to do the gas tank skid from the Zj's like you did..

[Jeff]

That link is for an aftermarket fuel tank skid...a good buy.

[JustinG]

You asked me about a headlight rewire.....

I followed this tutorial, but had some of the stuff needed, if you have to buy it all you may be cheaper going with the premade harness.

Tutorial: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://fitchva.com/jeep/?p=48">http://fitchva.com/jeep/?p=48</a><!-- m -->

Something like this...
Pre-made: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/ADS/Wire-Harness/H4-9003-Headlight-Heavy-Duty-Wire-Harness-Relay/532243/">http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/ADS/Wire-Harness/H4-9003-Headlight-Heavy-Duty-Wire-Harness-Relay/532243/</a><!-- m -->

And the headlights I would recommend, and will be purchasing soon w/ 100/90W or 100/55W bulbs and the city lights...
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[V1GiLaNtE]

^ Really... only $26?

[JustinG]

Shipping is like $14

[Kaan]

Let me know when we start welding on these XJs

[V1GiLaNtE]

Shipping is like $14

Still that ain't bad at all.. Think I might order a pair and the harness cause I don't have any of those components lying around.. But that was the tutorial I was going to follow.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Let me know when we start welding on these XJs

Funny you mention it I would LOVE to build a swing out spare tire mount with a spot for a Jerry Can.. :thumbup:

[Kaan]

i'll assemble some links for you. i think a swing out on a cherokee is important... to get some of that cargo room back at least!

[Kaan]

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I got sylvia the LAST Rokmen DIY rear bumper kit and a set of Rokmen front mounts. Most of the DIY kits are going to be for a wrangler but i've seen people make their own cherokee bumpers. if you go with an off the shelf rear bumper... places like jeep tubes carry the "kit" to fab up the rear swing out. Rear swing outs take some time because you want to fit it just right, keep the license plate clear (or relocate it and tuck wires and stuff), make sure it doesnt rattle (test fit things a million times), and then add a spot for the can!

[V1GiLaNtE]

So I think at this point I have my lighting issues squared away which was part of my phase 1 buildup which also included maintenance items needed.

Ordered
_______

- Hella 500 Driving lights
- Upgraded HD Relay Harness
- Blower Motor Resistor

Dropping it off tomorrow to get an inspection with my mechanic. I want him to look at specifically the brakes pulsate slightly which I want to point to a pads/rotors issue so I may have to replace them. My powersteering is kinda funky. It works and is smooth but it's jerky and needs a little help returning to straight ahead position. This could be a number of things based upon my initial research. Hopefully my mechanic will help diagnose the problem/you jeep guys here.
SO potential fixes here in the future:

Pads/Rotors/Drums
Powersteering issue

I have slight death wobble but what Jeep doesn't.. This doesn't really bother me at all and won't until it gets so bad it shakes the teeth out of my head.
Patiently waiting for the man in Brown to show up..

[Jake]

Good luck with the inspection. Hopefully brakes is just a rotor thing.

Waiting for parts is fun! The E34 has a slight wobble at 55-58 mph but it smooths out... solution is to go faster or slower than that speed. She's steady at 100+.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Call back from my mechanic.. WOOHOO!!! Only thing needed replaced there was a bulb.. Sweet... He checked out the brakes and said the front rotors were slightly warped which would definitely be the issue with the pulsating brakes Guess I'll have to go get some rotors.. Powersteering he said the pressures were really high on the tires so brought them down back to spec.. said that fixed the issue.. Funny sometimes you just forget to check those things.. Anyways hoping there will be some goodies on the front porch when I get home... Looks like I'll be fixing my rotors up in Harrisonburg this weekend cause' I have to move my stuff to the new place.. If you're bored and in the burg' this weekend come by and have a wrench beer with me.

[V1GiLaNtE]

UPDATE:

She drove wonderfully up to school. No hiccups and smooth sailing. Passed the test...

I got A LOT done today.

Here's what we started with:



Today's "To-Do" list included motor flush, oil & filter change, blower motor resistor replacement, and Hella 500 install.

Oil change went smoothly and the oil really didn't look all that bad. Oh well it got Valvoline high mileage and FRAM extended guard along with half a bottle of Lucas Oil Treatment. I lived by the stuff when I had my F150.

Next up came the new blower motor resistor


The A/C would only blow on setting "4" and not on "1,2,3". God bless American made cars and their simplicity. Replacement was two screws that hold it in place right under the glovebox.. NOTHING needed to be removed.


Yea Huh... Probably about time that little puppy was replaced..


Part replaced and now the A/C works flawlessly!! :thumbup:

Then for the rest of day.(in between packing and moving stuff) came my favorite mod so far.

HELLA 500's!!!!! :thumbup:



Drilled holes in the bumper to set these up.. Actual install of lights pretty easy. Just takes a while to get all the wiring shennanigans figured out.



Test fit




GOOD GOD these things are bright!! I can't even tell I'm when I'm running my stock headlights anymore.. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :thumbup:

Lows:


Highs:



Just fogs:



By the power of Zeus's beard that's bright!!



So I have the stock switch mounted where the OEM Jeep fog switch would go.. It looks rough but will work for now until I can find the OEM fog at the junkyard...

Well that's about all I have for you now.. What did you do with your saturday?? :wink:

[JustinG]

FYI, if you decide to wire in the factory switch, you need to grab the whole thing not just the switch, so the bezel with all the other switches. If you didn't notice the block off where the switch is supposed to go is actually molded into the plastic, so it doesn't just pop out, and you slide the switch in. And if it does, I sure as hell did not see how. Good work!

[Sully]

Oil change went smoothly and the oil really didn't look all that bad. Oh well it got Valvoline high mileage and FRAM extended guard along with half a bottle of Lucas Oil Treatment. I lived by the stuff when I had my F150.

There was something magical with that truck...it simply would not die. And when it finally did, it got one of its murderers back by spraying coolant 20ft in the air and almost covering him.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[V1GiLaNtE]

FYI, if you decide to wire in the factory switch, you need to grab the whole thing not just the switch, so the bezel with all the other switches.

So you're saying that they made two different bezel for XJ's? One non-factory fog and the other same just with switch?

[JustinG]

yep, actually 3, without fog, w/ fog, and a 4 hole bezel for fog and high idle

[V1GiLaNtE]

So none of the passenger windows switches roll up or down. They are getting power because the little green lights are on but no movement. Also the lock button doesn't unlock the doors.. only locks em... Jeep gods (Jeff) what have I done to anger thine vehicle..?