Finally got me heep up and running

[4wheel98cherokee]

So about 2011 I made the mistake of selling my '98 XJ. I regreted the decision shortly after and longed for another. I spent a year and a half surfing Craigslist (horrible) and finally found another one. Another '98, same color, auto 4X4, needing a new motor for $800 bucks. Drove out from Yucaipa to Ridgecrest; but worth it beacause I love these Jeeps.


She sat for a little over a year before I had enough time to actually begin pulling the motor. When I got to it, it looked a little something like this (yes, I bought a '98 ZJ and pulled the 150k mile engine out for my XJ. Don't worry the ZJ was a 2wd and had a bad trans. Got it dirt cheap too.):

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

And done. Yes the wheels are different, I sold them to a friend. I wouldnt be needing them anyway.

 

[xjrick94]

Congrats it looks fairly clean and the engine bay looks like if it just rolled off of an assembly line.

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Ordered my wheels Bassett racing Inertia DOT 15x8 4inch bkspc:


When they came in:


Ordered my tires:
35x12.50x15 Goodyear MT/R Kevlar

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

6.5 inch long arm lift kit (it's gonna be a budget build):



Wheels and tires mated together:

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

A quick wash. Off to the smog shop. Passed with flying colors!

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Now it's time to lift her up!

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Needs adjustment here, but otherwise done. The control arm brackets sucked cutting off:

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Front finally matches the rear:


Couldn't wait to take off the end caps and start cutting!

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

After cut up and another wash:

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

From the front:


Her maiden voyage:

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Cycled the suspension to see where I need to bump stop and cut some more:







She did really good, nothing broke, no overheating, just a couple of suspension details to work out

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

I also have a sye I purchased for her. Next I am going to buy some gears, lockers, bumpers, and armor. It's just hard finding time these days. I have a cb radio that I will be installing shortly here as well. I have some pics of the interior before and after (filthy before) but i will post those later. Nothing like some old fashioned soap, water, and shampooer. The interior cleaned up very nicely for a 16 year old Mammoth Mountain Jeep. As far as I know I am the third owner of it and this is it's 4th motor. Yes I said 4th. I know she needs a lot more work; but I will enjoy every minute. I do not intend on ever selling this one. It is the Up Country package so she has the Limited Slip rear end, power seat (driver), tow hooks, overhead console, and Infinity stereo. Everything works, thank God because I found some shotty work while performing the engine swap and lift.

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Congrats it looks fairly clean and the engine bay looks like if it just rolled off of an assembly line.

Thank you sir, pressure washer and degreaser are my best friend. She looks better in person I think. Not bad for $800 bucks. To bad she had to sit for over a year on the side of my house with a blown motor.

 

[JohnX]

Well played sir.

 

[Russ Pottenger]

Sweet lookin Jeep.

Get those rock rails on while the doors still open.

 

[4wheel98cherokee]

Sweet lookin Jeep.

Get those rock rails on while the doors still open.

Oh I know, those are definitely needed. Definitely don't wanna destroy it just yet haha

Well played sir.

Thank you sir, I am a cheapskate haha.