Kronk the Jeep build thread

[fewloosebolts]

Not sure if anyone reads forums anymore, but thought I'd start a new thread regardless. So I finally have a "new" engine, so I guess it's officially a build. After not having a Jeep for nearly 6 years, I finally have another cherokee. It's almost identical to my last one except that it's 4wd, and has a tan interior.
Huge shout out to @GordoSmasho for not only keeping my interest in XJs alive, but peer pressuring me into buying this one, and doing the foot work and delivery allowing me to buy it site unseen. You're the best, buddy.

1997 Cherokee white 4 door
4X4
AW4/231
HP D30/D35 (Getting rid of the D35 ASAP)
OEM skid plates front to back
Seized engine
Smoked in very heavily (previous owner must have been personally sponsored by Marlboro or something)
Stock as can be (for now)



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[fewloosebolts]

First order of business was to start stripping down the interior and cleaning. Sat in it once and pretty sure I got cancer.

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[fewloosebolts]

Not pictured but I started dying the front half of the carpet.

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[fewloosebolts]

Today I picked up a motor to replace the seized one. I'll be doing a refresh on this one before swapping it in.

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[Nates2000XJ]

Solid!

[cj_mike]

What are your plans for it?

[Phil]

I hope this vehicle ends up with lots of levers.

[fewloosebolts]

Originally Posted by cj_mike

What are your plans for it?

Right now, to get it running. Starting off with trying to do a clean, simple, and functional build. Planning on 33's with supporting mods and typical cherokee stuff, frame stiffeners, sliders, the works. Gonna do my best to keep it light. It'll have to be able to tow my teardrop trailer.

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[fewloosebolts]

Started doing sound deadening. Got the front floor pretty much done. Using 80 mil kilmat. It's not perfect, but if I wanted perfect, I'd wait and shell out the money to have it done professionally. Hoping it's functional more than anything else.

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[fewloosebolts]

And my pic didn't load for some reason

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[Nates2000XJ]

Did the same thing in my squarebody. Well worth the time and effort.

[fewloosebolts]

Originally Posted by Nates2000XJ

Did the same thing in my squarebody. Well worth the time and effort.

My last cherokee was pretty loud between road noise and the muffler I ran. I want the wife to at least be somewhat comfortable in this when it's running.

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[fewloosebolts]

Picked up some Gladiator Rubicon Fox take offs last night for a good deal. I don't know if they'll work, but I figured I'll give them a shot and see how they do.

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[fewloosebolts]

The old engine is almost ready to come out, just need to remove the trans bolts. Based on the chocolate milk that came out, I think we've found why it seized.

Got the front carpet wrapped up for the time being. The black dye does a decent job covering the sins of the jeeps past life.

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[XJ-Mayhem]

If there’s any smell leftover, try a ozone machine. It’s the only way to actually “get rid” of the smell. Everything else just masks the smell.