shhuskins
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Western NC
Hello everyone.
I have been a long time
lurker with only a few posts. As I am nearing completion of my 96 I thought I might as well start a build thread. It all started back in december I found a cherokee on CL for 500 dollars the man said it didn't run but only had a few minor problems. I hook up the the trailer and drive an hour and a half to find a 96 cherokee 4.0 231 8.25 body in fairly good condition other than the SH** white paint job on it. Pop the hood and lost my breathe at the overwhelming amount of darn wires running to the battery. It looked like there was everything from phone line to coax cables. After I calmed down from that I pulled the dipstick to discover the absolute creamiest oil water nasty filthy gunk a had ever seen. I still tried to talk myself into maybe it's just a headgasket. All in all it was in fair condition for have 200K plus miles on it. There was even a set of TeraFlex Rovolvers in the back the owner didn't even know what were :yap: I chewed him down to $300 thought I couldn't go wrong winched it onto the trailer and headed home. I got the motor apart and the head off and all my high hopes hit the dirt. #5 piston had a little collison with an exhaust valve throwing the connecting rod straight thru the block creating a hole I could stick my fist through. I was broke and where I lived I had no storage no place to tear it further apart no nothing so It sat there for awhile. A good friend of mine moved into a house fully equipped with a large workshop and said sure I could bring it over. I rapidly started searching the net for a donor motor and found a 95 4.0 ( CL of course) for $150 guy said it had 140K on it ran great when pulled. I got it apart all looked well continued to do a good rebuild on it doing as much time and income would allow me to. About a month and a half later I finally have it all sealed up bought a cherry picker for a hundred bucks out with the old and in with the new. . well kinda as of yesterday it is at least bolted to transmission and new brown dog motor mounts on it. During this process a also picked up a set of BFG M/T's 33x10.50 on black XJ steelies 1/4 tread all worn even some fender rub on one nothing major $100 ( CL of course lol). Also while working on motor started to rip interior carpet headliner out floor pans looked teriffic no rust. they are bare metal for now but I think I have finally decided to go with Raptor Liner. Two days ago I also became the proud owner of a NIB Rough Country 4.5 in lift with AAL's for $300 ( CL!!) The extent of the damage would be one coil is nicked from rubbing the other during transport, I'm thrilled with this find. That about gets everything up to date I will try and post some pictures soon. On a side note this fourum ROCKS!
I have been a long time
lurker with only a few posts. As I am nearing completion of my 96 I thought I might as well start a build thread. It all started back in december I found a cherokee on CL for 500 dollars the man said it didn't run but only had a few minor problems. I hook up the the trailer and drive an hour and a half to find a 96 cherokee 4.0 231 8.25 body in fairly good condition other than the SH** white paint job on it. Pop the hood and lost my breathe at the overwhelming amount of darn wires running to the battery. It looked like there was everything from phone line to coax cables. After I calmed down from that I pulled the dipstick to discover the absolute creamiest oil water nasty filthy gunk a had ever seen. I still tried to talk myself into maybe it's just a headgasket. All in all it was in fair condition for have 200K plus miles on it. There was even a set of TeraFlex Rovolvers in the back the owner didn't even know what were :yap: I chewed him down to $300 thought I couldn't go wrong winched it onto the trailer and headed home. I got the motor apart and the head off and all my high hopes hit the dirt. #5 piston had a little collison with an exhaust valve throwing the connecting rod straight thru the block creating a hole I could stick my fist through. I was broke and where I lived I had no storage no place to tear it further apart no nothing so It sat there for awhile. A good friend of mine moved into a house fully equipped with a large workshop and said sure I could bring it over. I rapidly started searching the net for a donor motor and found a 95 4.0 ( CL of course) for $150 guy said it had 140K on it ran great when pulled. I got it apart all looked well continued to do a good rebuild on it doing as much time and income would allow me to. About a month and a half later I finally have it all sealed up bought a cherry picker for a hundred bucks out with the old and in with the new. . well kinda as of yesterday it is at least bolted to transmission and new brown dog motor mounts on it. During this process a also picked up a set of BFG M/T's 33x10.50 on black XJ steelies 1/4 tread all worn even some fender rub on one nothing major $100 ( CL of course lol). Also while working on motor started to rip interior carpet headliner out floor pans looked teriffic no rust. they are bare metal for now but I think I have finally decided to go with Raptor Liner. Two days ago I also became the proud owner of a NIB Rough Country 4.5 in lift with AAL's for $300 ( CL!!) The extent of the damage would be one coil is nicked from rubbing the other during transport, I'm thrilled with this find. That about gets everything up to date I will try and post some pictures soon. On a side note this fourum ROCKS!
. So do to that my drivers side front spring bolt was all jacked outta gear and the bolt was rusted to the bushing sleeve and the threads on the perma nut were buggered so had to cut the bolt out and hopefully I can chase the threads with a tap and all will be well. . hopefully. The front looks awseome though, very excited about it. Owell it's giving me a good reason to get back to the motor. Got a few more things painted the alternator in and a few things plumbed and wired. Hopefully tomorrow i can get the intake and exhaust back on and all the goodies that go along with them.
