87 Cherokee Chief 2 door Survivor like new refresh with NOS parts

[Red Mistress]

All the adhesive rolled off with fingers, no damage (other than no fingerprints)




Original battery cables look little brown and don't match rest of engine compartment's crisp look, so going install NOS + and - cables.

[Rick.rob]

Wish I would have seen this before, I just sold a brand new OEM swing away tire carrier that has never been out of the original box on eBay a few days ago.

[Red Mistress]

Originally Posted by Rick.rob

Wish I would have seen this before, I just sold a brand new OEM swing away tire carrier that has never been out of the original box on eBay a few days ago.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11497612575...0 47675.l2557

Man a NOS XJ tire carrier, sold cheap !
I've thought hard about installing exterior tire carrier, as know where nice used one is in CA.
Love the look, as college buddy had 87 blue 2 door Chief (circa 1988) in college and it had tire carrier.
Just don't think I could bring myself to drilling all the holes in this time capsule, but probably would of installed a NOS one

[Rick.rob]

That was my ebay listing, if I knew it would sell so fast I would have posted it for more. I was only into for 40.00. guy i bought it from supposedly has a bunch of other new xj stuff. Said he bought a new xj back in 96 ordered pretty much everything for it then his son rolled it, before he got to put anything on it.

[Red Mistress]

I was really intrigued about the exterior XJ spare tire carrier so did some searching.

This is the look that the Chief "COULD" of had, but don't know if I could bring myself to install:




So there are 3 versions of OEM XJ exterior spare tire carriers offered thru the years:

1st has vertical support pipe and unique bent piping.





2nd has cross angle support pipe



3rd was Chrysler offering like one Rick.rob sold, bolted to bumper only, no quarter panel drilling.

[Red Mistress]

The Chief has 3.07 gears so moving to 30.5" tires would make it sluggish.
Although I shouldn't swap, I sure don't want to waste effort re-gearing the D35.

Found this nice XJ D44 from AZ so planning swapping. 2.5" rear shoes have more pad area.

Going to use the 4.10's and inner shafts from my LJ rear D44. As it's getting 5.38' and chromos.



And baked and blasted, no pitting anywhere
Plan on dressing up some of the weld splatter then back to powder coat.

[Red Mistress]

Rear D44 axle back from powdercoat and rifle cleaned. Slowly been gathering all the parts with particular attention to USA made.

Did find a NOS center cap that will replace one slightly scratched.

[Red Mistress]

After looking every since I bought this time capsule, finally found the "correct" receiver hitch. Jeep buddy found off a desert dry CA 87 Chief that also had gas skid that I'm going to add.

Drilling drain holes (not that this Jeep even gets washed much) but I debur, remove weld splatter and taper sharp edges before I powder coat anything.




Back from powder.

[sdspearo]

Why add drain holes if the ends are open?

[Red Mistress]

Always a good idea to let water drain.

Got rear bumper pulled yesterday and paint looks minty.

Thinking about adding NOS pair of bumper guards but not sure exactly where are supposed to be located.

[Saudade]

According to my parts guide, '87-'89 had the 1st spare carrier in your pics.



The '90-'96 had the 3rd.

[Saudade]

Here's the rear bumper on my '88. Don't think you'll need them with the spare carrier on.

[Red Mistress]

Originally Posted by Saudade

Here's the rear bumper on my '88. Don't think you'll need them with the spare carrier on.

Thanks for picture, anyway you could get some measurements?

[Saudade]

Originally Posted by Red Mistress

Thanks for picture, anyway you could get some measurements?

Sure! Measurements from where? Centerline?

[Saudade]

Let me know if you need any others.