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Wow, we need to meet up someday so I can see that beast, since we live in the same town. What part of town you in? Awesome write up!!!! I must admit my roofs and hoods are getting a wee bit of rust and are ready for fresh paint jobs.
I just keep coating the fresh rust with a polymer rust neutralizing primer from Loctite with a paint brush. Awesome product to delay the paint job 2-3 years.
I upgraded my AC's also, and in one case I used the 97 OEM condenser which improved the cooling a bunch since the 134-a was not as good as the old freon with the stock hardware. In 97 they upgraded to parallel flow style condensers that are way more efficient. So yes, I guess many OEM upgrades from the HOs to the Renix are possible, quite a list you have there. Thanks for sharing.
Point is I guess, that OEM repairs of older rigs can include upgrades from HO or Grand Cherokee OEM parts of newer jeeps.
I just keep coating the fresh rust with a polymer rust neutralizing primer from Loctite with a paint brush. Awesome product to delay the paint job 2-3 years.
I upgraded my AC's also, and in one case I used the 97 OEM condenser which improved the cooling a bunch since the 134-a was not as good as the old freon with the stock hardware. In 97 they upgraded to parallel flow style condensers that are way more efficient. So yes, I guess many OEM upgrades from the HOs to the Renix are possible, quite a list you have there. Thanks for sharing.
Point is I guess, that OEM repairs of older rigs can include upgrades from HO or Grand Cherokee OEM parts of newer jeeps.
My '90 XJ is pretty much amazing. Everything works and while it doesn't need emissions testing anymore (Texas), it passed with flying colors when I last took it in 2 years ago. The non-OEM stuff is the usual:
1) changed the coolant bottle and added an inline filler cap to rid myself of the PITA leaking bottle
2) upgraded the entire AC system to R134 out of a '95
3) changed all the rear glass to factory tinted glass I got from a wrecker on one of their 1/2 price long weekend specials
4) changed to beefier springs and shocks to get a little height
5) completed many of the "fixes" outlined in this forum including ground updates, headlight relays and door lock relays
6) changed all the locks to the single key version found on the '93 and up
7) removed the factory keyless entry and added a 3rd party device
8) re-purposed the (semi-useless) garage door opener hatch in the overhead and mounted a video screen for the rear passengers + added a dash mounted video and a rear view camera
9) replaced the power brake booster and Master with one out of a Grand Cherokee
10) changed the rear lights to the slotted design (removes the bottom bolt) used in the '93 for easier access
Lots more "little jobs" including repainting the whole thing (looks great) and refreshing the interior (dying the carpets, painting some of the plastic panels).
WRT the metal, my '93 (bought new) came with the zinc coating and a "lifetime limited warranty" which didn't amount to crap when the Chrysler refused to honor it when actual rust occurred (floor and one of the doors). Conversely, my '90 had only a small bit of surface rust on the roof where the paint had baked off and I had to weld a small patch on the rear quarter where the PO had removed the plastic plugs and then drove it through wet sand which collected inside the space behind the rear wheel. To be fair, the '93 lived a hard northern life while the '90 was a Texas truck from day one but I don't place a lot of stock in the Chrysler plating process and if I had to pick between the two bodies, i would go with the '90 every day of the week.
On a recent drive between Houston and Austin (140 miles), I used a little less than a quarter tank of gas which equates to close to 30mpg.
One of the nicest things about the '90 is the interchangeability with newer parts (like the AC, brake booster, glass....)