neXtJeep Build Thread

[jeepinmatt]

So I learned a lot from the XtraJeep, especially what I wanted in the next one, and what I did not have an appetite for dealing with.
Must have:
The big 4 (4.0, 4x4, 4 doors)
3 pedals
No major rust
Fairly straight body (XtraJeep checked all these boxes up to this point)
No musty smell
Body color that I like
No electrical issues (all windows and locks working, radio working, etc)

After selling XtraJeep, I wasn't particularly looking for a replacement, but one day while cruising FB Marketplace, I ended up going down an XJ tangent. Somehow, less than 24hrs later, a guy in Pennsylvania has money in his bank account and a couple days later I have a russian dude who doesn't speak english pulling up with a Jeep on a trailer in Stanley. Crazy how that happens!

Without further ado, here's neXtJeep!

 

[jeepinmatt]

It then proceded to rain and be dark for a week, and I was busy at work, so I didn't even see it in daylight again until yesterday. Finally got a chance to look it over and get some better pics. Man am I pleased!
Its a 1997 Cherokee Sport with 148k miles and it is in AWESOME condition inside and out. All of the electronics work like they should, there's no rust, the paint is in borderline immaculate shape, and the interior looks great and doesn't have any kind of funky scent. Whoever had this thing took great care of it for the last 27 years. I was just daydreaming when I posted this in the extra jeep thread...

Paint looks decent from 20 feet, but is a bit rougher once you get closer. Especially on the hood. Not sure what I’m gonna do about the paint. Definitely not high on the priority list, but my wife had a Moss Green Metallic ZJ when we first met and it was a factory color on XJs (but pearl, not metallic), so I think that would look great on an XJ…

But here it is in the flesh!

I just assumed it was a Harbor Freight winch, but was please to see it's some old iron.

 

[jeepinmatt]

To take a couple lines from my other thread and original intent:

Plan for now is to get it cleaned up real good, fix all the little issues, do the typical maintenance that comes with a 25 year old vehicle, and do a few tasteful mods.

Here’s the plan:
16” stock XJ alloy wheels and ~1” spacers
31” aggressive ATs
2.5” lift
Newer shocks
Swap the D35 for a Chrysler 8.25
Replace the 3.07 gears with some 3.55s
Upgrade the steering to something a little beefier than stock
Maybe eventually do an e-locker in the rear
New headliner
Clean interior, maybe even replace the carpet
Get a sweet front bumper from WarriorWelding

Then just drive it and take the family camping.

It does need a headliner, and the parking brake adjusted but otherwise it doesn't need a thing. Drove it home from the dropoff point and it drives great other than being a little bouncy. Transmission shifts buttery smooth, all the lights work, no funny noises, brakes are solid. It already has a complete new exhaust, and all of the brake lines are the same stainless steel setup that I put on XtraJeep, and the interior is clean and ready to go, so that hard work is already done! It also already has an 8.25 rear and HP D30 front. I haven't checked gear ratios, but I assume it is 3.55, as it isn't totally gutless like 3.07 would be. I would like to lower it down about 2-3 inches, and put a little smaller tire on it. The current setup is 33x12.50's with probably 4.5" of lift. The 2" springs and shackle reversal on the other one were about perfect, so thats what I'd like to do to this one too. I also love the 16" 5 spoke stock XJ wheels, but I think the grey with silver lip would look better than solid silver on this color. I thought I saw some on here a couple months ago, but couldn't find the post, so off to FB Marketplace I went. Found a set up in Reidsville, and low and behold, they are for sale by @amcjeepman Turns out he had wheels PLUS wheels and tires he needed to sell me, haha! Thanks to the NC4x4 network and the Veterans ride, he was able to get up with @Kickdeez and a few days later I have wheels and tires and wheels sitting at my doorstep.

1 of the tires needed a valve stem, and 1 had some junk in the bead causing a slow leak, so I got that taken care of.

You couldn't see it from the outside, but once I used the high tech drive-on-it-and-see-if-the-bead-will-pop-off method, you could see where some Uwharrie looking clay had gotten jammed in there and was letting air pass by.

A little bit of labor with purple power and the pressure washer and then some waxy soap and they look great!

Hopefully I'll get them on in the next 4-6 weeks, haha.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I also would like to go back to stock fender flares. Anybody know if the ones that are currently on it use the stock bolt pattern? I couldn't find any kind of name or information on them.

 

[justjeepin86]

You wanna be my sugar daddy? No touching

 

[Kickdeez]

 

[skyhighZJ]

 

[jeepinmatt]

You wanna be my sugar daddy? No touching

I got this new program I read about on FaceTok. You can do it too. It’s called buy low and sell high!

 

[ghost]

I also would like to go back to stock fender flares. Anybody know if the ones that are currently on it use the stock bolt pattern? I couldn't find any kind of name or information on them.

Love the green! They look a lot like Napier Flares to me. He came to a NAXJA Crawl and was a sponsor for s while. His website is not coming up but here is his FB: Log into Facebook

 

[Monkeynono]

I got this new program I read about on FaceTok. You can do it too. It’s called buy low and sell high!

What about buy High sell high... that's how you get a high price.

 

[jeepinmatt]

What about buy High sell high... that's how you get a high price.

Buy high, post list of every item you've ever put on it including oil changes along with a price for each one, add it all up, and then say I know what I got.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Love the green! They look a lot like Napier Flares to me. He came to a NAXJA Crawl and was a sponsor for s while. His website is not coming up but here is his FB: Log into Facebook

Those are a reasonable size and look somewhat decent. These are much bubblier. I think I found them, just some cheapos from ebay for only $80!

Fit For 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4 Door 6PCS Fender Flares Wheel Cover | eBay

Fit 84-01 Jeep Cherokee XJ 6 PCS Pocket Rivet Moulding Trim Wheel Fender Flares. Title: Fender Flares Pocket. Fit For 1990 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4-Door. Fit For 1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4-Door. Fit For 1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport Sport Utility 4-Door.

www.ebay.com

Fortunately it says
"Comes with bolts, nuts and all necessary mounting hardware for installation. Easy to install, no further modification to the body needed"

 

[jeepinmatt]

Fortunately it says
"Comes with bolts, nuts and all necessary mounting hardware for installation. Easy to install, no further modification to the body needed"

Well, I’m no expert, but I’d say drilling an extra 18 holes in the body would fall under modification.

Oh well, what’s done is done. Now I don’t Have to worry as much about front tire clearance.

I did get some 1.25” spacers installed and the stock 16s swapped over. And had some good help to boot. Dude bro got to learn about proper tightening sequence, red loctite, and the purpose of torque specs too!

I think this color combo looks awesome. Can’t wait to see it with the Jeep 2-3” lower.

And those MTRs have a 2002 date code, but still run smooth and true and have no dry rot!

 

[justjeepin86]

Well, I’m no expert, but I’d say drilling an extra 18 holes in the body would fall under modification.
View attachment 428649
Oh well, what’s done is done. Now I don’t Have to worry as much about front tire clearance.

I did get some 1.25” spacers installed and the stock 16s swapped over. And had some good help to boot. Dude bro got to learn about proper tightening sequence, red loctite, and the purpose of torque specs too!
View attachment 428650View attachment 428651

I think this color combo looks awesome. Can’t wait to see it with the Jeep 2-3” lower. And those MTRs have a 2002 date code, but still run smooth and true and have no dry rot!

How many ugga's are added to the dugga's to get the correct torque with that milwaukee torque wrench?

 

[skyhighZJ]

The green is my favorite color as well! Had one for a while until I did something stoopid and sent it down the road because $$. Mine was a little mo ruffer than yours lol but still loved that thing.

 

[jeepinmatt]

How many ugga's are added to the dugga's to get the correct torque with that milwaukee torque wrench?

The big Milwaukee was for getting the old spline drive lugnuts off. Oreilly to the rescue because of course the proper lug socket didn’t come with the jeep. Little Milwaukee was for spinning everything down before tightening and final torque. Old Milwaukee was for the help

 

[ncsutj]

The big Milwaukee was for getting the old spline drive lugnuts off. Oreilly to the rescue because of course the proper lug socket didn’t come with the jeep. Little Milwaukee was for spinning everything down before tightening and final torque. Old Milwaukee was for the help

I hope you threw those splined lugnuts in the trash.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Dude bro got to learn about proper tightening sequence, red loctite, and the purpose of torque specs too!
View attachment 428650

You mean to tell me that isn't you?!

 

[justjeepin86]

 

[Jody Treadway]

I got this new program I read about on FaceTok. You can do it too. It’s called buy low and sell high!

can attest. That shit works.

 

[jeepinmatt]

You mean to tell me that isn't you?!

Definitely not. I'm way fatter and grayer.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I hope you threw those splined lugnuts in the trash.

No, the stupid counterbores for the lug nuts are so small on those Dick Cepek wheels that they might actually be required. I plan to pass them along with the wheels/tires when I sell them. But I'm keeping the socket just for spite! (not really, haha)

 

[Monkeynono]

No, the stupid counterbores for the lug nuts are so small on those Dick Cepek wheels that they might actually be required. I plan to pass them along with the wheels/tires when I sell them. But I'm keeping the socket just for spite! (not really, haha)

Never understood why wheel makers do that crap. Like why would I want a tiny lug nut on a big.truck

 

[jeepinmatt]

Never understood why wheel makers do that crap. Like why would I want a tiny lug nut on a big.truck

Or any vehicle. It just looks dumb and works dumb.

 

[jeepinmatt]

A couple of small updates.
New wipers (and repainted the wiper arms)
Swapped the front coils for some 2.5” TJ coils that I had laying around and it brought it down about 2” in the front. Gonna swap in some 2.5” XJ rear leaves leftover from the previous XJ, but still working on getting the bolts to unrust from the shackles. They are moving about a quarter turn, but not out yet. The coils that came out were very tall and stiff, so hopefully the new ones ride better.

Also put in some new bump stops while the coils were out.

Also had the headliner redone. Had 6 pieces of off brand dynamat leftover from Xtrajeep so I stuck them on the roof before installing the headliner.