Project "flapdoodle" (95 XJ)

chillman88

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Well it was almost project ********* but this is a family friendly forum....

Here's my senseless attempt at rebuilding a rusty, crashed 95 Jeep Cherokee that I was practically paid to take.

Less than 100k miles on it and most of it looks in good shape. Doors are solid, jambs are solid... Fender wells aren't even rotted out!

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She needs some work but really didn't look too bad... At first.

Went to pick it up and three tires were flat, one had a broken valve stem (the one farthest from the accident oddly enough). Filled up the tires and put a doughnut on the one and hauled it the 45min to my place.
 
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chillman88

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When I finally got it in the garage I noticed the rockers look like they might be solid bondo... Got some 2x4 tube coming in this week for it.

Started ripping it apart today. Can't figure out why the radiator was leaking....

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Really looks like it wedged the other vehicle between the passenger wheel and inner fender. The whole thing is tweaked towards the drivers side on top. It'll take some creative massaging but I think I can get it close enough. My buddy has a parts rig that I'll be stealing a few parts from.

Here's the worst of it after I started bending stuff back.

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chillman88

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I'm planning on daily driving it when it's fixed. The actual frame rails are pretty clean surprisingly. I'd rather get a clean one but they're climbing back up in price anymore, and I'd have a decent drive to find a clean one anyway. I honestly might have scrapped it if it was any newer. Pre 96 is emissions exempt in NY. Besides... I need welding practice :rolleyes:

The PLAN is to gut the rockers and weld in some 2x4 tube. Then I'll patch the floor up and plate the one bad spot on the frame evenly on both sides before painting the underside.
 

chillman88

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4.0 liters are a neat engine, even better with a stroker crank.

Yeah but fact is dollar for dollar if this thing blows after I fix the body it'll get some kind of full drivetrain swap. Shame the 7.3 is so big since I have a spare lol!
 

chillman88

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I've thought about that. Seems like the perfect swap. Should be enough power with increased mileage to boot.
 

chillman88

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Well I got the parts rig from my buddies house and got the axle out of both of them. The new-to-me axle is actually from a Grand Cherokee so unfortunately it has cv joints instead of u-joints but I might be able to keep the old axle shafts just in case. They're both Dana 30 axles.

I really can't tell from looking at it if the old axle is bent or not...

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I got tired of fighting rusty bolts and hacked off the control arms. I have to replace them anyway so what do I care.

This one the bolt is seized... Somehow. I'm just going to cut it out and get a new bolt.

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Apparently the accident clearanced the oil pan but doesn't seem to leak.

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chillman88

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Slowly making progress. Got the axle in and bolted up. Still a few things to finish on it, track bar, shocks... But still enough progress to make me happy.

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