Thanks for the pointer, hadn't known holes were such an issue. Hoping/assuming it's still better then having over a gallon of water in there!

Not thinking exhaust should be a problem on the left. If exhaust through that 3/16" hole into the inner fender on the right kills me, I'll let you know ASAP!

 

Those factory plugs are nice, but they should have added drains to the horizontal surface of each lip (like shown), not vertical. The R&D dept. mustve been sick that day. And toss those plastic bags into the nearest trash can. All they do is trap moisture. Or rip them open and use the insualtion elsewhere.

 

Both lower 1/4s on the Mustang have a small drain hole, and the tailpipes (with turndowns) run right by them. No issues. Even running rich. You should be pretty safe with an XJ.

 

i found both sides of mine rotted,inner and outer . i tossed the ?bags and hosed the crud out.surprised since my 00 is mostly rust free xcpt the floor that i fixed b4.
dont think fumes will struggle thru the inside panels too fast!
my front suspension is rusty/steering. i might do it with rust killer in hot wx. ill look at the rear panels then. might do some metal work to stop water splashing in.

 

If anyone's rear hatch gasket is a bit trashed at the middle bottom like both of mine, THAT might be an issue. My "second" worker Jeep that got rear-ended, I drive with the RR window down a bit. I know pretty quick when I forget!

Jeepguy, 25+ years ago my dad bought a camper Van from the Midwest. He "sprayed" that expanding foam in there all over the place where metal was long gone. It's still siting here, more or less in the same shape it was when he drove it here to CA. Sun eats that stuff, but otherwise it seems to last forever!

 

ok, im surprised, thinking anything touching metal would let moisture stay?
i can try that ,,if i find the nozzel for the FULL can i have!!

 

I started a thread about those recently that may be of value. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bla...l-well-233484/

 

Well Jeepguy, it's not exactly as I had remembered! Still...it's been outside since the early 90's and could be worse! Most of the foam is gone, guess I'll need to hit it again. (Btw, Those Dodge rims swap with Cherokee)

 

dodge? i had dodge wheels,cheap with tires on an old ford van that i kept alive for 17 yrs! 1974, loved it,should have, lived with it long enough!! tires look like my old ones too...

 

While you have the trim removed and the area opened up spray some water around the quarter window & surround and see if that's where the water is getting in. The plastic insulation bag is sealed and not capable of holding moisture. The problem lies with the rocket scientists at Jeep engineering that sealed up that area solid.

 

Suppose I should look. No hose needed though, my trailer converter doesn't come till Monday, we should get another couple of feet of rain my then.

Double edge sward on the engineers I suppose. For all I know it didn't leak it's first 15 years, then started and got worse for the next 12. I mean If it hadn't lasted 27 years, there would be fewer problems! They should make them with a wooden plug that will rot away when it starts leaking!