This will be my first build thread for a Jeep, Normally I work and own Aircooled VW's so this is quite a change (Everything is so damn heavy)

I picked up this Jeep from my friend for $800, it has a fresh paint job, but a few small issues thus its cheapness in price.

Specs:
4.0L
AW4 2WD (Probably wont convert it to 4WD as I dont do off-roading.... Yet.)
Everything is pretty much Stock on this Jeep.

• Transmission makes a terrible wine in 1st gear. Goes away when thrown in neutral. Changed fluid and filter, found metal bits in the oil pan.
  
• Needs a new A/C condenser, found a pin hole leak in it.
  
• Oil drain plug stripped out, currently has a rubber expanding plug in place.

 

 

Replaced the main tie rod on the pit-man arm, it had play in it.

(Photo was taken before I tightened the lock nut.)




Also picked up a AW4 2WD 1996 transmission with only 75,000 miles on it for $100.

Guy was converting his Cherokee to 4WD and didn't need it.

 

At the Junkyard last weekend I picked up a speedometer cluster with the gauge pack to replace the idiot light version in mine.

Also ordered the correct sending units so the oil pressure and coolant temp will work with this new gauge.

 

I've got a bit of leaf spring sag in the rear as they are 23 years old, does anyone know or can point me to some new Stock style new leaf springs?

Also, what websites does everyone prefer to get aftermarket parts from?

I am told to stay away from quadratec.com?

I get most parts from Rockauto.com

 

Crown and Dorman both make OEM leafsprings. Crown's are sometimes marketed as "heavy duty" springs because they are the OEM "UpCountry" package which is an inch or two higher than the regular OEM springs. Crown's springs come without bushings while Dorman's have the bushings pre-installed if I remember correctly.

 

I have LED headlights in my VW Beetle, and wanted the same ones for my Jeep, I picked them up from www.vintagecarleds.com and used a 10% off coupon code "cherokeeforum.com"

These: https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/200m...ctangular-kit/

I really like the lights look like standard glass sealed beams, but really give it a crisp "new look" I've looked and checked out some of the truck-lite items, but I think they look a little too modern for my taste.

Also these guys only run at 20 watts each so I don't need to wire in headlight relays, and it will allow me to shave off 30 watts of usage.

I made a little how-to Below on the install.

Before:




Removed 3 Phillips screws:



Removed the little side marker bulb:




Two more Phillips screws behind that.




Here is the replacement LED unit:








Removed 4 Phillips screws holding the retaining ring in.



I had to bend these 2 small tabs outward, otherwise they hit the heatsink on the back of the LED bulb. I removed the retaining spring in the lower left corner to get the headlight bucket out.

Before/After





Plugged in the LED replacement, and installation is pretty much reverse of what you saw above.






Sealed beam on the left, LED unit on the right:





Both units installed, you can see my beetle off to the left.






The beam is wider and a bit longer than the sealed beams I had installed.

Low/ High beam below, I just now noticed these are not in focus from last night, Ill post some more photos while on the highway tonight

 

Replaced the O2 Sensor today, was getting OBD codes 21 & 51, and it looks like the OG O2 sensor was still in the Jeep.

Replaced it with a Bosch unit.




Also started removing the front grill of the Jeep to replace the A/C condenser, it had a small pinhole leak.

 

Pulled the diff cover off and changed the gear oil.

Looks like I have a Chrysler 8.25" 3.55 Ratio, everything looks to be good inside. No large metal particles or flakes/chips.

A thin film of gray on everything though (cleaned it out with brake-clean)

Also painted the cover, installed a new rubber fill plug, and replaced the missing bolt.

Also replaced the terrible ground cable connections, and replaced both the body and engine ground cables.

 

Removed the old blower motor, which had too much play in the bearings.

Got a VDO brand replacement motor at Autozone for $23!

Also blew out all the dust I could from the EVAP core.

Blows much better, and cooler!

 

So, after looking at the online VIR forms for the Jeep,

It was inspected in 2013 with 246,000 miles.

Then in 2014 It was inspected with 150,000 miles.

Looks like someone changed the speedometer, so this Jeep has around 260,000-280,000 miles right now.

 

Replaced the AW4 transmission yesterday, its been making terrible grinding noises for a few months now.

Dropped the pan and found a golf ball sized amount of metal stuck to the magnet.

Picked up a lightly used AW4 with 80k miles on it.

Rear freeze plug was leaking behind the flexplate, so I replaced that as well.

Flushed the trans cooler, and installed a new torque converter.

 

I would like to bring my Cherokee back down to stock lift & Tires, But I am not too sure what I need to remove.

I might have taller front end springs, Or maybe a cushion under the front springs to raise the Jeep?

For the rear, it has stock shackles I think I just need to remove the Steel blocks between the leaf springs and axle.

If someone had some stock photos of a Jeep I would love to see them.

Current Tires: 30/9.5 R 15

Current Lift:




Front Springs:



Rear Axle:



Tire size:

 

Well the rears look like they have blocks, as for the front im not too sure.

 

Beautiful Jeep! I like where you're headed with it. From the looks of it that leaf spring is worn out and flat, just like mine was when I bought it. When you take that block out and go back to factory coils up front it will more than likely sag in the rear. Some others can chime in, but you may consider doing an "add a leaf" to compensate. If it was me I would replace the entire leaf spring, but you will find that that tends to be quite an undertaking on these vehicles (search "cherokee front leaf spring bolt").