WJ Seats in XJ?
#16
Up front no, not at all. I might sit a little higher, I really dont even notice... But I'm 6'1 and am very comfy in there. In the back I lost some head room. I did mount mine a little high on the frame rail to give me more cargo space below the seats, so maybe that would be different if you mounted them closer to the floor. Still 100,000X more comfy than the park bench in the back seat.
All in all, I drilled 3 holes in the floor pan... you would want to drill 4 max. I did most of my drilling in the WJ brackets and the frame rail right below the seat (is that even what it's called? That metal piece that sticks up and runs cross the front of your under-seat cargo area). I had to take out the release mechanism's from under the bottom side of the rear WJ seats with a 25 Torx bit, and cut the plastic bottom to fit the XJ wheel wells. In the above pics, the "40" portion of the 60/40 split was actually not in yet, just posing for a pic, so it sits even more flush now that its mounted up. It's a squeeze, but oh so worth it. I'd say a man with half a brain and the right tools could knock it out in 8 hours or less. Probably less. I did mine over a span of a few days. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions. I gave $200 at a local JY for the whole set! Got them cleaned and conditioned yesterday, and will follow up with another cleaning and conditioning here soon just because they were exposed to the elements in the JY.
All in all, I drilled 3 holes in the floor pan... you would want to drill 4 max. I did most of my drilling in the WJ brackets and the frame rail right below the seat (is that even what it's called? That metal piece that sticks up and runs cross the front of your under-seat cargo area). I had to take out the release mechanism's from under the bottom side of the rear WJ seats with a 25 Torx bit, and cut the plastic bottom to fit the XJ wheel wells. In the above pics, the "40" portion of the 60/40 split was actually not in yet, just posing for a pic, so it sits even more flush now that its mounted up. It's a squeeze, but oh so worth it. I'd say a man with half a brain and the right tools could knock it out in 8 hours or less. Probably less. I did mine over a span of a few days. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions. I gave $200 at a local JY for the whole set! Got them cleaned and conditioned yesterday, and will follow up with another cleaning and conditioning here soon just because they were exposed to the elements in the JY.
#17
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: North Olmsted, OH
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I know this is way late, but I did the swap this week, and you asked for pics. So here goes.
Attachment 101907
Attachment 101908
I also forfeited the power options, because I get sick of waiting on them to go back and forth when cleaning it (I was a detailer for years, pet peeve). The rears took some cutting and drilling but nothing too crazy. Go for it! Such a great upgrade.
Attachment 101907
Attachment 101908
I also forfeited the power options, because I get sick of waiting on them to go back and forth when cleaning it (I was a detailer for years, pet peeve). The rears took some cutting and drilling but nothing too crazy. Go for it! Such a great upgrade.
Awesome!! Thanks for the pics!
I found a set of black leather heated power, locally for $200, pass seat has a tiny cut in the leather, but I am going to pick them up tonight!
How did the rear fit width wide? I've had a few people tell me its not doable since the WJ is wider..
Will hopefully get pics of the seats tonight
#18
Awesome!! Thanks for the pics!
I found a set of black leather heated power, locally for $200, pass seat has a tiny cut in the leather, but I am going to pick them up tonight!
How did the rear fit width wide? I've had a few people tell me its not doable since the WJ is wider..
Will hopefully get pics of the seats tonight
I found a set of black leather heated power, locally for $200, pass seat has a tiny cut in the leather, but I am going to pick them up tonight!
How did the rear fit width wide? I've had a few people tell me its not doable since the WJ is wider..
Will hopefully get pics of the seats tonight
#19
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,265
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From: North Olmsted, OH
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sweet man! Get some pics up. It's tight in the back, but mostly because the wheel wells are shaped differently. I cut the plastic bottoms with a dremel tool and it fit flush afterwards. You will just have to unscrew the latch mechanism with a torx bit (4 screws, you'll see what I'm talking about). That is right in the path of wheel well. Just cut a little at a time and test fit. I must've run back and forth 10 times before I got it right. I'm sure it wasn't totally necessary to do that, but I got it right eventually.
Do you have pictures of the mounts for the rear? I haven't even tried mocking them up yet, so I have no idea whats its going to take.
Also in the fronts you said you used the XJ brackets? I was hoping to use the WJ brackets to keep the power and maybe attempt to hook up heat, but it doesn't sound easy..
#20
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 282
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From: SEMI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks!
Do you have pictures of the mounts for the rear? I haven't even tried mocking them up yet, so I have no idea whats its going to take.
Also in the fronts you said you used the XJ brackets? I was hoping to use the WJ brackets to keep the power and maybe attempt to hook up heat, but it doesn't sound easy..
Do you have pictures of the mounts for the rear? I haven't even tried mocking them up yet, so I have no idea whats its going to take.
Also in the fronts you said you used the XJ brackets? I was hoping to use the WJ brackets to keep the power and maybe attempt to hook up heat, but it doesn't sound easy..
#21
Thanks!
Do you have pictures of the mounts for the rear? I haven't even tried mocking them up yet, so I have no idea whats its going to take.
Also in the fronts you said you used the XJ brackets? I was hoping to use the WJ brackets to keep the power and maybe attempt to hook up heat, but it doesn't sound easy..
Do you have pictures of the mounts for the rear? I haven't even tried mocking them up yet, so I have no idea whats its going to take.
Also in the fronts you said you used the XJ brackets? I was hoping to use the WJ brackets to keep the power and maybe attempt to hook up heat, but it doesn't sound easy..
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=996662
I feel like a traitor posting a link from another forum, but it's the best I found.
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#22
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: North Olmsted, OH
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So has anyone used a WJ seat base in an XJ??
I would really like to maintain the pwr seats, and know I will never find pwr XJ seat frames..
I am okay without the heat, knowing that it runs through the BCM, although I wonder if there is a way to wire it in to only run it for a select period of time, like 3-5 mins?
I would really like to maintain the pwr seats, and know I will never find pwr XJ seat frames..
I am okay without the heat, knowing that it runs through the BCM, although I wonder if there is a way to wire it in to only run it for a select period of time, like 3-5 mins?
#23
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,889
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From: Long Island N.Y.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Just use the xj seat frame a power xj seat rail is pretty common thing i find at the junk yard and for the heat part from all the trouble you have to go through you can just buy an after market kit for like 50 bucks and its like 2 wires
#24
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CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: North Olmsted, OH
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
For now I am just going to use the XJ base for the WJ seats, I didn't realize I can maintain the recline and lumber power, I thought the seat was stuck without reclining if I used the XJ base....
If your ever at the JY and can find a power/heated seat base from a 97-01 XJ let me know! Not sure what they cost at a JY but it cant be more then $25and I would be more then happy to purchase them from you, as well as shipping and a few dollars for your trouble
I can barely find a 97+ XJ at the JY and when I do they are ususally SE or Sports and picked over fast..
#25
For now I am just going to use the XJ base for the WJ seats, I didn't realize I can maintain the recline and lumber power, I thought the seat was stuck without reclining if I used the XJ base....
If your ever at the JY and can find a power/heated seat base from a 97-01 XJ let me know! Not sure what they cost at a JY but it cant be more then $25and I would be more then happy to purchase them from you, as well as shipping and a few dollars for your trouble
I can barely find a 97+ XJ at the JY and when I do they are ususally SE or Sports and picked over fast..
If your ever at the JY and can find a power/heated seat base from a 97-01 XJ let me know! Not sure what they cost at a JY but it cant be more then $25and I would be more then happy to purchase them from you, as well as shipping and a few dollars for your trouble
I can barely find a 97+ XJ at the JY and when I do they are ususally SE or Sports and picked over fast..
#26
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,265
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From: North Olmsted, OH
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Well seats still arent installed, I removed the old frames, cleaned them up and painted them, and while the seats were out I decided to check under the carpet..
Unfortently I found some soft spots, so I spent the day doing some floor patch work..
Unfortently I found some soft spots, so I spent the day doing some floor patch work..
#27
I need to paint my brackets too. Unfortunately I was kind of in a hurry to get them installed. Post some pics of those seats man!
#29
okay i am attempting this swap also... i have a 88 xj that the seats are just tottal crap and none of them match and im sick of it. so i got some all leathr seats from my buddy from a 2000 wj for free no rips or anything so the front i want to put in with the electric movements so i have to weld or bolt on a nother bracket and soe other good stuff no big deal but the rear is where im lost.. has any one had experiance with somthing like this in a older jeep as mine or have any inks for older post i can take a look at? any help would be great!
#30
Replacing 01 XJ Limited seats for 00/01 Limited WJ seats
Hi,
I am about to do this project as well. I have a XJ Limited 01, with heat/power and obtained a near perfect pair of WJ (00 or 01) heat/powered (8 or 10 way).
Anyway, I think I have a clear road on the wiring (ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT), but, one of my main problems is the seat belt buckle. Currently the buckle is attached to the XJ seat frame which I have removed, no problem.... BUT.. the WJ seat frame does not come with the same angled piece of metal to anchor the buckle to (the WJ attaches the buckle to the tranny hump - dont know the techy word). How would someone attach the buckle to the side of the seat on the WJ seats if these are normaly mounted on the XJ seat frame? I hope my question is clear LOL..)
The picture is NOT my seat base, but, a great example of an XJ base with the buckle attached... How to make this happen on the WJ seat base? HEEEELLLLPPPP
I am about to do this project as well. I have a XJ Limited 01, with heat/power and obtained a near perfect pair of WJ (00 or 01) heat/powered (8 or 10 way).
Anyway, I think I have a clear road on the wiring (ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT), but, one of my main problems is the seat belt buckle. Currently the buckle is attached to the XJ seat frame which I have removed, no problem.... BUT.. the WJ seat frame does not come with the same angled piece of metal to anchor the buckle to (the WJ attaches the buckle to the tranny hump - dont know the techy word). How would someone attach the buckle to the side of the seat on the WJ seats if these are normaly mounted on the XJ seat frame? I hope my question is clear LOL..)
The picture is NOT my seat base, but, a great example of an XJ base with the buckle attached... How to make this happen on the WJ seat base? HEEEELLLLPPPP
Last edited by nimitz68; 08-19-2014 at 02:04 PM. Reason: spelling