Jeep Cherokee XJ Rebuild Thread

[AnyHeep]

Hey guys, I thought it would be fun to post to a thread to anyone who is interested on what I do with flipping/rebuilding vehicles. I just picked up a '97 Jeep Cherokee Sport that was wrecked in the front and very dirty inside. There is no frame damage and no major mechanical issues so this one should be fairly easy and straight forward. A little about the Cherokee... As mentioned it's a '97 Cherokee sport in a rarer color for the year. the owners before me were older and have probably owned the jeep most of it's life. It has a wrecked drivers front fender, dirty interior, header that needs paint, paint that needs buffed out, cracked turn signals, missing moldings, dirty interior, radio that needs work, and lastly, very very dirty interior. I'll post photos and descriptions as much as possible. Stick with me and check back soon!

[Hypoid]

:pics:

[AnyHeep]

I was finally able to grab some of my photos... I am using a PC while I transition between MacBook pros and I just don't understand how people use this primitive stuff, BUT that's for another discussion sometime. This was the day I bought it, 4 days ago. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8411450846_5fdf5acdcd_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411450846/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8410355037_518e864678_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410355037/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8411451614_b3dcfb9fb8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411451614/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8410355739_fa023b7b4a_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410355739/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8411452074_d273721ed1_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411452074/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8411452592_83826f9de4_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411452592/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8410358695_e56f93c552_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410358695/)

[AnyHeep]

One of the first things I did is remove the stickers from the rear (a native bumper sticker and dealer badge) and started buffing out the paint. Here's the passenger side after getting buffed out with 3m rubbing compound on a cotton pad with a DeWalt variable speed polisher. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8411455834_706b7a8b90_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411455834/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8410359811_cc1ab4605c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410359811/)

[AnyHeep]

One of the most important items on a vehicle that makes a vehicle seam clean, believe it or not, is the door jams. It's a subliminal thing, but if the jams are dirty, the car feels dirty. After the Jams are cleaned: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8411453110_8a989c7be9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411453110/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8411453462_9a4327b585_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411453462/)

[AnyHeep]

Next is to remove the seats, vacuum and shampoo under the seats... Yes, UNDER the seats. Very important. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8411458200_89a1e6b33d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411458200/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8411622046_4e1c28fc2e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411622046/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8411621622_fc6ff067b0_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411621622/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8410360881_59ab33362b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410360881/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8411457488_4ee6c1e968_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411457488/)

[AnyHeep]

I'm not a fan of the jeep Gambler wheels that came with the jeep. I picked up some factory Cherokee 5 spokes. That needed some polishing. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8411457978_2717c0175d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411457978/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8410361391_85aeec971d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410361391/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8410362683_2e368e285e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410362683/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8411458776_561db609a6_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411458776/)

[AnyHeep]

Last night, I started on the body work. I First removed the panels, and wrecked fender. Then pounded out and straightened the mounts on the grill/fender. Luckily the damage was very minor... I've had to deal with worse! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8410363917_6ae6108f4d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410363917/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8411459848_8fa32af974_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8411459848/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8410362961_0e839d9f52_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410362961/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8410364399_f74c13519f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410364399/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8410364747_72fb752bb9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8410364747/)

[AnyHeep]

Prepping the fender and grill for painthttp://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8417589591_55222325ed_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8417589591/)My Photo Stream-981 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8417589591/) by Stephen Gilmer (http://www.flickr.com/people/stephen-gilmer/), on Flickrhttp://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8417593169_493829fc96_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8417593169/)My Photo Stream-982 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8417593169/) by Stephen Gilmer (http://www.flickr.com/people/stephen-gilmer/), on Flickr

[Cr33p3r]

That wasn't in too bad of shape for the age. Looks like you are definitely making her better. It is going to look really good when you finish it! Keep us posted. Do you do bodywork as a hobby or living?

[Brad]

Coming along nicely! :thumb:

[AnyHeep]

That wasn't in too bad of shape for the age. Looks like you are definitely making her better. It is going to look really good when you finish it! Keep us posted. Do you do bodywork as a hobby or living?

I do have to be careful when I buy the jeeps to flip that it is a nice jeep underneath all the crap. This one was pretty nice for being 198k miles on it.

I used to do it as a hobby but I was able to make it my primary income so now I do it for a living

[AnyHeep]

Most of the Cherokees I've seen this color have the unpainted flares, grill and headlight surrounds, and bumper so I decided to spruce this up by painting them and making it look like a higher end cherokee.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8417644831_59ebea1b77_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8417644831/)

With the fender installed and primered


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8418712836_4ed7b1e0ce_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8418712836/)



With the tack coat applied


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8418731914_1cf6e749cd_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8418731914/)


with first layer of paint:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8418731956_6a8e44dde8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8418731956/)


After clear is applied





http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8418732082_65f7b22c5d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8418732082/)

[AnyHeep]

After all the new lenses and lighting are installed. The driver end cap matches my refinished passenger end cap well! I still need to buff the hood and some paint work on a couple things. I think the color matches pretty well! I will have to see it in the light to know for sure

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8420549920_932ea544b9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8420549920/)


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8420549890_ba4502bf19_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8420549890/)

[AnyHeep]

In the sunlight the paint matches the factory paint exactly Unfortunately, the jeep was repainted at some point in its lifetime so it doesn't match as well as hoped. It is sill close enough for politics.

This is before I buffed and waxed the drivers side:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8420081131_d9b0562e5b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8420081131/)




And after the door is buffed out with some rubbing compound:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8421189690_b4bbed4d39_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8421189690/)

[AnyHeep]

I was able to salvage the molding from a previous project for the front fender and mounted it with trim adhesive:



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8421189746_e9648a6cd1_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8421189746/)


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8420081407_710a66435a_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8420081407/)


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8420135851_284b75c79c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8420135851/)

[Fordguy77]

Looking good! i wish i had the skills and patience to learn to do body work like that.

[Cr33p3r]

It looks really good! I like how you did the light surrounds a big improvement!

[AnyHeep]

It looks really good! I like how you did the light surrounds a big improvement!


Thanks! I've always liked the mostly monochromed look. It makes it stand out and really cleans it up.

I pulled out some flares from a previous project that I had put bushwacker flat flares on and painted them to match


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8422583684_997d54751a_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8422583684/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8422583588_04899e5233_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8422583588/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8422583526_b24bcb0854_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8422583526/)

[AnyHeep]

Next, I removed the sun dried 4x4 emblems on the back and ordered some mopar charcoal 4x4 emblems off a 2013 grand cherokee so I could tie in the charcoal wheels. Kind of matching the belt with your shoes right?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8431881101_0a0ea8e439_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8431881101/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8432962938_cc073a6841_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8432962938/)

[AnyHeep]

The new tires came in, so I once again trekked over to the Discount tire where I used to work, and mounted up my 31" Treadwright Guard Dog MTs on the cherokee 5-spokes I picked up a little while back.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8432962900_42df2a8600_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8432962900/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8431881031_c38aff5225_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8431881031/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8431881065_413290ed65_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8431881065/)

[glacierpaul]

Nice! Have a few sets of Treadwrights myself :) btw, I love your sig :lmao:

[AnyHeep]

Today, I installed spring helpers (for the saggy springs) leaf blocks, and wheel spacers in the rear, and poly spring spacers and wheel spacers in the front with new sway bar bushings and then installed the new wheels and tires. I'm excited to get some photos once its light out but here's just a taste

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8433670657_f436f36374_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8433670657/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8433670709_f2385997d9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8433670709/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8433670785_633cab33a9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8433670785/)




http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8433670741_79b9dc67e5_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8433670741/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8433670627_c73582c77e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8433670627/)

[AnyHeep]

Nice! Have a few sets of Treadwrights myself :) btw, I love your sig :lmao:

This is my second set and I'm such a fan of the company and their tires. I saw that on a bumper sticker and I thought it was great and its stuck since

[xaza]

I love the value of the Treadwrights but they have let 15" sizes fade to nothing. Truck is coming along great. Rims and tires a huge improvement. Much nicer stance with spacers and spring helpers. :2thumbup:

[glacierpaul]

Looking really nice, Steve, good job!

[AnyHeep]

Here's some better photos of the new stance in the sunlight. I still have a ways to go but it's certainly going in the right direction

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8440480960_ab9357559c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8440480960/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8439375537_0e36260816_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8439375537/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8439376187_d380963bc4_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8439376187/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8440479164_aff14baa2f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-gilmer/8440479164/)

[Fordguy77]

looking Good!

[The StRanger]

Nice.