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UER Forum > Private Boards Index > Jeep/Offroad Enthusiasts > New Cherokee (Viewed 3518 times)
Otaku 


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New Cherokee
< on 7/13/2010 6:25 PM >
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So, we bought a 1989 XJ last night. Runs okay, just needed fuel. Seems to be practically missing the rear freeze plug, so I have to drop the transmission to get that fixed. Not too bad, I don't think.

My brother in law was pretty set on buying the Jeep last night, so we decided to just try to drive it home, knowing that it had an "overheating" issue. About a mile down the road, the wife noticed that the Jeep was pouring coolant. Well, we managed to get it down the road to a gas station. We did the egg trick to see if we could get it home. Didn't work. Ran across the street to a parts store, picked up some stop leak, which worked for about 2 minutes. As soon as pressure built up, it popped free again. We decided to have it towed home. At this point, it was 11PM. The tow cost us $175, but we gave the tow guy $200 for being $150 cheaper than the next cheapest quote.

Right now, it's sitting on ramps in my driveway. I don't feel like working on it today, but I want to have the transmission pulled by the weekend.

One question I have is what size are the 2 freeze plugs at the back of the motor? I'm going to replace them both with brass ones so this won't be an issue down the road.

Another question I have is how stiff is the clutch supposed to be in an old XJ? I'm thinking the throwout bearing is shot because it's really stiff. I mean "super JDM stage 15, yo" stiff. I'm not sure if it's an aftermarket clutch, but I think the PO mentioned that it was. The Jeep does have over 250,000 miles on it.

I'll eventually get pictures, maybe.




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Phreak480 


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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 1 on 7/14/2010 7:57 PM >
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hit up jeepforum for more jeep info than you can ever absorb.




Otaku 


Gender: Both
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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 2 on 7/14/2010 8:57 PM >
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Everyone over there seems a little pretentious and they expect you to know everything from the get-go. I have an account over there for searching, but that's all I think I'll ever use that forum for.




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Otaku 


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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 3 on 7/15/2010 1:30 AM >
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Well, I found some repaired rusty floor pans. Both sides. Rusted clean through. I couldn't tell because the bottom of the Jeep was that dirty. For the price, I guess that's to be expected. I'm starting to look at this as more of a toy than a daily driver now. No big deal.

I did find a water leak in the upper driver's side foot well. I'll find it and get it sealed up.

I got the motor and underside pretty clean now. I'm ready to start working in it.




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Phreak480 


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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 4 on 7/16/2010 12:51 PM >
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another place to check out is jeepsunlimited. when i had to change a freeze plug on my cherokee yrs ago the parts house was able to give me the correct plug. i did the one behind the motor mount on the passenger side. did it in the dark on the side of the road using a crappy scissor jack between the engine and steering linkage to give me some clearance and support the engine with the motor mount removed. it sucked.




Otaku 


Gender: Both
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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 5 on 7/17/2010 5:02 AM >
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All of the accessible freeze plugs have been repaired. I got under there to start taking it apart tonight and got a few bolts out and gave up for the night because my help (that's probably taking the Jeep to college) decided that it was better to play Fable 2 than work on his Jeep. At this point, I'm gonna just let him drive his POS Ford instead, keeping the Jeep for myself.

Oh, and I found a shoe between the transmission mount and the crossmember. I'm afraid of what I'm going to find next.




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Otaku 


Gender: Both
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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 6 on 8/23/2010 6:01 PM >
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Well, I figure it's time for an update, even though I haven't made a whole lot of forward progress.

I have the transmission out. It's cleaned up and waiting on me to finish the work on the rear of the block and get it back in place.

I got the clutch and flywheel out of the way and got the faulty freeze plug removed. There was a series of holes in it, so it was no doubt my source of coolant loss.

The rear of the motor has been cleaned up really well. While I had everything apart, I decided to paint the transmission cross member, transmission mount bracket, flywheel cover, and coolant tank tray with Rustoleum white paint. I figured the Jeep was white, so it matched the engine bay where I have to touch up, and underneath it's going to let me see leaks much more clearly and quickly than if I had painted it all black.

When I had removed everything, there was a 1/2 inch coating of sludge and grime on everything. I've gone through a gallon of Purple Power and several hours on my pressure washer trying to get things clean.

As soon as I have the time to set aside to get back under there, I'm going to install my shiny new brass freeze plug and get the clutch and flywheel reinstalled. I have to wait for help on the trans, since my jack is sketchy at best.

At some point, I plan on getting some pictures of my Jeep. I don't really know what's holding me up, I guess the same thing keeping me from working on it.

I do have one question I have while I'm in here. What's the best way to remove years of rust buildup from coolant neglect? I have gotten as much of the scale out as I can manually, but I need a chemical to do some work for me. Will a simple Prestone flush work, or should I run some CLR through it? I think CLR will get it clean, but I'm afraid it would harm other components in the motor. What say ye?




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bonnie&clyde 


Location: 510 & 415
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Cleverly disguised as responsible adults

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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 7 on 8/23/2010 6:52 PM >
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Posted by wannabeotaku

As soon as I have the time to set aside to get back under there, I'm going to install my shiny new brass freeze plug and get the clutch and flywheel reinstalled. I have to wait for help on the trans, since my jack is sketchy at best.



Rent a tranny jack. They hold them nicely & swivel & pitch so you can get the perfect angle to get it in.

CLR? Never even thought of using that on a vehicle. Sounds like it would work but I'd do a little research b4 you try anything.

Clyde




The question is not when are we gonna stop, It's who's gonna stop us?

jeepdave 


Location: Anderson, SC
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It's also a gun.

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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 8 on 8/23/2010 7:43 PM >
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Www.cherokeeforum.com for less smart assy help. I'm jeepdavetj there and on jeepforum.com. Sounds like a fun build. Love 5 speed xj's




Ezekiel 25:17
Otaku 


Gender: Both
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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 9 on 8/23/2010 11:13 PM >
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I'm over on cherokeeforums, but it's like walking into a doctor's office and asking how to pee. These days, it's more writing about a project than actual project. It's what keeps me going.

After I spent all day working my butt off in my wife's classroom, I came home and got the freeze plug in. Looks awesome. Let's hope that's the last time I have to be in there for about 20,000 miles or a LOT of trail riding.

I can't find a place around here that rents jacks. I don't really understand it to be honest. You would think something like that would be common as dirt, but the only tool rental places in this town that I can think of are the parts stores.

Back to forums, I did find a good local forum that I'm getting active in. I prefer local forums when possible because there is more local knowledge. They have a very strict "don't ride illegally" stance which I like. And they have a directory of people that will help you out if you're in their neck of the woods, stuck or broken down. Really good people.

I'm going to give the Prestone flush a shot first. The CLR seems REALLY harsh, but I think I might end up with something stronger than off the shelf flush to get this thing clean.




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Otaku 


Gender: Both
Total Likes: 17 likes




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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 10 on 8/27/2010 2:12 PM >
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Well, my Jeep has a flywheel now. Looks great. It's a shame I expect to be back in there in 10,000 miles or so for a clutch.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure I'm missing a pilot bearing. Looks like there hasn't been one there for a while, it's WAY too clean in there. In my mind, that points to there actually having been a motor swapped in by the previous owner and them being fucking stupid and just not installing an $8 part.




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foxmotorsport 


Location: Tri-Cities (area) Ontario
Gender: Male
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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 11 on 10/29/2010 8:04 PM >
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http://www.naxja.org/ Wealth of XJ info, but I'm a TJ convert now




It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand....
Otaku 


Gender: Both
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Re: New Cherokee
< Reply # 12 on 10/29/2010 10:07 PM >
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I'm on pretty much all of the Jeep sites. Lots of help all over.

I am 99.9% sure we're selling this XJ, though. Every time I fix something, something bad happens. Fixed the freeze plug and got the flywheel in, dogs kill our kitten. The day I get the trans in and everything buttoned up, my parents' house gets broken into and our car gets broken into WITHIN 24 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. Fix the idle, my uncle, the scumbag we had to kick out of my grandma's house because he hadn't payed rent in about 3 years, showed up because child molestation charges were being pressed against him. All in all, it has a bad vibe about it.




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UER Forum > Private Boards Index > Jeep/Offroad Enthusiasts > New Cherokee (Viewed 3518 times)


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