1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Previous owner was a older guy who passed. The family decided they didn't want the vehicle. They just had front & rear brake pads, front rotors installed and the front sway bar links replaced (one side was on wrong...more on that later). That wasn't all of the problems though.... I have had it for about five days now and so far I've fixed:
4wd linkage. It was rusted solid. Probably hadn't been used in...forever. Some liberal amounts of PB Blaster and it's working better than new.
Front axle shaft u-joint. Common on Jeeps, back when I had my wrangler I changed a lot of them. This one was a bit harder. No doubt it was original and the bolts that hold the hub bearing on were pretty rusty. Usually if these have been apart atleast once I can chage one out in a hour start to finish. This one took me a hour just to get the three bolts out for the bearing....FYI, there is a new CV jointed shaft to replace the old school u-joint shaft.
Transmission. A couple morings I noticed the trans slipping. But it only did it if I parked "uphill" in our driveway. I checked the fluid and it was in the "good" range. I was bummed to think I may be doing a tranny swap already. Then I learned your supposed to check these trannys in neutral insead of park. Huh, imagine that it was low...and not just a little. It took a quart to get it to the apporpriate level. We'll see tomorrow if it slips.
Sway bar link. The sway bar links on these are not straight, they sortof look like a Z. The shop who installed them had them oriented the same way instead of opposite. I fixed this when I was doing the axle joint.
It has some wobble at 55MPH. I noticed the FR wheel weight was missing and had the wheel balanced. It took a little wobble away but it's still there. I'm thinking either a bad tire or the track bar is bad..

Thats all the big stuff. I also cleaned up the interior....it needed it.


A pic:

Nice, be sure to install a new fuel filter(alot of ppl neglect this, not saying you but the previous owner) and change the trans filter another neglected item.


Thats a good looking rig.

Sweet...............good for you man.

Nice! Any plans for it? Or should I ask is there any reason as to why you bought it?

Those jeeps are good trucks, and the 5.2 or 5.9 magnum in those trucks are really strong motors. I have a lil over 70k on my 5.9 and basic maint., which never needed a thing and runs top notch!

Many guys on the dodge forums wish they brought back the 5.9 - because they are strong motors

Very cool. I have a '98 with the 5.2l. I love it, even though it has been a PITA because of the screw ups of a shade tree mechanic. Water pump was going out, so rather than just change it, he decided to try to milk it along with a half dozen bottles of BARS Leak sealant. Eventually he changed it, but about 6 months after I got it, the radiator wound up plugged up, bad enough a radiator shop couldn't clean it out. Wound up overheating it badly before I figured it all out, cracked both heads.

Few things I suggest with those. First, get rid of the stock thermostat. I don't care what Chrysler says, 195* is too damned hot with a small radiator like that. Too little room for mistake if something goes a bit haywire 50 miles from nowhere. I dropped mine to 160*, and it's much happier. Second, buy an extra set of heater controls. They all go bad eventually, pick up a good used set off ebay, and sit on 'em until yours die. Third, flush your cooling system and ensure it stays clean. Today's engines can't deal with the crap we used to get away with on the old V8's.

Enjoy your Jeep. They're the best mid to large SUV out there IMHO. Go like a scalded cat, handle like a dream, and incredibly sure-footed.

Nice looking Jeep you got.

Thanks!

I was going to change the trans filter but I am hesitant. I have read alot of cases where on a high milage vehicle that hasn't had tranny service done properly if you change the fluid the tranny takes a dump. The reasoning is something to the effect (I don't recall the exact details) the new fluid breaks free all of the deposits and pumps them through the trans.

I totally forgot about the fuel filter...thanks! But upon research, it appears it most likely in the tank. Some had them outside, I'll have to check.



Thanks!




2" lift and a little bigger tires. Basicly make it look like it should have looked leaving the factory. I've been down the big lift/big tire/axle swap/wheel the hell out of it/sucks to drive on the street road already.

It only has the 4.0L engine. Not a bad thing but wish it had a V8.




Thanks, we are enjoying it so far.




Thanks



UPDATE: The trans did not slip today....amazing what the proper amount of fluid will do..

sharp looking rig.

ZJ

watch the rear axle it should be a dana 35c really weak that all yj's and most tj's and lj's came with.
id be afraid to run 31's on a locked 35c. that speaks to how wear it is.
does it have the 242 t-case?

Yes its a D35, open though. I'm not too worried about it, I don't intend on wheeling it hard if at all.

I don't know what t-case is in it...didn't look.

Nice vehicle, once you get the bugs worked out you will have a sweet ride. Those Jeeps are worth putting a few bucks into and keeping. The 4.0 is a great motor.
Congrats on your find.

with the 4.0 remember the crank sensor, the map sensor and the throttle position sensor all are common fail points.

Thanks, I've been reading where alot of guys have replaced the crank sensor. Didn't know about the others..

Post a pic of your YJ

Glock i so want your signature pics hahaha

now for the jeep i dont know jeeps that well but i know some about cars so here we go.........

looks ok hahahahahaha