The 300GD is a great car to drive around town, and even better when there is a need to check out the back country here at Rocky Point Preserve, but for a trip down to the valley or a longer road trip, the OM617 can be a little loud, cold and underpowered.
I just can't get a new car and was in need of something that can get back to the preserve up Tollgate Canyon in the winter. For a while I was driving a Jeep Wrangler, but it just did not feel right. Years ago I owned a Jeep Cherokee, the old XJ version that was made from 1984-2001. It was the first Jeep to feature unibody construction and had the most awesome 4.0L fuel injected inline 6. In my mind, the early Jeep Cherokee bridged the gap between the G-Wagon and other early capable 4x4s and the new breed of family SUVs. The thing is, the Jeep XJ still has the drivetrain, engine and capabilities of a great 4x4.
According the the Wikipedia entry:
Automotive journalist Robert Cumberford, writing for Automobile, called the Jeep XJ one of the 20 greatest cars of all time — for its design, and "possibly the best SUV shape of all time, it is the paradigmatic model to which other designers have since aspired". The XJ was also selected in 2011 as one of "10 cars that refuse to die" by Kiplinger.
Since so many were produced and because of reliability of the 4.0L engine, there are a bunch of these around and they can be had for such a low price that many feel them to be a disposable 4x4. I decided to start looking for one to be my next 4x4 project car. I was lucky enough to find a 2001 accident free automatic with just over 100K miles that drove well but needed some TLC. $2500 and I had my next Jeep XJ.
First I gave it a quick 3" lift, replace all the springs, put in new bushings, new steering damper, had all the fluids flushed and replaced, replaced the failed thermostat, breaks and replaced the radiator and hoses. The car ran pretty good but it looked like hell. There was surface rust and the interior was in pretty bad shape. Once the mechanicals were sorted out, it was time to focus on the body.
I decided to try out the newest local body shop Cascade Collision and started to come up with a plan. We would sand blast the car, cover it with epoxy, get it straight, prime it and repaint it... YELLOW. I took the car home to remove the interior and get it ready for the shop. The one thing I was most worried about were the floor pans. But GREAT NEWS, there was absolutely no signs of rust under the carpet or anywhere on the interior.
Once back at the body shop and sand blasted a quick look over showed just a couple of minor spots that needed attention. The body was very serviceable. The guys at the shop quickly started pulling the car apart and working on the body, replacing the front door hinges and getting it ready for primer.
It took the shop almost 3 months because winter is fender bender season and the shop got very busy, but finally we got some color on the car and it looks great.
Pulling apart the car for painting allowed us to make sure it would look more like a full restoration rather than a respray. Once the car is together, it will be very difficult to figure out the car was ever blue. More importantly, there will be almost no place water and salt can penetrate and cause rust.
While at the shop, I had cascade assemble and install the Smittybilt XRC front and rear bumpers, the rock sliders and application of the black matching coating along the bottom of the body.
Once I picked up the car, it was time to rebuild the interior. Over the next two weeks I installed new carpeting, seats, dynaliner, stereo, speakers and headlights. I worked with my little guy, Delynger to get the winch installed and add a bull bar. I also ordered new wheels and worked with Discount Tire to fit serious all terrain tires. I also added a new larger throttle body, throttle spacer and Airaid filter system. I feel like I'm getting about 10% more HP out of the 4.0 L inline 6.
Now my "Yellow Jacket" is mostly complete (are they ever really complete?), it is be ready for a sticker on the bumper... "My Other Car is a G-Wagon"
I just can't get a new car and was in need of something that can get back to the preserve up Tollgate Canyon in the winter. For a while I was driving a Jeep Wrangler, but it just did not feel right. Years ago I owned a Jeep Cherokee, the old XJ version that was made from 1984-2001. It was the first Jeep to feature unibody construction and had the most awesome 4.0L fuel injected inline 6. In my mind, the early Jeep Cherokee bridged the gap between the G-Wagon and other early capable 4x4s and the new breed of family SUVs. The thing is, the Jeep XJ still has the drivetrain, engine and capabilities of a great 4x4.
According the the Wikipedia entry:
Automotive journalist Robert Cumberford, writing for Automobile, called the Jeep XJ one of the 20 greatest cars of all time — for its design, and "possibly the best SUV shape of all time, it is the paradigmatic model to which other designers have since aspired". The XJ was also selected in 2011 as one of "10 cars that refuse to die" by Kiplinger.
Since so many were produced and because of reliability of the 4.0L engine, there are a bunch of these around and they can be had for such a low price that many feel them to be a disposable 4x4. I decided to start looking for one to be my next 4x4 project car. I was lucky enough to find a 2001 accident free automatic with just over 100K miles that drove well but needed some TLC. $2500 and I had my next Jeep XJ.
First I gave it a quick 3" lift, replace all the springs, put in new bushings, new steering damper, had all the fluids flushed and replaced, replaced the failed thermostat, breaks and replaced the radiator and hoses. The car ran pretty good but it looked like hell. There was surface rust and the interior was in pretty bad shape. Once the mechanicals were sorted out, it was time to focus on the body.
I decided to try out the newest local body shop Cascade Collision and started to come up with a plan. We would sand blast the car, cover it with epoxy, get it straight, prime it and repaint it... YELLOW. I took the car home to remove the interior and get it ready for the shop. The one thing I was most worried about were the floor pans. But GREAT NEWS, there was absolutely no signs of rust under the carpet or anywhere on the interior.
Once back at the body shop and sand blasted a quick look over showed just a couple of minor spots that needed attention. The body was very serviceable. The guys at the shop quickly started pulling the car apart and working on the body, replacing the front door hinges and getting it ready for primer.
It took the shop almost 3 months because winter is fender bender season and the shop got very busy, but finally we got some color on the car and it looks great.
Pulling apart the car for painting allowed us to make sure it would look more like a full restoration rather than a respray. Once the car is together, it will be very difficult to figure out the car was ever blue. More importantly, there will be almost no place water and salt can penetrate and cause rust. While at the shop, I had cascade assemble and install the Smittybilt XRC front and rear bumpers, the rock sliders and application of the black matching coating along the bottom of the body.
Now my "Yellow Jacket" is mostly complete (are they ever really complete?), it is be ready for a sticker on the bumper... "My Other Car is a G-Wagon"
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| 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ At Rocky Point Preserve, Park City UT |
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