Mira's Jeep Cherokee Sport

[1x1_Speed_Mira]

This is my jeep cherokee - thanks to our friend Don Briney-aka-BOBCAT. Were still trying to figure out what its going to look like when its done... I'm going to work on it a lot with my dad,.....but you never know...dads a talker-he might do more explaining than doing...

-Mira




EDIT (from dad):

Mira will only be posting in this build thread and her "Intro" thread, with me by her side when she does. I'm very proud that she wants to build up a Jeep with me; it'll be her car when she gets her driver's permit/license. Please keep any posts in this thread "Rated-PG" (I have already turned off Avatars/signatures for her).

EDIT: See two (2) posts down for project sponsors...

[capone]

Don't let Dad sell it before it's done!

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Originally Posted by capone

Don't let Dad sell it before it's done!

We have 5+ years...plenty of time. Besides, Mira's going to (mostly) be calling the shots on this one.


Here are the specs so far on Mira's Jeep:

• 1993 Jeep Cherokee Sport 2-Door
• '99 XJ interior swap, including all wiring/gauges/dash
• '99 4.0L HO engine with 94K miles...runs very well
• '99 AW4 auto
• '99 NP-231 transfer case
• '05 LJ Dana 30 front/trussed Dana 44 rear axles (3.73 gearing with limited-slip in the rear) from
  my Jeep
  my Jeep
  (low-mileage...only 53K)
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• 2" TeraFlex BB spacers (front) OR 4" TJ springs (which should net 3" lift on the XJ)...unsure at this point.
• TeraFlex front lower control arms
• '05 LJ OEM Jeep Ravine wheels
• 31" x 10.5" BF Goodrich KM2 Mud-Terrain tires
• H.D. Offroad Engineering Shackle Relocation Kit (rear)
• JCR Offroad DIY front bumper, Rear Bumper TBD
• JCR Offroad Transfer Case skid plate
• (planned) Iceland Offroad high-clearance flares (no suspension lift planned for vehicle)
• (planned) Rock sliders (probably custom-built by RockSolid Performance)
• (hopefully) Custom-built RockSolid Performance interior or hybrid roll cage
• (planned) Synergy Green exterior paint (OEM color on the new Camaros)

EDIT: As the project has progressed, we have gotten some sponsors that Mira & I would like to recognize.


Company Sponsors :

Mira & I would like to thank BJ at RockSolid Performance here in Cedar Springs, Michigan for the pro bono custom machine work on her rear Dana 44 truss, some new Dana 44 U-bolts and the braided stainless rear soft brake line kit. Much appreciated, guys!




Thanks for the caliper paint, seam sealer, internal frame coating, PRE cleaner, and cleaning discs, Matt. Much appreciated.



Thanks for the sweet Ballistic kid-sized skull t-shirt, Dave!




Thanks for the new TeraFlex adjustable lower control arms, Sterling!




Thanks to the great guys at JCR Offroad for the AWESOME deal on the XJ Ultimate Sliders!

Individual Sponsors:

• BOBCAT (Don): The whole project is a reality because our friend Don hooked us up with a fairly clean, '93 XJ 2-dr. "carcass". Thank you so much, Don!
• Brewmenn (Bruce): Thank you for hooking us up with a clean set of FREE doors. Much appreciated.
• mrclean (Travis): Transport of parts, and donation of some Hummer D-rings/mounts.
• JeepMann (Steve): A set of Dana 30 knuckles. Thanks Steve!
• big_ol_bronco78 (Dave): Free parts transfer/delivery. Thanks man!
• Shane Rugg: SCREAMIN'-good deal on a low-mileage 1999 XJ parts vehicle. Thanks again, Shane. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
• Ron Peterson (cj8ron): NEW late-model XJ header panel for a "facelift" front clip swap (WOOT!), fan shroud, and several other XJ parts we can use. Thank you so much, Ron.
• Aaron Smuda (Porscheguy): Adjustable lower control arms & some TJ 4" lift springs. Thanks for your generosity, Aaron. We hope to return the favor someday!
• TJontherox (Ryan): New XJ grill insert. Thanks Ryan!
• alix4d (Alix): FREE transport of donated parts.
• Mitch Ware: Cash Donation. Thanks for your generosity, Mitch!

Project Coverage

• Check out this Eastwood Blog covering Mira's Jeep project.
• Featured on Page 56 of the January 2012 edition of "Jp Magazine". Thanks guys!
  

Net Project Investment: $549.75 (12/10/2011)



Craig

[bigbchevy]

thats a good start

[SHARPMACHINE]

Very cool. Nice way to get Mira into jEePs and spend some good time together. She will also gain some great skills that she will use no matter what she does in the future.

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Originally Posted by SHARPMACHINE

Very cool. Nice way to get Mira into jEePs and spend some good time together. She will also gain some great skills that she will use no matter what she does in the future.

After browsing some parts with Mira this weekend, she saw these Ballistic Fabrication skulls, and wanted one for her diff cover (we already have a HD cover for the D44). I ordered a couple of them...can't beat it for $1.99 ea.

Craig




(Shown on a Ballistic Fab diff cover, just for a visual reference)

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Well, Mira's XJ is safely at home now. Here's a pic after we got it hooked up in Kentucky this weekend (check out that beautiful landscape!). It was 100 degrees down there WITHOUT the heat index, though, so we went through some serious water getting the tow brackets figured out & hooked up.

We utilized some of JCR Offroad Unibody Tie-In Brackets (Eric @ JCR helped me out with an after-hours pick-up on the way to Kentucky), which worked great for attaching the makeshift tow brackets to the XJ. They weren't notched for the fender support brackets like the illustration in the installation instructions (not sure why), so we just unbolted the support brackets, and pulled them out enough to slip the brackets in-between.

The only real "excitement" with the trip was a blowout on the Cherokee on the way home (happened near Indianapolis). It shredded the tire really well! The spare from my Unlimited saved me, but it made me nervous about another flat/blowout during the balance of the trip. All went well, though, and it's tucked away in its new home.

I'll get Mira acquainted with her soon-to-be new best friend - my beloved Milwaukee grinder with a wire wheel - real soon.

Craig

[Symmes]

That red two door did u buy that in a subdivision off of forest hills road? If so i went to high school with the girl that has been driving it.
jake

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Originally Posted by Symmes

That red two door did u buy that in a subdivision off of forest hills road? If so i went to high school with the girl that has been driving it.
jake

It was a subdivision off Cascade Rd. The girl (daughter) had driven it most recently, and before that, her brother had it. Small world.

Craig

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Just for kicks, I threw on a couple 31" KM2s and Ravine wheels today...I'm digging the look. This is just with the stock suspension; we'll be adding a 2" budget-boost before going with bigger tires.

Craig

[adamzr2]

looks good guys, i think its awesome the father daughter deal... how old is she if i may ask? just curious as to when she will be driving and whatnot

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Originally Posted by adamzr2

looks good guys, i think its awesome the father daughter deal... how old is she if i may ask? just curious as to when she will be driving and whatnot

She's just 10 yrs. old.

BTW, I picked up a very inexpensive parts vehicle tonight...a '96 XJ Classic. It runs & drives, but needs a tune-up. The interior is gray, and will end up in the '93 2-door. The good news, too, is that it has an airbag - something the '93 didn't have.

The front clip will be a good donor, although there is a small crack in the header panel. I'll see if it can be repaired.

We'll end up parting out anything we don't end up using.

Craig

[adamzr2]

man only 10 by the time you have this thing on the road you will have a xj boneyard going lol. oh and on that note i need a drivers side front door, if you happen to end up with a extra that would come in handy. thanks

[FlatFender]

Originally Posted by adamzr2

man only 10 by the time you have this thing on the road you will have a xj boneyard going lol. oh and on that note i need a drivers side front door, if you happen to end up with a extra that would come in handy. thanks

If I know Craig, he will have sold this, and started 3 other projects before she gets her license...lol

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Originally Posted by adamzr2

man only 10 by the time you have this thing on the road you will have a xj boneyard going lol. oh and on that note i need a drivers side front door, if you happen to end up with a extra that would come in handy. thanks

We won't be using the driver door from the white X, but I'm sure someone closer to
you would have one available. mrclean would be a good one to check with.

Originally Posted by FlatFender

If I know Craig, he will have sold this, and started 3 other projects before she gets her license...lol

Can't do it, FF...it's Mira's project, and we're calling the shots jointly. Of course, I didn't ask her about buying the parts rig, but she'll be excited when she finds out I did.


Craig

[Chiefwoohaw]

Originally Posted by FlatFender

If I know Craig, he will have sold this, and started 3 other projects before she gets her license...lol

xinfinity . . start parting it out yet?

[JUSS10]

sweet build! i'm running the budget lift on my xj with 31's. it has a nice stance, the tires and wheels you got going are way cooler than mine so you two are already way ahead of me haha. can't wait to see this come together.

i know how much i enjoyed working on the CJ with my dad. i came home from a weekend with my grandfather and saw it sitting in the barn. couldn't wait to tear into it! the knowledge she'll learn from this is invaluable not to mention the quality time spent with her dad

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Here's parts rig #2...a '94 base-model 2-door currently in the process of tear-down & part-out. It'll be the donor for our passenger fender, a bunch of glass, the 4.0L motor, and many other little items. The plan is to get it stripped down and scrapped out before the snow flies (translation = need garage space back).

Grill, fenders & hood are also now stripped off of Mira's XJ.

More to come soon...

Craig

[ScOoTeR]

Also, I see what you're doing to curb your bad habit of buying and parting everything out - you'll end up buying & parting out 30 Cherokees (at the rate you're going) before the XJ's title is safely in Mira's fist.

"Dad, I think the A/C compressor is bad on the new engine";

"ORLY?!! I've had my eye on one parked just off 28th street...";

"DA-AAD!!! We ONLY need the COMPRESSOR!";

"Oh, you never know, I saw you were missing two trim screws - one in the hatch area and one down by the kick panel on the passenger side. You know how much those things run at the stealership?!";

"Dad, they're just a couple of screws - I've already replaced them with a couple I found in a coffee can in the garage...";

"WHAT!!!??? - Which coffee can!? The one labeled 'Misc LJ Screws', 'Misc CJ5 Screws', 'Misc CJ6 Screws', 'Misc CJ8 Screws', 'Misc FSJ Screws', or 'Misc TJ Screws'??? I know for sure there are no trim screws in the 'Misc XJ Screws' can - I've checked myself! Look, Honey, I'm just looking out for your best interests."


I'm going to PM Mira my phone number so she has someone to call to help her set up an intervention, Craig.

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Originally Posted by ScOoTeR

Also, I see what you're doing to curb your bad habit of buying and parting everything out - you'll end up buying & parting out 30 Cherokees (at the rate you're going) before the XJ's title is safely in Mira's fist.

"Dad, I think the A/C compressor is bad on the new engine";

"ORLY?!! I've had my eye on one parked just off 28th street...";

"DA-AAD!!! We ONLY need the COMPRESSOR!";

"Oh, you never know, I saw you were missing two trim screws - one in the hatch area and one down by the kick panel on the passenger side. You know how much those things run at the stealership?!";

"Dad, they're just a couple of screws - I've already replaced them with a couple I found in a coffee can in the garage...";

"WHAT!!!??? - Which coffee can!? The one labeled 'Misc LJ Screws', 'Misc CJ5 Screws', 'Misc CJ6 Screws', 'Misc CJ8 Screws', 'Misc FSJ Screws', or 'Misc TJ Screws'??? I know for sure there are no trim screws in the 'Misc XJ Screws' can - I've checked myself! Look, Honey, I'm just looking out for your best interests."


I'm going to PM Mira my phone number so she has someone to call to help her set up an intervention, Craig.

Sounds about accurate. Mira will keep me on-track with this one. I'm going to wrap up the '94 XJ (red) part-out, and just park the white one until spring.

First on the To-Do list for Mira's black XJ is replacing some select sections of the floor pan. The exterior is all rust-free, but because the vehicle sat for 4+ years with the windows broken out of it, the carpet held moisture and caused a couple spots on the floorpan to rust. It'll be a straightforward fix, though, and we'll have Mira do some of the welding (good teaching moment).

Craig