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Hey guys
Newbie XJ owner here. I just purchased a white 96 Sports couple of weeks ago. Had a few problems but working my way through them. First off I wasnt all that thrilled on how messy it was inside. Being my first jeep, was kinda hoping for more of an interior from something mid 90's, seemed a lil oldschool.
So first thing i did was replace all door trims with door handles, latches, switches, centre console, all seats and headrests, carpet, 80% of the plastics round the interior, 4x4 shifter, the auto shifter, rear speaker moulding. Even scored factory jeep side steps. I sourced the parts from a 2000 written off XJ that had the more modern interior and this had only done 50 thou k's, so all was in excellent condition.
Stupid me didnt check properly and assumed everything was bolt on, came to find i had major headaches. Door handles in different spot, wiring for trims are totally different, trim clips are in different spot, centre console shaped totally different, mountings are different, new T-bar has big factory bend in it, handbrake in different spot, no factory holes to mount the side steps, some of the plastics are different shape and mount differently. Yea i know, im a dumbass.
By the 2nd day since buying them, i regretted it, badly. But I pushed on tinkering. A week later, i've got in the carpet, seats, plastics, centre console, completed front left door trim and all wiring and switches. I'm having a break before starting the next door as there is a fair bit of modifications involved.
Purchased a cheap galv steel gutter mount full length tray few days ago and mounted it on a tilt so it doesnt hit my sports spoiler. The mounts are too short! So u-bolted the rear on top of the factory roof rack and gutter mounted the front. Whacked the spare tyre up there and now happy with more boot space. Also purchased a compressor and mounted where the spare used to be.
Found it was noisey under the bonnet and in the cockpit so i replaced the manifold gasket as well as the gasket on the bottom end of the extractors. Made a huge difference. Cleaned the throttle body and so it now idles a bit better with less flux on the tacho.
Now im getting pretty happy with it. Inside it feels nearly like a new car, well compared to before.
Tomorrow doing the thermostat gasket as I found some residue from coolant on the bashplate and followed it to find the source.
Next on the list will be engine mounts, all tie rod ends, rewire both my fans to run constant with acc, re-upholster roof lining and to mount the side steps as i cant afford sliders or anything yet, and i dont mind the extra protection.
More undecideds to come.
I'm not an electrition or mechanic, I'm just decent with my hands, always try to do things myself to learn. So far all work has been done by myself and so far so good.
I'll post some before and after pictures when i finish a few more things and have more time, it's been a busy few weeks on the tonka truck.
=)
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1996 JEEP CHEROKEE
