Picked up my 1998 Grand Cherokee LTD 5.9 the other day. Time to start a "build" thread The more time I spend with the Jeep, the more convinced that this is going to turn into a rebuild thread. It is in desperate need of some TLC. It was listed for $2000. I talked the guy down to $1700 over the phone. Then, when it wouldn't start when I went to pick it up, I offered him $1400. He said OK... I jiggled the battery terminals, it started right up, and I drove off into the sunset.
First impression: damn. The 5.9 is addicting. The 4.7 in the WJ with some bolt ons and exhaust had some oomph but... Damn. I thought the transmission was slipping between 1st and 2nd at WOT. It wasn't. The tires were.
The good:
The bad: EVERY SINGLE common ZJ problem in the history of Jeep kind
First impression: damn. The 5.9 is addicting. The 4.7 in the WJ with some bolt ons and exhaust had some oomph but... Damn. I thought the transmission was slipping between 1st and 2nd at WOT. It wasn't. The tires were.
The good:
- The interior is 99% there
- 5.9 is in tip top shape... Oil is clean, but not brand new; no ticks, knocks, whines, or hesitation
- No major body damage
- No rust on the rockers
- Checked it out at the alignment shop--nothing out of whack. Good news
- The 249 works No binding, chirping, hopping, or complaining of any kind. We'll see how long that lasts
The bad: EVERY SINGLE common ZJ problem in the history of Jeep kind
- Tires are bald and only getting worse. Something to do with the skinny pedal?
- Bad coolant sensor on VIC (of course)
- Head liner is falling down
- Dumb *** that owned the Jeep before me used spray paint on the tail lights and the corner lights up front
- Tires are bald
- Shocks are probably original--they ride like it
- Dash tweeters shot? Nope. every single speaker shot
- No head unit
- Battery is shot
- Terminals look like they've been mauled by a tiger
- No AC compressor :brickwall:
- No muffler
- Lots and lots of little tiny chips in the paint--it looks like somebody was weed whacking in a gravel parking lot next to the Jeep
- Filthy inside and out; disgustingly dirty
- Dash dimmer... well, you know....
- Drivers mirror EL fluid... Again... you know...