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McCloud's Niner Build/Rebuild Thread

45K views 390 replies 29 participants last post by  McCloudsZJ 
#1 ·
Picked up my 1998 Grand Cherokee LTD 5.9 the other day. Time to start a "build" thread :D 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 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 :eek: 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...
 
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#256 ·
Guess who's belt is squeaking again! This guys!!! I talked to the dude at Advance Auto. If I return both of my crappy belts, he'll refund the money for store credit, then order me a Gates belt in the same flavor. While I was at Advance, I had them test the battery. It looks like the parasitic drain from the old alternator that killed it over night (more than once) did a number on it. It won't hold a charge properly. Thank goodness for that warranty... New belt and battery next week.

On a side note... I started the Jeep for the guy testing the battery. That elicited a "That sounds good, man!" from him. I revved it up to about four grand and got "**** that sounds good!" All in a days work.

On another side note... I'm about to leave good 'ol Virginia here in a couple months. I'll be stuck in nowhere Missouri for a long time. I'll be making a little more money than I do now, but I won't have anything to do. So I want to build an engine. A 408 stroker to be exact. I'm going to pick up a block when I get there (I think I already found one) and build it on a stand in the living room. I'll have the interior and suspension squared away by then making the motor the weakest link. This'll be my first V8 build from the bottom up. :drool:


I do have a dilemma. The choice is between building a 408 and building another bike. I'm sure the stroker would be fun and educational, but 100 mph on one wheel is fun, too. Decisions decisions...
 
#258 ·
150 on 4 wheels would be fun too.
189 on a bike was beyond fun (on a closed track :rtft: ). I think if I was a Buddhist, I would have found enlightenment.

I'd say build a 408. But I wouldn't call a 5.9 the "weak link" :laugh:
With 233,000 miles on the stock block and internals, it's getting there. Especially when everything else is so new and shiny.
 
#259 ·
McCloudsZJ said:
189 on a bike was beyond fun (on a closed track :rtft: ). I think if I was a Buddhist, I would have found enlightenment.

With 233,000 miles on the stock block and internals, it's getting there. Especially when everything else is so new and shiny.
Oh i didn't know it was that many miles. Your 2k over me. Yeah build a nice shiny 408 :2thumbsup:
 
#260 ·
What trans would you put behind that? I know the 46re is stronger than the 44re, but I don't think it's that strong.
 
#262 ·
#261 ·
kg6mov said:
What trans would you put behind that? I know the 46re is stronger than the 44re, but I don't think it's that strong.
46re can be built pretty strong by a guy named Martian saine I believe is his name. There's alot of guys on the speed freaks with blown 5.9s and have a built 46re and it holds up pretty good

Edit: and I can't imagine a Built 408 would make much more power than a blown 360. But it might. I havnt looked at any numbers comparing each
 
#263 ·
Mmmmmm yes please!!!! Or a nice turbo set up. Would be better for daily driving as your only in boost under load vs with a blower being drivin off the crank you will be in boost all the town. But either would be sick!!!
 
#264 ·
Mmmmmm yes please!!!! Or a nice TWIN turbo set up. Would be better for daily driving as your only in boost under load vs with a blower being drivin off the crank you will be in boost all the town. But either would be sick!!!
Fixed that for ya'. Also, 1500th post. It's the little things in life...


 
#267 ·
Twin turbo 408 would be appropriately insane.
 
#269 ·
If you're gonna go that far, why not just build a turbo hemi w/ nos and swap that in? lol

 
#270 ·
Took a picture of it at work.


Then got it stuck... Friends don't let friends drive a 2WD niner with an open D35 in the rear. Got it out after careful application of momentum and torque management.


 
#271 ·
D35? thought the 9'er came with the 44a??
 
#272 ·
It does, somebody won the ****ty PO lottery.
 
#273 ·
haha......i thought so
 
#275 ·
It's all good. The plan was always to put in an 8.8 anyway. Having a D35 in there just gives me more reason to do the swap.
 
#276 ·
gonna re-gear? ive started saving for a 9'er to make my DD and have contemplated swapping in 4.10's (maybe?) for lower end pulling power
 
#279 ·
The only time it will ever be said, "glad we have the elantra not the genesis"
 
#280 ·
Somebody slashed my **********ing tires last night. ******** it. No ****ing respect for other people's property. There's $500 I wasn't planning on spending today. **** suckers.

 
#281 ·
McCloudsZJ said:
Somebody slashed my **********ing tires last night. ******** it. No ****ing respect for other people's property. There's $500 I wasn't planning on spending today. **** suckers.
Ah, Auch, argh $$$
F shhhh ppl

Time for a 2way Viper alarm...?
Set at bat mode as i like to call it, it alarms you with the key transponder if any motion or sound sensors Are triggered, they can be set crazy sensitive.
 
#288 ·
Time for a 2way Viper alarm...?
Set at bat mode as i like to call it, it alarms you with the key transponder if any motion or sound sensors Are triggered, they can be set crazy sensitive.
I think it's time for the AR-15 niner protection security install.
well at least something worked out for ya......id be paranoid as S now if I was you. when my neighbors car got broken into, i didnt sleep right for a week worrying about my Jeep!
I think I have a solution to help me sleep at night. I'm getting one of these from work tonight.



One light aimed at the Jeep, another right in my bedroom window. If somebody decides to **** with it, myself and Mr. Mossberg are going to have a little chat with the intruder. :gunfight:
 
#285 ·
no...you need the "flame thrower" car alarm ;)

 
#286 ·
So... In a strange but lucky turn of events, I have four air-holding tires for $40. It looks like the vandal used some sort of sharp, pointy object (ice pick? pencil? I don't ****ing know). They stabbed the front two in the middle of the tread and the back two in the sidewall. I'm friends with the shop owner (he ALSO has a slate niner that I soldered the VIC in for him). He patched the front two front ones with a real patch, not a plug, and included a 10,000 mile warranty on the repair. He also happened to have two tires that MATCHED MINE EXACTLY in brand, size, and were within a 1/16" in tread wear. All four mounted, balanced, and out the door for $40.

Maybe there is some hope left for this world.

I still don't like patches on my tires, even the "real" ones. He's trying to see if he can source some UHPs for me to replace all four here soon. :D
 
#287 ·
well at least something worked out for ya......id be paranoid as S now if I was you. when my neighbors car got broken into, i didnt sleep right for a week worrying about my Jeep!
 
#292 ·
It's a 500.

So who did you piss off lately?? :D
X2, Thats the correct quest?
The only person I can think of is my landlord, who I talked about a couple pages back. She's a ****ing ****, but I don't think she'd do something like this. I live in the historic district of a nice little Virginia city with an extremely low crime rate. Our block is mostly retired folks. Not a lot of hoodlums. :dunno: Guess we'll see if they come back tonight. I also set up my webcam to record the driveway.
 
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