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Our 3rd Jeep- The Onyx Green 2004 Overland

10K views 40 replies 11 participants last post by  srmitchell 
#1 ·
Hey guys, you might have seen my other jeeps on the forum, my trail rig XJ-
"Rattletrap" (2001 Sport)

My girl driving-

Build- http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f22/my-2001-jeep-xj-build-rattletrap-668339/

And my now daily driver wj. (2004 Special edition)



Build-
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f197/my-dads-04-wj-special-edition-build-932344/

But now, my dad has a new WJ, a 2004 Onyx Green Grand Cherokee Overland.
He's going to build this, while I take over on his 2004 SE. The xj is too numerous in miles and gets terrible mpg. (It's paid off too, so why sell it?)

We picked it up in Napa, CA, and drove it back up north to Humboldt County about 2 months ago now. Paid just 9K. (It is MINT.)
Specs-
2004 Grand Cherokee Overland
Onyx Green Pearl Coat
84k miles
4.7HO
545rfe
Quadradrive/ nv247
Skids
Tow Hooks
Leather, rock rails, the whole overland deal
Navigation
Crap street tires
Too much chrome




Now for the build...
 
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#2 ·
Build plans include-
Iron Rock 3 inch lift, Rubicon Wheels/tires. (We already scored 4 MOAB wheels from a JK off of ebay.)
Addco rear sway bar
Bilstein shocks

But first.... We need to rid the jeep of that chrome. We hate it, it serves no purpose, and just looks like something from Cadillac.

Before- Chrome headlights/ grill/ air dam, tow hooks.


Ebay special headlights for an 04 Laredo, (same as on my 04 SE, they look and fit great.)



I thought the black background lights only made the chrome stick out more, so on a random afternoon, I tackled the removal.

Used 200 grit sandpaper to remove all shine from the chrome, and shot it with krylon semi-gloss.


Took the whole grill apart and was careful to sand both the inner throat rings and the bezel thoroughly.
I also used a duplicolor adhesion promoter primer.



Took the air damn off as well. (You must remove the bumper to do this, not too hard.)


Removed the tow hooks, scuffed them well with my flap disk and angle grinder, then used duplicolor bedliner spray to ditch the chrome.


And...... :)
 
#3 ·
Done!!


I'd say it's a huge improvement. Eventually we will paint the outer bezel Onyx green, (like the special edition and laredo's have in 04,) but for now, black will do. Not bad for about $20 in paint and sand paper. The lights were about 84.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400319507269?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
By the way- This ebay seller is awesome. We bought the lights and one had a reflector that came loose and could not be repaired. Sent them 3 pictures, and they had a replacement shipped out the next day for free. Didn't have to ship the other back either.

More pics-



Now I just need to paint the side trim black, (just the stupid chrome piece) and then we need to ditch the wheels.
 
#4 ·
I work at a jeep dealership now, as a lube tech. I will soon start doing aftermarket installs as well. (Jk's mostly!) So that's super exciting.

Anyways, we have a huge back stock of JK wheels and tires, all from the builds we have done.

So I was able to score 5, freedom edition JK moabs with SRA tires. Perfect size for a 3 inch lift, and better for a rig which is mostly a commuter/mom's rig for now. My dad is happy!


Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr
 
#6 ·
I can't promise you'd find them anywhere for how cheap I got them, $500 for 5. Employee discount plus the fact that they were inventory surplus.
I might buy another set and put them on my silver jeep for DD use.
 
#8 ·
Thanks man. I'm taking the overland to my work today, needs an inspection, and an oil change.

While it was nice to ditch the chrome, the black grill certainly took away from the overall look of the front of the overland.
I've always hated blacked out front grills, so my dad agreed that we should do something about it.

I found some Onyx green pearlcoat spray on ebay, from a dealer closeout. Got two cans, (for like 20 shipped) plus a primer and a clearcoat at oreillys.

Here goes nothing!

Sanded, prepped and a light primer spray on the "trim ring".

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Primed

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Now a color coat

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

2 cans later, then the start of the clear.

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

I let the clear sit for about 2 weeks, (mostly because I was too busy)

Then I sprayed some more last night, and now it is drying and I will go to my parents today to put it together.

As of a few days ago- (it is just resting, not snapped together just yet)


Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

It got more clear last night so the gloss is pretty damn good, I just couldn't assemble it.
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
Well, kind of a crazy outcome to this-
My dad originally wanted to build the overland for himself. (And my mom's daily driver,she has a dog that requires her to have an SUV to use.)
The special edition would remain my daily driver.

Well, since my mom has been daily driving the overland, she actually misses the silver one a lot. It was her daily driver for like 4 years. (Doesnt like the dual climate control, navigation and such)
And my dad decided he likes metallic grey more than Onyx, so when he looses his company car after retirement, he is going to buy another 04 Overland.

My mom gets her favorite jeep, I'm building the overland, and my dad will get to have the overland he always wanted.

So stay tuned and I will be buying a 3 inch IRO lift, and putting the rubicon take-off's from the silver jeep onto the overland. Should be sweet!
 
#11 ·
With some polish and a Mequiars power cone, you can take some 1200, 1500, 2000 grit to the clear coat and them buff it to a better shine than the stock paint.

Make sure you use at least 5 coats of clear. I use Rust-Oleum for my clear on several projects and have never had a problem and it dries to re coat in a couple minutes. Find the clear at Home Depot

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ole...er-Spray-Paint-1906830/100194482#.Up-FCsRDu8A
 
#14 ·
Thanks man! I'm in love with this jeep. I drove the xj on saturday... wow it is slow! hahaha. Lots of fun to drive but it will never be a dd again.

I really like the overland because since I live in Humboldt County, and I am a historian, it is cool to have redwood all inside the dash... Sort of a homage to all the redwood timber history around here. (We have the largest redwoods in the world.) Not to mention the fact that I volunteer for a local historical group called the Timber Heritage Association. haha

Anyway- Here's a shot of the paint color again, I don't have any cool action shots yet because I haven't wheeled it.

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

And here's what I hope it will look like when I'm done- Can't remember whose jeep this is but it has the lift height and tire size I'm going for.


Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

I want to build a tire carrier too.-

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Ultimately it will get the same 3 inch IRO lift, addco sway bar, dual steering stabilizers, Bilstein shocks and my jk wheels and tires from the other wj.
Like my old silver wj.-

photo (7) by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr
 
#16 ·
Thanks. Love his build.

One thing I learned about my Cherokee build is this- Be VERY sure you want to do a mod BEFORE you start making irreversible cuts into a clean jeep.
This overland is so clean that I do not want to do anything major other than trimming the front bumper for 32's.

I wanted to do this--


528657_10150789254073044_501853043_9549204_918713890_n by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

But I realized a few things.
First- The weight of all the material, (two long 2x4 3/16th's pieces of steel, plus the l channel, and the hinge and support) would end up weighing over 100 pounds. Plus the leverage of the huge tire on the back. I want to keep this jeep as alight as possible since it is already the heaviest WJ. (Overland gear)
Second- I would have to find myself a welder, all the material, plus the time, and the guts to hack the back crossmember and bumper on a very rare jeep color.

It looks so clean!!

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

But I need to have a full size spare. (I have a 5th matching moab waiting for a tire at home.)

So I stumbled upon this-
The detours knucklebone.

rsz_2img_1871 by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

carrier5 by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

carrier4 by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

carrier2 by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Perfect for my purposes.
-Can be removed
-Lighter than a swing out
-Faster for me to obtain
-Keeps the tire centered, where I think it looks best

I think a moab with a KM1 would look good on the back of the overland!
Just can't wait to get the lift so I can get decent tires on this thing, the current donuts are balding.
 
#25 ·
But I need to have a full size spare. (I have a 5th matching moab waiting for a tire at home.)

So I stumbled upon this-
The detours knucklebone.


Perfect for my purposes.
-Can be removed
-Lighter than a swing out
-Faster for me to obtain
-Keeps the tire centered, where I think it looks best

I think a moab with a KM1 would look good on the back of the overland!
Just can't wait to get the lift so I can get decent tires on this thing, the current donuts are balding.
Hey man, nice build. I actually sold adavis(black wj you pictures) the tire carrier. Although it was a very well built carrier. If you regularly open the rear door it gets old real fast. I think the swing out carrier is the best option but that's my opinion. Anyway goodluck with the build!
 
#17 ·
Got my 3 inch Iro lift ordered. Stuck with the hydro shocks for now. I'm sure they will suck compared to the Bilstiens, but I need to put my rubicon wheels and tires on this thing asap because the stock tires are really really bad haha.

So it will be the 3 inch lift, and I also ordered the OME 10MM trim spacer for the rear. I prefer a slight rake, and I found that when our silver jeep had the 3 inch lift, it sat a little low in the back. The trim spacer brought it right up to where I think it looks best.

Can't wait!
 
#19 ·
Thanks man!

I got my first lift parts- Shocks, hardware, spacers, sway bar links and track bar.

The box with the coil is literally sitting at the Fedex distribution center 2 miles from my house. It ships tomorrow. :(
 
#20 ·
Got the lift done!
I had to actually cut the shock mount off the top of passenger side front shock. Nightmare. Required removal of the pcm, coolant tank, and brackets. Craptastic.
The driverside shock was a pain too, I decided to grind flat spots in the shaft, so I could actually get the vice grips to clamp. Then it came off.

Before-

Before the lift by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Front done- 3 inch coils, hydro shocks. (I painted them silver because white would be ugly.)
And a huge thanks to the previous owner for putting nice rotors on this thing haha

Front parts installed by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Halfway!

Front done by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

For the rear, I removed both shocks and sway bar links. Then I installed the near links, then removed the coils.
To remove the coils, I placed the jack under the opposite side of the axle, and jacked it up until there was enough room to remove/replace coils. No compressor needed.


Rear progress by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Finished.


Rear finished by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Boom!

Finished by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr


Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr


Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

It rides really well... A bit stiffer than our silver wj with bilstiens, but I don't think I need to upgrade the sway bar.

Next I need to trim the front bumper. Rubs in reverse.
 
#23 ·
Turned out really nice! Glad to see you driving a WJ.....☺did you do a new track bar on this one or no?
 
#24 ·
Some picture updates-
I took the overland to work the otherday, (I work at a jeep dealer), I took the tire sensors out of the Rogue wheels and installed them into my moabs. The tpms is a nice feature.
I purchased another BFG 255/75/17 on ebay, used, which will become the spare.
In other news, the 5 rogue wheels and tires are for sale. haha.

So nice having a lift.

Working on the overland by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

And I did some exploring the other day.

Old, and Kinda New by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

Nature Bats Last by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr

This jeep is amazing offroad. Quadradrive rocks.

Untitled by Sean Mitchell 707, on Flickr
 
#26 ·
Thanks for the heads up. I know what you mean, my xj has a swing out carrier, and I don't like opening it very often. The latch is a pain especially if your hands are cold.

I see it as my only option besides cutting up my bumper, or getting some huge heavy bumper with swing out. Everything has pros and cons.
 
#27 ·
Yesterday I was leaving my friends house, I started the w while waiting for some parked cars to move.
I wasn't inside it, and I look over, suddenly the oil pressure had dropped to nothing and the check gauges light was on.
I turned it off instantly, checked the oil (it was fine) then restarted, the pressure was fine!

Sensor maybe?
 
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