After selling both a YJ Wrangler and an XJ Cherokee, I stumbled across a deal that will probably never happen again. A 2001 Grand Cherokee Laredo with leather (in terrible shape), sunroof, V-8 and Quadra Drive. It had a blown brake rotor (someone used knock off slotted and cross-drilled), a budget boost lift, decent tires (32" on JK wheels) and a brush guard. For a whopping $100. He wanted more, I waited him out and gave $100.
A few hours later I had a full front brake job complete, as well as the build sheet from Jeep. I proceeded to put 4,000 miles on it, some in creek beds, others while towing a trailer as I moved from one town to another. All in all it was money well spent. Until it wasn't.
In September of last year I was going to dump it, since I was in it cheap and had 6 other cars, and when the buyer came to the dealership I worked at to drive it, the starter made noises like it was full of gravel. (Potentially a true diagnosis, how else do you treat a 4x4 you have under $400 invested in?) Needless to say, it didn't sell and sat in the back of the dealership for the next few months, until I took a manager job at a dealership in Bowling Green. I towed it down here from Cincinnati, and in the evenings slowly began the long journey of getting it drivable again. I decided to commit to it, even though I really wanted a Range Rover Classic for an Overlanding rig. My justification was cheaper parts, more reliability, and it checked all the right boxes.
So, the plan was hatched to make this a capable wheeler that I can hop in and drive to trails and campsites through out the country. Every engine sensor, trans sensor and ECU was replaced, along with an injector, a coil pack and spark plugs were all replaced. Since the old exhaust was junk, we welded on a Cherry Bomb since it has no sharp edges that a rock can grab onto. The redneck engine noise is a lovely byproduct.
Once it was up and running (2 weeks ago), I began the fun stuff. I started with a Kevin's Off-Road spare tire carrier on the roof (HK Kratos was preferred, but the wife is 5'3" and 130 lbs.) which incorporates Hi-Lift jack mounts as well as a shovel. Sean at Bad Apple Fabrication made the mounts for my 40" Rigid light bar, a JBA CB antenna mount was added, as were a bunch of light cubes from Amazon.
One of our stores took a 2002 GC in on trade with a much nicer interior, and a crap engine, so I did the interior swap for aesthetics and comfort.
Next on the agenda is quarter panel armor with rub rails, monsta liner paint job, and Kevin's Off Road low profile transmission mount.
A few hours later I had a full front brake job complete, as well as the build sheet from Jeep. I proceeded to put 4,000 miles on it, some in creek beds, others while towing a trailer as I moved from one town to another. All in all it was money well spent. Until it wasn't.
In September of last year I was going to dump it, since I was in it cheap and had 6 other cars, and when the buyer came to the dealership I worked at to drive it, the starter made noises like it was full of gravel. (Potentially a true diagnosis, how else do you treat a 4x4 you have under $400 invested in?) Needless to say, it didn't sell and sat in the back of the dealership for the next few months, until I took a manager job at a dealership in Bowling Green. I towed it down here from Cincinnati, and in the evenings slowly began the long journey of getting it drivable again. I decided to commit to it, even though I really wanted a Range Rover Classic for an Overlanding rig. My justification was cheaper parts, more reliability, and it checked all the right boxes.
So, the plan was hatched to make this a capable wheeler that I can hop in and drive to trails and campsites through out the country. Every engine sensor, trans sensor and ECU was replaced, along with an injector, a coil pack and spark plugs were all replaced. Since the old exhaust was junk, we welded on a Cherry Bomb since it has no sharp edges that a rock can grab onto. The redneck engine noise is a lovely byproduct.
Once it was up and running (2 weeks ago), I began the fun stuff. I started with a Kevin's Off-Road spare tire carrier on the roof (HK Kratos was preferred, but the wife is 5'3" and 130 lbs.) which incorporates Hi-Lift jack mounts as well as a shovel. Sean at Bad Apple Fabrication made the mounts for my 40" Rigid light bar, a JBA CB antenna mount was added, as were a bunch of light cubes from Amazon.
One of our stores took a 2002 GC in on trade with a much nicer interior, and a crap engine, so I did the interior swap for aesthetics and comfort.
Next on the agenda is quarter panel armor with rub rails, monsta liner paint job, and Kevin's Off Road low profile transmission mount.
