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View Full Version : Thought I'd post up my former WJ in loving memory



Basslicks
03-17-2014, 09:13 AM
2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo
also 2wd
4.7l v8
d44a rear w/ factory LSD
Leather interior - which was nearly flawless except for the driver's seat
Sunroof
Odd "ticking" sound coming from the engine that the PO told me was an exhaust leak - to which I was dumb enough to believe.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qh4BJoZCl5U/T9f9vni5-HI/AAAAAAAAATM/9W-d4lHzYCo/s800/IMAG0370.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Aus4AIOt0YM/T9f9y-yyPXI/AAAAAAAAASY/n5DSXPSMnis/s800/IMAG0371.jpg

Loved it and hated it all at the same time because bone-stock with both sway bars on and connected, it flexed better than my XJ...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7XhZU4JGcxk/UKDr2O_mD-I/AAAAAAAABEY/-M1i7OH8XZ4/s800/IMAG0004.jpg

These sucked...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dnyurBU-TXs/UKDr_UMdCbI/AAAAAAAABEo/kuEsYhkGIZw/s800/IMAG0021.jpg

Got this stuff from walmart for 12 bucks.... works great
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YWa1dLX8KL8/Uv59DB1O6ZI/AAAAAAAAHq0/l9ez-J6TV8E/s800/IMAG0324.jpg

Made them look like this:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-25cZ2etVK_c/UKDs9ydyO0I/AAAAAAAABGw/iGEoSEKOhSw/s800/IMAG0326.jpg

You'd swear those were new lenses wouldn't you?

So pretty
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cNvFif7Q7rg/UKDutJCAGcI/AAAAAAAABIE/zCi_a4FIoUg/s800/IMAG0338.jpg

Got the correct size tires for it (245/70r16's) because the PO had 225/70r16's on it... and they sucked. Don't mind the frost of the paint... it was a lil chilly that morning.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nuqaHskdIQQ/UTlOwe12CZI/AAAAAAAABc4/HcG2f62gP34/s800/IMAG0638.jpg

Drove around with them for about 6 months and scored a dealon a set of 17" moabs and found some tires off a stock XK to go with them.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t0O-tN3MkBg/UTlOyeUdO2I/AAAAAAAABc4/PbXMJ4Zw4Xo/s800/IMAG0640.jpg

Jeep should have equipped these from the factory!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nu5Bt4oIbBc/UTlO4ILZrzI/AAAAAAAABc4/Bh7f7kiH1l0/s800/IMAG0642.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bXnTMBPY6QM/UTlO7iemNMI/AAAAAAAABc4/Yz1RP5oxAqI/s800/IMAG0643.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zS3eUpSD9QY/UTlO_a9puWI/AAAAAAAABc4/hN2hCckipt0/s800/IMAG0644.jpg

Oh yeah.... about that "ticking"... turns out the earlier 4.7 litres are notorious for dropping valve seats if the motor is run hot. I never ran it hot but apparently the PO did. Heads are Aluminum, seats are Steel.... doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that's a formula for failure. Turns out, it would have been about $2500 to fix w/ lots of down time, and maybe about half that in cost if I did it myself, but about 3x the amount of down time... E.I. not worth it.

Thus the minivan :mad:

Brasscatz
03-17-2014, 06:08 PM
Got pics of the minivan? :P

drakan1908
03-17-2014, 08:18 PM
How does the minivan flex? :D

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Basslicks
03-17-2014, 08:53 PM
Lol... Actually it surprises me too !

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cantab27
03-17-2014, 09:05 PM
nice tip bout head lights ,,mine look like the before pic......was a clean looking jeep ,,shame and sorry for your loss

Basslicks
03-18-2014, 04:01 AM
Thanks man. I think you may have better luck finding that headlight restorer online though. I can't find it at Wal-Mart anymore. It's called Crystal View headlight restorer/defogger. You should be able To find it on Google search without any problem.

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drakan1908
03-18-2014, 07:22 AM
I think I have seen it at O'Reilleys

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Basslicks
03-18-2014, 11:13 AM
Good to know

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NW99XJ
03-18-2014, 11:28 AM
Oh yeah.... about that "ticking"... turns out the earlier 4.7 litres are notorious for dropping valve seats if the motor is run hot. I never ran it hot but apparently the PO did. Heads are Aluminum, seats are Steel.... doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that's a formula for failure. Turns out, it would have been about $2500 to fix w/ lots of down time, and maybe about half that in cost if I did it myself, but about 3x the amount of down time... E.I. not worth it.

Thus the minivan :mad:

Good info to know....this should be something others can look out for if they are on the hunt for a WJ.
Thanks for sharing your story, and thanks for the pics.... that truly was a sad loss....
Are you holding out hope for another Jeep in the near future?

Basslicks
03-19-2014, 07:47 PM
Well, I still have my XJ. I definitely plan on buying a WJ again someday though. Most comfortable way to wheel ever.

Glad I could post up some good info though. I'll share any amount of knowledge I have.

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