Looking for an XJ, attempt number 2: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Aug. 14, 2011 6:13 p.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork

So let's try this again. I went to look at another Cherokee, '94, auto, Sport model, 146K miles, trailer hitch, power windows, cruise, comes with alloy wheels from a newer Cherokee. 4WD works. No rust on the rockers, fenders, or quarter panels. This dude obviously wasn't an idiot...the vehicle was spotless inside, he knew the differences between model years of Jeeps (he was talking about some year they switched from model X transfer case to model Y and that they were easier to get out of 4Lo), and there was a Mopar-brand oil filter on the engine. He took care of it. He wants $1900 for it.

The bad things are: 1. The passenger floorboard is mostly a hole, but this is the only rusty part of the vehicle. You can see the carpet padding from outside of the car. 2. The tires that are on those sweet alloy wheels are almost bald. 3. The reverse lights work sporadically.

So my question is, do I say "$1700 and you fix the floor" or do I offer a lot less than that and fix it myself? And if so, what is the best way to fix a rusty floorboard? It's probably a 1'x6" piece of floor that is Swiss cheese, I'd probably have to cut it out and start over, and I don't have a welder. Also, what's that reverse light thing about? He mentioned a neutral safety switch, does that have anything to do with reverse on these cars?

Thanks.
Aug. 14, 2011 6:47 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

The owner isn't gonna fix the floor. If he is aware of the issue, he has probably figured the asking price accordingly. If unaware, maybe you can low ball him.

Remove seats, peel the carpet out and pitch it in the dump, get a sheet metal guy to bend you up a pan, cut out the nasty, poprivet the pan in place, spray floor with box liner top and bottom. Enjoy.

Note: Be aware that the rust you can see will only be the beginning...
Aug. 14, 2011 8:03 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

If you can find one with a good floor in a JY cut out an oversized piece for a patch panel.

Then come across the river and we'll weld that in and have a beer.

If you dont care about perfect we can just weld in some flat steel.
Aug. 14, 2011 8:09 p.m. Sonic Dork

What JThw8 said. I had a similar floor issue on my 91 XJ, I just cut it out, welded in a patch panel, and painted the rest with POR15 to seal it up and slow it down for the future.

For the reverse lights, yes the neutral safety switch is the case, mine did that too. Take it apart and clean it out inside, and it should work again.

Having it need tires is a perfect opportunity to put a small lift on it and some slightly larger tires. I ran 245/75/16s with a ~2" lift and it looked great.
Aug. 14, 2011 8:24 p.m. PseudoSport Reader

If the floor is rusted the rest of the XJ is not too far behind. My 94 started with a 6"X6" hole on the passenger side. I patched that and a year later the rest of the floor was gone. Everything but the trans tunnel. Also around the windshield and the back corner of the roof rotted out too. If you can, find one with the least amount of rust.

As for the neutral safety switch, it will cause the reverse light not to work. It can also mess up shift points and make the jeep not want to start in park or neutral. You can try to remove and clean the switch or they go for over $100 new.
Aug. 14, 2011 8:59 p.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

Quadratec, a Jeep parts supplier sells a floor pan for $95.00 which is completely formed and just welds in. I have to agree with the other posters though, if one floor pan is rusted through there will be a whole lot more rust somewhere else.
Aug. 15, 2011 12:53 a.m. Derick Freese Dork

Passenger side floorpan rust is very common on these vehicles. That one still has the early floor pans, so every last one of them will rust at some point. The exhaust burns the paint off on the bottom and the evap drain likes to back up. The early bodies either aren't galvanized or they're not galvanized as heavily, I can't recall. The newer bodies don't rust like the older ones do. I think the changeover happened in 1997.

Quadratec has the pans, but they're nearly $400 for the whole set. If going that route, pull the carpets and clean the underside and make sure that's all you need. I plan on using a couple of old car hoods for mine.

The frame members of these bodies aren't really affected by the rust unless you let it get really bad. If we're talking a 1x6 patch of rust, that's pretty much rust free. Patch, POR15, and go.
Aug. 15, 2011 8:50 a.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork

Welp, say I pay Kelley Blue Book value for it, which is $1700, because it is in Fair condition (some repairable rust and tires that need to be replaced). $1700 plus $400 for a set of tires, figure $50 or so to mount and balance them, $100 for a floor pan section from Quadratec. I'm already up to $2250. Plus a big can of prep stuff and a big can of POR15 to coat the underside, and that E36 M3 isn't cheap!

Why did I pick such an expensive hobby
Aug. 15, 2011 9:21 a.m. RossD SuperDork

I'd look for one after the changer over (1997 or so). The interior is much nicer, too.
Aug. 15, 2011 9:24 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

^This.

I paid $3000 for my rust free 2000 Sport 4x4.
Aug. 15, 2011 1:33 p.m. cwh SuperDork

Check out CL South Florida. Cherokees don't generally rust at all here. Good excuse to go to the Keys. I did a CL search for Cherokee under 2000.00. 245 cars listed, but majority were Grand Cherokees.