The hundredth newbie this week (large pics inside)

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

3 weeks ago I started bidding on a 1979 Cherokee Chief on ebay, and as soon as I realized I might win, I started researching. I have wanted a FSJ for about 10 years but didn't know that much about them other than they looked awesome. Google led me to Wikipedia, Wikipedia led me to this site, and I started lurking immediately.

2 weeks ago I had won the auction for 1825$, and my wife and I drove up to Paducah KY, and drove back with her driving our 2003 grand and me driving the 79 chief. 14 or so driving hours later, 900+ miles (pit stop in Charlotte to visit family) and we were home. I registered here about that time and started reading as much as I could.

I gotta say, I'm floored by the sense of community and the surplus of knowledge here. NOT your typical internet forum. You are a simply fantastic group of people.

I know a good bit about the electric side of things because of my background, but I'm still crawling as far as mechanical stuff goes and I know little to nothing about all the offroad stuff (lift, axles, etc) but with someone knowledgeable to advise and/or a manual to consult I believe I will be a good pupil of some FSJ schoolin'.

So, here's the pics. Anything you all can tell me about it from lookin would be much appreciated. It has some minor stuff to tweak but mainly it runs well.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0386.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0387.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0388.jpg
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0388.jpg%5B/IMG%5Dhttp://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0389.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0390.jpg
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj138/kill-o-matic/DSCN0386.jpg%5B/IMG%5D

[grand_wag_85]

WOW, nice score!

[PlasticBoob]

I see the fluids are all topped off (2nd and 3rd pics), that's a good sign! :D

[Damaged Goods]

That dash is in great shape. I wish mine looked like that. Is that a stck center console?

[addicted]

Welcome, nice W/T.

I see the fluids are all topped off (2nd and 3rd pics), that's a good sign! :D

Hah, you caught that too!

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

That dash is in great shape. I wish mine looked like that. Is that a stck center console?

The dash is pretty nice. The console looks as old as the rest of the stuff, not sure if it's stock.

As far as the fluids, I'm not sure if those are from the jeep, at the time of those pics it had only been there a day. Although, of course, it does have some drips and drops. The underneath of the engine is quite damp. :rolleyes:

[red mistress]

I just made my mind up today, that a Red 2 door CC was going to be my next un-investment.
I think the Rootbeer one did it, in the for sale thread.

This one looks real nice for the $1800 and pretty roadworthy to make it 900 miles.

Anyway, if you're gonna run the A/C get ya a fan shroud.

Also the oil filler needs to be either a push on filter type or return to stock air filter setup. Its sucking dust into oil right now.

Welcome aboard.

[cfg7613]

Let's see....based on the locations of those leaks on the pavement...I'd say power steering pump, radiator, water pump...and maybe oil pan leaks ! What a familiar footprint all of these beasts have !!!!!!!!

Welcome to the FUN: Frustration / Unbelievable aggravation / Never ending problems !

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

Also the oil filler needs to be either a push on filter type or return to stock air filter setup. Its sucking dust into oil right now.

Is the push on filter a standard auto parts store item?

I'd like to find a stock air filter, otoh I just paid advance auto for a k&n filter to replace the decrepit, ancient, black, corroded air filter I took out of there.

I don't suppose someone could ID my carb? It's motorcraft, just not sure exactly which model. After driving the whole way from Kentucky to North Carolina smoothly it's been stalling on me at takeoffs from stoplights, or when it first starts after sitting a bit.

[fulsizjeep]

Welcome! Score! :thumbsup: :fsj:

Anyway, if you're gonna run the A/C get ya a fan shroud.The radiator is low in the frame too.

[Bombadier]

Welcome to IFSJA! That's a good Cherokee, and proven it's worth (partially ;)) to have made a 900mi trouble-free drive after being bought basically sight-unseen (eBay's pictures don't always count as accurate depictions :P).
But yer a brave man to start bidding & win an FSJ without doing any research on 'em beforehand! :D

So yeah, replace that oil-fill cap. Get a fan-shroud whether you're going to use the A/C or not, it makes a big difference in cooling the engine. AMC 360's are well-known for running hot, and having an efficient radiator/fan setup is a key factor in keeping your engine happy.
It appears that the PO took care of the engine and interior, so you've got that going for you.
Do a lot of research on the QuadraTrac transfer case. It can be a touchy beast if not taken care of, and is expensive & difficult to repair. But besides that, it's a very good transfer case.

Next, upgrade your ignition to a TFI system. It boosts your coil's output voltage (stronger spark), and replaces the stock distributor cap & rotor (more consistent spark). It's an incredibly easy upgrade to do, and cheap (around $75). Do a search on TFI upgrade, and you'll come up with tons of how-to's here.

Oh, 'fore I forget.... does the rear window work??? ;) :D

[DanHS]

Welcome, and nice Chero, looks good, not much rust at all.

Stock air filter housing ought to be an easy find at the junkard, (5 1/8" diameter if you want to try using one from another vehicle). I'm sure someone in NC must have one lying around. May as well return the other filter and get one for the correct stock housing (or toss the fancy housing and new filter on Ebay for a few bucks). Get the cold air inlet snorkel for the air filter housing too, it runs from a plastic fitting on the front valance behind the grille to bring in cool air instead of hot air from the eng compartment. Carb ought to be a 2150, same as every other V8 FSJ from '79 on. I see you have the chrome plated aluminum bumpers exclusive to '79. Jeep quickly realized that didn't work (why they thought it would in the first place Idk) and replaced them under warranty afterwards, my '79 has the non chromed bumpers after the previous/original owner brought it back for the peeling chrome. Better bumpers shouldn't be too hard to find. Also I think your rims are optional factory Jeep rims that aren't terribly common, not sure though but they look like them to me.

[Jeepsmith]

Nice black interior, my favorite! :thumbsup:

[The PIG Smith]

Welcome!
Nice rig!

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

But yer a brave man to start bidding & win an FSJ without doing any research on 'em beforehand! :D

Or stupid. But I got a FSJ and it's a runner so I can't be too stupid :thumbsup:


Next, upgrade your ignition to a TFI system. It boosts your coil's output voltage (stronger spark), and replaces the stock distributor cap & rotor (more consistent spark). It's an incredibly easy upgrade to do, and cheap (around $75). Do a search on TFI upgrade, and you'll come up with tons of how-to's here.

Yeah I keep seeing that term. A researchin I will go...

Oh, 'fore I forget.... does the rear window work??? ;) :D

Like a champ!

[Gambler68]

Nice! Decent score. We have the exact same dash and panels.

BJ's makes a nice black full carpet kit, with the way these things leak, it's a good investment to pull your seats and carpets, de-rust and rubbercoat, and lay down new carpet.

Otherwise it looks like some light bodywork, a lot of wax and polish, and you got a sweet rig.

That thing is blowing some oil, or WAS, pretty bad in the engine bay, eh?

Edelbrock makes nice slap on carbs, if you're looking to walk in and buy one and slap it on (if you have a 4bb intake that is). 600 is the perfect size.

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

DanHS: Thanks for another heap of very useful info :)

Gambler: Yeah that reddish tacky old school carpet from someones rumpus room or something. And it seems like it had an oil problem somewhere in the past, although it didn't need a single drop over those 900+ miles.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the flood of awesome tips and advice based on some amateur pics.

Now let me take a cue from that other thread and tell my embarrasing FSJ moment- it was when I was replacing a burnt out headlight and decided to just analyze the whole thing real close. I found that the drivers side front tire is a 31", the other 3 are 32". How I didn't catch that in KY I dunno. Maybe it acounts for the weird clunking grinding sound from that area I have heard here and there at low speeds since I got it don here to jacksonville. Ah well it's parked for now...

[joe]

Congratulations and welcome! Nice wide track Cherokee there. Other than being the first year of the square headlights 79 is probably my favorite year for looks, equipment and build quality. With some minor sorting out to do common to any near 30 year old rig looks like you have a nice unmolested FSJ that should last a long long time.
If stock the 2v Motorcraft carb should be the 2150 model. As mentioned above it is a good idea to at least lift the carpet and have a look see. The carpet is a big moisture trap especially if the rig sits for long periods w/o having the interior constantly heated up. Worst case scenario member Gary (GEMOBX or some such handle) makes excellent floor boards for these and he's local to you (Kill Devil Hills).
Enjoy!

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

Thanks. I looked at that horrible red carpet and decided it has to go either way. Hopefully the floorboards are good.

So is it a good idea to rebuild the carb just for grins due to age? I have already done some reading and decided that I'm definitely doing the TFI upgrade (probably buying the buildyour4x4.com kit), so while I'm putzing around under the hood...from what I have read in the archived threads seems like motorcraft 2150 is a good candidate for a rebuild.


This weekend I will take some more, detailed pics of all various parts.

[Lindel]

Nice looking Cherk! Gotta love that day glo orange! The harness in the back of the engine compartment looks to be a little charred, but only a few wires.

The console isn't stock, but what you have looks nice. Maybe that's just the cable for the heater box?

You are missing the vacuum accumulator, it should be in the vicinity of the black smudge. You'll want that as soon as you can find one.

Looks to have a QT, but I can't tell if you've got low range on it. I didn't see the floor shifter for low and hi ranges.

All in all, I'd say ya done good! :thumbsup:

[DrveJeepDrnkBeer]

That dash is in great shape. I wish mine looked like that. Is that a stck center console?
That center console is a clutter catcher, (http://www.amazon.com/Clutter-Catcher-Minivan-Truck-Console/dp/B000C18QNA) I got mine at Wally World a few years back.

[HOOT]

First off WELCOME !!!:)

If it is a Quadra-trac rig still, then by all means GET ALL OF THE SAME SIZE TIRES BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT ANYMORE.!!!
You will toast your transfer case if not already. Quadra-tracs REQUIRE 4 of the same size tires.

I bought mine in DarnNearNevada, Utah and drove it back most of the way to KY before trailering it on home. When I got home I noticed that I had an offsize tire mixed in on my J10. I swapped them out with a matched set of tires once home and my transfer case appears to operate correctly still.

ENJOY, :drivin: :fsj: :thumbsup:

[jeeping1974]

welcome to the club! :thumbsup: nice chief

[armyfsj]

OK I am a little late to the welcome party but I will say it anyways Welcome to the addiction. The people here are very helpful and even more knowledgable so if in doubt ask someone will help. And once again welcome

Adam

[Gambler68]

this was posted in another thread in this section, thought you'd like to see what yours could look like with a little pretty work :)

http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/c7/8a/7053_1.JPG

[joe]

so while I'm putzing around under the hood...from what I have read in the archived threads seems like motorcraft 2150 is a good candidate for a rebuild.
Not sure what you mean by that but a carb is one a those "if it ain't broke don't fix it" things. The carb is the last thing you mess with after you're sure all your ign/elec stuff/timing etc is 100%.

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

Hmm. starts making list....

*push on filter for oil filler
*TFI upgrade
*new tires
*check floors
*stock air cleaner assembly
* wax on, wax off
*vacuum accumulator
*fan shroud
*better bumpers
*minor bodywork
*cold air inlet snorkel

Well, that's a beginning of a plan of attack :)

I think I want it to look just like the one in the pic that gambler posted. Wonder what tires and lift...

And yes it is a QT, I meant to snap a photo of the low range lever, didn't know what it was since the lettering on it is 99% gone. Saw it elsewhere though so I put 2 and 2 together. God I hope that the qt is not mangled from who knows many miles with an offsize tire!

[Gambler68]

A NOS QT is only about 800 smackeroos :D

They require paying attention too, that's for sure. Killer in the snow and dirt though.

When you look at AWD systems, they aren't bad at all in comparision, upkeep and replacing. We just like to complain about them.

[Rande]

Welcome to the sickness. Ex-Swansboro resident here. Still have family out there. My aunt lives in Atlantic Beach.

Nice WT there. I want one for myself.

[Chrome]

WELCOME ABOARD!! I took the liberty of editing your "todo list". Somethings just have to come first. :thumbsup: Awesome deal and awesome truck. Enjoy!

Hmm. starts making list...


*TOP PRIORITY: remove decals from CHROME rear bumper
*polish CHROME to a blinding shine
*push on filter for oil filler
*TFI upgrade
*new tires
*check floors
*stock air cleaner assembly
* wax on, wax off
*vacuum accumulator
*fan shroud
*better bumpers
*minor bodywork
*cold air inlet snorkel

[funhog]

Welcome aboard. I also have 2 79 chiefs and a 79 wag. On your list if you get a new airfilter you won't need to change out the push on oil cap.

I think the red chief probably has a 6" lift and 35" tires

Don

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

Rande: Ham?

Chrome: what about the fact that the chrome is peeling off ;) I like shiny stuff too, brass especially. I guess you could call me the brassinator, heh. Although brass bumpers would look kinda funny...

fun: I'm a little slow sometimes, and thanks for the lift and tire estimate!

[Rande]

I'd rather have roast beef...oh, you mean radio? Yeah.

Hey, if you ever head over to the Hammocks, take the old Hammocks road from 24 and take a left on Glancy and go to the end near the river, thats the old homestead. You'll see Barbour Point road (Barbour is the family name) and Bynum road. That whole area there was Grandpa's. Bunch of houses there now, it used to look like a state park when I was a kid. There is still public access to the little beach below where Grandpa's house used to be.

[the_oil_jockey]

Man, I looked at this Cherokee at the little dealership it was at and passed on it for $1400. The guy told me it was from TN and that was the reason for the relative lack of rust. Glad it went to a fellow IFSJA-er. Nice jeep.

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

Man, I looked at this Cherokee at the little dealership it was at and passed on it for $1400. The guy told me it was from TN and that was the reason for the relative lack of rust. Glad it went to a fellow IFSJA-er. Nice jeep.

Small world!

The seller said they had done a decent number of ebay sales, and the number of people watching and the page views were an order of magnitude larger than anything they'd seen before.

Thanks for not buying it :)

[Chrome]

Chrome: what about the fact that the chrome is peeling off

I would suggest....:D .....CHROME tape!




http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/300/kw30h.jpg

[Bombadier]

I would suggest....:D .....CHROME tape!




http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/300/kw30h.jpg

Great.....

Gabriel; see what you started??? :mad:

Last time this happened, we had to lure him within range of some vodka-soaked rags; subject him to over 48hrs of Bob Vila audio-tapes, and keep him sequestered in a sense-dep tank on industrial doses of Thorazine.

It's your turn to tie the shiny chrome things to your bumper and troll his neighborhood. Turns out the guy is resistant to the usual bait (strippers, beer). :D

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

It's your turn to tie the shiny chrome things to your bumper and troll his neighborhood. Turns out the guy is resistant to the usual bait (strippers, beer). :D

I'm about to pull off my bumpers and ship them to him, let him have his way with them :D

Although I can't lie, I was pricing chrome tape online last night...

[Rande]

I would've lied....

[Jeepstress]

I'm about to pull off my bumpers and ship them to him, let him have his way with them :D


OH THANK GOD! Send those bumpers to Scott. That'll keep him busy for a few days. :D

Then run right out and get yourself a set of proper three piece bumpers! Hhhhmmm.... I might actually have a couple sitting around the farm here somewhere....... ;)

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

3 piece bumpers? *ignorant newb alert*

What about getting the ones I have, uh, rechromed? Is that even possible? Theres some pretty big patches peeling off that could use some better camera work...hmm..maybe I should take another set of pics for scott so he can get a more detailed idea of what I'm up against :D

[Chrome]

Great.....

Gabriel; see what you started??? :mad:

Last time this happened, we had to lure him within range of some vodka-soaked rags; subject him to over 48hrs of Bob Vila audio-tapes, and keep him sequestered in a sense-dep tank on industrial doses of Thorazine.

It's your turn to tie the shiny chrome things to your bumper and troll his neighborhood. Turns out the guy is resistant to the usual bait (strippers, beer). :D

I have to admit I have found a new obsession with Jacks Daniels Whiskey...
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http://www.geocities.com/kimnsb/jackdanielst2.jpg

But luckily the fine folks here convinced me to look elsewhere for a hobby and to spend time doing something other than polishing CHROME. So after asking for suggestions the great American pasttime of collecting Baseball Cards was introduced to me. So after some careful research I found exactly what I was looking for....
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http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/dcscards_1977_7713932



:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[GWDriver]

Very nice indeed.............. And welcome aboard.

[MrSigSauer]

Try and get a much bigger air cleaner on quick. That little one may be great for a Yugo but your Jeep V-8 currently is running a race with a plastic bag on it's head.

[Gabriel O'Keeffe]

Try and get a much bigger air cleaner on quick. That little one may be great for a Yugo but your Jeep V-8 currently is running a race with a plastic bag on it's head.

Someone here is helping me out with that. It's parked anyways until I can afford new tires. I just hope the PO didn't drive thousands of miles on that mismatched set.