2 door XJ

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I'm looking at buying a 1993, 4 cylinder, 4x4, manual, 2 door XJ. Overall its in great shape. Two issues that currently have me stumped though are

1. The floor is rusted COMPLETELY out. Front to back. Are the 4 door replacement floor panels the same for the 2 door version? Or close enough to make it work at least. Also, is there a good manufacturer to go with? I would much prefer paying a few more dollars and having a simple weld in experience. This will be my first time welding in replacement floors so easy is good!
2. The headliner is gone. Cloth and fiberglass backing piece both. Again, is this the same as a 4 door Cherokee? If so I have some parts XJs that I can pull from. Whats the best (ie: least damaging way) to pull out the entire headliner panel from an XJ? 

 

It also has some engine issues, but I think I can sort that out myself.

 

Thanks for any thoughts, recommendations, and links.

[Dzimm]

Ohh rust.., I've learned that unless you are just patching the floor in a few spots, walk away.  I've been fighting rust on my XJ for so long and no matter what, it always comes back and gets worse.  My MJs only required a few patches here and there and they are rust free with no sign of more developing.  The XJ on the other hand has gone from a half-a$$ patch job on the floor when I bought it, to needing new seat brackets built, needing new suspension brackets and other major surgery in just a couple years of me owning it.  Unless you plan on a full teardown and removing the multiple layers of rockers and floorpan, and spending months with the Jeep torn apart grinding welding and painting, just don't even bother with it.  It's way more work than it's worth at a certain point.

 

For the headliner removal, take all the upper trim off in the front and down the sides or at least get it hanging loose.  Remove the dome light by piping the lens off, remove screws, and unplug the wire.  Then pull the headliner out the lift gate being careful not to bend it. 

[Eagle]

2-door XJs don't grow on trees, so if you're willing to go through the effort, more power to you.

 

The XJ only had one chassis and one wheelbase, so the floor pans and the headliner should be the same for both 2-door and 4-door. The floor pans are welded to the unibody "frame rails" with a series of spot welds, so you'll need to clean those up and grind the top flanges of the rails smooth before you start welding in new pans.

 

You are looking at a lot of work, so I would advise making certain you can sort out any engine issues before you buy the floor pans.

 

[rylee144]

slightly off topic but.... what is your budget and where are you located? 

 

I ask because there are a few 2-door XJs by me that are likely rust free over here. The few I saw in my search this morning are less than $1500. Maybe its worth a flight and a drive home. I don't have a welder and not a lot of time to devote to my Jeep so putting time toward rust isn't in the cards. With that said that is part of the fun for some. Ill add a couple links to XJs here. A couple are more than 1500 but are a little nicer. Good luck.

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3998174243586209/

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/886039671874694/

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/309883430405965/

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2819474571620355/

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/192300265338736/

 

 

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

10 hours ago, Dzimm said:

take all the upper trim off in the front and down the sides or at least get it hanging loose.  Remove the dome light by piping the lens off, remove screws, and unplug the wire.  Then pull the headliner out the lift gate being careful not to bend it. 

Huh, thats it? I figured it would be slightly more involved. Well cool, that should be easier than other things I have done.

 

4 hours ago, Eagle said:

You are looking at a lot of work, so I would advise making certain you can sort out any engine issues before you buy the floor pans.

The engine doesn't worry me at all. At worst I have/ can easily get a replacement engine. To date I have done several transmission jobs on different jeeps and several engine swaps. Its simple enough work, just takes time to label everything and pull it apart correctly. 

 

2 hours ago, rylee144 said:

what is your budget and where are you located? 

My budget is ~$1200, which is close to what this XJ is priced at. Its also very close to me (middle of nowhere Missouri). While I appreciate your links I am not interested in any of those. This one is special in that its 4x4 with a 4 cylinder engine, and (most importantly) its still completely stock. The interior is in gorgeous condition, and the mileage is low. I looked at and knocked around on all the body panels and the unibody rails. Everything except the floor is in great shape. The doors have no sag and zero rust on them. My best guess is that the jeep leaks (which ones don't, ammiright?) and has sat most of its life in a driveway. So besides where the water pooled underneath the carpet things look great.

 

I have been down the path of buying a rust free jeep that some guy "tinkered" on. I will NEVER EVER EVER go down that path again unless I plan to completely gut the jeep and redo things from top to bottom. How is it that everyone thinks they are an electrical genius who can run wires wherever they want, splice in whatever they want, use vampire clips everywhere, label nothing, and then think they did a great job even though most of it doesn't work? Not to mention the hack "lift kits" and wheel and tire combos I see. Nope, for me the fact its stock is worth some time and effort. Plus I get to learn about welding in floor pans, which is actually a positive.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. If you can think of anything else, let me know.

[NHMJXJ]

How 'bout this one?

 

[Eagle]

7 hours ago, NHMJXJ said:

How 'bout this one?

 

 

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

^ What eagle said.

 

I can appreciate the time and effort that went into that. And from what I can see in the picture it seems well enough done. HOWEVER, I would never want that thing near me, much less try to own it.

[NHMJXJ]

3 hours ago, JustEmptyEveryPocket said:

much less try to own it.

 

Yeah … Their a$k is $13.7  then figure you have to get it from S. Cali, or Mexico.  I just thought it was a cool looking rig. 

[Eagle]

23 hours ago, JustEmptyEveryPocket said:

^ What eagle said.

 

I can appreciate the time and effort that went into that. And from what I can see in the picture it seems well enough done. HOWEVER, I would never want that thing near me, much less try to own it.

 

Exactly. It looks VERY well done, and I certainly have an appreciation of the work that went into it. Once we get beyond that, though, my reaction is still ... WHY?

[Pete M]

maybe a tree fell and took out the rear roof and they made due with what was left.   

 

most everybody like to be unique.  some guys just take it to the extreme.