It's miiiiine

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
12/04/2014 at 16:49 • Filed to: None

After spending more time at the dealer than I would've liked, I now own this '05 Grand Cherokee Limited with Hemi & Quadra-Drive II. It's much more refined and in much better shape than the '99 Grand Cherokee I traded in for it. Woohoo!

The dealer had actually done a lot of work fixing this one up, including new rear brake rotors & pads, parking brake hardware & shoes, spark plugs, EGR valve, some transfer case actuator dealie that was preventing low range from engaging, and fixing a sunroof water drainage tube that is apparently a common issue on these WK Grand Cherokees. The heated seats even work, unlike the ones on my old '99.

I asked for them to put it up on a lift for me to inspect the underside, and everything looks good. There are some rust spots on the main muffler under the middle of the truck, but it's still intact. No leaks from the radiator, transmission, transfer case or differentials, and the CV boots on the front end look solid.

The Goodyear Fortera HL tires are possibly kinda lame, but they're practically brand new looking, so I'm going to keep them for now and see if my spiffy Quadra-Drive II 4WD system can make up for less-than-amazing tires in wet weather.

Really the only things it needs are the fog light lenses are kinda scratched up, there's no floor mats, and the tailgate lift struts aren't quite fully functioning. The dealer ordered the struts for me and included them in the deal—since they're about an hour away from me they're shipping them to me and I'll put them on myself which is fairly easy to accomplish.

Now it's time to order some floor mats and an FM transmitter to get music from my phone to my stereo, since the old-skool cassette adapter I used in my WJ doesn't work in this one, what with it not having a tape deck.

I'm pretty stoked.

Oh, and when I get home from work, I get to put my USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A tow hitch cover on it.

DISCUSSION (24)

CB > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 16:53

Sweet ride! My stepmother had one of these with the Hemi, and it went like stink. Got any big plans for it?

TDogg > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 16:54

Congrats! I've always been a fan of that body style. I still miss our old '99 though.

Textured Soy Protein > CB
12/04/2014 at 16:54

Not really, it's my winter car, so basically just maintain it and put gas in it.

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 16:59

Congrats! Just keep on top of that wiring - but it is a good looking truck! How pitted up are the fogs? Sometimes you can polish them out. I do love that color

shop-teacher > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 17:12

Nice! I've always thought this body style was pretty good looking.

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 17:22

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/hemiwagon-proj…

Put new heads on the motor. Dear lord don't make the mistake I did.

I didn't want to open up the motor at all, and had I taken the time to do a head swap, I wouldn't be in the same situation.

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt
12/04/2014 at 17:37

So you're saying I should preemptively get new heads in order to avoid a valve deciding to commit hara-kiri?

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 17:53

Yes, because theres little indication of a problem lurking until it has catastrophic damage. If theres a custom shop by you, I would ask them whether they have experience with it, or if they can have a machine shop do the valve work as a preventative measure. Im getting a new motor because of it, I wouldnt risk your motor, knowing it definitely has the problem, and is simply a matter of time before it breaks.

BJ > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:11

Dat green! Beautiful.

jkm7680 > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:13

Looks pretty nice, Any fun stuff planned for it?

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt
12/04/2014 at 18:17

Is there some sort of valve work that can be done in lieu of buying 2 new heads?

Textured Soy Protein > jkm7680
12/04/2014 at 18:18

Yup, a USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A tow hitch cover.

I just ordered Rugged Ridge rubber floor mats and an FM transmitter for my phone.

I might go hog wild and get some window visors.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:28

looks good!

now all you need are glass-pack and LET DAT HEMI SING.

only 1/2 kidding. Id say tires first. but congrats all the same!

GeorgeyBoy > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:29

Those tires make me cringe. One of the worst tires I experienced on a new car.

Textured Soy Protein > GeorgeyBoy
12/04/2014 at 18:38

Yes, they are a point of concern. I'm going to drive on them for now and see how they do when some snow comes. If they suck, I'll replace them. Since they've got plenty of tread left, I'll probably ask the tire shop to give them to me so I can sell them on craigslist, to help offset the cost of the new tires. Which I'm sure my gf will love, because she was real anxious for me to sell the last set of old tires (and wheels) I had taking up space in the garage.

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:47

After all that mishegos with the 4-Runner it's great that you got something you're happy with.

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:50

Yes, but exactly what a shop would do to them, I'm not 100% sure. It involves replacing the valve seats, but the additional work to reinforce them is the part of the process I'm not familiar with. You'd get new head gaskets and fluid changes with that.

Textured Soy Protein > Steve in Manhattan
12/04/2014 at 18:51

You just outed yourself as a member of the tribe with the mishegos! (So am I.)

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:54

Are you going to get those cool, all-weather fitted floormats? Perfect for WI winters .... PS - spent 8 months in WI once, including the winter. I know whereof I speak.

GeorgeyBoy > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 18:58

Someone will probably buy them. They just don't seem to wear haha, turn into rocks in anything under 30 degrees. My poor mother gets stuck all the time in her GC.

Textured Soy Protein > GeorgeyBoy
12/04/2014 at 19:05

If/when I replace them it will be with Cooper Discoverer A/TWs . They're a sorta hybrid all terrain/winter tire that are ok to drive year round unlike dedicated winter tires.

Kinja'd!!!

GeorgeyBoy > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 19:19

Love that tread.

Textured Soy Protein > Steve in Manhattan
12/04/2014 at 19:47

I already ordered some .

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
12/04/2014 at 22:34

Those are about the smartest things you can buy for a car in a snowy area.