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My parents are driving their second Jeep Grand Cherokee (first was a 94). This one is a 2000 (which would make it a WJ in Jeep-speak) Laredo model with a few notable options:
-4.7L Power-Tech V8 engine
-45RFE automatic transmission (which has two second gear ratios, to allow for more relaxed highway passing)
-Quadra-Trac II on-demand four-wheel-drive (I would prefer part time)
-Preferred Equipment Package 28F, which includes the Infinity sound system, power seats, fog lamps and outlined white letter tires.
-Trailer Tow Group IV, which features a power steering cooler.
-Up Country suspension package (includes: Skid plates for front suspension, transfer case and fuel tank; tow hooks; HD suspension w/ gas shocks; and an upgrade to 245/70R16 tires over the standard 225/75R16)
-Also according to the window sticker, the Jeep's final assembly point was in Detroit, MI; it has an 86% American parts content; and the color scheme is a Sienna Tinted Pearl Coat for the exterior with an Agate cloth interior. The EPA fuel ratings were 15/19.
This Jeep is stock, except for the Rancho steering stabilizer (model RS 5401) and front shocks.
After I changed the transmission fluid and filters (there are two of them!) and greased the chassis, I decided to take a trip through the backyard and pasture and snap some pictures, for your benefit! So here you go:
That last one is actually not from the same day, but I suppose that doesn't really matter...
When I was doing the aforementioned service on the Jeep, I had the opportunity to see all kinds of interesting new ideas executed on the 4.7L engine, and of course, I took the pictures to prove it. In these shots, you can see the huge throttle body, plastic composite intake manifold, and one of the individual coils (there is one on each plug).
The Jeep drives well, but my dad always complained that it did not hold the road well enough, so I purchased and installed a Rancho RS5401 steering stabilizer for my parents for Christmas. Although I had no problem with the steering before, it is definitely even better now. Here are some shots showing the stock stabilizer (installed), a comparison of size, and the installed Rancho:
Since the kit was not designed for a WJ, I was unable to use the supplied mounting hardware. Instead, I used 3/8" threaded rod, double nutted on both ends, with washers on either side of the stabilizer busing, and with a 3/8" nut in between the tie rod mount and stabilizer as a spacer and to secure the whole assembly rigidly to the tie rod. I read through this write-up, but I did not want to use a long bolt like that guy did, becuase it would not be threaded along the whole length, and I would therefore not be able to have it mounted solidly to the tie rod, as the tension would be pulling through the tie rod bracket and stabilizer bushing, if that makes sense....
email-> ben@wantlandracing.com
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