Sank My 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L in the Pines

[GhostDakota]

On Sunday my g/f and I headed to Wharton State Forest in the NJ Pine Barrens to do some Geocaching with mild wheeling with my buddy and his g/f. He has a huge MJ with an '01 XJ front clip, and also has a newer model XJ with a mild lift and mud tires. He gave us their coordinates when we got to the Atsion Ranger Station. We followed the GPS to meet up. On the way we went through a few puddles. Some much worse than others. Most of them were legitimately these are only 4-8" of water above the sand. In most of the areas the sand is solid enough for the Jeep to drive on. Others were DEEP, and were avoided if there was a bypass trail.

Here are a few shots...

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-Wqvcjnm/0/XL/IMAG0117-XL.jpg

Backed up at this one (it was dark water and the "measuring stick" I used showed at least 1-2 feet deep):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-4vBh3dC/0/XL/BCM_7370-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-PdWgKsK/0/XL/BCM_7371-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-vgZsPSd/0/XL/BCM_7374-XL.jpg


Here's the first puddle we attempted:
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkiI5v3ceUY

As you can see, no big deal.

Approx 1/2 mile further down the trail we get to this other puddle. It looks basically identical to the one which we had just traversed. I got out, checked the depth, and could clearly see to the bottom. So we figured it'd be fine. It was not. Here is how the scene progressed (some curse words included lol).
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrybVQs-exc

And here, in photos, is how it turned out:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-DHz3LTJ/0/XL/BCM_7375-XL.jpg


Water in my driver side light as I haven't put my caps on yet lol - it's clear now:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-CdgS6f8/0/XL/BCM_7377-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-KKbfwp6/0/XL/BCM_7378-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-3xmWDfx/0/XL/BCM_7376-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-TwfqCkR/0/XL/IMAG0119-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-9RqmGb2/0/XL/IMAG0120-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-gjWPQ4R/0/XL/IMAG0121-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-gTPVWSG/0/XL/BCM_7380-XL.jpg

My passenger seat was smoking out one of the adjustment knobs. There is video of it but it's on Facebook and I am not sure how the sharing works. I'll have my buddy upload 'em to YouTube.

Some bubbling exhaust. Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4PdLQR1XLM


Let the draining begin:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-t6Z6ggz/0/XL/BCM_7382-XL.jpg

Squeegie to bail the water, then used a cup:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-Nd6GGSm/0/XL/BCM_7390-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-5srjFMJ/0/XL/BCM_7394-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-HtpRbsX/0/XL/BCM_7398-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-bBsmChT/0/XL/BCM_7410-XL.jpg


And back to Geo-caching:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Off-roading/Wheeling-NJ-Pines-2-17-13-ZJ/i-hHhG2zW/0/XL/IMAG0125-XL.jpg


This morning, after sitting overnight in 18* temps, I turned the key to start it and the starter didn't do anything. No big deal, I assume water in the started had frozen. On the 3rd key turn it finally started up. It seems water is also inside the trans, torque converter, or something similar. For the first few minutes of driving the Jeep it was taking a lot of gas to get going. This went away as the Jeep warmed up. Also, it feels like my OD is not working. However, at highway speed, say 55 MPH, my RPM's are right around 1700. At 70 MPH they are around 2100. I forget what normal is.

[maroman88]

what carfax doesnt show.... lol

this thread will bite you in the ass when u go to sell it haha

[GhostDakota]

Eh, I won't be selling it. I'll make it into a trail rig eventually and no one will care if I go to sell it at that point lol.

Anywho, wet-dry vacc'd it at lunch. Baking soda'd. Basically dry now. I'll run the heat for a while as well to make sure it dries out nicely. Electrical system is all good. Thankfully it didn't go over the fuse panel!

[LTb1ow]

I thought heeps were trail rated?

[GhostDakota]

I thought heeps were trail rated?

After 2004! lol

[Mark B]

Bet that smells good.

[sweetbmxrider]

How is geocaching? I've always wanted to try it, seems neat. Sucks about the sinking, definitely change the fluids asap in the trans, tc, and rears. You should extend all of the breather tubes as high as you can, I'm sure you know about that though. Did you do the retro on the headlights? They look like your best go at it.

[NastyEllEssWon]

i dont understand why street racing is illegal to talk about but were allowed to post pictures of illegal off road activities as long as it has a jeep in it?

[GhostDakota]

Actually doesn't smell at all. I was shocked.

BMX: All the fluids look good. Have not checked the t-case though. All others are okay. This is my v3.0 retro, yes. They work great and look the best out of all my retros to date!


i dont understand why street racing is illegal to talk about but were allowed to post pictures of illegal off road activities as long as it has a jeep in it?

What do you mean illegal off-road activities? This is Wharton State Forest, on a marked road (even on my GPS). It's 100% legal to wheel there, except in certain spots (i.e. the "1/4 mile", Jemima Mount, and a few others).

[sweetbmxrider]

i dont understand why street racing is illegal to talk about but were allowed to post pictures of illegal off road activities as long as it has a jeep in it?

Weak troll attempt, 2 stars, become aware of legal off-roading :bertstare:

[JerseyLS1TA]

Gota love the adventures of cruisin thru the pines:-P my parents have a farm out in bamber and its a great time killer cruising out their backyard getting stuck for hours lol

[NastyEllEssWon]

Actually doesn't smell at all. I was shocked.

BMX: All the fluids look good. Have not checked the t-case though. All others are okay. This is my v3.0 retro, yes. They work great and look the best out of all my retros to date!




What do you mean illegal off-road activities? This is Wharton State Forest, on a marked road (even on my GPS). It's 100% legal to wheel there, except in certain spots (i.e. the "1/4 mile", Jemima Mount, and a few others).


oh thats actually pretty cool then :D

Weak troll attempt, 2 stars, become aware of legal off-roading :bertstare:


not trolling, wasnt aware there were places in NJ that allowed this. everytime we've ever gone 4 wheeling we were told that its pretty much illegal to do, but most places turn a blind eye to it as long as youre not being disruptive

[Mark B]

Reminds me of a rent-a-car expierence I had. Except you can still see your doors. lol

[1320B4U]

You need a lift and some decent tires asap....lol.

[grazi]

Geocaching is pretty cool. I have almost 100.

[GhostDakota]

While looking through old Pines photos on my photo hosting site, I found some good ones...

Back in 2007 - Not my XJ but it was on 6.5" of lift and 35's:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-zLWddHP/0/XL/i-zLWddHP-XL.jpg

Then I sunk my XJ (5.5" lift, 33's):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZHpJXR9/0/XL/i-ZHpJXR9-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZLSgT3g/0/XL/i-ZLSgT3g-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-SsX2WgG/0/XL/i-SsX2WgG-XL.jpg

Then one of our YJ's sank:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-CSBW3gR/0/XL/i-CSBW3gR-XL.jpg

Then one of our Toyotas sank:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-mcMQFRR/0/XL/i-mcMQFRR-XL.jpg

Then I got a call in the middle of the night on Christmas night:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-QLRLxDZ/0/XL/i-QLRLxDZ-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-XZxT8jH/0/XL/i-XZxT8jH-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-d5L2txv/0/XL/i-d5L2txv-XL.jpg



Also back in 2007:

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-F3qddt4/0/XL/i-F3qddt4-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-CfBdnD4/0/XL/i-CfBdnD4-XL.jpg


My ex checking things out in 2008 (Hadn't rained in weeks, we all received lovely dust showers):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-KHDHvCB/0/XL/i-KHDHvCB-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-4KmLqnD/0/XL/i-4KmLqnD-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-L6CHMx4/0/XL/i-L6CHMx4-XL.jpg

Another trip in '08:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Automotive/Off-roading-New-Jersey-Pine/i-jbnVhjz/0/XL/DSC_0187-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Automotive/Off-roading-New-Jersey-Pine/i-Krc6qtV/0/XL/DSC_0165-XL.jpg

[sweetbmxrider]

All that doesn't look like fun :lol: but it is why I don't have carpet.

Geocaching is pretty cool. I have almost 100.

That you found or placed? I gotta give it a go one of these days. Get a little mud on the heep.

[LTb1ow]

All that doesn't look like fun :lol: but it is why I don't have carpet.



That you found or placed? I gotta give it a go one of these days. Get a little mud on the heep.

That'd be a first.

[sweetbmxrider]

That'd be a first.

You better watch yourself sir, you are coming in your truck too.

:nick:

[grazi]

All that doesn't look like fun :lol: but it is why I don't have carpet.



That you found or placed? I gotta give it a go one of these days. Get a little mud on the heep.

I found. I placed only one but that's not as fun as finding. It's pretty cool seeing where the track able stuff has been. Different countries and continents

[GhostDakota]

Seems like a Park Ranger took a dip here as well with his cruiser...

"New Jersey State Park Ranger crashes car, lands in lake" here: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8999537

[AintQik]

Holy crap you just reminded me I have a geo cache from CO I'm supposed to go place! It has been off the chart for 2 years since I'm deployed lol.

[B4C]

That sucks, partly the reason I gave up on that muddy crap. Soaked interiors and crapping out wheel bearings constantly got old really quick. That sandy Wharton mud will destroy stuff quick.

[redsoxsstink]

looks like a ton of fun, i always wanted a heep. i love seeing your pics, always looks like an adventure, looking forward to some more

[GhostDakota]

After running 6 gallons, 2 quarts worth of Mopar and crappy brand ATF, the trans finally gave in. R, N, D, 2, 1 all became Neutral. Fail! So, I had to source a new trans. My buddy was heading up to Connecticut on Friday to pick up parts from his 5.9L ZJ from a 5.9L that had sustained a rear end collision. Mileage is the same as mine. I e-mailed the guy and worked out a deal for his trans. He said it worked great. My buddy picked it up, and I had it on Friday night.

Yesterday (Saturday) I got the Jeep towed to my other buddy's shop:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-6w8PzHr/0/XL/i-6w8PzHr-XL.jpg

At 4:30pm, the transmission swap fun began:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Automotive/1998-59L-Grand-Cherokee/i-zPzC2XX/0/L/IMAG0219-L.jpg

Removal of driveshafts was first, then the crossmember, and out came the t-case:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/Automotive/1998-59L-Grand-Cherokee/i-qKG8M2Q/0/L/IMAG0220-L.jpg

After some bellhousing bolts, removal of electrical connections, hard lines, vent tubes, etc., out came the trans:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-NcM79qb/0/XL/i-NcM79qb-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-8p5vTnm/0/XL/i-8p5vTnm-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-f4fb5hg/0/XL/i-f4fb5hg-XL.jpg

Both of the transmissions side by side. My failed trans is the non-rusted, cleaner looking one. Oh well:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-g6q8rTL/0/XL/i-g6q8rTL-XL.jpg

On to the important stuff to make sure the trans isn't swamped again. Test fitting tube:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-sHLj9qF/0/XL/i-sHLj9qF-XL.jpg

A little bit of grinding work:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-LcVrxHD/0/XL/i-LcVrxHD-XL.jpg

Drilling:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-tm64g63/0/XL/i-tm64g63-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-fdPGFs8/0/XL/i-fdPGFs8-XL.jpg

Tube looks to fit great:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-PzhKN3B/0/XL/i-PzhKN3B-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-DgVWjgp/0/XL/i-DgVWjgp-XL.jpg

Some sealing:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-nm8czdg/0/XL/i-nm8czdg-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-p2TWjkz/0/XL/i-p2TWjkz-XL.jpg

Everything back in, torqued down:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-jXzfbgb/0/XL/i-jXzfbgb-XL.jpg

By the time 11:15pm rolled around we just finished up the new vent tubes - t-case vent extended & new vent tube for the trans - both up in the engine compartment now:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/i-H7Nzvzx/0/XL/i-H7Nzvzx-XL.jpg

Everything seems great at this point. Trans shifts a bit stronger and a bit higher. Feel like a trans shift kit or something possibly? Either way, works great! Can't wait to get this thing back on the trails. 3" lift and 31" Mickey Thompson's may be in the near future.