New chase vehicle this year, plus a question!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Timothy Finn
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Timothy Finn

Big Dodge was getting a LOT of miles racked up from chasing, so I decided to step up to an SUV, which I needed honestly.

Behold, my new chase ride!

8q97.jpg


It's a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, and I picked it up dirt cheap, mostly because it had a problem that 4 shops couldn't figure out, and it happens to be a 2WD. Paid 1800 off the Craigslist, put 700 into repairing it, and I have a SUV chase ride that isn't even hailstoned yet!

The hailstoning brings me to my question.....this bad boy is fully loaded, and that means it has a power sunroof. What sort of hail do these things typically endure before they give way? I've smashed a few on junkers, and you got to whack em real good with a hammer.

Don't think I'm charging into a hail core like Reed with it, but I'm just generally curious about what sort of hail could possibly break the panel? Hail denting the snot out of it doesn't concern me, but getting showered with glass does, LOL.

Tim
 
They're pretty sturdy from what I've heard:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?6247-Sun-Moon-Roof-on-chase-ride

I know Tony Laubach broke his on June 20, '11, not from hail but rocks falling out of a truck.

If you're worried about it, it should be fairly straightforward and cheap to cover it by bolting a grill to your roof rack. How much time does that car have left on it though? I'd probably bolt a few more hail guards on it and turn it into a hail measuring instrument.
 
The thing that drew me to the car is that it has a rebuilt powertrain. The body has 160K, but that's about to show it's age pretty quickly, hahahaha.

It had computer issues that no one could figure out. I suspect that as long as it's maintained, it should run a while without complaint.

Thanks, Skip!
Tim
 
Don't forget to pick up a roll of heavy transparent plastic and a roll of duct tape from Home Depot in case you do lose the sunroof. Every chase should have these items in their trunk.
 
Glass sunroof? Yikes. Can I make a suggestion? Tape over the sunroof on both the upper and lower sides. You could use that clear packaging tape that would only block out a portion of the view/sunlight. That way, you've given it a little bit of protection on top, and just in case it does go you wouldn't be showered with glass.

[edit] Now that I think about it, my glass hatchback is pretty much just as vulnerable as any sunroof, not to mention the windshield.
 
Actually, I called a buddy of mine at a Lexus dealer. We came up with a plan!

That new clear bra stuff they put on new cars? We're going to measure out the sunroof panel, and put a layer of that stuff on it.

Tim
 
My old 98 Nissan I chased in had a sunroof and that one survived a couple of tennis ball sized hail before. As Skip mentioned, rocks. I've seen 4 sunroofs completely shatter in my days of being a mechanic. All of them were from a small pebble hitting them just right to shatter the whole glass. Even though most sunroofs use laminated glass, they still can shatter into small pieces.
 
My G6 that I've chased in for the last five years has a sunroof and it's still intact, and it's seen some pretty large hail over the years. I still flinch everytime one hits the roof though.
 
This stuff is really tough. I lost a window and used this stuff for a temp fix. I just wrapped it around the frame and pressed it together. I was surprised at how clear it was. I bet my 350 lb uncle that he couldnt punch through it. Now he has a crooked pinky lol. Seriously this stuff is strong.

http://www.duckbrand.com/products/packaging-tapes/hd-clear-packaging-tape



Edit: Just noticed its UV resistant too. How convenient.
 
^^Great suggestion.

The sunroof panel, even being power, is a real snap to get out. A quick fix like that would be a snap in a gas station.

Thanks, gang!
Tim
 
Timothy Finn said:
Big Dodge was getting a LOT of miles racked up from chasing, so I decided to step up to an SUV, which I needed honestly.

Behold, my new chase ride!

8q97.jpg


It's a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, and I picked it up dirt cheap, mostly because it had a problem that 4 shops couldn't figure out, and it happens to be a 2WD. Paid 1800 off the Craigslist, put 700 into repairing it, and I have a SUV chase ride that isn't even hailstoned yet!

The hailstoning brings me to my question.....this bad boy is fully loaded, and that means it has a power sunroof. What sort of hail do these things typically endure before they give way? I've smashed a few on junkers, and you got to whack em real good with a hammer.

Don't think I'm charging into a hail core like Reed with it, but I'm just generally curious about what sort of hail could possibly break the panel? Hail denting the snot out of it doesn't concern me, but getting showered with glass does, LOL.

Tim
Click to expand...


Congrats. It's a pretty rare to find a 2wd Jeep Grand Cherokee. Does this have the 4.0 inline six or the 4.7L SOHC V8? If it has the 4.7L V8 I highly suggest running Mobil 1 synthetic and a good oil filter like a Amsoil or Mobil One Filter. The reason I state this is because the PCV (crankcase ventilation) was poorly designed on the older 4.7L V8s in both Jeep and Dodge trucks. In colder climates it's not uncommon to find a milky residue in the oil fill cap clogging the PCV valve and also clogging the small oil jets in the block. I believe 06 and up 4.7L V8s use a much better setup and a redirected PCV. Also, if it has the 4.7L V8 be careful not to overheat it too much as the cost to replace a set of headgaskets on a 4.7 is not cheap especially if you warp the heads. The 4.0 on the other head is rock solid engine based off the old AMC 4.2 found in older Jeeps. Anyways, congrats and happy chasing.
 
Mine does have the 4.7L V8. Plus a factory 3.73 posi. Meaning it is FAST, LOL!

As far as the PCV system goes, after a long time of working on Chryslers, I can assure you that the milky residue under the oil cap is not a real issue, per se. What the deal is, the entire plastic oil filler assembly is on the outside of the block, leading to severe condensation problems. The substance will go right away IF you drive it long enough to heat it up good. Chrysler issued a TSB on this, and supplied a kit to help mitigate the issue.

On the overheating issue, the 4.7L is not any worse at lifting head gaskets than anything else with aluminum heads, as overheating the engine is just not something you get away with anymore....on any make.

Interesting factoid, the 4.0L, WAS rock solid until they did a casting change in 1999 on the head, causing cracking heads on that as well, until they changed the casting again in 2002. There was also something about those particular engines cracking piston skirts as well.

I chased all over with my 4.7L powered Ram for 2012 and 2013, with nary an issue. Got faith in the Chrysler small lock, brother!

Thanks for the congrats, and welcome to the board!

Tim
 
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