Somewhere in the summer of 2022, during a fishing trip with my girlfriend’s family, I had my first real encounter with what a 4x4 can actually do. From that moment on, I needed one. Non-negotiable.
Searching through Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji (back before Marketplace became a near-monopoly), I quickly realized that just buying any 4x4 like everyone else wasn’t really my thing. I’ve always been someone who looks for something different. That shows in the vehicle I drive every day, because for me, cars and mechanics aren’t just transportation — they’re central to who I am.
Every listing looked the same — Jeep Wranglers, newer Jeep models, SUVs from other brands, pickups. That, and Broncos. But when I saw the first listing for a ZJ, something clicked immediately. There was something special about it: an aura, a certain something extra. Right away, I knew a ZJ was what I needed. After a few weeks of searching, I came across a 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9. The 5.9 is the 360 cubic inch V8 — the engine that actually growls when you put your foot down. The one worth chasing in a ZJ.
The listing praised both the model and this particular example: a 1998 5.9 Limited, fully loaded — automatic climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, everything working. It had 265,000 km, but those kilometres had been put on by a single owner who had taken reasonably good care of it (a fairly complete folder of maintenance receipts came with the truck). The Jeep had belonged to a guy named Roger who, for essentially the entire life of the vehicle, had kept up with the maintenance. It had been imported and registered in Quebec, which made things easy on my end, but Roger lived in Calgary and the truck had spent most of its life in Alberta.
Under the Hood
Under the hood, everything was clean: recently replaced A/C compressor, clean accessory belt, pulleys that looked new or close to it. You could tell someone had put real time and energy into this truck.
The Interior
The leather was slightly worn but complete. Wood trim, dashboard, centre console — the 5.9 Limited interior was all there, nothing broken.
The Undercarriage
This is where it got interesting. I had gone to look at another ZJ whose frame was completely eaten through with rust. Roger’s Jeep, on the other hand, was 100% clean at the frame level. Absolutely solid.
Wide view of the undercarriage:
Rear axle and differential — rusty but functional:
Floor pan and frame rails — surface rust throughout, some areas worse than others:
The Body Rust
This is where it got honest. The rockers, door bottoms, and rear corners told the real story.
Rocker panel — rust through the seam, holes in places:
Rear corner at the B-pillar — rust had worked through at the door seam:
Frame seam under the door — metal eaten through in places:
Window channel rust — visible at the door frame:
Rear of the vehicle — hatch opens fine, body looks presentable from a distance:
The Decision
TODO: what tipped it — frame was solid, 5.9s don’t come up often, body rust is fixable. Bought it.