1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

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Topic author
FSJ Paul
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2019 2:02 pm

1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

Post by FSJ Paul »

I purchased this Jeep 2-1/2 years ago. It has been a long slow (still ongoing) and expensive project. I am forever grateful to the support and parts from this group. Thank you all for your help.

I have been able to make a lot of progress on the Jeep in the last year at home and it is at a good enough state that I am now comfortable sharing the build photos.

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I suppose explaining the name would be a good place to start.

When I bought the Jeep it came with a spare front seat, an old Malaysian flag, 10 years worth of trash, and a sticker of a “tiki” figure on the tailgate. I usually like to keep things like bumper stickers on my old cars. It feels like a piece of history. It’s what makes the that particular vehicle unique. But I just couldn’t bare to cover up such nice paint. I decided to remove the sticker but I would honor it’s memory by naming the Jeep after the little tiki guy, “Thunder”

I also photographed the sticker and scanned it into the computer. I then traced it in illustrator in order to convert it into a vector object so that I could engrave the image on the missing key cover. Once I found one...

**thank you very much to whoever sent that to me. It was so long ago that I can’t remember who it was and my old messages have all been deleted

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I’ll add more photos and stories over the next few days and weeks


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Last edited by FSJ Paul on Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Paul
1978 Wide Track Cherokee - work in progress
1976 Cherokee S - sold long ago and sorely missed
1989 Wrangler - not sorely missed.

Cheapthrills
Posts: 632
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 7:09 am
Location: Sedalia colorado

Re: 1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

Post by Cheapthrills »

Turned out real nice .... sexy ride

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j10builder
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 5:28 pm

Re: 1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

Post by j10builder »

I agree. Looks great! The Tiki key cover was a good idea.
'81' J10 w/all the good same year J20 stuff

Topic author
FSJ Paul
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2019 2:02 pm

1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

Post by FSJ Paul »

Thanks Guys!

The paint is shiny, just don’t look too close. Old Thunder has a fair share of rock chips and the clear coat is peeling on the roof and hood. But, he sure did clean up nice.

The interior is what I’m most proud of.

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When I first bought it I did not take many photos of the interior. I was too terrified. It looked (and smelled) like a grizzly bear had been living in it.

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The front seats were not original (‘79 maybe). But in the cargo was the original passenger seat and the back seat was original too.

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The front and rear door panels were original too. But they were in bad shape. Same for the cargo panels.

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More later...


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Paul
1978 Wide Track Cherokee - work in progress
1976 Cherokee S - sold long ago and sorely missed
1989 Wrangler - not sorely missed.

candymancan
Posts: 3652
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:32 pm

Re: 1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

Post by candymancan »

Looks amazing man great job
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

JohnnySwell
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 3:36 pm

Re: 1978 Cherokee Wide Track, “Thunder”

Post by JohnnySwell »

Whoaaa brotha this is clean! I’m in the process of building my 78 Chief. Can you walk me through your sound system setup?

Also where did you get the interior parts? (Panels/carpet)


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Johnny B

1978 Cherokee Chief

I'd love some input on my build here:
https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewto ... 12&t=20266
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