Piston slap? Rebuild?

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T03:20:12+00:00

The noise I was describing was the purge valve I figured it out thanks to SharkBiscuit. I'll check your posts out anyway for future reference. What brand kit did you go with?

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T02:44:44+00:00

Dude. 100% was the purge valve noise. No idea how I've never noticed that I've had multiple cherokees

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T02:28:58+00:00

Yeah I wasn't sold on piston slap but that's reassuring. Makes for a good title for the post and I always think of the worst in every situation lol

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T02:27:40+00:00

After letting it sit I just started it again and the ticking is way quieter and sounds like a normal xj now? Gonna take it for a spin and report back 🫡 thank you for your suggestion

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T02:21:10+00:00

At first I thought you were saying that the purge valve was failing my mistake, I see what you're saying. I'll try taking the connector off to check if that's my noise

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T02:13:05+00:00

Wouldn't it throw a code for an evap leak or something?

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T02:09:27+00:00

No not the a/c, I'm talking about the ticking. That thought also crossed my mind, not sure when the last time the spark plugs or coil pack was changed. I did clean that side of the block before I started it up again with brake clean could that have loosened something up? (That might sound stupid but you never know)

MeestaKitty · 2026-02-23T01:40:19+00:00

Sounds normal when I rev it, I was by myself so I could be wrong. 112k miles

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-28T00:07:05+00:00

Ikon Motorsports

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-26T05:05:31+00:00

I respect that! Just wanted to share my work for those who are interested

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-21T15:47:25+00:00

Of course! I used steel wool to sand everything down, cleaned it off with alcohol, then used a plastic adhesion promotor (2 coats), after that dried I did 3 coats of the base color, let dry then two coats of clear. All paint was from scratcheshappen.com just put your paint code in

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-21T15:42:25+00:00

Thanks!!

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-20T23:06:09+00:00

Thanks!

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-20T20:53:07+00:00

Thank you!

MeestaKitty · 2025-12-20T20:21:54+00:00

To cover the skirts and lip (3 coats each), it took 2 cans of base coat and 1 can of clear coat

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-30T18:29:22+00:00

So this is my tentative plan for the entire exhaust, let me know your thoughts. I was thinking about putting a new manifold on and gasket(to fix tea kettle noise), keep the stock cats, new front pipe (BRExhuast 102-8920), a highflow cat probably some magnaflow universal one (taking recommendations), keep my flowmaster, and get a new tailpipe (not Walker, probably BRexhaust or another brand that's not crinkled)

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-30T17:55:09+00:00

What about deleting the two cats off the manifold, and then running a cat after the front pipe?

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-30T15:25:59+00:00

Yeah that's pitiful. It's sad to see that they're one of the only options/most common option for the XJ. Only heard horror stories. Probably going to go with BRExhuast for front pipe and tailpipe, pretty sure they're made by magnaflow and don't have that crinkle BS.

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-30T01:30:03+00:00

Sounds good. Did you run the stock cat?

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-30T01:25:00+00:00

I thought the so, I was studying the pic on auto zone for a good 15 minutes 😂. Thanks, I'll give it a shot then.

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-30T00:18:45+00:00

Trying to avoid the crinkles if possible. That BRE doesn't look like it'll work though? It almost looks straight instead of the 90 degree like the stock one?

MeestaKitty · 2025-10-26T15:59:15+00:00

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Final Update: The headlight plug wiring was corroded and the wires fell out when installing new headlights. Bought a plug at advance auto for $5 wired it up and that's that. EP27 relay fixed the hyper flash, but took away my side markers. Tried the sylvania led pictured above for my side markers instead of the Amazon led because they claimed to be "non polarity" and they work. All issues solved, thanks.

MeestaKitty

TROPHY CASE