Neglected ‘97 2.5l. Maintenance checklist?

Nashvillwill

Member
Original poster
Joined
Jan 22, 2021
Messages
73
Location
Nashville, TN
Hi folks. New to this forum, and I appreciate the help in advance. I’ve got a ‘97 2.5l SE that has been parked and neglected for years and years. 180k miles. She has been occasionally driven around the block and shifted into 4H and 4L, just to stretch the legs. I want to get her road and trail worthy, and plan to do quite a bit of work in short order. Upgrades will come later, but I mainly want to keep her in good working order. Here is my to-do list. Please critique, and let me know what I’m missing. The first couple of these are completed.

-fresh battery
-oil change
-change cracked exhaust manifold
-coolant flush and heater core flush

-new serpentine belt
-differential fluid front and rear (Dana 30&Dana 35)
-transfer case fluid (NV231)
-manual transmission (ax5) fluid
-brake fluid change
-plugs&wires
-air filter
-lube chassis points

Well, that’s the list. Am I missing anything? If your Jeep sat still for years and years, what would you do that I don’t have listed?

Thanks in advance.
 
Cap & Rotor are the only things I can think of maintenance-wise.

I'd also do a dry steering test. What do the shocks look like? Control arm bushings?
 
Distributor cap with brass terminals and rotor, also if your doing the trans lube Redline is highly recommended.