Hatch replacement 97+

[J Pugh]

Hey guys, I haven't posted in a while, I've busy with school and such, finishing up the semester and all, but now I need a bit of help.

I just got rear ended. The bumper took the hit, but got all bent up into the hatch, and so the hatch is effd, and consequently stuck as well.

Of course I am going to get estimates and he is paying for it, but I am looking to do this myself if I can find a color matching hatch, since I doubt this one is repairable. So I guess the question I came to ask is what year hatches can I use, and how big of a pain in the ass is it to replace all the things inside if they dont work?

I may just try to beat it all around until it looks halfway decent if its possible, after I get an estimate, but I am just trying to get prepared in case that doesn't work out.

Also, BOLO for a red 97+ hatch at JYs and stuff, please and thanks

Here's pics, I hope they show up:

And if anybody could recommend a couple good collision repair places in the Raleigh area that would be awesome.

 

[PacificEd]

I was thinking all the 97 to 01 hatches are interchangeable. I'm an old body style guy so I could be wrong but the parts I've seen from '98 to '00 all seem to be identical.

 

[dave92cherokee]

I would be looking at the frame rails to see if there was any damage to them. You can unbolt the bumper, then open the hatch and remove the wiring/washer pump tube then unbolt the hatch and replace. Any 97+ hatch will fit as well as bumper. You can try beating the dent out but I see a few creases so it won't be smooth unless your body guy does it.

 

[256offroad]

The wiring in the 2000-01 utilize different plugs from quarter panel to the top of just inside of hatch. Everything else inside the hatch is the same. If you get a hatch without power lock cylinder. the plugs are still in the hatch you just have to swap the cylinder into it.

 

[J Pugh]

Thanks guys, now all I have to do is actually find a red one. I've actually been trying to psych myself out enough to think I can do some real nice hammering on it and add just enough bondo to smooth it out and make it like new, but we will just have to see about that. If I can find a new hatch before then, I'm not going to bother.

Oh and the first thing I did was get under there and look where it mounts to the unibody, and it looks just fine, I was worried.

 

[J Pugh]

Maybe add a slide hammer to the tool box, idk... I've done some paint work, I have a gun and everything, but I've never repaired sheet metal.

The damage is just in such a tough spot, since it is pretty much centered on the spot where the hatch goes from just being one layer of sheet metal to being the structure of the door.