XJwonders

So here we go, some people asked me to start a build thread.

One day I sold my 1992 Oldsmobile 88 Royale with 3.8/4T60E for 650 bucks. Then I needed a DD since my 1987 Ford F-150 wasn't being reliable at the time. After a month of searching, I found this black diamond in the rough... 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport, 4.0L with AW4/231, only 111,354 miles on it. It was at a really small junkyard in Phoenixville, PA. It had a front end damage, and $1000 later, it was mine. We haggled but he wouldn't budge, but he offered to tow it for me.

I originally wanted to get a station wagon and put it on a truck rolling chassis then build it up, but after few months of searching, I didn't have any luck finding one cheap enough. I was driving my girlfriend's XJ for a short while, and it grew on me, then I decided that it came close as looking like a station wagon, plus they have 4x4's. lol.

I named it black phoenix, because obviously its black lol. That and because it was found in Phoenixville and I m gonna resurrect it from the dead and give it a new life.

75 bucks at a u-pull-it got me a hood, drivers window, a couple of power lock latches, air filter box, and misc stuff.

I later traded a snowblower plus 50 bucks to a guy on craigslist for a left fender, header panel with all the works, spare tire, radiator, AC condenser, AC compressor, and power steering pump.

I had some help from my girlfriend's dad with pulling the front end back in shape. We used a couple of come alongs and wheel chocks to do the job. One good thing my truck is for, being an anchor, lol.

It took all day to do the job, pulling the left side straight and hammering the inner fender back in shape. Next day, we put on everything back and did an oil change, trans fluid change, and filled up the radiator with coolant. the engine was really in perfect shape and needed nothing else to fix. I guess it is really bulletproof.

XJwonders

That's what it looked like at the junkyard











Close up of the damage

XJwonders

Finished

XJwonders

I drove like that, bone stock until this happened...


A friend convinced me to drive to a local mud hole, and we only went ten feet in before the xj was grounded to a halt. We got stuck in tire ruts by trucks with bigger tires. 5 and half hours later, we finally got out. (Got stuck at 1:30 am).

That was a turning point, I swore I wouldn't let that happen again.

XJwonders

So I went and got a 3 inch Rough Country AAL lift. Yeah I know, bad choice, but this was before I joined the forum. So I didn't know any better

Over a course of a weekend, it was completed.
(The picture sucks, cause it barely look like it was lifted at all. I was still running balding 235's)



After a hefty Xmas bonus from work, I went to look for some decent tires.

Found a set of black cragars with 31x10.5 tires. For only 450 bucks. I was a happy camper.

XJwonders

A year later, here I am, getting ready to go 4.5 with 3 link. I just gotta get few more parts then I ll be ready to install everything on.

XJwonders

Oh yea I built my front bumper also. Got mostly free material from work. Entire thing is 1/4 thick.

Only thing that was bought is the JCR steering spacer.

PocketsEmpty

Awesome! Great work. Bout time you started your build thread!

XJwonders

Yeah. All thanks to you lol.

XJwonders

So far my plan as for now is to do the new lift and 3 link. Going for 33's to 35's. my friend had a set of 35's he said he ll let me try out see if I like it.

Next phase would be axles.
Considering looking for a D44 or a 8.8.

PocketsEmpty

What 3 link you going with? and what's wrong with your 8.25? lol. I know the yards down here have TONS of later model Explorers. More of those than XJ's even

XJwonders

Same here. All the yards I go have more explorers than xj, but it's hard to find the one with 4.10's on it.

Nothing wrong with my 8.25 lol.

XJwonders

Oh I bought a RockKrawler 3 link for 700 shipped, thanks to AOR. If u need good deals, hit him up.

PocketsEmpty

Nice!!! Looking forward to the install process. I have Rusty's longarms sitting in my garage. I know Rusty's has a bad rap but I know a few guys running their long arms without issues, but RK would be awesome. maybe I can sell them. lol

XJwonders

Few of the mods I have done to the jeep so far...

Dashboard gauge LEDs. Ordered them via eBay from someone in Australia. I ordered red but he sent me wrong colors and I ended up liking it so I decided just to keep it. Sent me 8 but I only needed five.









Homemade cargo glass guards. Cut them from a shelving unit from a work van at a junkyard.















Of course the cowl snorkel