dubbleJ's

Well I finally gathered a few photos and figured I should post up my build. The name Fire Chief came easy...for years my first XJ was called 'The Chief' (naturally) but that XJ sadly had to come to an end. I started my search for another heep and found this one, it was a red '98 and just so happens to actually be an Ex-fire department truck... so right away it was dubbed The Fire Chief! You can still see the paint fade from the badges and the 9-1-1 stickers if the sunlight hits it right.

Anyways, onto the build!



Here it is stock when I bought it. Just waiting to become what it always has wanted to be...at least that's the way I look at it...




Then I purchased this XJ with a blown motor for the RE 4.5" lift it had in it.



Working on finishing the lift and trimming the fenders out a bit, while also trying to finish the garage.


Zzzzzing



4.5" and 33" BFG MT's, also added some front hooks.

This hole turned out to be a nightmare! (and the flares and bumper caps slowly got torn off one by one)


Flex shot. Disconnects in the front, deleted swaybar in rear.


Testing out the new intake...



Said intake pictured here, along with the new Air horns


Put on some 33x12.5 Super Swamper radials, and started making the switchover to pre-'97 fender flares. The '97+ flares get ripped off SO easily...


Picked up a used Rugged Ridge steering setup for free, just needed to buy new ends for it. Here it is compared to stock



My buddy workin' on the steering install



Put in a freebie Cobra CB, does the job...most of the time.



Im 6'2 and wanted my seat to be a bit lower, so I cut down and welded the seat brackets. I cut out about 1 5/8"


You can see the difference in height, both seats are fully upright.


Then the time finally came to mount up a winch bumper, made up some brackets and getting them all tacked in place here. Oh yea, and I bought another set of 33" BFG's and sold the swampers.


All mounted up with my new 'Motomaster' 8500lb'er. We'll see how it lasts, used it once and it worked great. Couldn't say no to the price...


Went out snow wheelin' the day after we got the winch mounted up...came in handy!



And theeeeeen.....I just picked this XJ up. Written off from a rear ender, lots of goodies on it. Time to give the Firechief a few gifts



Sanded and painted my rockers and "frame" rails etc today in prep for the Warn slider install.
Mid-spraying shot


Done, now to clean up the sliders.


Sanded and scraped


All sprayed up with a textured Krylon


And that pretty much brings the build up to date, I'll be swapping a few goodies over from the new parts rig as time permits... Thanks for looking!!

duncan807

sweet keep it up like what ur doing cant w8 to see whats next

SignWorX

thats looks awesome man congrats!!!

dubbleJ's

Thanks guys! Hopefully get some time to put the sliders on today...finished painting them yesterday. Alot of work involved! Gotta pull the interior to bolt them in through the floor...

XJeeper193

looks awesome!
r u sellin anyting off the other xj?

cf1k1

Just wondering, not to hijack or anything, what air horns are those? Are they worth it? Also, how hard to install?

goodbyexj

awesome pics reminds me of the olds days

dubbleJ's

Thanks! and Yea I plan to part it out

I got them at PrincessAuto, cant remember the name...ill have a look when i get the chance. Install wasnt too bad, just wired them in with the relay and fuse the kit came with. It was worth it, people get a laugh out of it and it has a little more authority than the stock horn

Thanks man, not in the XJ game anymore?

dubbleJ's

Finally got the Warn sliders installed...what a b*tch. 30 bolts per side, had to pull the interior/carpet to bolt them through the floor...Oh well, was worth it!

xjmuddigger

how does that intake work? i was thinkin of doin the same kind of set up

cf1k1

Did you cut the stock horns off and just wire em in or do it a different way?

dubbleJ's

Works good! Definitely let's the motor breath better and you can hear it pretty good too.



I just wired it to a button type switch that I mounted on the dash, the horn kit came with the relays, horns and the lil compressor

wewsel

Great Idea on the seat bracket. I have the same problem being 6'2" also... Could you make another set? Ever thought about selling something like this?

Jeepn4

Being a fireman I like the Fire Chief, way to build it!!!!

Jeepn4

Btw.... If you do part out the other jeep, how is the rear liftgate?? I really need a new one..