mountaineerjeff

Well I started this thread to keep you guys in the loop with everything that is going on with my XJ, first and foremost I hate build threads without pics, so be prepared for lots and lots of crappy cell phone pics.


this is my 97 XJ; dark green/2 door/4.0/auto SE (power nothing)

this is EXACTLY what i was looking for when I began shopping for my XJ, as power options just leave more stuff to break, this jeep was a 2nd owner, never been wheeled, and garaged in the WINTER!?! the POs were 'city folk' and actually had it on 20" chrome rims, with the back glass painted black, those god awful chrome fake fender holes, and filled with empty black and milds boxes. They drove it until the brakes gave up, I picked it up for only $1600 and changed the brakes in their driveway, and drove it home. the best part was it had 0 rust, which is impossible to find here in the 'salt belt'

mountaineerjeff

after the brakes, and cleaning the paint off the back glass, the first thing i did was remove the terrible chrome fender add-ons. and took it on a trail ride.

had to test the 4wd and the stock suspension, which actually flexes pretty good, even though I didnt disconnect the sway bars

mountaineerjeff

then the front fender flares came off, since im missing one any way

mountaineerjeff

next I got some ZJ rims from a buddy and painted them black, threw em on, and gave it its first bath

mountaineerjeff

wheeled it a little like that, while I got some $ together, did I complete tune up to make sure everything was in order, then went a picked up my new tires.

YES i know they are awesome, no you cant get them. theyre just for me.

had to immediately remove the flares, and trim the bumper end caps.

mountaineerjeff

then I just wheeled it like this for a bit

mountaineerjeff

And then THIS happened.

I hit a hole that was a little more water and little less mud and hydro locked the motor. the wave was about 7-9 feet above the roof of the jeep.

I popped the intake off, and the throttle body was clear full of water. we removed the spark plugs, and got it cleaned out, it started up and I drove it home.

I immediately changed the oil. drove about 20 miles, and changed the oil again. changed all my sensors,plugs,wires, whole new tune-up. and it drove like brand new for another 3 weeks. then I blew a rod. right out the side of the block, while starting up an on ramp. I pulled over cause my rod was smacking the steering, and I thought I blew a tire. once I figured out the problem, I stuck the key in it and started it right back up and drove it 3-5 miles until I got to the next exit and found a place to park it.

The jeep then froze in sub 0 temps for 2 days, and I came back, started it right up again and drove it the other 3-5 miles back home. Never needed a tow. as I was driving I was losing more and more of the block as it smashed against the road....never blew the head gasket.


then it sat parked for a few months, as I was financially stricken due to buying a jeep, doing 2 tuneups and getting tires all within 2 weeks.

mountaineerjeff

well I finally found a replacement motor, so the real build starts. the jeep had been sitting for months, with the wet carpet in it, so it smelled VERY bad.

I started by stripping the interior completely. then I removed all the sound deadening material, there was actually still no rust holes anywhere. I coated it with a rust primer, and then I did a full spray on bedliner. Now I wont have to worry about it again.

mountaineerjeff

Now just from the time it sat, it developed rust in the rear quarters, where there absolutely was none before. I cleaned it up, rust reformed, fiber glassed, primer-ed it.

mountaineerjeff

I then removed the rear bumper endcap bracket, taped off the jeep at the body line, and sanded it down. then the entire bottom half got matching bedliner

now you cant even tell there was rust holes

mountaineerjeff

pulled it outside for another bath

dpace7XJ

i think ill watch this one!

mountaineerjeff

started working on my stereo, made a custom amp mount, to mount my 1000w rms kicker amp to the roof, where it can stay nice and dry.

my thing with the stereo is, it needs to sound good, be amazing, stay dry, and not take up any space.

i got 2 6.5 kicker mids in the sound bar, 2 5.5 kicker mids in the door, and 2 L7 900 watt subs in each quarter.

mountaineerjeff

Pulled the front header panel off, removed the radiator and ac, removed all accessories, removed valve pan. then I removed the manifolds, and downpipe. then pulled the head, then pulled the motor out.

mountaineerjeff

Im also juggling getting the new motor ready at the same time as removing the old. This motor will have lots of power...little secret I think Im going to try for the 4.0 NA power record. dont know what it is, but thats where im headed.

i got my updated mani. some like to quote the magazine article on loss, of power, but there are SOOOO many things that could have contributed to that, it is just common sense that the newer manifold will allow more air in easier. I then painted it, and bored my throttle body out to 63mm to match it....ill be selling 63mm bodies so pm if interested....mocked it all together just for giggles