I'm being stubborn. I don't plan on getting rid of this thing until it rusts out from underneath me. So I guess I really don't mind replacing parts along the way because new parts make my old Jeep happy.

And honestly, while I'm not a bad mechanic when I have a shop, all the tools you ever need etc. I suck when I'm working in my gravel driveway with a handful of tools. So I try to avoid big stuff at all costs.

 

I know exactly what you mean. I have been replacing stuff as i can, and I keep cutting out the rust to preserve what floor/rockers I have left. I have plastic covering half the cut out floor in my cargo area, and more plastic under my trim to keep the floor mats from falling out lol. When I replace something I have to consider what tools I can buy to do it in the first place, as long as I can use them again in the future. I have some ratcheting wrenches on my wishlist for this upcoming manifold job...

Look at it this way. Everything nice you add/replace, consider how easy it is to remove and put on a new xj if the rust wins, or the head, whatever comes first lol. Good luck with whatever comes up!