How would you waterproof a Jeep XJ? What would have to be waterproofed and estimated cost?

I'm just wondering because I took my jeep down by the river on some trails and I hit a 3 to 4 foot mud/water hole and the Jeep stalled.. so now I'm interested in making my Jeep good to go muddin in and trail riding.

 

you need to move your alternator up to the a/c compressor position, build/buy a air intake snorkel, and move your diff vent tube higher at a minimum.

 

First, and most obvious, snorkel. You can make one for $25 or buy one for $500.

You'll wanna dielectric grease all exposed electrical connections as well as the where the plug wires meet each plug and at the distributor.

Siliconing your GOOD cap shut is a must. This and the grease will help prevent the stalling you had, as I'm sure water in the spark system caused it.

All your cloth interior will give you issues. Can't do much about that unless you wanna replace everything.

Make sure you pull the drain plugs so you don't keep standing water in the truck. This will also help keep your interior from smelling really quickly.

Alternators will give you crap if you keep dunking them. Some relocate them to where the AC compressor is, or you can look into a "marine alternator" but more modding would have to be done as they aren't made specifically for XJs.

I've heard of making a waterproof box out of a rubbermaid container, but I've never seen it done, nor have I done it myself. I'd think you'd have heat issues, as there would be little to no air movement.

 

what's a GOOD cap?

 

One thats not broken?

I've seen people with cracked caps. If its cracked, damaged, etc, siliconing it will do nothing but waste your time.

I didn't know there was more than one definition for "good" cap...although I spose you could've taken that as "not a cheap cap."

 

ohhhh i thought it was an acronym

 

I've never had an issue with my alternator being in stock position but I dont do any mudding. Just regular trails with small bits of mud, water crossings, dirt and rocks.

Everything else is a good idea.

 

lolol Yeah, yet another way it could've been taken!!

Dang, now I gotta come up with something for G.O.O.D.

I suggested the relocation because several members here have had issues with them because of its location.

I bet if you searched a bit you'd find tons of threads with complaints.

 

Not to thread jack, but what woud be a safe max water level to cross without any of these things done? (stock)

 

I'd stick to water under the top of your wheel. Just figure the lowest part of the system is going to be your distributor, but it may not necessarily see the water as the front clip will push alot away creating a small cavity.

I'd stick to anything more shallow than 3/4 the way up your wheel, not much more. And if you take it slow, you'll be that much better off.

Not good to splash water everywhere, especially if you are 100% stock.

 

Another problem I had was when I hit that water/mud hole.. water seeped through under my carpet on the interior floor and bubbled through. Is there anyway I ran fix this and what would I need/use?

 

You can use Floor liners to get rid of this problem... This is what I did to my jeep's flooring... Works well for me...

 

always carry WD-40, always!!!

 

... Or you can use rubber flooring, or (better yet) like I did - closed cell foam for padding under the carpet. Yeah, I like carpet, but the factory padding sucks because it holds water & smells. I used 1/2" neoprene and which will not absorb water. I also used marine bailer plugs which will unscrew to let water out.

 

Have you guys removed the drain plugs in the floor? There are quite a few of them from the front to the back.