1987 turd build, DD camping rig
 

My kids affectionately call it the Turd. I picked it up for $1200. Has a d44 rear and hpd30 front axles and 4.0 auto with 242 t-case. Plan is for a mild build just for fun with the family. Several years ago I built a rock crawler and then the family started coming in and the truggy left. That was 12 yrs ago and now is time for the family fun wagon.

I have been gathering parts as I find deals hope to get started on it when I get back from Ecuador. So far I have picked up a set of jk Willy’s wheels with 285/70r17 Firestone destination MT for $600 for a set of 5.

I found a re6130 lift in unopened box for $700, and 4wd was running a special on the re mono tube shocks for $255 for 4. So far the budget is holding out decent.

At present the interior has been striped and seats sent off to be rebuilt with new Capet on the way. There’s some floorboard rust that I’m working on repairing, but to leave tomorrow and should be back on the 7th.


Here’s some pics so far.

1 the day I picked it up
2 Bedliner on the bottom and some xj decals on the rear

Welcome to CF. Looks like you're off to a good start, I look forward to seeing the build. Any other plans for it?

Also I visited Mena a few times as a kid, there is some pretty country up that way and I'd love to make it back as an adult.

Welcome! nice start to a fun build. I can't say i have ever noticed a gold Xj before. It's different and I like it. Keep it up dude

Yep I agree with everyone else coming along nicely and looking forward to the build process. Subbed for future posts!

long term plans in order are:
1. Regear to 4.88 or 5.13 with true track front and rear. I may go OX locker in the front depending on financial status at the time
2. Bumpers front and rear with winch
3. Roof rack with some led lights
4. Notch flares and possibly 35” tires, but this will be after the 285/70 wear out. They are about 50~75% tread left now.

This will take a long time to finish. ( like they are ever finished) The only reason I’m able to gather all of this up over the last month is because I sold a ural and my old s10. That gave me a real boost of funds. It will be a bit before the regear because I want to do all that at once. The original plan was for just a 3” lift with 31” tires, but the deal on this kit and on the wheels pushed me a little. Basically I’m going bigger for less money except for the regear. Which I would have done anyway when I put the tru trac in.

I like Mena there use to be a lot of wheeling in the area but the greenies shut a lot of it down when the local off road club fazed out. I’m still close to clayton and Poteau Oklahoma

Are those JK take off wheels? They should be 255s (they look small for 285s too). I wouldn't recommend 5.13, the tooth engagement of the 4.88 really makes me question the strength of 5.13s on a D30. Looks like a good platform to start and wishing the best.

They are jk wheels, but the owner went with the 285/70 with 2” spacers. He sold these to me and went custom wheels and 35”. They actually measure 32” but the Firestone site says 32.7

Just got back for Ecuador and took a few pics of the 4x4s there. They mainly drove land cruisers, sidekicks, and samurais. I did see about 4 Cherokees but they were all stock. A few full size Chevys as well.

Got the holes fixed in the floor board. Welded in new 18ga sheet metal and then sealed the weld with JB. The black you see in the pic is rust converter. I used it as a step to stop the current surface rust. Tomorrow I’ll top coat the floor with rust sealer and redo the underneath with undercoating.

JB makes a floor pan seam sealer?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...616eb4e432.jpg

LOVE the spoiler, I can just imagine the HP boost they're getting out of that. Your planning to put a spoiler on the back of The Turd, right?

I’m sure that put it up to 60hp. That’s a Russian made 4wd car. No spoilers on the turd.

I did get the floor finished up and a good start on putting the interior back together. I did notice some rust under the carpet in the back, so pulled that up and luckily it’s just surface rust. So I’ll coat with rust converter tomorrow

Finished up the passenger area of the xj. Still have the cargo area to do, but at least I can drive it again. It’s my only Car.

Sweet! Sounds like a good plan. I will say that I just put 4.88s in mine with 35's and it's borderline too aggressive as a weekend vehicle. I don't think that I would care for them on a daily driver, much less the 5.13s. That's just my opinion, but it's something that you may consider looking into a little more before you pull the trigger.

According to the calculator I’m using, 4:56 and 35 would be same as stock and I would like mine to be a bit lower geared than what it is now. I have been driving the xj around in 3rd to see if the increased rpms would work for me and so far no issues. Granted we are in different areas and that may make a difference. I’m 80 miles to the nearest city and 90 miles to an interstate. That said the speed limit here is 55 except for the interstate and I don’t drive over about 60. Even with the stock set up I have to shift to drive running through the steeper hills here. Granted if I was driving 80mph much I could see needing less gear. I’m not real sure what will work best for me and don’t want to make a mistake and have to do it over. I would like for 4:56 gears to work just from the tooth engagement standpoint.

What rpms are you running at 60mph? That would give a better idea than a calculator.