96 XJ Heirloom
 

Long Story Short: This one owner XJ has been in garage storage since 2004 with 112k miles on it.

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Back Driver door was lock was jammed and the cihld lock was on. So after removing the door panel and a lot of Kroil it's open.


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Can't get this to upload in the correct orientation. Sorry.

The Alternator and Battery were replaced to get it up and running for the 100 mile trip home.
First stop, CarX for a high mileage oil change and some new wipers.
Next, Fixed the drivers side headlight. The spring had come loose and had given it a lazy eye. Great for spotting birds after dark, not so great for driving.

It had a small leak from the Tranny return line. I didn't want to drop the $$ so I followed a cheap fix thread here and threw on a compression fitting.

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Not the prettiest pig, but at least I only need to carry 1 quart of fluid in the car at a time now.

Next up, Brakes started squeeling

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That there is what you call a problem.

The next day the back brakes started grinding.


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After changing Drum and Shoes I realized the adjuster cable on the driver side had snapped and was scoring up the inside of the Drum. So, back on with the drum to wait for new parts. I ordered 2 cause Drum brakes suck and I only want to do this job once.

Well, new discovery while replacing all the parts on the Drivers side. The adjuster had locked up tighter than a rookie convict's * and that's why the cable had snapped. After coating the adjuster in enough anti-seize to move lady liberty, I moved on to replacing the cable on the passenger side.Only to discover a previously unnoticed leaking wheel cylinder.

Now the Check Engine light is on and giving codes for the Upflow and Downflow O2 sensors and the ignition coil.

The passenger floor boards are beginning to rust out, so that's already on my list of future repairs. I'm figuring on a brake flush while I replace the wheel cylinders. Also, probably new Distributor Cap, Rotor, Plug Wires and Plugs. It is a DD and I'm willing to do just about anything necessary to keep it running. If I can get the damn thing reliable, it came with a 3" RC lift that is yet to be installed and I'll be making the doors removable.

My question is this, what other fixes should I try to get ahead of on this thing?

Goodbye stepside bars!

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They were slightly rusty


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She already looks taller


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Backstory on this Jeep. A close friend of my family was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty 12/30/2004. This was her Jeep. She bought it brand new. Her sister (a closer family friend) wasn't ready to part with her sisters pride and joy for over 11 years. When she was ready, she wanted to keep it close and I've eyed this Jeep for a number of years. Her husband replaced the battery and alternator and it was up and running. It has been run periodically through out it's decade in the garage. I was told Fluids, Rotor, Plugs, Cable, and Coil were changed out about a year ago.

Now my dilemma:

She received this lift kit as a Christmas gift 5 days before she died.

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RC says they basically can't tell me anything about it. From what I can tell it's a 3" Coil and Add a leaf. However, the rear is already sagging, so I don't know that add a leaf will do me any good. Also, add on the additional 10 years and most of the bushings, shocks, etc.. could use replaced anyway. However, I would like to put the majority of this kit in.

Anyone with prior experience, what would you recommend? What parts do I seem to be missing? What additional parts do I most likely need? etc...

If it were me I'd get full leaf packs and some decent shocks and maybe control arms if you want but at 3" theyre not needed.

How optional are control arms? If they're highly recommended, I would wait to get it all at the same time and do it right. If it's just personal preference, I was contemplating a bastard pack, bushings and good shocks for now. Then do it right one piece at a time starting with control arms.

Any recommendation on which packs and/or shocks?
Do I want a straight 3" leaf pack or would a 3.5 be better after settling?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.