That Jeep Guy XJMJ

After peering through a number of build threads i thought i would set one up for my DD. Long term project as i'm trying to be cheap on this one and keep it practical for driving.

1998 Jeep Cherokee w/ 234k miles, was pretty darn ruff when i brought it home, Long list of issues right out of the gate... Junk radiator, brakes all around are in bad shape, tires are junk 1 was flat, interior carpet is nasty, damage to driver side doors, purple tint, shotty exhaust, ran good but had a little miss and ran a little funny at idle, P.O had hit a deer, thus the new grill and broken/missing bits on the header panel.

Took it off the guy's hands for $800.






Old tenants....

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

So it didn't take very long to build up a bill for repairs. New radiator, tune-up, brakes, headlights, running lights, some freebie wheels and tires. Painted the lower qtr of the jeep, bumpers and fender flares w/ bedliner. A rust free rear hatch. swapped out rear glass for factory tinted windows. Pair of Hella lights up front.

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

Some recent photos and update on my plans for this XJ






A good friend of mine came home for a visit with his awesome new ford pickup and i decided my little jeep needed to be kool like his truck

So i scored the custom rear bumper from a parts XJ that i had bought late this fall and also scored a factory XJ D44.

The D-windows came off a Donor XJ for my 86 MJ build from a few years back. I also replaced the driver front door as it was damaged from the P.O (the driver rear door is also damaged - not yet replaced)

As for my plans for this jeep, I originally bought it just to dd it and do nothing else... Well i'm sure many of you know how that goes and it didn't help that not long ago while at one of the you-wrench yards I came across a ZJ with a 2" budget lift w/shocks. Being it was a V8 as well i took the coil springs along with the 2" coil spacers, shocks and then nabbed a set of leaf springs from a Dakota. I love the shocker factor to builds so that leads me to wanting to set the jeep on long arms also. Prolly a 32" tire and a 3.5" lift. Will be building a kinda custom front winch bumper for it as well. For tire coverage after the lift and tires unless i find a killer deal on a set of b-wackers, i'm leaning towards building some "Landscape trim" fender flares.

That V8 grand also had a cold air intake kit w/ the "block off" plate.

With a little modification it fits pretty nicely

Scott'sXJ

Aaaaand now, you're the XJ equivalent of a crack head. You will never stop modifying your Jeep.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Welcome aboard.

Bryan98XJ

Welcome!!

Jrozar

Looking forward to your build and ideas...I've learned a lot of what to's and what not to do's here.

I'm doing the same style of build, very capable minimum lift daily driver.

unidentifiedbomb

So...ahhh... what's the vehicle with the swampers?

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

Thanks guys!

Yup, i've been down this road a number of times with my previous jeeps and most of the time they've been lifted and beaten to where its really a chore to even DD the darn things anymore... Not resulting in a lot of fun but more just constant headache of having to fix this, having to fix that But not this time!

Gonna keep it kinda simple and practical, but still a capable vehicle to romp with at a moments notice. I've got a big toy for the trails and trips that i really want to get crazy with BUT with any crazy capable rig comes the drawback of drive ability.

My 87 MJ offcourse build thread in my signature below


I've been doodling a bit lately on front bumper(s) and also a light bar setup - NOT an led full length light bar! More along the flavor of a "lights mount under the bar" setup... Will post pics if i find a decent pic of a similar setup.

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

Had some time this morning to play around in the garage so I started my light bar.

Mostly built out of the extra stuff i had laying around the garage, just some 1/8" cut-off drops and some 1x1 .25 wall square stock that used to be a safety rail at my brothers shop.

I had originally wanted to setup the lights to mount Under the light bar But after tacking it all together and test fitting it onto the jeep, I had realized that i made a mistake in my height measurement. Ugh! So i set my LED light on top of the mounts I made and i still like the way it looks so this is what i'm going with...













I did bring it back inside on this misty day and finish welded everything and then removed all that safety yellow paint (yuck). Put a coating of Duplicolor Bedliner on it and am letting it dry... I'll post up another pic once i get my 4 other lights in and mounted up and then i have the light bar mounted and wired for some night driving awesomeness!

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

So i picked up a "new" truck not long ago (kinda sad that a 2000 chevy pickup is a new truck for me), mainly bought it to tow my MJ around as its turning more into a truggy toy and less of a drive able jeep. I'm driving it kinda as a DD while splitting the duties with the XJ now while trying to shake it down and find any little issues before the summer wheeling season starts.

Its really got me thinking my lift and other goodies may come sooner than i had in mind. I also picked up some steel for my custom long arm cross member build. I suppose we'll see how the next couple weeks go

JeepXstreme

Another Mj owner as well!! Well congratz on the xj ! Look forward to the build!

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

Crawled around the jeep tonight and got 3/4 speakers working. Thank goodness that i can now enjoy some music while i drive this thing.

I also grabbed a spare cross-member to measure up for my custom cross-member build. Nothing cut/drilled or welded yet but it was nice to spend some time working toward getting this jeep lifted. $25 at the local steel yard. 40" length of 2"x6" 3/16ths. Will still need to get some steel for the long arm pockets though.

OmgNoWai

I love it when people buy XJs' in need of love and bring them back to life. Nice start.

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

Soo this has literally done almost nothing since my last post...

Ditched the light bar, added a cheap junkyard lift, took it out wheeling a time or two on some private land and thats about it...

Now that winter is just about it... I need my winter beater back! I also figured it wouldn't hurt to actually get somewhere with it as well.

Recently picked up a Rubicon Express 3.5" lift, some 33" tires. Planning a front winch bumper, sliders, some extra extra body armor.

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

limped this turd into the garage today.


Forgot how much i enjoy work on stock jeep suspension... New lower arms installed

Old and new coil springs


Front suspension is done and 33"s installed... some trimming may be required...


Spent most the afternoon working on the rear suspension typical leaf spring bolt issues...