98 XJ Build - Long Island
 

Well I have done a lot to this truck lately and I figured instead of making individual threads for everything I do I'd just make a jeep build thread. Truck is my DD to keep the miles off my 2012 procharged mustang.. but I will be doing a little wheeling with it and just making it a nice reliable DD

Here's how the jeep sat when I bought her.
Attachment 357469

lil flexxx on stock suspension
Attachment 357470
Attachment 357471

What I have done so far:
-side molding removal
-plasti dipped grill and wheels and a few emblems
Attachment 357472
-Bedlinered front & rear bumpers, also fender flares
Attachment 357473
Attachment 357474
-re-did the sagging headliner in blue & gray camo
Attachment 357475
-optima red top battery
-felpro vavle cover gasket
Attachment 357476
-oil change & filter
-changed front diff fluid & a pinion seal
-rear diff fluid
Attachment 357477
-transfer case fluid
-flushed cool system
-replaced upper & lower radiator hoses also upper and lower heater hoses
-new thermostat
-installed JVC radio
-installed 4 speakers w/ kicker 4 channel amp
-changed fuel pump assembly with a carter
-changed plugs
-greased ball joints and slip yokes
-changed rear o2 sensor
-changed oil pressure sending unit

....jesus didn't realize how much i did until I just made that list lol

a few thing i didnt do becuase they were done before I go thte truck.
-tranny was rebuilt 20k ago so no need for new ATF
-air filter was brand new
-cap, rotor and plug wires were new
-tires brand new
-brakes and rotors brand new.

Current list of things to do includes..
-Install 10" RE audio sub w kicker mono amp in a custom box
-Install Rough country extended rear shackles to help the rear a little... (its sagging, this is a temp fix)
-change ignition coil, truck has a slight rough idle and this is the most suspect-able item to change.
-change front axle seals, have a slight seepage on the passenger side...
-I have a slight leak in my transmission cooling lines where it goes from rubber to metal, need to fix this, tranny fluid level hasn't moved though so I know its a very slow leak. more of a "seepage"

After Christmas list of things to do..
-3 inch lift with full leaf packs since my packs are done. this includes 4 new shocks, front coils and rear leaf packs. Probably will go with rough country or rustys.
-transfer case drop
-new headlights, mine aren't in good shape.
-steering stabalizer? maybe...if my truck is all over after the lift. have a feeling im going to need it.
-have frankie at PCE fix my exhaust from the cat back. The muffler is a little rotted and I need a new hanger in the middle of the exhaust so I'll just have him rip that all out and re-do it in stainless steel.


here is what the truck looks like today
Attachment 357478
Attachment 357479


my latest project has been the sub box for the back. cant wait to have some bass again.
heres to wood all traced out
Attachment 357480

here I am putting it together. nail gun, wood glue and caluk are my weapons of choice.
Attachment 357481

I was going to do the box in fabric but I said screw it and did a combination of plastidip and bedliner.

Attachment 357482

Tomorrow the sub comes and I am going to try and get my RC shackles in to lift the rear up a little. Its funny because my rear leafs are so shot the truck sits high with less then a full tank of gas and then it gets super low when I fill the gas tank up.

Put the sub in...sound phenomenal.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/26/nezamury.jpg

Nice work.

I always wondered what those wheels looked like painted black. They look pretty good.

Bought some pre cut window tint on eBay for like 12 bucks for the front windows on my jeep. The backs are already factory tinted at 20% so I got the same for the fronts. I had my girlfriend do most of the tinting work. But before I let her go at it I took off the door panel and removed the weather striping on the bottom so it was easier to get the tint down there. I then cleaned the window like crazy and used the razor blade technique to get any crap off that the spray and a paper towel didnt. After that we pealed the tint off using lots of soapy water and put it on the soapy window. Positioned it in place and went to town with a card to get all the air and water out. For 12 bucks and about an hour of work they came out great.

Before
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/03/e9u3u9ed.jpg

During
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/03/a8ududu5.jpg

After
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/03/a6ygusug.jpg

Lifted my rear by 2" today on the truck since with the sub and a full tank of gas it sits really low. Used extended shackels for now.. I'll be getting new leafs around Christmas time that I can use with the shakels for more lift. Looking at like a 2"-3" over stock all together by the end of the winter.

Here's the shackels
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/11/8ynyzy4y.jpg

Before http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/11/asabuja2.jpg

After
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/11/e2asyzam.jpg


Also did new headlights , a fan belt and changed my power steering fluid ...all while I'm sick as a dog. I haven't had a day off in a long time so I need to take advantage of that plus its decently warm out.

Nice looking jeep, bud. Good color. Wouldn't mind seeing a shot of that Stang, either.:gunsmilie:

looks great! love the color too :thumbup1:

:icon_cheesygrin:

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http://www.newschoolmuscle.com/siteimages/sigs/blue.jpg

Dude, love it! Best way i can put it, that thing is SEXY.:thumbup: Props, bro.

thanks man. put a lot of time and money into her. now that I drive the jeep every day, when i drive the stang like once a week i nearly crap my self with the power haha. Shes away for the winter now in a garage. The jeep mod bug has bitten though haha

Oh yeah, these things can be very addictive. That 3" is gonna look good. Cool color you have too, blue just fits.

So yesterday I got a new muffler put on the truck. I had a two hangers that also broke which were fixed. The new muffler is actually a resonator off of a new challenger (thats what my exhaust guy said) But yeah, the truck sounds sweet. Its slightly louder then the stock exhaust but enough to just hear it and not annoy you. I love it. I'll have to get a little sound clip up soon.

I also fixed a small leak I had on the transmission cooling line. I cut the metal pipe, flared the tip, put the hose back over it and secured it with two clamps. No leaks is a beautiful thing.

Today I installed a RC steering stabilizer i picked up on cyber monday. My stock one felt non existent and sure enough when I took it out, it was so shot I could compress it with two fingers and minimal pressure. The new stabilizer feels so much better, I feel like the truck actually want to stay in a lane now and not wander all over the place lol

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/12/01/vysasade.jpg

Tomorrow I plan on trimming the lower part of my front bumper, my truck doesnt have fog lights anyways so screw it.

I know for chrismas im getting a nice slew of parts for the truck which include.
-Rusty's 3inch lift w/ full leafs
-Tow hooks
-Cragar Soft 8's with 4" backspacing
-track bar
- and maybe some lights for the bumper, not sure if I want them though, I like the clean look

stay tuned for more pics

where abouts in long island are you? my gf lives in melverne. im hoping by this summer my xj will be able to make the trip so i can wheel it, till then the stock zj shall do the trick.

im all over, but anywhere from Bethpage (my house) to Manorville (girlfriends house) haha

Nice work. I live in eastport I'll keep an eye out for ya.
Here's my truck hope to be lifted soon.