UnbendingWings

This is going to be my second attempt at building an Xj. My first one was a '99 as well. Put a 4.5" Longarm kit on it and some 32" KM2's then sold it 8 months later for no reason.

This is going to a build more reality based for the amount of wheeling I do. I'm from Connecticut so there isn't much as far as legal wheeling goes. Which is no excuse not to wheel but that being said I still enjoy a fair amount of seat time off road. It's called "Dr0p That" because I constantly drop all my tools and loose them while working.

PLANS
-On board air
-Roof rack with lights on front,sides and rear
-Skids
-Under body bed-lined
-3.5" Lift
-Custom Sway bar disco's
-Curry HD steering
-Bumpers
-Sliders

That's the jeep when I brought it home next to my brothers XJ. Cleaned it up inside and out. The PO decided to be nice and left me a bunch of pennies, dog hair and even a Taylor Swift CD. I knew I had to get rid of the D35 rear so I grabbed an 8.25 for 80 ducks.
Cleaned it up, grindeD it down, primed and painted.

Had some backing plates from a ZJ so I got all the parts for discs and put those on the axle. The only part I need is E- brake cables.

Started doing some preventative maintenance. Did all fluids and an oil change. Began rust removal after that. I've got a few spots that are worse than others but nothing terminal yet. Passenger side rocker had stage 3 "new England salt treatment" so I cut it out.

Began buying parts for after my lift goes on. Have JCR stage one sliders, sucr0 roof rack. Got 2 KC day lighters and 4 Walmart lights from a buddy for 40 ducks.

Bought my lift (3.5" RE Super Ride Kit w/full leafs)
Shocks: 5100 Blisteins
Tires: It's a tossup between a bunch of stuff mainly; KM2's, STT's, MTR's, or AT's (any input is considered a blessing.)
Wheels: Wanted Cragar d windows but had to settle for summit D windows due to a backspacing conflict.

UnbendingWings

While I had the rocker cut off I noticed that my rear wheel wells were getting rusty. I grind-ed, primed and POR 15'd the wheels wells. Going to buy some moar POR15 and do the whole underbody. Might as well spend the 50ducks now instead of replacing my whole jeep.

UnbendingWings

Reservedd

UnbendingWings

More to come just doing this from my phone during slave hours. I could get lashings for this :O

Worshers

Looks like you got a good start so far, curious to see how it turns out. I'd say for tires if you want to be more practical since you dont wheel as much just go with some BFG A/T, I've got a set and they're great on and off road. Also lemme know how those bilsteins ride, I'm looking into getting a pair but want some input from some others who put em on their xj.

UnbendingWings

Will do. Gonna put it all together as soon as the parts come in.

UnbendingWings

Started a new job yesterday only part time for now but I'm just going to work 35 hours in three days and have 4 off. Just waiting for my parts to come in so I can install them. Bending some more metal pieces to get my rocker to fit just right. Might install my sliders if I'm bored and still waiting for parts

UnbendingWings

Parts came in yesterday showed up on an 18 wheeler.



They only bring the pallet to the start of your driveway. So I dragged the pallet up with my tractor.




Then I decided to repaint my sliders with POR15.




Built some brackets for my lights cause the original ones disappeared.

UnbendingWings

Been wrenching a bunch in the last week or so. Go my tires and lift installed. Also swapped out the D30 for the 8.25 w/disc breaks.





Just barely stuffed all my tires in the back of the jeep. When I was pulling up my driveway they shifted and nearly went through the hatch window.





Finished product





Decided on Cooper STT's and 15x8 d windows.




Poser shot




One more

UnbendingWings

Jeep's Current Specs
-3.5" RE Super-Flex Kit
-8.25 w/disc brakes
-Blistein 5100's
-31x10.5 STT's

To Do List
-Mount Roof Rack
-Wire up Lights on rack
-Run wires for OBA (on board air)
-Collect/Buy parts for OBA
-Bolt on JCR Sliders
-Mount T-Case Skid


Doing the rack tomorrow so more pictures inbound.

UnbendingWings

I bought a new rocker to replace the passenger side one that was terminally ill. However I can't figure out how to tweak it right to look good so I am planning on just cutting out my other rocker, POR15ing the exposed metal then bolting my sliders onto the frame rails. Then I plan to weld a bracket of some kind to catch the slider where the pinch seam should go.

My other idea was to just cut the brackets off of the sliders and just weld them where the rocker would go like you do with steel box tubing, but my brother convinced me that was not acceptable unless you are from Torrington .

UnbendingWings

My brother put his 35 next to my 31. What a show off.

UnbendingWings

Made some decent progress since my last post.

-Curry link steering
-Iron Rock off road HD track bar
-Iron Rock off road Hack n'Tap SYE
-Tom Woods drive shaft
-JCR DIY Rear bumper
-4 degree shims
-Roof rack w/2 KC day lighters and 2 Random lights on front then 2 more on the rear

At some point my steering stabilizer just fell off and I didn't even know for a while. Was wondering why my jeep was starting to get a bunch of vibes. So I tried to buy a nice one off Amazon but they just shipped me the boot that protects it from dirt, so I had to go with some cheap one.

Also put my front sway bar back on with custom disconnects because I blew through a set of front tires in 4 months because I didn't get an alignment. Now for the pictures!

UnbendingWings

UnbendingWings

Picked up a JCR pre runner front bumper. Waiting on the tie in kit then painting and putting it on. Gonna lose my stock fog lights unless I think of something to do with them any ideas?