b16gsr build thread 2000 XJ 4 door SE expedition rig
 

About 6 month ago I bought the most insane 2001 2 door XJ that I was not sure what to do with. It was a one owner with 44k miles and it was perfect minus the passenger side flare and side marker, and a dent on the drivers door. After sitting on it, I decided it was too nice to mess up lifting and modifying, so I sold it on Bring a Trailer. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...p-cherokee-13/. This gave me a wild hair to add another 4 door XJ and keep my 2 door as well. The gal and I are going to be doing a bunch more camping and kayaking this year and I wanted a 4 door XJ for the additional doors, and the 2 door is a little taller than desired for this. So after several long weeks of searching for the right one, I found it.

I had specific requirements that I was after:

• Decent miles (130k-160K)
• Government/Police/Fleet ownership history with records
• NO RUST, none not even a trace, no accidents
• Southeast or west/southwest previous residence
• Priced within my budget
• SE model, no options, clear glass, no power windows, locks etc
• Blue, Green or White exterior
• Non smoker

I found a really nice white Sport on eBay, which was not what I wanted, in Arizona and chatted with the guy about it. He told me he would pull it from eBay for a set dollar which was out of my budget, so I let the auction ride and ended up letting it go because it was way out of my budget at the end. Then I had an agreement with a dealer on a 2000 with 71k miles in the northeast, which was a gamble for me due to the weather up there. I was waiting for him to email specific pics, they didn't come and he sent me a text say he sold it. Needless to say I was pissed. So the furious hunt continued.

And then there was one.

• 2000 Cherokee SE 4 door
• 159k miles
• one government ordered and owned from new in Chattanooga, TN, no accidents
• Priced below my budget, and shipped was half at what I was looking at from a west coast rig
• Patriot Blue exterior/Agate interior
• Non smoker

I found it on a terrible Craiglist ad with these pictures:

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6wtm4eyx.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...psiuef3szo.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...psr2iaoaib.jpg

So I called the dealer and asked him to shoot some better pics, to get me the VIN and got to chat with him about it. He had been driving it for a little bit and said it was out of his normal purchase but was so nice he bought it. He sent me these pics and this helped solidify my purchase. The build sheet list from Jeep showed me a few bonus items. Skid plate group, trac-loc and heavy duty suspension, ala UpCountry package. I was stoked.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...psm7oxotfj.jpg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...psqx1zwhwg.jpg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9v3wed6f.jpg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...psekyjcf0n.jpg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...pshnhvf5lw.jpg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s3wkcsznu.jpeg

My entire inspiration for this build came from a Jeep that was sold on eBay a couple years ago that I saved some pictures of.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1svnjfdx.jpg

So with the Jeep being found, I compiled a list of parts to build from and have started ordering bits and pieces.

• 3" Zone on the way
• TJ Rubicon MOAB 15" Reps delivered
• 31x10.50R15 BF Goodrich MT KM3 delivered
• WeatherTech floor and cargo liners delivered
• WeatherTech dark window visors delivered
• JCR offroad DIY winch bumper delivered
• JCR base roof basket and cubby mate
• Smittybilt 9000lb winch delivered
• OEM Trail rated badges of JL Wrangler delivered
• Truck Lite LED head lights
• Oneway LED interior light kit delivered
• LED bulbs for all exterior lighting delivered
• Python remote start alarm delivered
• Trailer hitch
• Basic stereo upgrade to allow iPhone compatibility

This should be fun build and serve its purpose well. Thanks for following along.

Thank you very much, pretty excited about this build.

A couple of the parts started trickling in.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s37kzisir.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s7gnxvf46.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...smoegq54z.jpeg

One of my favorite pieces for the build which is completely applicable to this Xj is these decals made by jessenator.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s32ufmcmn.jpeg

Subscribed

Need cruise control for trips

Nice pick up! Cool that it was from Chattanooga. That's where I am.

Oh PARTS!!! that's always fun.

Looking forward to seeing the build.

Thanks for following along. I probably will hate not having it but I rarely use it in my 2 door, so I should be ok.

Thank you, waiting impatiently for it to be picked up by the carrier. I specifically bought in your area because the weather is never really that bad.

Parts are always fun, my mats showed up yesterday. Thanks for following along.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...srjicq6m5.jpeg

These arrived today and I cannot wait to get them mounted up. Still waiting on the Jeep to be picked up though and its killing me.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s7xsyty3k.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...sbdc1hjh1.jpeg

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This will be sweet FOLLOWING!

Subbed for sure, dig the clean XJ and dig the inspiration as well.

Digging the tires.
Should I go by the dealer and take pictures of it and send to you? lol

Thank you for following along.

Thank you I am really excited about this one.

I am pumped about these tires. Oh man I may have to do that, I just got those random pics from the dealer.

You know I am going to be following this build. Never know what good ideas you might come up with that I can steal to use on my XJ. LOL.

For sure Ralph thanks for following along. I am looking forward to moving forward on it as soon as the Jeep arrives.

A few more parts are arriving, the pile keeps on growing.

​​​​​​https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...se2zv3adq.jpeg

I did a ton of research on winches and the Smittybilt seems like the best value for the money.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s2724a6wm.jpeg

Well I still do not have the Jeep, but i do have the title. The shipper is throwing all the excuses in the world on why it has not picked up, needless to say it is frustrating. Anyhow my fab guy has done some awesome work and got the bumper all ready for powdercoat. He is going to look at building me a roof rack next.

Early stages.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...slynjxve2.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...s7ineuczk.jpeg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...swy8kkwb6.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...sb9ytqgjx.jpeg

All finished and ready for coating.

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...sq0t9gfid.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...sgt6x3opc.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...srj8fie9a.jpeg

https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/...sdnimrbfe.jpeg

Let me tell you one thing, it will all depend on what service he is using to ship it.
I was shipping a car to Alaska and every "broker" we were dealing with was doing that to us.
The buyer found the actual company that was driving and the next week, it was on it's way.

Good luck with getting it on it's way to you.

Also, you may want to wait on getting that bumper powdercoated. Those wings on the ends may need to be trimmed to miss the bigger tires.