Beef, UK student's 1998 XJ!
 

I've been on the forum a while now, but not really posting, so it's about time I made a page for the stuff I've done to my XJ, known as Beef!

I'm in the UK, where fuel costs $8.20 for a gallon, so there aren't many students stupid enough to be running an XJ. I love mine though - it was my first car and I wouldn't change it for anything.

It's a 1998 4.0 Limited, with the AW4, NP242, Dana 30 front and 35 rear.

My dad owned it since 2005, but he bought another car as the fuel was too expensive in the Jeep. It then spent from 2007-2012 hardly being used, sat outside growing mold, being used for dirty work and generally not being looked after at all.

To my horror, I discovered that it hadn't had an oil change in 36,000 miles, and the coolant hadn't been changed in at least 50,000.

Any, I got my driver's licence and started driving it, looking after it, cleaning it, servicing it, and getting it to how I want it. Miraculously, it still runs perfectly despite the lack of maintenance.

I do some mild off-roading with it but I'm keeping it stock height as there's not that much in the UK, and I love the fact that lots of the Euroboxes over here can't keep up with the 4.slow on the road!

Since owning it I've given it a few oil changes, completely flushed the coolant, cleaned lots and lots of things, changed the tires, installed a new exhaust manifold, gone through 4 cat backs, greased everything up etc.

I've also done lots of little cosmetic things.

Now see the many photos...

Before and after cleaning it up, putting my own stickers on it, and adding Mopar slush mats:

More interior, my Infinity Basslink in the cargo area, and my Thule roof tray

More exterior, plus I replaced my tow hitch with a recovery point and got a FLux Capacitor sticker, haha

I fitted a front skid plate that I got for free, removed the licence plate (not strictly legal in the UK though), and also had to have some paintwork done. The windshield had been leaking for ages so I had it pulled.
They found some rust on the frame, so I had that sandblasted, then they had to respray half of the roof and the A-pillars to blend it all back in.

I've also been teaching myself to tow the boat, and I replaced the head unit with a nicer looking one that came from a Voyager.

I had to get some new tires, and found some barely used BF Goodrich ATs for cheap, so got those fitted. I also bought a US spec licence plate bracket.

Finally (for now) I got a US size licence plate to fit the bracket, and fitted a Thrush welded muffler which sounds awesome!

post a clip of how that muffler sounds when you get it on.

How does it sound? Thats what I got. Installing in the next week hopefully.

I'll get a video soon, but it sounds great! It's loud and turns heads, especially when it growls when I start it up. It sounds really beefy - almost hot rod like. There's a little bit of drone around 1750 rpm, but it's not at all irritating, and barely noticeable with the windows shut!

Here's a quick video of the muffler. It's not great, but captures the start-up and pulling away:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_b1...ature=youtu.be

Sounds pretty good!!!