Destination XJ

Awesome jeep! I am the proud new owner of a HDR rear jeep shot background!

XJAbuzer

Here are more pictures as promised....












I have still been trying to reach 4x4 group buy to process a return. I am getting their answering machine. I left numerous voicemail messages and sent 5 emails total and still have not heard a word. I will never do business with them again.

C.J.

random question, what did you end up doing with the IRO tie rod that you had on the old steering?

XJAbuzer

I sold it yesterday with both ends for $35

C.J.

damn, I was going to say $50/shipped

a day late and a dollar short ha oh well.

XJAbuzer

Ahh, well, I had promised it to a close friend before I even took it off. He has helped me out a few times and all I needed was what I got to get some front BPEs from my local 4x4 shop.

It is a win/win situation for us both.

mtparker97

wow that drag link hangs down there dont it. wouldnt if be better to have it on top. of course your angles wouldnt be the same with the drag and track bar is that why they have it set up that low?

XJAbuzer

It isn't in its final position. I need to roll the DL up a bit and it wont hang nearly as low.

mtparker97

ok cool just curious. thought that looked like a little low. nice build man.

XJAbuzer

I finally got in touch with 4x4groupbuy.com. Shari was very apologetic and explained that 2 of the 3 people that work there was out of town unexpectedly. She was willing to refund half of the $22.00 for my troubles of not getting in touch with them sooner and I didn't even ask. She then explained that is a family owned business and I totally support that. She made a bad experience better. I would buy from them again.

She gave me an RMA number and an address where to ship it to and they would refund the money as soon as it was received. It went out via UPS today.

XJAbuzer

If all goes well, I will be bringing this home to add to the rolling stock at the house after my income tax refund comes in.....











2004 5.9 Cummins Turbo 2wd.



...and also, I sold my CJ the day before yesterday. It was in my family for 23 years. It was sad to see it go but it had to be done. Luckily, I sold it to a really close friend and him and his son are making a project of it just like dad and I did. That made it a lot easier to part with it. I know its not going to be hacked up but just built up to be a mall crawler and only wheeled light. He has 6 Jeeps total now so he has plenty of them to tear up. Mine (that he just bought) has a rust free tub and frame, which is really hard to come by nowadays. He has plenty of other Jeeps to tear up on the trail. so he promise4d to treat my old one nice...and he also said I can drive it whenever I want. Its nice to be able to visit her.

mtparker97

wow that really sucks selling something that was in the family so long. just have your buddy promise to give you first dibs if they decide to sell it. cummins is the only way to go. just cant beat that engine for nothing.

XJAbuzer

Well, I havent updated this for a while because the Jeep has come to a standstill due to financial strains. Fortunately, I can almost see the light so I will be able to do stuff to it again soon.

I got lucky on Saturday. I have a buddy with an 02 WJ Limited with a 4.7l and he blew the engine. He bought a wrecked 04 WJ Special Edition for the engine. I helped him swap out the engines on Saturday and he gave me the steering knuckles, Akebono calipers, caliper brackets, rotors, drag link, and tie rod from the 04 WJ SE...best of all the price was FREE for helping him.

Looks like I will be going WJ steering and brakes soon. I spoke with Josh at IronRock Offroad and asked him if the IRO OTK steering kit would work with WJ knuckles on an XJ. He told me that the tie rod would be about an inch too short. He said that he could custom build me one for $180 and it would take 12 weeks. That doesn't fit into my budget and I would rather have the crossover steering from the WJ anyways. Needless to say, the IRO OTK will be getting sold.

Now, before the parts hounds start battling over the IRO OTK kit and start bugging me about selling it, keep in mind that the WJ swap will not be happening until the transfer case is rebuilt, which might still be a month or so away. I don't want to spend $40 on the JKS spacers needed for the swap until I fix what is broke on the XJ. Not to mention I have to locate another pitman arm because I drilled mine out for the IRO OTK kit.

Anyways, have fun out there in Jeep land!