I picked up an 01 Jeep XJ navy blue and have been driving it for 2 years now mostly untouched aside from a mild roof basket. I have done a few trails with it never stuck though did find a few areas I couldn't go further on the height or tires I had on it. This year finnaly my tires need replacing and enough of my tax refund is unspoken for that I shall start my build.

The plan is a general Zombie Response/Bug Out Vehicle/Back woods trail hunting rig on a budget.

My budget dictates I stick to the best bang for the buck I can find. I have been reading and lurking for around a year. My plans so far:

Zone offroad 3" AAL kit
TC drop kit
Zone offroad Steering stabilizer
GT Radial Adventureo M/T 31" 10.5 15
Nates 4x4 Short front bumper no hoop just D-ring tabs and hitch
Nates 4x4 Standard rear bumper D-ring tabs and hitch
CB radio between sunvisors
4' firestick mounted by driverside tail light
Headlight wire harness upgrade
Roll on Bedliner entire exterior and eventually entire floor pan
LED lights front sides and rear
Rock sliders home made or purchase depending on deals I can find
48" farm jack mounted under rear seat
Hitch mounted winch
relocate spare to roof rack and outfit both rear windows with gun and gear racks.

Those are my plans so far, Lift is getting installed tomorrow, tires will be here wednesday and bumpers are on order. The ball is rolling

 

Fresh washed and pulled into the garage at work to get started.

Repping the Zombie Outbreak Response Team


We got started dropping the rear axle and breaking the spring packs. The jeep has seen a few Maine winters so there was a bunch of cutting torches used in the back... We elected to rebuild the spring packs in the jeep.



Little closer...




Yeah thats a bit of wheel gap...




quick run to the store for a loaner spring compressor



Spring in...



Rolling back out just waiting for my tires to get here later this week.






Thats it for now. Better pics later once the new tires are on.

 

Well the tires are on and today the sun came out, so I snapped a pic before heading into work...



Just waiting on the bumpers to ship. Nate said they are being made in this current batch so hopefully hear more on them some time next week.

Just had the inspection done and informed my rocker panels pass this year but wont by next year, so adding to my list is 2x6 16ga square tubing to weld in place of the current rockers. Should fix the issue, stiffen the frame and give me some rock sliders.

I picked up a spare 5 spoke steel wheel and am trying to source a 31" tire to go on it. When I find one is there any way to fit a full size 31" spare in the stock spare location. I thought I saw a pic of an over sized tire in the stock location. would it be a case of wheel spacers to get it out far enough or would I be looking at an entire new bracket?

 

I could be wrong due to the sun glare but looks like you have too much air in the rear tire. Unless you gonna weigh it down some, looks like dirt pattern is only hitting the center tred mostly.

 

Just checked the pressure rear tires running 35.5 and 36 psi fronts are both at 37 psi. Guessing it was just the light or maybe whatever i drove through before I took the pic. cant find anywhere that gives an optimal tire pressure to run for the jeep or for these tires. though there max is 51 psi.

 

Although every jeep is different and the chalk test is best, or dirt test, for 31s, 28-30psi is a good stating point

 

Good to know. hadn't messed with them the shop aired them up when they mount and balanced them. I've got some corn starch kicking around I'll toss some down and role over it to see what is making contact. would explain the less than stellar ride im feeling. lil bumpy driving slow in town.

Prior to this my only mods I've done have been a tuned Focus and a Bobbed XS650. any wheeling I've done has been at stock levels in my previous truck or jeep so not sure what ride quality is supposed to feel like after a lift and tires.

 

Where here to help out :cheer:

As for ride quality. So many different factors when it comes to a jeep lol. Main advice is read, read, read. So much info here for ya. And also, strap in and hold on. And as for te tires, the larger the tire, the less air it needs. You will get a better ride and safer when the tread actually meets the ground properly.

 

While getting my inspection done the mechanic informed me I put the springs on backwards...

This is why I should read directions... were breaking into the leaf packs this weekend to spin the bottom springs around. We had the springs hanging further over the front of the axle instead of further over the back. My only excuse is they all got turned around many times while cleaning, wirewheeling and painting before we started reassembly.

At least everything should come apart fairly easily this time.

 

Been awhile. Got around to installing my Nates4x4 bumpers.






Rear Nates4x4 bumper 1" shackles



Front Nates4x4 bumper

Thinking I'll install some slim LED fog lights in these gaps as AUX reverse lights.




Also removed the plastic trim and started with the bedliner. Hit everything behind the bumpers with a wire wheel and bedliner. Doing a lot of rust repair or prevention.