1994 XJ build.
 

Okay guys. Like I said in my introduction. I have been driving Jeeps for years, but I am new to the XJ. I have always had CJs, "22 of them". I have had the fever for an XJ for a while now. I have been looking for a cheap one that had a good drive train. Well, I found it. I came across a 1994 that was impounded. The old owner went to the Rocklahoma festival and had too much to drink. When they left, they ran into the rear of another car trying to leave. Both owner and Jeep went to jail. "At least this is the story I was told." I took it home and can't wait to go run it on the trails. My son and I are in the middle of pulling the frame horns back straight right now. I bought a new radiator, turn signal lamp, and fan shroud. I bought a used header panel. This is going to be a toy for the weekends and we plan on taking it on the trails. It is never going to be a beauty queen, but I plan on having a cheap trail rig when I am done. I think this forum is going to be a huge help. You guys have some nice rigs.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...15cfa68c39.jpg
I will post more pics soon.

Another pic after we got it home.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f7b6391b04.jpg

Here is a pic of the front, before we started pulling. You can see that it took a pretty good hit.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...81ce8a5c2a.jpg

That's what mine looked like, I tied a chain from a tree and reversed slowly until it was as straight as i could get it. I remounted the bumper and left it, but I need to weld in plate and drill new holes, one day... Thankfully it didn't take out the part of the unibody with the steering box / brace. Good luck with the build!

Another pic of the front.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...6b91fc9ece.jpg
after about 3 hours of pulling.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...013dcac515.jpg

Most of the damage on mine was forward of the sway bar. It really looks worse than it is. Thanks.

Still more pulling, trimming, welding, and cutting.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c82d4f98e8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8c978d5572.jpg

Shirley, you cant be serious! That thing is starting to look good. Sorry could resist...

Keep up the good work.

lol.
Here is where we are at now. Everything is still loose and we are just test fitting. We trimmed the bottom of the fenders for room to work. I am going to pull all of the flares off and cut the front fenders off at the bottom of the header panel. I am trying to keep my eye out for a cheap off road bumper, but if I don't find one soon, we will just build one. My son mentioned replacing the front fenders, but I said heck no. If they are already bent up, then I don't have to worry about them on the trail. Hopefully I can get everything put together this next week and start driving it.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...53c9f63e21.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...57d00d0eb4.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...880ec75abd.jpg
I am thinking about trying to find a white spray on bed liner and spraying the front of the header with it. Anyone know of a good rattle can liner?

Worked from home yesterday, so that gave me some time to work on the XJ. We put in the new radiator and fan shroud, because both were busted. We made a new battery tray and replaced some small parts that needed it. I sanded down the jy header panel and shot it white. If my headlight bezel comes in today, I will have it all together tonight. We did drive it around yesterday and it runs and drives good.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c886cd9889.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b41919854b.jpg

Had a good weekend so spent some time working on the XJ.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...e749d855a9.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c7bf289d98.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d3d305d6f5.jpg

We took it out and played with it a little Saturday evening. Nothing major. Put some miles on it making sure everything worked good and drove straight. Then we did a little playing. Nothing big, but wanted to see how well the stock suspension flexes. I was impressed. I can't wait to put a couple extra inches under it.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f0861c87ba.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b23807e3cc.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...96fab5af23.jpg

Stripped the moldings off of the bottom and removed the rear flares. Then we sprayed the bottom and rear quarters with a few coats of sealer/primer and then sprayed it with rattle can bed liner. I haven't decided what I want to do with the front fenders yet. Leave them? All white?, or bed line them the same as the back? I hope to have time to play with it this weekend.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...72905b5915.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...262ee59f74.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f415eaa937.jpg

Y'all are doing a very nice job- super clean!

Looking forward to seeing more.

Thank you.
It is going to be a slow project, but it has been fun so far. I can't wait to hit some trails with it.