I've owned lots of 4x4's, never an XJ, weird. Multiple TJ's, ZJ's, countless other brand things... Never had an XJ lol.

My niece is 15, consistently on the honor roll, helpful with her sisters, just an all around good kid. There is no chance her parent's will be able to purchase her a car though, even though she really deserves one.

So, since I have a small YouTube channel that mostly deals with LS stuff, I figured if I bought an XJ beater, I could fix it up, cover it a bit on the channel, break out of the LS mold people put me in, have some fun, and in June when she's 16, hand it over and it'll be out of my system.

I also drive, at least 130, to as much as 300 miles in a day, five days a week. So I want to have a beater to help keep miles down on my FJ Cruiser and Silverado, even driving something else 2 days a week takes a chunk out of it.

So, bear in mind, it's intended purpose is pretty much what it's original intended purpose was. Comfy, practical, reliable commuter with 4 wheel drive for when I need it. I live in Michigan, and my niece lives in a rural area that may not get plowed for days. Since young drivers tend to have accidents, I'm only budgeting 3,000 total for this project. When she goes to college, if she goes to college, I'll swap her out for something nicer.

I looked at a lot of vehicles, and dealt with a lot of flakes, or people just neglected to tell me things like, it doesn't run, doesn't have brakes, doesn't have windows... Seems like a thing you'd mention in a for sale ad. Dealt with one guy who said he wasn't sure if he wanted to sell it... Lol, then why is it listed on Marketplace, Offerup, Letgo... Whatever.

Found this 99 listed on marketplace, contacted the kid, he answered a few questions, I went to check it out. He said it was running a little rough, he changed the crank sensor and it ran ever worse, and he didn't know why, he was done with it.

I gave him 600 bucks, reset the ECU, and drove it home.




I ordered up a Mopar crank sensor, 120 bucks... WTF.. But all the internet hype says the floods of aftermarket ones don't work, we'll see.

While I waited on the sensor, I pulled the rear carpet and started cutting the rockers and wheel wells out. I'm aware I cut the pinch seam off, I also cut the inner fender, I have a welder, it'll be ok







While rolling around under it, I realized it has a lift, sweet! I also realized the back brakes are gone, completely, boo.




So, I have the drivers side rough trimmed, need to do the passenger still.

The crank sensor showed up, it starts and runs like a champ every time now, guess the OE sensors are worth 10x the price.

Yesterday I moved it from my driveway back to the little storage lot I use and the driveshaft let go, found a clever repair by a previous owner, pretty neat... Ordered a new yoke.




So far that's it, need a new header and downpipe, and then I'll move on to buying the rocker steel, my intention is to start driving it in December.

 

Welcome to CF

At the risk of sounding like a total creeper I gotta say I instantly recognized your yard and realized I've seen several of your youtube videos.

Looks like a really nice start to a project. And at a decent price too!

Keep us updated we love that.

Also check out the DIY section of the site

 

I had someone call a junkyard once and ask for me lol, so it'll be hard to top that

It should be fun, I've always wanted an XJ, this way I can justify it two different ways lol, Youtube and niece.

I'll definitely be keeping up on it.

 

Right on man.

Be careful... these things can be addictive

 

Replaced the yoke, looked into why there was a jumper wire ran from one tail light to the other, found the connectors to the tail lights jammed full of corrosion and crap, broke two pins pulling it apart.

I'd like to do the JCR corners with built in light boxes, but I think I've cut too high for that, we'll see I guess.

I did manage to get a complete set of KJ rear discs for 40 bucks, so that was a win.

 

Move that Jeep out of the way so I can see that step side square body .......LOL . I have a 77 C10 myself.

 

Awesome! Daryl is a 79, basic A to B truck, nothing fancy.

 

 

That's cool! I love these trucks!

 

Have the other side roughly trimmed now, have to figure out exactly what I want to do for rockers and whatnot now.

Also have to decide what cheap header I want to buy, other than that, it's going to be stalled for a few weeks.

 

Keep it up man


I have a 77 C10 aswell lol

 

I've pretty much finished the trimming, ground everything clean, a large part of the inner rocker is gone as well. Plan is to take angle from the floor flange to the 2x6 rocker. I cut the bottoms of the doors, and the sill plate is more or less flat, I'll plug weld a 1" piece of flat bar to the sill plate, then stitch that to the 2x6 also so the structure is solid. Seam seal everything and roll.

I also grabbed a set of JK Rubicon take off shocks, and I have a buddy who works at a salvage yard grabbing springs for a bastard pack. I did do a rattle can bedliner on the wheels, I'll do the fronts when I'm off for vacation.

I have the week of Thanksgiving off to knock some of this out. Should see a large amount of progress in a short amount of time here.

 

Header is installed, not bad, 1A Auto, flange matched the intake so I'm happy about that. Rest of the exhaust was pretty chopped up, so IDK how much I can salvage.



I did get the wheel wells tacked in and the rockers tacked on, then I ran out of wire and it's Thanksgiving so I'm kind of stuck again. Tomorrow I need to run the the junkyard for 40% off the rear taillight harness and a ZJ prop valve, then all weekend is family dinners.

 

Hey Uncle Gunn, I'll turn 16 (+50) in a couple of years. Should have plenty of time to build me one.......

 

I wish I could say I'm getting another when this one is gone, but they aren't really roomy for plus sized guy's like myself.

I do have the rockers done, need to finish weld, grind, and seal it all next weekend. This weekend is all family dinners.