Here we go I really hope this works! I am starting my new project for the baja 1000 in november. It will not be racing! we go out the week before the race and pre run as much as we can then we work a pit or maybe work for SCORE.

A few rules for the build are:
1) must be JEEP(the people I run with there hate jeeps! so I shall always take one)
2) must build on the cheap and do as much work in house as possible($5K tops. begging and bartering ok)
3) must be a driver!!!!(I have to drive it there)
4) must be be able to handle BAJA without major carnage(I have to drive it home!)
Last year I took my $500 wrangler that I built in 2 months. It ran great but WAY too short and under powered.
This year:
Found a 96' grand limited 5.2L for $800 w/221k
The Bad:
wouldn't run after 5 minutes or so
sunroof stuck open
passenger rear quarter window blown out
driver side unit bearing bad
rear hatch doesn't open
header panel and headlights/markers broken and drywall screwed together
painted with black herculiner! UGH!! but it sands off
Fixes so far:
repaired linkage for hatch. $0
removed screwdriver from sunroof track. $0
replaced coolant temp sender. $12
replaced rear quarter window. $14(u pull it yard)
replaced unit bearing with one I had laying around. $0
replaced header panel and all lights. $21(u-pull it yard)
Sold cyclone wheels and tires left in back for $300!
Total investment: $567 so far

I don't think I got any pics of it before ripping into it.

Ride height I'm looking for. Thinking a set of iceland flares and maybe rocker guards are in its future. showing it with the spare off the wrangler. It will have 33's just not sure if they will be BFGs. I can't complain though. not a single flat with them this past year in baja.

 

Today I cleaned the carpets to find the front carpet was soaked beneath due to the sunroof being stuck open. decided to pull the carpet to let the padding dry. broke one screw on each side trying to get the seats out and this is what I found.

drivers side rear seat support

passenger side rear seat support

It wasn't visible from underneath at all! needless to say, I'm glad I pulled that carpet! I guess I'll be fixing them next.
Still trying to decide what to do for the lift. I have it on jack stands at about 4" over stock height. I want to long arm it and 4 link the back like the clayton kit does but I only want 4-5"s. 7" is just too high for a DD and high speed off road. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.