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CJ Classic to "Overland" + build (stereo, sound insulation, headlights, etc)

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Old 07-18-2016, 08:50 AM
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Default XJ Classic to "Overland" + build / ownership timeline

I've owned this now since 2008 with 150k. Drove 6 hours to Ohio to get her. Hoped to get 200k miles out of her. Now at 240k.

This isn't a hardcore offroading build. This is a "keep my DD good looking, quiet, with a good stereo and up to date" build.

Pre-pick up, sellers ad pic:
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2009: Sound Deaden all of the things! (and this is just V 1.0):
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2009: Limited Interior swap:
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Home:
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Properly setup for MI winter: dedicated Icon wheels too:
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~2012:
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January 2015, waaaa waaaa. At 227k the engine skirt broke. 99-01+ Chrysler design error. Too much bore (dia), not enough skirt (length)
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Early 2015:
New headliner and speakers (they're actually Infinity's in polk covers)
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Mid 2015: Armored panels, powdercoated:


Sound deadener / thermal insulation on roof prior to headliner:

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Built in Homelink into headliner:
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Console install mock up. The rear console section would be later deleted. Couldn't make it look clean enough for my OCD:
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Sound Deadening 2.0 - better CCD tiles, then closed cell foam with mass dampner on top. About as Rolls Royce in an XJ as you're going to get.
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Last edited by BooGTS; 07-18-2016 at 09:51 AM.
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Old 07-18-2016, 08:51 AM
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Late 2015, tow hook install, also shows V1.1 of my original headlight retrofit:
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Early 2016:
V2.0 of my bi-xenon headlight retrofits.
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May 2016:
Overland steering wheel install (also shows the blue LED lighting in put in throughout the dash. Did that in 2009 actually)
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June 2016:
I finished the sunvisors...a year and half after the headliner. they aren't perfect, but it was my first time:
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July 2016:
Galaxy Tab S2 Install:
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July 2016:
GF approved (plus showing the Lebaron hood vents I added)
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July 2016:

Last edited by BooGTS; 07-18-2016 at 09:34 AM.
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Old 07-29-2016, 08:30 AM
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Nice looking Jeep! What size are those Bridgestones? Any rubbing issues? For that OHC I would have went with the WJ OHC, IMO a cleaner look with the sunroof, and includes the garage door opener.
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Old 07-29-2016, 11:10 AM
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I thought about that but I think it is wide and doesn't have the sunvisor mounts built in like the XJ one does.
Old 07-29-2016, 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by BooGTS
I thought about that but I think it is wide and doesn't have the sunvisor mounts built in like the XJ one does.
I forgot about the visor mounts. So what size are those Bridgestones?
Old 08-01-2016, 03:47 PM
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Gah i love a clean unmolested XJ!
Old 08-01-2016, 05:28 PM
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How do you like the headlights?
Old 08-12-2016, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by kylemason
I forgot about the visor mounts. So what size are those Bridgestones?
245/75/R16. They don't rub.

Originally Posted by WyoCherokee
Gah i love a clean unmolested XJ!
Thanks!

Originally Posted by Crankshaft Culture
How do you like the headlights?
One of the best mods you can do. The standard wiring and headlights is borderline dangerous. They aren't submersible, so now they're a bit two toned (water got in) at the bottom after the below pic - doesn't affect optics though.

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Old 08-12-2016, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by BooGTS
Late 2015, tow hook install, also shows V1.1 of my original headlight retrofit:

Early 2016:


May 2016:





What Cell Mount is that?
Old 08-12-2016, 03:07 PM
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It's hard to show how deep the water is here, but hopefully you get the idea of what alot of the island looked like. And no - this isn't a stream.

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The stock dark green jeep in front didn't go out. The aftermath of that day:

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Overhead view of our convoy:

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Old 08-12-2016, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by WyoCherokee
What Cell Mount is that?
This one:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And it works very well on my Samsung Galaxy, though I've since taken it down because of the tablet.

edit: and for anyone looking at my headliner pic and think its really jenky around the sunroof - it is - I've since bought some nice trim and it looks factory now. I've removed the rear part of the overhead console (I cut a factory one in half if that wasn't obvious) and I will replace it with a panel made of some leftover mahogany colored bamboo stuff (relative color to the steering wheel and dash) with some LEDs built in. May be awesome, may go right in the trash, will have to see what it looks like when I make it.

Last edited by BooGTS; 08-12-2016 at 03:15 PM.
Old 08-12-2016, 05:16 PM
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Nice jeep! That's a great find on the interior. I would like to find some limited door panels for mine to match my leather zj seats.
Old 08-12-2016, 08:33 PM
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I'm really liking that steering wheel! Bolt in swap? Does the airbag work?
Old 08-12-2016, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by JPXJMOAB
I'm really liking that steering wheel! Bolt in swap? Does the airbag work?
Bolts right in. Airbag plugs right in, same connector. They switched to dual stage in 03 I think. It has two plugs on the back so its obvious whether or not you buy the right one, the right one for all XJ's being single stage. There is one year (02?) where you can get the silver "Jeep" logo and the single stage as I did. Most single stage has the molded in color logo. Of course disconnect the battery and be mindful of static buildup when installing. I also do the first startup "at arms length" from the passenger side of the car upon first startup just in case. Its been 4+ months, no issue, no airbag lights.

You do have to splice the two wires the power the cruise because the GC has a different connector, but its still just two wires. For both cases, one is black and the other is a color. Doesn't matter what colors, I just tried hooking up black to black and color to color and the cruise buttons work perfect.
Old 08-13-2016, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by BooGTS
Bolts right in. Airbag plugs right in, same connector. They switched to dual stage in 03 I think. It has two plugs on the back so its obvious whether or not you buy the right one, the right one for all XJ's being single stage. There is one year (02?) where you can get the silver "Jeep" logo and the single stage as I did. Most single stage has the molded in color logo. Of course disconnect the battery and be mindful of static buildup when installing. I also do the first startup "at arms length" from the passenger side of the car upon first startup just in case. Its been 4+ months, no issue, no airbag lights.

You do have to splice the two wires the power the cruise because the GC has a different connector, but its still just two wires. For both cases, one is black and the other is a color. Doesn't matter what colors, I just tried hooking up black to black and color to color and the cruise buttons work perfect.
Sweet! Just looked at prices of that wheel and holy pricey..


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