Last spring I decided to pick up a 97 XJ to build a street legal capable rig to wheeling and camping in.


Im sure a few people would remember my old jeep in this thread,


https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/ju...ild-89xj-hupti-


I decided to part this one out.


On to the new stuff.


The 97 XJ was picked up in Ventura. The guy told me it needs a new head gasket, otherwise everything was great.... Righhht. But for $700 I went along with it to get an xj with a straight body and super clean interior.


Plus I have a fresh 4.0 from a 96 sitting at my house.

The new vehicle has 283k on the odometer. All the suspension and steering is being replaced so I'm not too concerned.
It was a commuter vehicle for some soccer mom and has not evidence of being off-roaded prior to me getting ahold of it.


I have a few Ideas in mind for this project including a Dana44 front end with a locker, and 9 inch rear end with 35 spline shafts a locker, hopefully an arb but that'll be determined by how much money and trading I can do, shackle relocation, mid arm kit, rocker replacement sliders, 35 or 37" BFG KM2s on 17" KMC aluminum bead lock wheels.




This will be a slow build so be patient

 

anyone know if I can place pics in order with the text, or do they all have to go to the top now?

 

The 9 inch is going to be a fabricated housing built by me.


Here is a mock up housing made of 18 gauge I made yesterday.


Im using 3" axle tubes. Its been crossing my mind to build a front 9" instead of a dana 44.


I also picked up some wheels and tires with the money I got from parting out the old jeep.

 

.

 

So excites.

 

Nice clean XJ. I have never seen anyone build an axle before. I am interested to see the process.

 

Got the bumper template done this morning.
The front of mine is a little tricky because the front passenger side has some front end damage.

I'm thinking of removing the led pods. I can't see them surviving very long there.

 

Once you have the parts in front of you and you're familiar with basic fabrication it's not as hard as it first seems. Or that's what I've convinced myself of anyways LOL