first xj build
 

hi

I think this is my first post on this site, little intro first...new to jeeps but not 4x4's or wheeling as you guys say. ive had a handful of toyota surf/4runners that have been sas's over the years but mainly had built nissan gq y60 patrols/safaris (I don't think you guys get these in the states?). having sold off my last patrol afew months ago as it was not been used a great deal for what it was built for with me been offshore at work I sold it...down the line a few months and I need another 4x4 but aren't wanting such a big truck as the nissan I start looking around and the xj looks good the more I look at them.

anyhow after looking for the right truck for a few months here in new zealand I found one that I liked that ticked the boxes and I now own it. everyone always wants to see pics because forums are nothing without pics!

Attachment 313311

Attachment 313312

Attachment 313313

hopefully that worked!!!

right the plan is nothing big or over the top ive had trucks with 37-38" and I don't need that any longer...all im wanting is a truck with 31-32" at a max and well set up to take me all over the country side on different 4x4 trips, camping and taking my mountainbikes and race atv where I need to be for racing.

im looking at doing a 3" suspension lift which I am pricing parts for at the moment but am stuck between getting replacement front coils or just poly spacers in a 2"...im really wanting to keep the old semi flogged coils and leafs because I want a soft ride for comfort have young kids etc what im looking at is below

-budget boost with poly spacer and full length add a leaf
-3" shocks
-track bar drop bracket
-extended shackles if the add a leaf sags which im sure it will

I know im going to be burned for wanting poly block/add a leaf but ive had trucks that are just rough riding with young kids on long trips.

What's the lexan over the headlights for?

they are just a head lamp cover im guessing they must have been a option as the are crysler stamped and have the Cherokee logo on them...they have been removed though

Welcome! nice looking xj. if you want 31s, then i would go 3 inches of lift. it seems to be the sweet spot on cherokees without getting crazy expensive. I bought my 3 inch rustys lift kit for $750. full leaf packs, coils and control arms. it rides pretty smooth for a jeep.

hi yea a 3" lift at the moment is what im leaning towards for the truck at the moment since its my daily also. a 4.5" long arm would be the only thing I would look at changing to, ive had 6-7" lifts before and would rather cut guards now than go higher springs.

can someone please give me insight to the zj disc swap over as to what parts I need? im not a fan of drums...

Everything from the backing plate out off the ZJ.
Also grab the proportioning valve.

thanks, will look into what I can get from a jeep wrecker few hours from town I live in when I go to get new rear hatch glass and rear side windows since the crappy tint film is pretty much baked onto the glass for good now

not much been happening last couple of months as i have been away with work but i have done acouple of small things like shift the lpg gas tank around to where the spare tire used to be, then used the spare little stand thing to mount one of my arb compressors. i have also just started to build the roof cage/rack and am around half way through that from a mornings work.

some pics of things i have done

Attachment 312087

made a mount for one of my arb's out of the old spare holder

Attachment 312088

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/w...917_090433.jpg

since the jeep runs on petrol and lpg i moved the tank around 90 to give me some room in the back...it just fits and hopefully will be able to make a cover for the tank and recovery gear etc

Attachment 312089

also made a roof tray, the jeep came with some roof racks so i cut 40mm out of them to make them lower then made the tray to suit i think its around 2000x1100mm from memory

Attachment 312090

Attachment 312091

Attachment 312092

the tray is all finshed and painted black i like the pre runner style trays. i wanted to put 4x big round spots but it was cheaper to just by a light bar so a lightbar sits along the front hanging under the piece at the front.

i have also done the suspension which i ended up just doing a 2" budget boost spacer/shackle and 3" extended shock from ruggered ridge. the arse end didnt sit quite as high as the front so i pulled the leafs out and made a pack up adding the longest leafs out of a isuzu wizard which brought it up band on so im happy with that and it still rides nice and soft.

so myself and my partner went out in the jeep on the long weekend also and went for a drive to check out a new moto track that has been built around an hr from where we live. we had a look jumped back in started the jeep up and it made a hell of a noise so shut it down to find that the belt was gone, fan blades were stuffed and the harmonic balancer has decided it didnt want to be a complete unit no longer...i was lucky that a freind of the family lived not far away so we got a lift there grabbed his nissan patrol and stock car trailer and went got the jeep and took it home. so now im currently with a jeep in bits...ive order the following parts to replace while im at it.

-harmonic balancer
-belt
-fan blade
-thermostat / gasket
-timing chain cover gasket / seal kit
-top / bottom radiator hoses
-waterpump / gasket

since its apart i thought i might as well do some extra maintenance while im at it.

also forgot to add i also got new lower control arms and an adjustable trackbar for the suspension also. i had booked the jeep in the get a new exhaust and longer brake lines done but that will have to wait until its going again and i have the funds to do them.

Nice looking xj. I am jealous of the rhd

i wouldnt be to jealous its a pain in the arse trying to get steering parts for i have found and i cant buy some of the nice parts i see on the net because they dont work :sad:

so these turned up

Attachment 312064

then it looked like this

Attachment 312065

something that pissed me off with the jeep was the fan surround not been able to come off easy so i modded it to slide straight up and out now

Attachment 312066

Attachment 312067

jeep is all back together now running. i put a new adjustable track bar on to get the axle back centered after the lift.

i think ill go and check my mates wrecking yard for some new front seats to put in the front as the drives seat foam is stuffed

Make your own steering. I am going to and mine isn't rhd