TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

Alright, so this is my 1996 Sport. She is a 4.0L, 2wd automatic... for now. So far I've done pretty much just the top end rebuild with mostly performance parts, and a few other upgrades. I plan on rebuilding her from top to bottom to be, i guess, more pre-runnerish or a street machine. Still not positive. So what i guess I'll do is list everything I've done to her so far and then post pics. Everything on this build was done by my best friend, Kodey, and I.

• mopar performance purple camshaft
• mopar performance valve springs
• mopar performance head gasket, valve cover gasket, intake/exhast gasket, oil pan gasket
• other various fel-pro gaskets (water neck, timing cover, etc.)
• lower temp. thermostat
• refurbished cylinder head which I did a port and polish job on.
• new generation "high output" intake manifold
• accel plug wires
• polyurethane motor mount bushings
• repaired cracked header
• thrush glasspack
• new front wheel hubs/bearings
• baja trail lights
• jvc deck with two MTX 12"s in a custom box
• hotwired the electric fan hehe

This build initially started because I had a blown head gasket that i was planning on repairing, and one thing led to another and well, lets just say Summit won't be going out of business any time soon.

I still plan on doing coil overs with either 2" suspension lift or lowering coils, rims and low pros, roller rockers, 5 speed, new gears, posi, cowl hood, possibly bigger axles. Off a ram I guess.. I still haven't decided. And possibly a bore/stroker kit with a small turbo...POSSIBLY.

Well thanks for checking out my baby. Let me know what y'all think or if you have any questions.

Heyitisjoe

deffinitly looking forward to seeing if you do the stroker and turbo, gotta post pics! I wanna do a turbo my self but waitin on it

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

alright so this is her... el diablo rojo

Ill start with the easy stuff

new accel plug wires


new hub/wheel bearing assembly installed... no more squeaking
OK so now, i guess, it gets a little more serious. Im going to go ahead and post this just to make sure the pics work, then I'll get some pics up here from my motor build for yall.

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

got the head all ported and polished and ready to drop in

And of course.. any true artist has to sign his work

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

Now comes the fun part.... tearing stuff apart

the ole' 4.0 header crack... easy fix with a welder


Here's a good shot of what my old motor mount bushing looked like....

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

lubin' my lobes

Alright well that's about it. I still gotta get some picks up here of my new intake manifold and glasspack. Ill do that as soon as I can. thanks for the view. cheers

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

Alright so I got some pics of the intake and glasspack. Also just took a heat gun to some of the vinyl on the side. Let me know what y'all think.

Dr. Doom

Looks good. I did the same taking off the vinyl strip on the bottom. Just showing that little bit of paint and body line instead of painting over makes the body look so much better IMO

DeftwillP

I'd just build that into a 2wd sleeper and skip the axle swap and lift. That thing would haul *** off the line with some 4.10's in the rear.

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

I agree. I was kinda skeptical about doing it, but I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. Much better than peeling vinyl and missing stripes haha

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

I'm actually torn between that and the axle swap. I was thinking about doing lowering coils with some rims off a mustang or something and low pros. Still not quite sure...

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

Alright, so I decided to get some picks up here of my stereo. It is a JVC deck, and two MTX 12"s in a custom box my friend and I built. You can also see my air/fuel ratio ****. Don't pay that any mind haha. I quit using it. Makes the 4.0L run like it has down syndrome. I didn't really need it in the first place since i have a '96 which has the biggest injectors of all the 4.0L's. It was more to try to play with the idle hehe... anyways i digress. here y'all go. always open to feedback!

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

well while I'm saving some money for my XJ, i thought id show you guys whats going on in my driveway right now. This is my buddies 1997 Dodge Dakota Sport 4x4, with a 6" suspension lift and 3" body lift. He runs 36"s for his wheelin' tires, but we had to put on some 27"s to try and lower it a little easier for the motor swap. we are removing the stock 3.9 and putting in a 5.9. So with out further adieu..

gettin ready

the boo boo 3.9 haha



here in a min. ill post a pic with the 36"s on it

TEXAS_XJ_DUDE

with some real rubber