Johnny Boots 98 XJ Build
 

I've been doing a little work on my Jeep lately and figured I might as well start a build thread. My goal is to build it up how Jeep should have offered it from the factory. Say a Rubicon-esque model. I'm not going to rock climb or mud bog in it, it's more of a camping, dog-mobile, go to the lumberyard, kayak-hauler, trail riding vehicle so it'll be mild compared to most of the Jeeps around here. I also want to improve the functionality of it. My wife will be driving it as well so she's not going to stand for a pulling out a step ladder to get into it.

It started as a 98 Cherokee Classic with 106k, I bought it off CL for 3500. It'll likely end up with an OME 2.5" lift.

This is right after I purchased it and added a set of hella 500's to the bumper. First trip with the kayaks!

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Beach driving courtesy of the Outer Banks

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I figured I work for a lighting company I better have some killer lighting.

Added some floor lighting stock vs new. Freebie led sticks from work. 190 lumens
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Some matching 4000k led map lights, these are the festoons superbrightleds.com had on their site. They didnt fit so I broke the metal ends off the halogens and stuffed some aluminum foil in there and stuck onto the ends of the led.
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Some tailgate lighting. This is a light fixture my company makes which recesses into furniture. I thought it would be perfect flushmount in the tailgate. 4000K Led goodness!
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Lookie what came in the mail today...this weekends project

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that led light strip in the hatch is SICK!

Thanks, I was hoping to test it out camping this weekend but it looks like that is falling through. So far I'd highly recommend doing something similar, a side effect is it lights up the cabin when you open the doors

oh yeah, i could see that as being a problem. i have already removed my door sensors that turn the lights on(melted the wires while welding) but if those lights coming on is a hassle, i say just pull the sensor.

I'll keep an eye out for you when I'm driving around.

Haha, its just that stock red jeep with Hella's on the front driving around. Although I alternate driving it with my Mini a lot too, it's just a little bit better on gas :)

Last night I did the Putco H4/Autopal upgrade for my headlights. Fairly straight forward and easy but I think one of my grounds is slightly off as they cut out on the way home last night. Luckily it was dusk.

I just ordered some Polk Audio speakers for the front doors. The driver side is out, it's probably just the wiring but might as well put something in that's better while I'm there.

I'm also going to install a switch for that tailgate light bar. It doesn't need to operate all the time so might as well switch it.

No pics (need to get better about that) but I did the valve cover gasket today at lunch. Who needs pics of that anyway. I also started on a 2" hitch but ran out of time. Need to get that done so I can tow the boat I'm going to build over winter.

Heading to Poland and Prague for a few weeks so the jeep tweaking will have to wait until I get back. I'm thinking of moving the polks to the rear and getting some polk components for the fronts. I like my high's!!!

Had some time to put in the Polk audio db651 speakers, piece of cake! I went ahead with the 6.5's figuring I could move them to the back whenever I got around to buying a set of components and get a tiny bit more bass with the larger speaker...tiny being the key word. No modifications were needed to fit the larger cone. You probably can't see it in the last pic but the tweeter caused a small bulge in the door panel. Hopefully that won't cause any issues as I like the stock look and really don't want to cut the panels grill.

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Picked up a new tranny filter and gasket to go in next week too. Getting cracking on some maintenance! I think some rear ome springs, tranny temp gauge and a b&m tranny cooler are on there way shortly too.

EDIT/Update: The headlights are working like a charm. Beautiful distribution, the cutting out thing I experienced on the first day must have been a fluke. Love 'em! A must upgrade in my book.

Nice man. So are the ome leafs stock height?

F no! I'm going to do a 2.5" lift. Enough to cause some damage but not so high my wife and dogs need a ramp.

How are you liking that CB? I'm looking at the same one.

Haha good to hear. And I like it a lot. Tried it out with my buddies and it had a good 2 or so mile range in the city so no tellin how it'll do on the highway and stuff. I'd recommend it. What are you doing for the front? Spacers and/or coils?

Been a few months, I've been driving the Mini a lot lately so the Jeeps gotten NO love outside a camping trip up to Falling Rock.

Today I pulled the Neutral Safety Switch, disassembled and reinstalled. No issues (so far) and the reverse lights are working. Took about an hour, part of which was letting the exhaust cool down. Hopefully the $3-400 bucks I saved can go towards fun parts.

Tossed on a beefier class 3 hitch, got a nice work out in the process holding that beast up by myself. Had to hack off about a foot of exhaust pipe to get it to fit.

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Also got an oil change in and tried fixing the broken oil pressure sensor for the 3rd time, still didn't fix it do it's just going to get replaced.