Call-_me-Jordan

Well I figure we'll start with some back story. I was home-schooled and graduated at 16. Started college immediately. I was driving a 99 f150 ext cab 4.6L 2wd, leveled, 33's, brush guard, Kc lights, tinted tails, custom painted front end, flowmaster 10s it was loud but sounded perfect. Alot of sweat and work in it. It was a bad-*** truck. Driving 350ish a week it, at 12mpg it wasnt cheap. I finally had enough of the gas bill, sad to see it go...

Also know, I get long winded, and I am a Pic *****...







Well I wanted something really good on gas. I looked at eclipses, civics(lame), neons(othern the SRT4, they suck), accords, ya know the usual gas saver... Well 2ish weeks after I sold the truck I ran across this 01 Celica. I hadnt ever really looked into em, I really liked it, I loved the rims, had subs, did some research on the mpg, 27-33ish. I had the guy met me it was 4 hours round trip. Got over 30 on the way home, flooring it, just playing with it. Handled like a Go-kart! I really liked it at first, but it just wasn't me...

Me, Night we bought it..





I missed going to the river, It didn't have room for guns and other gear, couldnt tow the boat and 6x12 trailer. So I was going to get a 4wheeler but I didn't have anything to tow it to the river, or the bogs around here. Well I started looking at Cherokee's. I loved the I6, solid axles, cheap parts, and readily available. To Craigslist I went, I think I am a CL junky...

Stumbled across this in Jacksonville. Its the same place I met the guy to buy my car.

He was asking $1500. It is an 01 4x4 classic, power windows, locks and mirrors, posi rear-end with 3.55 gears. It needed a freeze plug in the back of the block. So I offered him $1100, which he accepted. We went that weekend with my neighbors cummins to pull it back. It ran great, 4x4 worked. It was used as his hunting truck so it had a few dents, and dog hair all in the carpet. He hit a tree which ruined the bumper, grille, and tow hook was bent. Oh and airbag deployed. I didn't mind the dents I just wanted a beater anyway. Gave him 11 $100 bills, and took her home.






End of the intro!

94XjSport94

First comment because he is buying my air bag!!

Call-_me-Jordan

Ima try and find a local Xj to buy and part out, If I cant then,yup , Ima buy it $20 shipped was a decent price.

Call-_me-Jordan

I started noticing more lil things wrong with it than I noticed before... glove box handle, center console must be missing a bolt, center console lid lastch busted, broken ac vent adjuster majigy, and other stupid lil stuff. It shifted to 4x4 flawlessly, but wouldnt go into neutral without a good 10-15minute arguement.

On a positive note, even though it was a beach B.tch it had no rust.

Call-_me-Jordan

Well time to pull that ol' Legendary I6!



My dads OCD, He wanted it to look dam near new. So we pressure washed the engine bay.



Knocked out the freeze plugs and sprayed block. Got this nasty **** out.



Maintenance / preventive care! All new gaskets (except head), oil, filter, did radiator hoses to (I think), and plugs.

Call-_me-Jordan

Well of course it runs like a fine sewing machine. I had to wheel it around the yard! This thing impressed me so much. Its my first 4x4 so I had never had traction like that. Couldnt imagine lockers, gears, and good Mts.

Call-_me-Jordan

I was sitting at home one night bored. It had stormed the three days prior, so just before dusk I thought I'd ride to the river and see how high the water had risen. I was driving along when I fell into a larger rut/ soft spot that was hidden by grass... If I had just floored it in reverse the first time I think I could have gotten out. Still having trouble with it sticking in 4x4... I found out my linkage was off a bit, didn't mess with it yet. Just stayed away from 4x4 situations.

At this point I could move but .Once I got to the edge of the soft spot I couldn't get traction to get out.




And then all four wheels just spun...




Well after about 3 days of summer heat, I couldnt stand the smell of the Po's hunting dog! So here goes nothing.

ugly.





Gone!


I had scrubbed the seats with cleaner and shop vacced em, but it didnt get rid of the smell. I tore em completely down and washed em in the washing machine, with alot of detergent.

Call-_me-Jordan

Now she was fit for DD.

Playing with it...


Rained like crazy, Georgia clay, and lil to much playing I slid it into this 3-4 foot ditch. Lil tug from a yota taco and I was all good.






The headlight were as good as a lit candle out front... So I did the Putco Harness, Sylvannia Xtravisions, with a new header panel, passenger bezel, blinker, and side marker. INSANE diffidence.

Call-_me-Jordan

Went riding the trails at the river, and well... oops.




I was trying to frown, but kept laughing. So this face resulted. :l




Went fishing the other weekend, and shot some skeet also.

Call-_me-Jordan

This is Rolo, He is my Jeping buddy.

Call-_me-Jordan

Now that all that story is caught up, lol. On to planning my build. In no particular order.

Fix lil issues, gloves box latch, center console latch, wobbly console, and cruise off the top of my head. Oh and that whole busted hatch issue. Lmao.

3"-4.5" Lift
31-32's MTs
Building a steel front bumper with a brush guard, D-rings, and a 2" receiver hitch.
Building a steel rear bumper with D-Rings.
Tint Taillights, blinkers, and corners.
Rear taillight brush covers
Roof rack
Bed Line the interior floors
Done: Led interior lights - blue
2 Aux Rear facing lights
4 Aux Forward facing lights
Front diff locker
8k-12k pound winch
Rubicon rims
Adapters to run the rims
Snorkel
Door-less mod.
Small truck box mounted in the hatch for secure storage.
Shovel on the rack
Car ramps to put under tires for traction (was just brainstorming sounded good!)
Machete
Small ratchet,wrench, hammer, small tools in case of problems...
Tube doors

This list is more than Ill probably ever do but I was trying to stay in a plausible list.
If you have any ideas lemme know!

MichiganCherokee

Where are you located?

Call-_me-Jordan

Hahira, ga. It's just north if the Florida line.

Call-_me-Jordan

Went during some nice Georgia rain.

Call-_me-Jordan

Ordered blue Leds for the interior.
Took the hatch off to beat straight, measure for Plexiglas, and get handle working.

(How she sits till I fix it)

Drilled holes in the floor to fix this issue...