jmccallie

Just got this 01 limited a couple weeks ago, the wife and I drove up to U.P. to go get it (3 hour drive) Picked it up for $1,200 has 170k miles and is in pretty good shape for a Michigan jeep Has some small rust on the roof and below the rear windows. Rockers and underbody are all solid This build might be slow but its my first time doing a build thread on here... We have owned and built several jeeps but have never done a build thread, so here we go...

Started with new rotors and pads, TPS sensor was bad so replaced that
Missing a fender flare but since it will be getting bushwackers no need to find a replacement

Needs a fender but, that's part of the reason I got the guy to come down. Have a add on craigslist now, but if no bites then I will just order a new one. Our junk yards up here are ridiculous, 3/4 the price of something new...
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Nice clean rockers

The bad... we will get to this problem later...


Box of goodies Sticking with a 4.5 in lift on this jeep, so I can still enjoy taking it on long trips. (My last xj was a 8.5 in long arm and was great but did not like taking it on long road trips) Anyways, 4.5 in rough country lift (will be doing the long arm upgrade later) but for now just wanted to get it up off the ground. Will be running stock arms for the moment till I order the long arm upgrade.



Painted the suspension parts a metallic silver (plan on doing this to all my upgraded parts for the suspension)



Got started on the lift ( I start with rear cause this tends to be the problem areas ( hints the angle grinder) Broke what I figured I'd break 2 bolts for the upper spring mounts, Of course the upper shock bolts, and also the sleeve got stuck in the front spring so good ol grinder solved the problem.



Wont be needing these anymore!

New rubber and wheels, 32x11.5 wrangler mts puncture resistant



Ordered the 2 gallon kit of monstaliner in predator green to do the exterior of the jeep, should be here in 2 weeks
Waiting on rough countrys upgrade tie rod, got all three tie rod ends to redo the front.
Ordered the new rough country stinger bumper with d ring mounts and winch plate!

Well, did not get as much as I wanted to get done... But did get the rear axle painted. Left the dif cover alone for now until I install gears and trutrack lockers, no point in taking off the dif cover and draining all the fluid since hopefully I will be getting my gears soon! Called around for the shackle bolts but nobody has them, so have to wait till tomorrow to go to the dealer. Also going to replace both upper shackle mounts, but still deciding which ones to get.



My supervisor for the day.



Finally got some parts in! New rear OEM shackle, 5 new bolts for the shackle mounts and leafs, so I can get back to work on finishing the rear! Since I have been waiting, luckily found a new fender and front clip for $150.



Still waiting on new stinger bumper, my upgrade tie rod, and my monstaliner package. So just going to leave the fender and grill off to make it easier to sand prime ect... Going to start disassembling everything doors, other fender, rear hatch. Got some goo gone to help remove some of the badges and top roof plastic guards. Then start sanding and getting ready for the monsta!!!

Some other stuff for the jeep... Old tow straps out of my old jeep, new cb radio, mag light holder, license plate for the wife and I, and of course a bass air freshener!


Well since everything is apart decided to cut and fold the rear quarters. Turned out ok, but will look better once sealed epoxy primered, and monstalinded. And once the new bumper for the rear is made everything will look great (doing a fold around style)




Other side went way faster and once I knew the angles, everything looked better.
Got one pic of Rome (our rotten lab) so guess Roxy ( pitbull boxer) decided she wanted to participate in this build too.




got the rear under body all sanded and painted up after 3 days of sanding, starting to look like a brand new jeep! Painted the under body to help prevent rust, up here in Michigan it doesn't take long for vehicles to rot out, plus it cleaned it up a bit After the paint dried I started putting the rear lift together but didn't get very far the heat was just miserable this last week...
Some of the parts look like the paint is not coated very well but its just the difference in texture. Everything got 2 coats.






Got the rear done today, had some problems with the bar pin eliminator brackets and rear shocks. I will have to get some 1 and 1/2 in bushings as there is too much play in the upper shock. Anyways here is a sneak peak at the jeep so far...



And I am going to go with the sidebiter rims so will be selling these, if anybody is interested locally... They are brand new!


Not very happy with my angle on the rear leafs, will drive it around town and see if they start going the other way... If not looks like the relocator brackets will be getting ordered ( have to do a little more research as I do not want any more lift...)

Got about 90% of the jeep sanded, what a pain in this heat... But its getting there...




This heat is starting to get to me, and really slowing me down... But did get the rest of the jeep sanded and applied the chassis saver to all the common xj rust spots. Still have to do another coat. Hard to see in the pics but all the rockers got done, inside the door molding around the wheel wells, rear quarter panels, under neath the doors, around the rear windows, rain gutter guard, and the spots I had on the roof...

jmccallie

Once again heat limited me on what I was able to do, got almost everything primed for the first coat.

jmccallie

Got the second coat on, but the forecast is not looking good for applying the monsta. So have to wait till next week when I get back from work... Got to say the jeep looks pretty dang good all white, nervous about the predator since it is such a bright color...




Fixed all the rust on the roof, looks good as new!


Found this browing decal at auto zone, and found a cool place to put it.




Also have a cracked windshield so when I get back into town I am going to replace the windshield before monstalining.

jsowards

It looks good all white but I can't wait to see the monstaliner!

jmccallie

Got some more stuff in for the jeep!!! New rough country stinger bumper with d rings and winch plate, and my new beefier tie rod upgrade.

jmccallie

Got started on the monsta today...










Windshield was cracked so I am replacing it after the monsta, all edge work coming into the vehicle will be painted black from monsta in. Might not look like good edge work yet, but it will. The monsta is very time tight so looks a little sloppy but when the black gets edged in it will look very clean

jmccallie

Well went to start putting the jeep back together and put the new bumper on... The new bumper tie in brackets use the existing power steering box bolt holesSo of course with the old aluminum spacer the bolts broke So getting a new power steering box today. Always something, try to put on a bumper and now have to replace the steering box... I broke the bolts that go into the box on my old xj and tried drilling them out, didnt work so instead of messing around trying to re drill this one, just going to buy a new one. Not sure I like the tie in of the RC bumper, it uses the stock bumper holes and just 2 more in the frame...

jmccallie

Got the new steering box in and got all the jeep back together with the new bumper on. So here is the pics as for now. Mickey thompson sidebiters should be in soon and I will be purchasing the napier cut out fender flares, getting gears soon, and am in the process of designing a rear tire carrier bumper. Dont worry guys, still have 3 pages of written plans worth of stuff that I am planning on doing, just don't want to tell you guys all the plans and burst the bubble

hansen19

Jeep looks great. Looking forward to seeing where you go with this one. Where at in Michigan are you?

jmccallie

Thanks, its coming along... Live by Traverse City.

hansen19

Nice, my wife and I are moving back to the state. Im from the greenville area. Have to set up a wheelin trip once we get back.

jmccallie

For sure man!

jmccallie

Edged in some of the black today!
Front door being done vs the back door not being done

New steering gear box and got the drop pitman arm on and new tie rod end for the pitman arm

jmccallie

jeepstr52

damn man.. this thing is going to be awesome.. is there a write up on folding the lower rear quaters i havent really ooked into it much but like the ways yours looks alot