ok guys i figured its about time i post a build thread ive been building the xj for around 2 years now and didnt get pics of alot of things but im gonna post what i have so far and keep in mind of done all of this on a budget until recently ive finally been making decent money so here goes

these are some pics of when i first got it it was totaled and i payed $400 for it i originally bought it at the time for the 4.0 and aw4 i was gonna swap into my 4cyl tj and then i found out how much of a pain it was to do that swap so i decided to fix it for a fun learning project

 

got it to the shop and pulled the engine and trans no pics but heres what i have

front axle in:


windshield coming out:


new windshield in:


got the engine and trans back in with the new tcase(old one was destroyed when it was wrecked along with a cracked bellhousing also got the new craschbar welded in:



got the new drivers fender on:


got it towed home and got the hood on :

 

got the new radiator in:


got the rest of the front clip installed:


picked up a 2" budget lift and some 31x10.50 firestone mt's from a good friend of mine that upgraded to 4.5" and 33's:



got the fenders all cut and the rears cut and rolled (only pic i have right now)

 

Thats awesome. Strong work.

 

picked up some shackles front 3" springs and 3" blocks to make it a 4.5" lift



also picked up some 32x9.50 15 tsl's:


picked up some metal and a smittybilt xrc8 winch and had a buddy help me start building a front bumper:




heres the bumper painted and mounted up with the winch mounted as well:

 

so it drives good now? how long was that process? glad to see an xj come back to life, the rest of it looks real clean.

keep updates

edit* well you just jumped on to 4.5, id have to say.... your leafs are frowning, on blocks, dont think thats a great idea, shackles are angling out too. and ew honda... run it over please


i like the quick fabbed bumper, strength using the winch tho? plating trusses and new frame brackets on that bumper will make it beast

 

thanks man im still uploading pics hopefully be finished up soon...for now haha

 

to get the front end work and budget lift and all was probably around 3-4 months for everything was hard with working out of town monday - friday its sure come along way i also left out we did have to pull a small bend out of the front of the frame the body is a little twisted i think but we did the front end alignment when i first put it together and it drove like it was new believe it or not

 

haha the honda is gone now im not running the blocks anymore i picked up some bds full leafs for it thats in my next batch of pics im still uploading now

 

picked up some bds 3.5" full leaf packs as well as some procomp es9000 shocks:
out with the old and in with the new:

 

also got some rustys 4.5" front springs(no pics) and some rough country x-flex adjustable control arms it rides alright i dont personally care for the rustys springs

heres some pics of it wheeling







me and my buddys xj:

 

oh nice, ill let you finish updating before i open my mouth

 

i picked up some full traction longarms and brackets used for a pretty good deal but i didnt get any hardware so i ordered the hardware kit from full traction and the guy on the phone told me all the misallignment spacers for the heims were included and of coarse they didnt show up with the hardware so waiting on the spacers now for the lower arms and track bar also got my rugged ridge sye and rough country brakelines in the mail picked up some brand new pro comp 35's mud tires for a steal from a good friend so pretty soon i should have some more updates and pics of it all i have left to order is 6.5" rear leafs im wanting to step up to 6.5-8" lift lemme know what you guys think!!

 

haha its all good man i think ive got everything posted now will have more updates soon

 

forgot to post these pics of the 35's mounted on the jeep still at 4.5" lift but my old tires were about toast and my gf DD's the xj so i wanted to make sure she didnt have a blowout