JeepingDan

Just started test driving this 90 XJ back and forth to work 80 mile round trip every day.
I bought it last summer to save it from the shredder. Dunno why.. I just could not see a perfectly good XJ get scrapped even if its 23 years old.
This one came with bare essentials.
No roof rack, so no holes in the roof.
No power anything, not even a center console to collect junk. I like the rubber floor matting since its easy to clean.
Everything on this old 98,000 mile heep works!
As for mechanically sound this XJ does not need any mods for more power, it's got plenty and that's another reason I love it!
First time I passed somebody on the highway I was very impressed with how much of a hurry it picks up speed.
Now this came with a set of steel rims with different size mismatched tires and a rusted out broken driver seat base. It was very uncomfortable till I put a donor base in. The seat was leaning hard right lol. I swapped some 31"s on with rims a bud gave to me for helping with his lift.
Specs:
Junk failure of a ABS design I must swap out because its stopping distance is pretty scary.
D30 D35.
4.0 and AW4 NP231
What I'd like to do with this is a 1 1/2 or 2" lift and keep 31"s on it.
Not sure what lift I wanna go with yet..
I have a 8.8 rear I'm gonna throw in after the lift to take advantage of pinion angle when I weld the brackets on.
Air lockers.
See if I can clock the transfer case flat for more ground clearance and move the rear shock mounts up higher.
Lots of home built skids for sliding action.
Winch mounted behind stock bumper.

There's a lot I wanna do but keep a kinda stock look to it. I was telling my buddy in hot rodding about it and he said.. So basically an off road sleeper! Hahaha!!
So I'm open for good ideas. But like I said this is going to take awhile with time and money.

VTJeep

hey man, i like the plan so far! low cog and and less modified will look good on this jeep. and i know it will evolve to more than it sounds i can see HD steering, maybe some crazy 2.5" LA set up.. haha, either way, sub'd!

jbetit

nice! When I see low COG in the title, I think 4" lift on 37s lol. Really depends on what you want to do with it. EX: what kind of trails? Easy or extreme?

JeepingDan

Thanks VT!

I took this on its first trail ride yesterday with some group I met up with. This was the only good pic somebody took of me exiting a water hole.
I'm really not into the wet stuff but after watching somebody show off in it I just had to lol
Some were impressed with what I put this stocker through on the tough dry passes.

Some jaws dropped.. LOL

JeepingDan

I get bored with easy. Extreme.. I'd like to work my way up there with this one.
I've put the orange XJ through a lotta hell. I'd like to do the same with this one with out destroying the shell and use it as a commuter.

jbetit

Well alright! Now we're talking.

I'd drive it until you have ALL of your parts together. Put some one tons under it, 37s, homebrewed long arm 4" lift, cut fenders (do a good job on those) and plate the crap out of your unibody and have an internal cage to tie it all in.

VTJeep

thats a good pic. the rear tires and exhaust kickin water around.. yeah, ya kinda forget just how capable they are stock.. i mean, if the tires have any tread they will get thru a lot.. i popped a tire (wrangler SR-A) back in the day and the new tires (duratracs) made such a difference it kinda kicked the whole thing off as to just what a jeep will do

have fun with the build..

VTJeep

giggity.

DougyFresh

Even with 33's and stock gears, my 91 still out-accelerates pretty much anything but a sports car.

With that said, I WANT YOUR MINI CONSOLE AND RUBBER FLOORING!

JeepingDan

Forgot to mention.. It came with the book that usually gets lost.

BNJeepsta

An 8.8 on 31's is gonna hang up on **** a lot! I really like your idea of clocking the case. I always thought I would be sweet to cut out a little of the floor and tuck everything up high enough to do a true flat belly. If you took your time and rebuilt the floor after the tuck, it would look clean and give you a flat belly. That combined with some lockers and good 31's would make one hell of a solid dd and still be able to slide over the big stuff on the trail.

JeepingDan

What's with the 8.8, bigger housing?
I have one in storage with drum brakes and LSD that I'm not to fond of.
I might wait instead for a wreck with a good rear to come in.

BNJeepsta

The housing is bigger. It's not a 60 or anything but, it is pretty hefty. Ford's LSD is awesome for a street car but, no match for a locker.

rctrav

With just 31" tires wouldn't a 8.25 be plenty strong enough for you. It will save you money and time on all the fab work that goes on with the 8.8.

JeepingDan

Have not really done any research yet, but aren't aftermarket parts a pita to find for a 8.25?
I think that's why I went Lincoln locker on my trail rig lol