Well a bunch has been going on recently. First off I have a problem with either my oil pump or the sending unit. Hopefully it's just the sending unit. I'll start that tear down tomorrow.
Second is with regards to my battery cables. They have started to get pretty worn and are turning black and I'm not making good connection. Started some new cables today made from 2/0 welding cable. Should get power flowing just fine.
Next is the list of parts coming in. Quick discos, Coil spacers, Track Bar, Rear Shackles, and shocks. These should all be for Christmas from various people. I'll be getting some junkyard parts as well. They'll all come from a V8 ZJ. Front sway bar, pitman arm, and tierod. May pick up a transfer case skid if I can find one.

 

hey man, XJ looks better and better. cant wait to see it on the trails. Rausch Creek in the spring again?

 

I'm hoping!! You planning on it again??

 

Well got the oil pump issues out of the way today. Turns out it was the pressure unit. Quick cheap fix but had to go to the dealer to get it as all the parts places didn't seem to have it.
Now I'm starting on my heavy duty battery cables. Here's some teaser pictures:







I know they're overkill, but I like that

Finished pics will follow later on today.

 

Here's what the new cables look like all finished:







Still have one more cable to make to run to the fuse panel. Everything has heat shrink seals and all have been hammer crimped. Definitely worth it since I didn't need to pay for anything besides battery terminals because my dad is an electrician and had all the cables and connectors. Seems to get power going very quickly and once I upgrade my alternator I'll be ready.

 

Well today was another productive day. I made a switch panel from an overhead light out of an Xterra. Here's what it looked like when I started.



Then I marked out four switch locations on the top and made my cuts



I painted it using some Rust-Oleum bed liner





Here's what it looked like with all the switches mounted and the lights back in it.



Here it is mounted.






Then I thought of something new for the roof rails instead of the gutter mounts. I took some stock rails I had and pulled all the spring hardware out of them and took 1" tubing on top of the mounting feet. I used all stainless hardware. These are super strong!! I stood on only one of them and it didn't even flex. I weigh ~200lbs. and the stock rails went right to the floor.

Here's some pictures.









Here's mine vs. Stock



Still have to bedline them, but it was too cold in the garage to paint. Hopefully I be able to finish them next week if I get a chance to heat up the garage.

 

No love for all the new home builds??

 

I'm loving this build...favorite part so far...the front bumper, light bar with 3 lights. I think that gives the front of your XJ an awesome look. I'll be getting one of those.

 

i do like the xterra switch panel!

 

Thanks! It was an Ah Ha kinda moment when I was at the junkyard one day.

 

Jeep looks good man. I did this also but being in Vegas and wearing shorts that dang thing got really hot, so I moved it to the passenger side.

 

Hahaha I can say the same thing for mine during the summer. It normally only happens when I get in though.

 

Jeep looks great! Love to see the 2 doors. I recently got a 2 door and have been tinkering on since I got it a couple months ago. I'm in the new brunswick area right next to Rutgers. Where do you wheel?

 

Thanks a lot!! I wheel some spots in East Brunswick and Monroe. When I'm up north I go to places like Split Rock and other little spots. I can pretty much walk to the dorms off ryder's lane behind sears lol

 

Got some stuff tonight!! Sway bar Quick Discos, Coil Spacers, and 3 new fogs for the light bar. The two on the bar now will move to the roof rack.