NodakXJ's College Budget Build
#1
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Location: Grand Forks,ND
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
NodakXJ's College Budget Build
Hello everyone! I have been lurking on this forum for a while. I figure it's time I start a build thread. I am currently a college student in North Dakota with a part time job so my build progress will be slow so I apologize in advance.
I got my XJ in March. It currently has 198k miles. I haven't done too much to it since I bought it besides a couple cosmetic and interior things. Interior wise I got the Quadratec floor mats, mounted a mag light to my center console and I got a Mob Armor mob mount. On the exterior I removed the stupid mud flaps, and the side trim. I also started working on a custom bumper for the front which still isn't finished yet.
Current Modifications:
- JMFabrication Front Bumper w/ Hella lights
- Iron Rock Off Road 4"Front coils
- IRO 3.5" rear leaf pack with boomerang shackles
- IRO Upper and Lower Adjustable Control Arms
- Mickey Thompson Classic Locks with 265/75/16 Duratracs
- Odyssey Extreme Battery
- JCR Battery Tray
- Uniden PC68LTW/Wilson Coax/FirestikII
- IPF H4 housing/Hella Bulbs/ARB Harness
Future Plans:
- Rear Locker (Either Powertrax or Aussie)
- Roof Rack
- Rear Bumper
- Skid Plates
Here are some pictures of my rig.
May 2015 out at my relatives ranch...
On a trail back home in California in June.
Bumper build
I wanted something simple yet strong. It is all made out of 3/16" wall structural tubing. We made tabs for the shackles off of the brackets. I still need to grind down the shackle tabs, cut the holes in them, and weld on some caps to the end of the open pieces. We ran out of time before I had to travel back up to North Dakota. I am waiting on my cousin to let me use his welder so I can finish it. I also have 2 Hellas I am going to mount on the bumper as well. Here are the pictures of it.
yes. I know its crooked in the picture. I hadn't adjusted it yet.
That is about it for now. I will keep updating as I progress.
I got my XJ in March. It currently has 198k miles. I haven't done too much to it since I bought it besides a couple cosmetic and interior things. Interior wise I got the Quadratec floor mats, mounted a mag light to my center console and I got a Mob Armor mob mount. On the exterior I removed the stupid mud flaps, and the side trim. I also started working on a custom bumper for the front which still isn't finished yet.
Current Modifications:
- JMFabrication Front Bumper w/ Hella lights
- Iron Rock Off Road 4"Front coils
- IRO 3.5" rear leaf pack with boomerang shackles
- IRO Upper and Lower Adjustable Control Arms
- Mickey Thompson Classic Locks with 265/75/16 Duratracs
- Odyssey Extreme Battery
- JCR Battery Tray
- Uniden PC68LTW/Wilson Coax/FirestikII
- IPF H4 housing/Hella Bulbs/ARB Harness
Future Plans:
- Rear Locker (Either Powertrax or Aussie)
- Roof Rack
- Rear Bumper
- Skid Plates
Here are some pictures of my rig.
May 2015 out at my relatives ranch...
On a trail back home in California in June.
Bumper build
I wanted something simple yet strong. It is all made out of 3/16" wall structural tubing. We made tabs for the shackles off of the brackets. I still need to grind down the shackle tabs, cut the holes in them, and weld on some caps to the end of the open pieces. We ran out of time before I had to travel back up to North Dakota. I am waiting on my cousin to let me use his welder so I can finish it. I also have 2 Hellas I am going to mount on the bumper as well. Here are the pictures of it.
yes. I know its crooked in the picture. I hadn't adjusted it yet.
That is about it for now. I will keep updating as I progress.
Last edited by nodakxj; 06-16-2016 at 07:44 PM.
#6
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Location: Grand Forks,ND
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Pulled my fender flares and rear bumper end caps off today. Snapped off all the finder flare bolts so I guess those are never going back on. I also found a nice patch of rust on the passenger side rear quarter panel. I was originally planning to just cut my front fenders and fold the rears but now I'm going to cut and fold the rear quarter panels also. Next step is finding an angle grinder lol. Don't mind the pics taken in the target parking lot....
#7
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Location: Long Island, New York
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The front bumper came out nice. I'm on the fence between buying one and just making my own. My build is on a college budget also. Takes forever saving up. Good luck with it
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#8
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks! Yea I was on the fence too. My buddy went to school for welding and I have taken one welding class so I figured might as well just make my own. However it did end up costing quite a bit more than I expected. I used structural tubing for the main part of the bumper and that was a bit pricey. The 6 feet of 2"x6" tubing in 3/16" was about $79. Then I bought like 4 feet of 2"x2" a 1/4" flat bar plus some 3/16" flat bar. It all adds up haha. I wish I would have some metal hook ups back home in California but unfortunately I didn't. I think overall it was at least $250 minimum, and im still not done with it yet.
#10
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Location: Grand Forks,ND
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Finally got the lift installed. My Jeep was being a major pain in the *** so a shop had to end up installing all of it. Anyways I am happy that it is finally on.
Here is how it currently sits. It is a tad higher in the rear. I am hoping that the rear leafs will settle a bit. I am not a fan of the raked look.
Also I seriously need bigger tires now. It looks like my Jeep skipped leg day. I picked up these Mickey Thompson Classic Locks for $60 they are a bit dirty and slightly pitted. I am debating on either trying to clean them up or paint them black. Eventually I plan on wrapping them in some 265/75/16 all terrains. Any opinions on whether or not I should just leave them polished or paint them black?
Here is how it currently sits. It is a tad higher in the rear. I am hoping that the rear leafs will settle a bit. I am not a fan of the raked look.
Also I seriously need bigger tires now. It looks like my Jeep skipped leg day. I picked up these Mickey Thompson Classic Locks for $60 they are a bit dirty and slightly pitted. I am debating on either trying to clean them up or paint them black. Eventually I plan on wrapping them in some 265/75/16 all terrains. Any opinions on whether or not I should just leave them polished or paint them black?
#11
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Location: South Carolina
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Nice looking XJ so far. That lift kit looks very stout. I vote painting those rims black with some nice ATs wrapped around them.
#13
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Started cleaning up the wheels today. They are pretty nasty. I got one of them semi finished. Took about an hour to clean all the crap off of it. I still need to polish them or remove the oxidization on them. I also need to clean off all the bolts. They appear to be zinc plated. Anyone have any ideas how to clean them off well without removing the zinc plating?
Here is another shot of the front after the lift.
Here is the before
After
Before/After
Bolts. Any ideas how to clean them?
Here is another shot of the front after the lift.
Here is the before
After
Before/After
Bolts. Any ideas how to clean them?
#14
CF Veteran
Agreed, I'm a fan of black wheels, and those would turn out looking damn good painted black!
If you look at it on the bright side, you have plenty of time to prep them, and get them painted nice before you wrap them in bigger rubber, and bolt em on.
Edit: In that front view pic, it looks like you need to adjust your track bar.
If you look at it on the bright side, you have plenty of time to prep them, and get them painted nice before you wrap them in bigger rubber, and bolt em on.
Edit: In that front view pic, it looks like you need to adjust your track bar.
#15
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Agreed, I'm a fan of black wheels, and those would turn out looking damn good painted black!
If you look at it on the bright side, you have plenty of time to prep them, and get them painted nice before you wrap them in bigger rubber, and bolt em on.
Edit: In that front view pic, it looks like you need to adjust your track bar.
If you look at it on the bright side, you have plenty of time to prep them, and get them painted nice before you wrap them in bigger rubber, and bolt em on.
Edit: In that front view pic, it looks like you need to adjust your track bar.
Hmm interesting point about the track bar. It does look like my wheels are a little wack. Hard to tell if its just the picture or not.