Leonmac

Hey guys, I bought a 96XJ with 170,000kms on it and the usual bad paint peel but runs sweet and NO rust. This is going to be my Back up vehicle so needs to be Street legal, it will be a DD but won't see alot of miles each year. It will also be my trail truck (Check my Photos) and you will see what I wheel in and I need to make it capable. This is my first Jeep and to be truthful I have always given My Mate with the TJ a hard time because it brakes all the time. So I plan to eliminate the bits that seem to be the Problem. 1) the front axle, 2) the steering links, 3) the rear axle (only because I need to match the front)

So this is the plan of attack : 1) fit the TJ flares I got for Free
2) Do a home built LA lift 3-5'' max
3) Install Pajero/Hilux axles 4.8 ratio
4) Custom steering links (High steer)
5) SYE and custom DS
6) Fit 36'' TSL SX tyres

That will do to start, Bumpers and sliders will come later. My aim is to avoid making it too heavy, I have wheeled with 5000lb trucks for so long I'm looking forward to having somthing that can be winched easy.
Looking forward to getting into it once I get home next week. I will have lots of Pics. Cheers Leon (NZ)

Jmalone9

sounds awesome, consider me subscribed

Leonmac

Hey guys, Got a question for you all, Can I swap the Tcase to the right side?? looking at the six radial bolt arangment I would say yes but there is the obvious floor mods and shift linkage issue's, As I have stated at the begining My intention is to use Toyota/Nissan front axle and I either have to flip the T case or do a Pumkin swap. I'm looking for the lesser of the 2 Evils, Any thoughts appreciated, Cheers Leon (NZ)

XJ BoSS

If there's a will and a way and a garage full of tools it's possible I think. Lol

Leonmac

Well I have just got home a few days ago and as per usual I have been given the list of jobs to be completed before I'm aloud to go into my Man cave. But I did get some Photos of the Jeep before I start. Its 96 with 100,000 miles on the clock and other than the bad paint peel its in pretty good shape for NZ$ 1500. First job on the list is fit the TJ flares my mate gave me, Then if I have time before I go back to work I will give it a 3-4" lift this will be a Home brew Adda Leaf and probably a spring spacer in front, this is all very temporary as it will be getting New diffs in the near future and then the suspension will get a full work over. Any way some pics to start. Cheers Leon (NZ)

Leonmac

A couple more pics. Hell the steering wheel is on the right side as opposed to the WRONG side.

countrycherokee

clean rig!

Leonmac

Just finished the front flares, I have trimed the gaurd right back but still need to beat the pinch seam back so I don't cut up the tyres. I used a sealer/adhesive and large head pop rivets. I will hopefuly get the rear ones done in the next day or two. I believe these flares are "Sahara's" and it was a fluke that they just happened to be the same colour. Chucked in a couple of pics. Trying to keep them as high as possible so right on the body line, the rears will be just below the line and the bottom of the flare will be in line with the bottom of the door.
Cheers Leon.

cantab27

good to see another xj being built in kiwi land...heres one getting built down here in ch ch, nissan running gear, surf trans ,42" shoes, blah blah...earthquakes have slowed build down..thats my pos next to it ,,3"lift running 33s

Leonmac

Hey, great to hear from a fellow Kiwi. This is my first jeep and after years of giving Sh** to my mate with the TJ I now have to eat humble pie. My theory is if I put enough JAP parts in it I will have a reliable rig, I have done one of the rear flares today and hope to getnthe last one finished soon. I looked at your Photos the other day, wish I' had been home for that big snow fall we got last week. would have been fun. Keep an eye out this jeep is going to have some major changes over the next few months. Cheers Leon.

cantab27

looking forward to updates as ya post them, was one for sale up your way with yota running gear under it..trouble with the Nissan gear is ya gotta run huge shoes for diff clearance or shave them..big $$$... have got a link to red build somewhere will pm ya it... going to mates shop today will get update plus pics...

http://www.offroadspecialties.co.nz/

best place to get jeep bits from in nz

cheers
wayne

Leonmac

HI guys, some more work done to the XJ, I have done the TJ flares, I didn't bother with a detailed description of the work as I just copied the way most guys do the the gaurd triming and figured there has been enough threads on that subject. I will do the rear gaurd bottom trim later when I do the rear bar. I fitted up the 36s on the stock jeep rims to see how they fit. I f I were to keep the C8.25 and D30 I would need to either put 2"spacers or change the wheels to a bigger offset as the rears will rub on the inner wheel well with any flex and the fronts rub the sway bar when turning. As stated earier I'm trying to do a minimum lift and the Photos are with 3" of lift which at this stage is the most I want and will bump stop to keep from rubing. As I'm going to be locked and we don't do rocks down here in NZ flex is not a big issue for me. I still have to do the lift and I have a set of Rancho shocks to to install but that will be next time home as I'm off to work on Saturday.
Cheers Leon (NZ) Don't know whats happening but photos won't load

Leonmac

Try again, Changed cameras and walah!! it works. As I said this is with a 3" lift

cantab27

36s..time to re gear .... im runing -24 offset rims with my 33s...

Leonmac

Yeah, @ this stage I'm looking at Pajero axles with electric factory lockers and 5.285 gears. I already have a rear with a locker and trying to find another rear which with a bit of custon machine work will become a front with locker, to this point I haven't spent any money but owe a few favours to mates.
Cheers Leon.