Great progress! Go ahead and replace the oil filter adapter o rings while you have it out. They are a BIIIITCH to change once inside the vehicle.

 

Got the pan gasket and new RMS done, installed the new water pump, motor is ready to be mated back up with the transmission ahead of schedule!





No work on the XJ tomorrow, but I’ll be picking it back up Wednesday.

Next is prepping the package to be re-installed into the 99.

Got to get a cleanup session on the shop...it’s a mess!






Gonna list the 96 carcass for sale, it is a titled chassis, which is a big deal for the commie states on either side of me.

Got that done (mentioned it in the post above, but I called it an oil filter housing). It was crazy easy with the motor on the stand!

 

Had a change of plans, so I was able to get some time in the shop again today.

Got tranny bolted up, hoisted it all into the XJ. It’s great to have the motor back in there! I just got it bolted up, nothing wired yet. I’ll get to that later this week.











I’ll get it all hooked up and fired soon....can’t wait to hear this thing run!

 

Back at it tonight...almost ready for fluids and test fire!








Now to get the SYE done and get the Tcase back in.

Not out of the question to have this running this weekend...I’m pumped!

 

Boom.....it’s alive!

 

Got the nose put back together, rear frame tie-ins painted and installed, stock rear bumper back on (for now, proper rear bumper will come sometime in the future).

Next is figuring out the SYE yolk. I didn’t think about the complication of getting the ujoint in the cardan to attach to the repurposed yolk I used for my SYE. Got to get that figure out so I can get the rear driveshaft back in....I’m moving it around as a front wheel drive for now...lol.

 

Well rims and tires are ordered. Went with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3’s in 33x12.5x15

Ordered a set of simple black steel wheels in 15x8 (lug nuts and center caps to go with).

I was really trying to not spend the $$ on the IRO hack and tap, but I see I’m going to have to. The only upside is that I already have the tcase trimmed and tapped....so it’ll be a quick/simple bolt-up.

I’m going to be carful with the shop I choose for the alignment. I don’t want the new tires munched with a bad alignment. Anyone in my area (seacoast NH) that knows of a good shop that knows what they’re doing with lifted Jeeps please let me know...

 

Yesssa....big shoes on the way.





Opened and inspected all the rims, loaded it all up, ready to take the whole thing to the shop for mounting and alignment.

 

Continuing with the typical path of this project, I started off working on a “simple” issue, opens a can of worms...lol.

3rd brake light wasn’t working...






Now I’m just waiting for my hack and tap kit to ship...

 

Got to some trimming today...

 

Got the IRO Hack-n-Tap in, installed it. Used the donor XJ’s front DS as the new rear DS, worked out fine.



Took the XJ for its first real ride since the motor swap and lift. Gassed it up with a full tank of fresh gas. Drove good, kinda steers all over the road. I expect it will drive a lot better after the alignment. Motor ran great, transmission shifted nice and smooth. I stepped on it several times, I was happy with how it sounded and how it pulled (for a 21 year old rig). I can say this, I’ll be looking to do some sort of LSD or locker in this thing. The one-wheel-wonder-peel is pretty useless in 2wd...lol.



Going to call and schedule the alignment for later this week. Hope to see this with the new wheels and tires on by the weekend!



My DIY rear bumper kit shows on Friday. I’d like to think I’ll be able to get started on it this weekend. I’m going to fab up my own swing-out spare carrier after the bumper is built.



Getting close!!

 

My new DIY rear bumper showed today...






Can’t wait to get this thing welded up!!

Tires get mounted up, and alignment done tomorrow. Finally this XJ will look the part!!

Maybe, juuuuust maybe I’ll take a little winter wheel putt at a local spot after the tires are on.

 

Well, the day came and the new shoes are on. The XJ looks great, love the look and ride!

One thing though, I bought and installed a new driveshaft (complete) for the front. Obviously I’m using the same DS for both front and rear, so I decided to put the new one up front. This turned out to cause a binding problem, and I needed to pull the DS altogether. My question, has anyone with a 4.5” lift had issues using stock front DS for the front of their XJ?

I’ll be back home tomorrow, and will post pictures then. I will also be re-installing the original front DS to verify if this is just an issue with the new DS I bought.

 

Quick teaser...I’ll take a full set of pictures soon.


Very happy with how it came out. It is exactly the way I was envisioning the build turning out.

I’ll be getting the old front DS back in and test drive it. If all is well then I’ll be getting a warranty replacement for the new DS I bought.

Now to get to the rear bumper and tire carrier.

 

Got the bad rocker section patched up, ready for seam sealer. I’ll get that finished up tomorrow, it’ll be ready for a sticker by Monday!

Gonna get started on the bumper this weekend....