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Project 89 XJ

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Old 04-04-2010, 11:51 PM
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Year: 1989
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Engine: 4.0 I6
Default Project 89 XJ

I picked up my 89 XJ 2-door not too long ago. Havent done much to it other than replacing the oil pan gasket and rear main seal (failure on the rear main seal, still leaking oil...), cleaning out the interior from PO crap, washing it up pretty good inside and out, replacing the left rear brake line and thats about it.

Right now following plans are:
Rubicons 6.5" X-Series Long Arm Suspension Lift Kit so I can mat my 35" meats on there OR a simple 4.5" suspension for 33"
Interior roll cage
Rear/Front bumper modifications (I have a warn tsi 9.5 winch laying around that I want to put on eventually)
Roof rack for the spare tire and wheelin kits (high lifts, light bar, etc)
Converting the AC into an air compressor with tank in the back
Half doors (other CF member ESTEEM is making me a set)
Thought about chopping the top then making a "soft top" for the rear for those rainy days
Dana 44 rear, Dana 35 front 4:56 gear set up with ARB air lockers in front/rear and disc brake conversion in the rear

Here are some pictures of how it looks now
Day I picked up the rig (present from my sweetheart, she knows I was bummed I had to sell my 74 CJ5 to pay the bills only to find out I didnt need to sell it a few days later..... FML
[IMG][/IMG]

Sitting in my carport
[IMG][/IMG]

Wheelin it one day in my backyard's mud pit, handled pretty well considering its only 31" tires



Lemme know what you think or any advice on the plans I have. Sure it seems like an expensive one, but nothing hard work can reward ones self with
Old 04-05-2010, 12:01 AM
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Looks pretty sweet! Im diggin' your build list man!
Old 04-05-2010, 12:05 AM
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thank you! noticed you have 33" kumho road venture on your rig, how are those working out for you? was thinking about a set of those myself
Old 04-05-2010, 12:21 AM
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I'm also thinking doing a 3.5" lift leaf springs with 2" lift shackles added 3.5" coil springs on 2" coil spacers with some Rough Country nitrogen shocks, a Rusty's offroad dual steering stabilizer kit, Rough Country track bar and mount, Rusty's offroad drop pitman arm, JKS sway bar quick disconnects. Thoughts?
Old 04-05-2010, 06:39 PM
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drove my jeep around today and half expected some oil coming out of the rear main seal... to my surprise, no leakage! checked the oil level, it was full and im just estatic that i dont have to have a shop fix er up! now, emissions testing, here i come!

been doing some research for diamond plating for the side panels and cant find anything aready made for XJ's, so i did some measurements for a 2-door XJ, looks like i have a busy weekend coming up! will post pictures when I can
Old 04-06-2010, 01:14 PM
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UPDATE:::

im picking up a 92 4-door xj this weekend. It apparently has a totalled title and the owner wants it gone, so Im picking it up for $500. Just had a shop take a look at the drive train and lift kit, all are good to go! I pan to do an engine/tranny/transfer case swap because it has lower miles and has been rebuilt/bored .40 over with a throttle body spacer and other goodies. Lifted 4.5" with dana 44 rear and dana 35 front end geared to 4:11. Lookin up now! I just plan to do a drive train swap, axle swap and put the lift kit on my rig. Older stuff will put back on the 4-door xj and sell it off for parts
Old 04-11-2010, 11:25 PM
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In another posting i described my unfortunate accident with a tree and messed up the drivers rear roof (thread "GOD IS GREAT, BEER IS GOOD, AND PEOPLE ARE CRAZY) read it up...

So I got home yesterday night and found a 10-day notice to comply or be evicted paper on my door... turns out my jeep is "inoperable" by my landlord's standard and i had to get rid of it. tried calling him and explaining what happened and that this is my daily driver as it is, blah blah blah, he wouldnt hear of it... even if i had the roof fixed by a shop, he wouldnt hear of it... so I, out of pure stupidity, sold my Jeep... at least to a friend, so I know its in good hands... Might buy it back later on if I can get it fixed... Didnt really have any options, I didnt have a place I could park it for the time being and definitely could NOT afford to be evicted, and Im busy all week with work and other necessities... Im in the process of contacting my lawyer and figuring out if there was a loophole or something I could do to get my Jeep back without the LL being a PITA... pretty sure what he did was ILLEGAL according to contract, but we will see... =(
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