JRT1393

Well I figure that it's about time to start a build thread since I'm not getting into doing more stuff to my Jeep. This will be a relatively slow build, because I'm broke and in college, but it will eventually get there.

I decided I wanted a Jeep because of the 4.0, I had a 1984 S10, piece of junk, that I spent more time working on than I did driving it. Sold this truck that I had about $2000 in for $900, then found this Jeep on craigslist for $900, not running, but a good place to start.

Dad took me up to Galax to look at the Jeep, and I was sold. The interior was in great condition (minus a couple small tears in the seats) and the price was great. I crawled under it and punched the floorboard, solid.

JRT1393

I made the deal, and brought her home, then the fun began. I tore into the motor (aware of the 0331 issue) and found that the previous drivers (the PO never heard it run) had exposed it to the temperature of the sun. The thermostat was melted down, the #2 piston was cracked, all the valves were rusted in place, and the intake was cracked.





So I decided to get a junkyard motor from a 1999 Cherokee, which luckily came with a new intake, it all went back together and she came to life, hasn't quit since.

JRT1393

After we got her to run again, I brought her back to school with me, but first, I had a little fun around home. I flexed beside my driveway (which sucked on worn out stock suspension)



Then went to a football game at my old high school, and refused to park in a parking spot



Once I got back, I went to eat, saw her behind me in the parking deck, and couldn't refuse the photo opportunity



Then I found another XJ at my dorm, therefore I climbed the curb behind it and pulled off the terrace into the space beside it



Then I found 99classic, and parked next to him later that week.

JRT1393

Christmas came, and I got a RC 3" add-a-leaf lift from my parents, and with the help of dad and a buddy from the school's offroad club, got it installed!

JRT1393

Well me and dad got everything done at about 2:30am, so I test drove it, and took it to my church's parking lot to get a picture



I had found a deal on a set of 31's, a guy had 7 used ones for $100!!! They don't match, but hey, better than nothing! So on they went!



Then I went back to school for the next semester, stopped at Dollar General on the way, and parked flexed on the curb Sure got attention!



Then I got back to school, and found adamk's rig in the parking lot of my dorm, so I parked next to him!

JRT1393

I finally got time to take her wheeling, and went down a local trail that I'd been down before stock, but not right after an ice storm, and I got stuck...



Turns out sloppy mud makes a mess, and thanks to adamk for coming and winching me out...again lol





The next day I went with NAXJA to a URE trail workday on Rocky Mountain Loop.



We stopped to work, and I saw a little flex, so I took a picture

JRT1393

That's pretty much up to date, in the near future I see a roof rack, bumper, cut fenders, and sliders.

onlyinajeep726

Yessir!! You got a good thing going man. I definitely need to make a trip out to the 704. I don't have a single Jeep buddy out here, but I had quite a few when I lived in Charlotte. Garrett and Sam being the main two, never got to meet Adam or you for that matter. Keep it coming man.

JRT1393

That you do! I just met Sam a couple weeks ago at a UNCC Offroad meet & greet. So far I've done nothing else but get it stuck another time and remove all the plastic haha, soon I'm going to cut my fenders and do cut & fold in the rear

JRT1393

So I've been able to get a couple small (free) things done to the Jeep over the past couple weeks. All the plastic on the outside is now gone. Cut my fenders. And one night me and a buddy were in the parking lot, bored. He had a roll of black electrical tape, so now I have angry eyes too!

JRT1393

One more thing is some bad news, I found out my freaking build sheet is wrong, it says I have a 8.25, when in reality when I decided to actually pay attention to the rear end, it's a D35, not too happy about that one. So here's my future plans, hopefully this summer, we'll see.

ZJ Steering upgrade
Steel wheels with 3.75" backspace
Used 32's or 33's
Sliders
D44 (if I get lucky)
Front bumper
Headliner
Doorless mod

Hopefully I can do at least a few of the big things this summer, we'll see how everything turns out

JRT1393

So I haven't gotten jack squat done to the Jeep, but I did get to take it to Uwharrie over Memorial Day with onlyinajeep726, 99classic, sam24th, evan00xj, and a couple other guys, had a blast, the stock control arms surprised me, it flexed like mad, I do need longer brake lines though
Pics:

























Going down the hard line on Dickey Bell


And one more just for Garrett haha

JRT1393

That's all up to date, hopefully I can get some more mods in soon

onlyinajeep726

When you going to tackle your to do list of mods? lol

JRT1393

Lol hopefully soon! I know the next things are steering and brake lines, then probably wheels, and I believe I'm going to do an 8.8 instead of a D44, easier to find and more readily available, plus I can find one that's already geared at 4.10, maybe with limited slip. Time and money haha