Hey everybody, so picked up my first XJ this last weekend. 1986 Cherokee, CL find for $500 and its in rough condition. After spending about 3 hours total on my back under it this weekend putting in a new clutch slave and trying to get to drive it around the block, figure out it needs a new clutch master. will get some pictures of it. So far it has a 3" lift, rolling on 31x10.5x15, the god awful 2.8l V6, and other wise very much stock. need some ideas on this one, but as far as I know getting it clean out, driving and registered is my top priority. will be doing paint and some body work to it, bed coating the interior. take into consideration, this is my first jeep and have 4 other projects going along with finding out my fiance is pregnant... yup,

 

I'm not sure what transmission is on your jeep, but you may want to consider swapping the 2.8 for a 3.1 out of a early Isuzu Rodeo. If you've got a 4L60E trans, it should bolt right up, and the 3.1 is a great motor. Or, you can do the normal thing and go with a 4.0. That's a no fail option as well.


*edit* I just reread your post and saw that you have a manual trans. Please ignore everything I just wrote, and get a 4.0.


someone kill me before I breed.

 

 

yeah, not going to another 4l60e, had that on my s10 and ended up grenading the main case doing 90mph and having a couple clutches let loose. havent gotten much into the jeep yet other than cleaning it out. but for sure want to do the 4.0 swap. for now this is a "budget" build

 

i think the northstar v8 will bolt to that trans that would be a sweet swap!!

 

so came up with a name, it will be Project Nightmare. been working on the inside of the heep a little here and there and doing a ton of reseach and decided I am going to just drive the hell out of it till it bites the dust. during that time I will be building up my garage of parts for when that day happens. most likely going to go with a 3.4l v6 piggybacked with to maintain FI and for sure keeping it a manual trans. other than that probably going to change out the transfer case, front and rear axles. going to start looking into having it caged and start researching doing removable doors. get about 3 hours of work time on it tonight. will post some more pictures tomorrow

 

so, here is a little update on Project Nightmare. the last few weeks up here in the PNW havent been ideal weather for turning a wrench. between the period of freezing weather and back to back rainy days I managed to get some stuff done. yanked off my sway bars, why because I dont need them. Ordered a set of 4.5' lift springs to get rid of the cheesy 3' spacer lift. got more of the interior ripped out and about to full primer and bed liner the inside. got the ghetto fabbed C channel bumpers off, the mangled front fenders off and what was left of the header panel. going to be ordering a ton of parts soon from Dirtbound and now looking into doing a 4.3l V6/ AX-15/ NP231 swap. going to keep the original axles and freshen them up with disc in the rear and single piece axles up front. will be adding some more pictures soon when I can get a break in the weather

 

RC 4.5" Springs. the parts pile begins

 

so for whoever is following this build, sorry for lack up work and updates. its been cold and wet up here in Oregon and along with working 60 hrs a week and taking care of my family. but have been ordering parts like a mad man. ordered up some beefy 1/4" shackle relocation brackets off ebay and also ordered a WIY Dana 30 diff cover 1/4" also from Dr. Z fabrication. so far his stuff looks ****. cant wait to finish the parts warehouse order and get ready for the full on build





next will be some skyjacker leaf springs, BPEs and shocks

 

so not much has happened lately, between the holidays and some unfavorable weather the project has been left untouched for a couple of weeks now. Ordered a D30 cover and welded it up, pretty beefy. Also made arrangements to pick up a 4.3l with TBI, wire harness and ECU for $300 this weekend. knocked out rear quarter fut and fold(not the prettiest, was in a hurry) and rear fender cut and fold. personally didnt come out too horrible. also did a tailgate close in with some scrap sheet from work.




a little dusting of the white stuff





Before





After








DR.Z fabrication W/I D30 cover.

 

Name it Project "Witty Project Name".

 

LMAO. My old lady calls it "project scrap box"

well, scrap box is getting torn into this weekend, pulling out more of the old, tired, worn out 2.8 and getting ready for the engine swap. going to keep the AX5 and NP207 for the time being and using Advance Adapters bell housing swap kit along with a Howell EFI harness and replacing the chassis harness with a universal wire harness... kinda bit off more than I can handle, but oh well, gives me something to do and helps me from losing my mind

 

So, I know this build has kinda died off, but still updating it. thanks to the lovely PNW weather and not having a garage (yet) it has been a long slow process. Recently picked up a 4.3L TBI for my swap. cut down the harness to only run the basics. further gutted the interior and engine bay. definitely going ***** deep into this build. will upload some pictures

 

 

ooooooooooooooooh nooooooooo... something small is missing





bye bye





Tupaw Shakur