518XJ

Well It has come that time to start a build thread. First I will start off a little about the jeep.

Red 1998 xj ,auto 200,xxx miles. Jeep was owned my girlfriends mom and step dad. Well about 2 years ago it started popping through the intake. It smoked like a chimney and would not do anything above a idle. So they came to a conclusion that bad head or valves. Well they parked it out back and "one day" gonna fix it. Well last week after sitting for 2 year's I purchased it from them for $300. I went blew the tire's up put a battery in it and fired it up. I crawled under it cut the cat off( i knew what the problem was all along) and fired it up. She runs "almost like new". Well I got it home the other day. And hence the beginning of the build thread.

518XJ

So now a little about the plans for the xj.

I am planning on gearing this build towards being a capable daily driven rig for the time being. I want it practical for what I love doing, and that is ice fishing. Over the next couple months I will be getting this jeep ready for the hardwater. It needs to be sound so that I can travel to my destinations with no worry's. Then get me out to my honey holes on the lake.(weather and ice condition permitting). Looking at 3.5" to 4.5" lift. Also going to do all the thing that come along with a lift, sye kit and such. Going to redo all the brakes. Then new front end components. I am Also looking for a little input on tires I want taller tires and skinny. Also will be adding tranny and oil coolers. Due to the fact that I will have my ice shanty in tow at some points. Also will be changing the gearing. Thinking of going 8.8 out of explorer then 4.56 gears. Also will be doing a lot of little things that will make it practical for ice fishing i.e storage, extra heat, hitch and lights for towing. Any way feel free to comment and share ideas. Hope to have fun doing this build.

518XJ

Before I put it under the knife just had to make sure the 4x4 worked.

518XJ

She is under the knife now. Got it in the garage. Took bumpers and all plastic off. Also got the hatch to open.


Then decided to determine why it was only running on 5 cyl. Are you ready for this?? Here is what I found.


http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...27744150_n.jpg


There has to be at least a half inch of gunk built up. I mean its thick unlike anything I have seen. So is the motor shot or worth trying to clean all this up. Or should I just swap another 4.0 in???