CFJB

So after reading through a few build threads, I decided it would be fun to do my own. Im not building anything crazy or outrageous, just my DD/Weekend Warrior. I previously had a 2000 but sold in right before August, how I regretted that... I thought I wanted to go into a little gas saving car so I bought a Mitshubishi Eclipse. I had that a week, sold it, a week later found this Beauty on Craigslist. I've decided on calling it "Project Juan" in memory of my father, his name was John and I live in New Mexico so spanish is common around here, and Juan is spanish for John, a joke I had with my father was that if he did die and I was left with what ever vehicle he had I would name it Juan. I never did that but I don't plan on selling this xj... so, Project Juan. Enough of back story, onto the XJ itself!



First picture I took of it, a day after I got it.

A more recent one, with everything in tact still.





It's a '98 with 157K miles on it. It's got the Chrystler 8.25 rear axle. I beleive the 231 Transfer case, I might have to double check that one again.
I bought it with a 2" Pro Comp lift on it with 31x10.50R15 BFG All-Terrain's. Everything seems to be in pretty good condition so far, very pleased with my purchase.

The very first thing I did after purchasing was change out the 14 year old speakers. I bought some Rockford Fosgate Punch's for front and rear. I am very pleased with them. They didn't sound the best at first, last weekend however, I bought a new Pioneer deck, and now they sound amazing. Unfortunatly I don't have any pictures of the audio install, I hadn't yet decided to do a build thread so I didn't document anything. During my speaker install, I broke the clips on my driver door panel, completly making the door handle useless from the inside. I had the great idea to take the passengers door handle and put it on my driver side! My plan was perfect... until I gorilla glued it and put it in place and realized, that the handles were NOT universal. They passenger side belongs on the passenger side. The clips ended up being to far from all the levers. So for about a week while I was doing all this Gorilla glueing madness I was driving around with my doors like this



I've gone and done some little wheeling, each time, I have managed to break something. All cosmetic though! Thank God.
First to go was the bumper cap... I might have backed into a dirt wall, all good though, went right back on.



Then, it was the flares!



Those, however, will not go back on. I just bought some flat Bushwackers tonight though, they should be here Thursday!
I also bought an Adjustable double sheer track bar from Iron Rock Offroad, ill be buying a Zone 4.5" lift kit will full leafs and nitro shocks tomorrow and if all goes according to plan, next week I'll be getting some 33x12.50R15 MTR Kevlars! So theres a lot coming up.

A couple pictures of the little four wheeling I've done, nothing major.

Bush League 96 XJ

Pretty nice looking rig, what are your plans for this build?

CFJB

Thank you! Not 100% sure on everything yet. Just bought the bushwackers and track bar, and the lift tomorrow. Eventually differnet gears, for sure the sye and driveshaft a little down the road though. Skid plates. I want the Rough Country bumper with the stinger bar! The only thing about that is I was looking at a thread on a different Forum, and the winch is off center... and that bothers me. Is that to ocd?

Bush League 96 XJ

No lol, i am going to build my own winch bumper... so i will have everything to my own specs... I have really procrastinated doing my build thread though, i just don't want to spend the time to type everything out haha. What does that zone kit come with?

CFJB

Pretty much everything I need. That's partially why I chose it, doesn't come with a steering stabilizer or track bar. I wish it came with discos but just the extrended links. Comes with shocks, I went with the Nitros. Full leafs, coils, lower control arms, bump stops. Pretty much everything. I went through Allens Offroad here on the forum, he gave me a great price on it all.

xjboy14

Nice jeep, now I basically know how mine would look with that style of wheels





And you said Rockford fosgate punches?. Nice
I have two 12" punch 1's

CFJB

Jealous. I had two 10" primes in my last xj. Unfortunately subs are on the low part of my to do list. You don't happen to want to donate yours to a good cause? Lol.

xjboy14

Naw im loving these to much to donate. I only paid $200 for the box, the subs, and the amp

CFJB

That's a steal! What amp is it?

xjboy14

Rockford fosgate something. All I remember is with my setup its pushing 300(?) Watts to each sub

CFJB

So yesterday I went to go get tires after work, got really wishy washy closer I got to buying them, like I do with any purchase I make. Commitment issues maybe? Lol. I was debating going 32x1150 but I ended up getting the 33x1250 MTR Kevlars like I wanted. So glad I did. They look sick.



A side by side comparison of the 31x1050 Bfgs im running now.



Upon arriving at my house I found this



Bushwhackers! Unfortunatly I had erronds to run... Got straight to installing them when I got home though. Had a rough start. Couldn't find my drill, had to barrow a friends. Ended up having to go to Lowes to get some other supplies... making me realize BE PREPARED before you start a project. only finished the fronts so far, gonna do the rears tomorrow.

Sorry about the crappy pic, dark outside so I couldnt pull out of the garage to take an awesome picture, will take more tomorrow, hopefully with all 4 flares on!



Front installation wasn't all that bad in the end, most time consuming was reading the instructions making sure I was doing it right. Hopefully the rear will be a breeze!

Just waiting on the Zone lift to get here. Estimated delievery by Tuesday (never know with shipping though). Then I can put them tires on!

CFJB

It's been quite awhile since I have touched my tiny build thread. Life got extremely busy there for awhile. I left off on finishing my front bushwhackers and waiting for my lift? Seems like a life time ago!

I finished my rear bushwhackers. Upon removing my bumper caps I found an awesome hidden dent



Overall, came out good, no complaints



My lift came in a day or so after I finished all my fenders up. Was super pumped to get that all going!





Wish I had taken more pictures of the lift process. Wasnt the thing on my mind at the time though. Only ran into a couple minor problems. Ended up using a sawzall to cut one of my leaf spring bolts off.

Did the lift all by myself. Some parts were a B!@#$ others.. not so much.

The night I finished the lift. Proud of my efforts. Lol.
Yes that is a toilet in my garage.....



Rained over night, but that wasnt going to stop me from going to discount tire! The 31's with 4.5" of lift just didnt look right.



Loaded my tires up, went to discount, then went to a local automotive shop and had it aligned.





Of course, now that my new lift and tires were on, I had to test it out












I did, however, neglect to put my transfer case drop on while finishing up the rest of the lift. I left it like that for about a week or so. There was a bit of noticeable grinding. Luckily all went away after I installed the drop kit.
and I didnt get a death wobble either. I still have the new steering stabilizer and double sheer adjustable track bar that i need to install. I'll get to it, eventually...

Haven't done any crazy four wheeling yet. Want to go do some trails in Colorado this summer.

Have been out locally quite a bit. Always manage to catch a pic.



















Managed to catch a picture with a buddies stocker.





After a couple months a put my rear bumper caps back on, gave it a little bit of a better look(I think) until I can afford new bumpers all together.



Went wheeling a weekend ago a broke a few things. Ill post more pictures later. Next on my list is probably throw on my track bar and stabilizer. Going to re-gear real soon possibly. Sorry it took me 4 months to get back and update anything. Thanks for reading

Bush League 96 XJ

Ditch that rear sway bar! It does you no good on the road. And disconnects for the front. She is looking good

CFJB

The rear sway bar is gone though! Your not the first person to tell me that since I've done the lift though =/

muffinman

Jeep is looking really good. Love the Juan story.