About 6 months ago I bought my first jeep a 1998 XJ auto with 212k on the clock with a Horrible stinger bumper and roof rack... but it is coming off
The first things I did were mostly cosmetic as I didn't have very much money after buying the heep. sanded down and painted the wheels with a gloss black. Changed the oil flushed the coolant. Then I experienced Death Wobble for the first time.... That was exciting.... NOT! I don't have access to my photos right now but I will upload some this weekend. but for now goal list.

-Swap out Dana 35 for an 8.25 or that unicorn D44 (actually figured out i have an 8.25 woohooo
-new 4.5'' lift kit RC maybe?
-engine rebuild at some point? It runs like a Diesel ATM...
-New tires probably no bigger than 33s for now... currently have 31s
-proper stinger bumper with a winch
-unibody stiffeners
-remove the snorkel and do a CAI or cowl Snorkel
-fix floor rust
-probably going to paint at some point, I'm open to suggestions???
-on board air
-rock sliders/armor
-lockers(duh)
-4 hole injectors
-rear bumper

That's all I can think of for now but from what I've seen on other builds I'm sure I won't stop there...
When I got it home for the first time

 

Nice. Cool ideas. Only a couple things, avoid RC. Go with rustys, zone, rubicon express. Also, to heck with stinger bumpers. Ugly looking and you'll probably never use it for its intended purpose haha.

 

I second staying away from rc. You can buy rubicon express parts individually on amazon for great prices imo. Nice looking Jeep.

 

I was going to go with RC because of my budget limitations, which one of those would be the cheapest? Also I have heard good things about RC for the most part? And yeah I played around with photoshop last night and realized I did not want a stinger anymore. But last night I got my lightbar all finished up

Also got new headlights as well not pictured though

 

How much is the RC kit your looking at?

 

The RC kit is 518.90 plus shipping for the 63N2 4.5 kit but I need all new leaf springs so I will have to upgrade to a different kit

 

You can buy RE 4.5 springs on amazon for 75 3.5 full leafs for 107 ea boomerang shackles 1" lift for 110 adj track bar is 125 all on amazon. still need sway bar end links and lower control arms but those can be had on eBay for around 100 for fixed control arms and fixed links are $40-50. Still need shocks which i almost forgot. I have 5100 bilstiens on front and still need to order my rears they are great shocks.Its your Jeep and do what you want to do. Just showing you some options and most arent happy with RC after some time on the lift.

 

Decided to go a different way, is this all I need to swap out\freshen up my lift minus shocks obviously but this is my first time lifting a jeep or anything for that matter Lol wish me luck

 

The jeep already has a 4.5 lift but it is sagging now so do i need new control arms and such? I have no sway bars at all but I was thinking discos at some point

 

If you already have a 4.5 then that should do it. I have 3.5 in springs and the boomerang shackles but that is because i already had the springs from. Parts jeep. I installed those coils on my Jeep and i like them

 

Sorry you shouldnt need new control arms as long as the bushings are good.

 

freshen the ol girl up and you'll have a nice rig.

It's kind of buggin me that your light bar isn't perfectly centered though lolll

 

Light bar is perfectly centered there is just a twist in my bumper that makes it look off I promise Lol don't know when I will get around to the lift as this is my daily and I have no prior experience doing this so hopefully it won't be too bad

 

Flushed the heater core today and damn the liquid that came out was black so hopefully no real damage was done

 

Jeep wouldn't start this morning, figures right? So took the wife's car to work and man it is weird driving a little car and not my jeep

Hit a milestone today actual mileage would be 225k because the dash had to be swapped at some point