Project "Neglected"
 

Neglected comes from a line of POs that well, didn't mechanical neglect her, but didn't show her the love and time she deserved/deserves.

And well to be honest, I feel I'm falling along those same lines.

I bought this jeep as a project since I already had a DD. Picked it up off a good friend on mine for 1200$ Back in late 2013.

When I got her, she already had some work done.
4.5" lift of mixed components, 2x6 rocker mod, removable doors, cut and folded quarters and lowers...ect. But had not been driven in quite some time.

She fired up with alittle hesitation and stalled the first few times. After about 3 try's and some fresh fuel she shook off the where'd you come from dust, and purrrd like kitten getting it's ears scratched.

"A project that remains drivable, remains top priority" - unknown.

I find this very true. My last Xj was also my DD and anytime I started a new mod, it got finished same day or same weekend.

This Xj, well not so much. I made the mistake of starting a new "mod" before the first was finished. Which then lead to pulling the same bull**** again, so I now have like 8 projects started, and non complete.

All she really "needed" when I got her was an adjustable track bar, brakes gone thru, tune up, and few minor things. Of course that's not to course of action I took.

And I guess this is where it will start.

Build plan(no specific order):
33-35" tires
Locked front (minimum)
Shackle relocation brackets
Floor pan replacement
Redo 2x6 rockers and build mini boatsides
Frame stiffeners
Address weak stock steering
Bedline interior
Recovery points

I feel this plan is reasonable and should be completed in time for blessing of the jeeps 2014.

After the blessing she will get wheeled a few more times or until I break something. Then it's back under the knife.

Plans:

Gas tank relocation
Long arm upgrade (Clayton, or serious)
Cage
Full widths
38-40s
Full hydro steering
Possibilities of 4link double triangulated rear
Full belly skid

I'm sure I'm missing stuff here and there but that's what I'm working towards.

Apparently my phone won't let me post pictures Right now, but I will add some asap.

One of the first things I did was tear the carpet out of the hatch area and find out what kind of michigan rot if be working with. Thankful there wasn't much at all (Also surprising)

I ground all the paint off and little bit of rust there was down to bare metal and tryed out the spray on bedliner. I do not like it very much..seems weak and like it wouldn't be very scratch resistant but I guess il find out!

Next I removed all the seats/carpet and found some typical michigan rot. Yay (not)

Ground and bedline'd under the rear seats since that area was in nice shape also

Found a set of street locks and 33s with decent tread on Craigslist for 200$ so I grabbed them up. I like the look of street locks, just wish they were real.

Started my floor pan replacement on drivers side. Orders the pans from rockauto can't beat 40$ a pan so I Ordered both left and right front pans. I figure if the passenger rear is that bad once I start grinding it down I can just use a piece of flat scrap I have laying around and massage as necessary. This is as far as I got on this to date. Ended up moving shortly after starting this and she now sit in a small one stall garage with not much work room.

Another thing I learned, double check all your measurements before you cut/drill. I'm left with quite a few holes that didn't line up because I didn't double check.

On the trailer for the move

Drove it down the the gas station sitting on a cinder block just to add a few gallons of fresh full.

Order all new ball joints from rock auto. I skimped out and got cheapos. 8$ a piece. Such a deal, I bought two of each one and still ended up cheaper then 4 higher quality. I know il prolly get hit for that one, but that's why I bought a spare of each. so I do have one readily available for when it pops. And at that point il prolly go quality, or just step up my axles.

Got my ruff stuff x-over steering kit, track bar heims, track bar DOM, axle side track bar bracket and frame side offset bracket

Decided I'd pull the knuckles off and drill for the new steering, glad I got ball joints, both upper separated during removal.

Did all my measurements and mocked up the steering and trac bar. installing and pulling that axle is a work out. Even with and extra set of hands. Pretty much have it down to a science now though. Can have it in and all hooked up in about 10mins. Doesn't count torquing anything down though.

Keep us updated....
 

Love to see these, and I'm planning on chronicling my 89's resurrection soonly.

Picked mine up as an exchange for a tenant that left owing me dough. Boneyard motor swapped in, few small repairs, and I sold to the stepson for his first DD for exactly one chocolate-covered, chocolate-filled donut (exactly what I paid for my first car in 1982).

Although he somewhat tried, he couldn't show this thing the love it deserved. He just picked up a different DD, so I bought it back yesterday. Mine's gonna be a slower project, as the wife and I drive over the road. Need to build a garage, too. HATE wrenching outside.

BTW, I'm a little west, in the 231. I understand the Michigan rot.

Good skill, and keep us updated.

AJ

Cleaned up the good ol white body shocks and painted them forest green to match my steering and control arms 3$ a can...perfect for the dings and scratches these components will get

Tax money came in so I order and received my HDoffroad shackle relocation brackets, lock right front locker, and HDoffroad full frame stiffeners