Since I'm finally about to get my XJ where I envisioned it more than a year ago, I figured now would be a good time to start a thread for myself.

Flashback a year and a half ago, it was at stock height with a bunch of small upgrades. Smittybilt nerf bars, rain guards, bug deflector, Sony Xplod rear speakers, and a terrible exhaust. Over the past year, I have been getting it into solid mechanical condition before doing the things that I really want to do to get it trail ready. Here's a short list of what I've already done.

- Removed nerf bars and bug deflector. My dog took care of one of the rain guards, which I now have 3/4 of them.
- Complete tune-up. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor
- Transmission and coolant flush
- Cleaned NSS to fix back-up lights not working
- Tinted all lamps with VHT night shade
- Replaced headlights with Sylvania Silverstar and all exterior bulbs
- Replaced weak hatch shocks with new StrongArm shocks
- JVC head unit, 4 Kicker 5.25" speakers
- Complete new exhaust. Parts included APN exhaust manifold, Walker down pipe, Magnaflow catalytic converter, Bosch upstream and downstream o2 sensors, Flowmaster series 40 muffler and tailpipe from Performance Curve
- Cleaned throttle body, IAC to cure rough idle
- Installed K&N filter in stock airbox. Not planning on changing this.
- Installed Optima red top battery

There's probably more that I have done, but that's as good as my memory can do right now.

Upcoming work:
- Install either 3" or 4.5" lift kit. Still deciding on manufacturer
- 31x10.5x15 BFG AT tires
- 703 fuel injectors
- Diagnose and repair all electrical problems (front speakers, door/window locks, fog lights, etc.)
- Replace all hard brake lines
- Repair non-working electric fan
- Another coolant flush
- Repair holes in floor pan
- Repair rust spots on and around rain gutter
- Replace sagging headliner
- Possibly front Aussie Locker

I live in upstate New York. Most people will never understand how much rust we get on vehicles around here. It makes everything so much more difficult to work on, and the rust literally eats up everything you put on the vehicle. If my updates don't come as often as they should, I apologize ahead of time. Unfortunately certain things come before the Jeep. In addition to my full time job as a remodeler, I also take on side work for extra cash. My girlfriend and I are closing on our house April 25th. So there may not be as much in the way of funds for a while. We'll see how this goes. Here's a few pics in the meantime.

 

Stock / Nearly stock





Lens tinting and light replacement

Remember how I told you about New York rust?










Upgrades

Fixed NSS


Optima red top


JVC head unit


Kicker speakers / Sagging headliner


Complete exhaust


Exhaust installed


Cleaned TB and IAC

 

Yea i live in the Adirondacks, its impossible to find cars without rust up here unless there brand new. What Lift manufacturers are u deciding between?

 

Problem Areas

Rusty lines galore


Sagging headliner


Brown coolant


Parts rusted out


Gutters... Passenger side is the worse of the two




How my XJ sits right now

Winter wheels and tires. Needed new tires to pass inspection and they only cost me $100 for the set. I know, I know. They're hideous.


*** end


And completely off topic

My 2 year old pitbull / rottweiler mix, Fenway.

 

Unfortunately I'm between Rusty's, Rough Country, and Zone. Would love Rubicon Express 3.5" but with the house coming up, gotta be tight with the cash. Either way, I'm looking at new leafs which will certainly add to the price.

 

cool

 

rustys all day nice jeep rust looks fixable

 

how do you like those headlights?

 

Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. Lots going on with the house and my job. I'm I'm Boston this weekend and dropped it off (yeah, I know) to get the lift installed. After much deliberation, I went with Rusty's 3" leaf pack. Mike at m4wd just sent me this picture. I'm so excited to get back home to see and drive it!

 

looks good man, i like the clean look

 

I got rust issues here in ct too, same rain gutter rust and lines under car. I'd be interested in knowing how you fix the gutter rust whenever you get to it.

 

Looks good...question though.
Where did you get that downpipe from the end of the header to the cat?

 

I plan on cutting out in infected metal with a drenel, stuffing the area with steel wool, and coating with bondo. That might be this weekends project - weather permitting.

I got the downpipe off amazon. I'm not too thrilled with the bends on it but for 30 bucks its not too shabby. By ordering everything online I figure I saved almost half from buying locally.

Between the complete exhaust, k&n air filter (stock airbox), and 703 injectors, I went from getting 14 mpg to 21 mpg. Driving like a grandma of course, but still such a great improvement.

Plans for the future include:
BFG A/T 30's or 31's (undecided but will probably go with 31's) on Cragar v5 15x8 wheels
Upper and lower control arms
JKS ACOS in the front and shackles on the rear
Swaybar quick disconnects
SYE / driveshaft
Aussie locker for my Dana 30

 

Gotcha okay, well then did you get a header as well? If so is that another amazon deal? I am in the market for a new header and downpipe right now and I am just seeing what other people are running.

 

The header is from apn. Lots of guys here have them. Some run into problems with 99+ exhaust manifolds. I didn't run into many problems at all.