12-5-20 Purchased a 1999 Flame Red XJ with ~175k miles . The good :
1. ZERO RUST- YES, NONE.
2. Strong 4.0 engine,8.25" Chrysler rear axle, perfect working AW4 transmission
3. Can't find a dent, other than a little hail on the roof.
4. Nice clean interior.
The bad:
1. Seller says it cuts out and dies when hot- already ordered Mopar crank sensor.
2. The PO took out the headliner and I'm not sure how to put it back together.
3. And.... It's 2WD
The Plan: (plus needed maintenance)
1. Purchase Dana 30, NP231 transfer case, and 4x4 Trans.
2. 3-3.5" lift(looking at IRO)
3. 31x10.5x15" tires.
4. Redo stereo, speakers, etc.
5. Drive the wheels off.
Going to pick up a running and driving, but rotten donor tomorrow. It's a 98 4.0,4x4,AW$, so should be everything I need and it will be super handy to have a parts Jeep around for all the little stuff.
Going to pick up the parts Jeep in the morning. Also....
Ordered an Iron Rock Off Road 4" Premium Short Arm lift kit with full replacement leaf springs, adjustable upper and lower control arms, double shear trackbar, new coil isolators, upper control arm bushings, and Pro Comp 9000 shocks.
Pulled the drivetrain last night and the front axle today and started the cleaning process. The parts Jeep was a rusty mess, but I still think I'll be better off than if I bought individual components from a salvage yard.
Even the front axle has some rust near the passenger side coil bucket that I am going to have to weld and reinforce. I think the plan is to strip it and take it to be sandblasted and install lower control arm skids and an upper control arm reinforcement, then go ahead and do ZJ steering and new ball joints.
Some new parts came in today as well. Shocks, coil isolators, upper control arm bushings.
Pics because, why not...
Yeah, you have to wonder just how much metal is going to be left to support the coil after the sandblaster gets done with it...Fixable ? yes... But as you've already stated if there's one in the boneyard for a good price I'd probably take the easy way out and snag one that won't need the extra work...
Yeah, you have to wonder just how much metal is going to be left to support the coil after the sandblaster gets done with it...Fixable ? yes... But as you've already stated if there's one in the boneyard for a good price I'd probably take the easy way out and snag one that won't need the extra work...
No argument from me, but I bought this to be a project to get myself off the couch and back into fabricating/working in my shop. I will make it clean and stronger than stock..
Rear lift complete with out breaking a single bolt. . Gonna finish the rebuild on the front axle tomorrow( new ball joints, steering, etc) and do the front suspension and axle install.
Nice progress.. I bet you feel lucky to be one of the few who could get the rear lift on there without breaking a single bolt... Good job !! Heck, I broke two bolts just trying to get the rear bump stops off mine...
Nice progress.. I bet you feel lucky to be one of the few who could get the rear lift on there without breaking a single bolt... Good job !! Heck, I broke two bolts just trying to get the rear bump stops off mine...
Ya, I sprayed everything with PB Blaster a week ahead of time, but I'm still counting my blessings.
I like the flame red color...No rust is a big plus..A little maintenance is better than a rusty candidate ... 
