Rybob's 2door build
 

Hello everybody, I'm gonna do my best to photo document my "build" here. This is my white 97 2 door 5 speed XJ. I got it December 2016 after I flopped my previous XJ, and it has 250k miles on the clock! :cool2:

Here it is the day I got it, misfiring and riding like it has no shocks at all, but the body was straight, no rust (AZ Jeep) and I had a soft spot for 2 doors so I bought it. It was lifted 4-5" on 31s.

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Decent Body and Paint

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I brought it home and put it in the garage next to my previous beater (RIP). The interior was absolutely disgusting, the passenger seat frame was broken, headliner missing, and there was soda spilled on almost all of the plastic panels, so I went to work on that. I steam cleaned and swapped my green XJ interior and put a new OEM headliner in.

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I sucked at taking after pics, I'll get back to that! FAIL

Next up I parted ways with my green XJ. I sold it to my buddy who swapped the drivetrain into a 4cyl 2wd Comanche. (I'll post pics of it don't worry). And i kept the suspension/tires and interior.

Terrible nightspot of 33s. Keep scrolling i got better ones

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I MILDLY trimmed the front fenders. I'm still at a crossroads with this, I LOVE the look of stock flares and really don't want to cut this up so i'm looking at other options until i can decide. Right now i just moved the back of the flare back to let the 33s rotate. So far not too bad but i also haven't wheeled too hard and have no front bumper endcaps currently.

Here is how much i trimmed:

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Worry 1,000 times, cut once:

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Final:

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Next was some exterior sprucing up. I had a lot of desert pin striping (some of it was from my shooting trip). I used my polisher and cutting pads. Here is the result:

I know a lot of you are gonna give me flak for this, but i wanted to learn to detail without hurting my other project car that is worth more money so it seemed like a win win :tongue_smilie:

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Stock bumper repainted. I also painted the fender flares and all plastics.

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And here is how she sits now. I haven't touched it since May (I'm currently in beautiful Afghanistan). But I'm using this to get pumped up to install all the parts I've ordered while I'm here :rofl:

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So here is the parts i've got waiting for me when i get home... None of them are crazy changes as far as looks so i'm sorry, but needed to get these done first. All new gaskets (Valve cover, oil filter adapter, oil pan, rear main seal). New airbox hose, clutch, flywheel, wheel bearings, front brakes (drilled and slotted because race jeep and it was cheap), CavFab steering (not alpha series but the middle of the road one). 4:56 gears, solid covers, and a Aussie locker.

Future Plans:
CavFab 3 link
JCR bumpers

Photobucket got me good! I'll get pics fixed ASAP

i personally use imgur, i looked at some of the pictures, build looks clean!

Thanks! I took your advice and used IMGUR, appreciate the kind words I actually was going through your build the other day and am digging it! :cool2:

Looks like you're off to a good start. I have Cavfab's crossover steering and it's amazing. Just be ready to wait

I love it so far you are off to a good start! I dont think i have ever seen a white 2 door

kind of an oddball with no roof rack or side trim moldings. unless thats common? ive never actually noticed but it stands out to me on yours

you should keep your eyes open for a set of rear wing windows. the extra airflow is awesome