Jamie57

Well time to start my build thread.
Got a line on a really nice 2dr 2000 XJ. Being sold by the original owner with all work done at dealership. Got every receipt too. Picked it up for $1900 and passed safety and emissions with flying colors. Well they did say it needed 2 ball joints. I replaced them in my driveway and brought it back.
Papers in hand.
I'd sold a 99 that I had got from Florida and my 98 had just blew a water pump.
Right jeep right time.
I had a brand new 88 silver 2 dr. at one time and I just loved it.
I wanted to get started right away but as we all know life has a funny way of intruding on our best plans. After my house rebuild, my Father passing away and my step daughters marriage and with in 3 weeks of buying my new XJ I herniated 3 discs in my back. So I waited.
And waited. And waited.
Finally a clean bill of health, back to work and my Fathers estate paying out a smallish sum, and my wife's blessing I started to gather parts.
She said I had used all the insurance money to pay for everything in the last year I should spend the remainder on my Jeep! Gotta love her!

And that's where I'm at now.
Pictures to follow!

Jamie57

These are my 98 and 99

Jamie57

Figures. "Friends" come over for a few minutes. Drink all my beer ,then leave.
Interrupted my regaling you with my tales.
Maybe tomorrow. Think I had a hand in making that beer disappear.

Jamie57

This is the before shot. I have LT235/75/15 tires on those rims.

This is a 99 Limited I bought for the leather seats overhead console and the HP D30 Going to part out the rest.
Those are the Old Man Emu Medium duty 3.5" springs. All I can say is WOW!

Love that crazy FACTORY bumper thingamajig? I have it sold for $175. Really!

This is one of the rims I purchased to put my 33" tires on when I make up my mind what they are going to be.
They are a 15"X8" rim with 3.75" backspacing. I'm going to try to run 10.5" wide tires but if I can't get them these rims can handle the 12.5"
Bought them brand new from Amazon.com for $375 shipped free to my address in Port Huron MI.

Jamie57

What a difference these springs are over the wimpy stock ones!


And this is my after shot of the installed springs.
No need to show the process as I'm sure you've all seen them done before.
I also have the new shocks on BPEs installed. Still running the stock driveshaft in this pick.
I installed the Hack'n tap the next day.

Jamie57

The front end was done over the last weekend


I'd love to tell you how well it drives but I can't. Someone tried to steal it Sunday night.
I have the factory key immobilizer.
Yes it stops the thief but it really screws you over too.
Been at the dealer since Monday.
Looks like I'm buying a new PCM !

number9

Any update to this thread?

I am researching lifts and really liking what I am reading about the OME and want to hear your thoughts on the lift, which front springs did you go with, how much lift did it settle at, etc......

....

Jamie57

Just got my Wheels and new Wrangler Duratracs installed 33X12.50X15
Will update this thread sometime this weekend.

Jamie57

The whole shop at Bell Tire in Port Huron got involved in working on my Jeep. They ALL wanted to take it for a drive. They even got out their phones and had someone take a picture of themselves sitting in the drivers seat.

My overall impressions of driving on the street so far are really good. I wanted it to feel the same as when it was stock.
It mostly is EXCEPT for the lousy shackle angle which is almost 90°.
There are still some vibrations from the rear drive shaft. Next mod should take care of that.

Have started on cleaning up an 8.25 axle with 4:10s and a locker in it I got back in Dec. I have taken off the spring perches and shock mounts. I am installing new perches with the Anti wrap feature. Basically they are longer than the stock perch. I'll be setting it up so I won't need leaf spring shims. Also because of the new axle angle I'm pretty sure my shocks would be binding at the bottom mounts so I have ordered a new pair of mounts that I can weld on at the tube. No more hanging up on shock mounts.
It's also getting the Disc Brakes I got off a 03 Liberty Renegade I got last fall. Every thing is Bolt on! no stupid mods. I even have emergency brake cables coming for it from Morris 4X4.

I also have a line on a D30 with 4:11s in it. Thought I had bought the carrier and ring and pinion from this guy but it turns out to be the rear D35 that was supposed to be swapped before he wrecked the jeep. At least he's going to take the D35 carrier back and sell me the entire D30.
This way I can put it on stands and freshen it up OUT of the vehicle. I'm a sucker for over kill. It'll have complete new ends on it Ball joints to ujoints to brakes. Then sometime when I save up some more coin I'll get a Spartan for it.

Jamie57

just found my new fender flares

http://notchcustoms.com/

Jamie57

Front bumper maybe?

askingxforxit

JCR all the way! Though I might opt for a bumper from dirtboundoffroad.com because I live only 20 minutes from those guys so id save on shipping cost. But JCR is my first choice.

PocketsEmpty

Nice rig. Love the 2 doors. What are your plans on that little rust ya got there?

Jamie57

Going to clean it up by grinding (or sandblasting if I ever get the compressor I want) and a rust product to be determined. Then a thin coat of Bondo. Then a line of black bedliner, again to be determined that follows the flair bumper line.
I figure the tires are going to kick up stones anyways, might as well make it bullet proof.
Just have to get those Flairs first!

PocketsEmpty

You might want to look into POR15 or Chassis Saver. I'm slathering that stuff all over my XJ! lol