She's a Rust Free '99 XJ Classic that We picked up in November for $2,000 .

It is currently running a 3" Tuffcountry Ez ride lift, and 31x10.50 Dick Cepek Moutain Cat Mud terrains on 15x8 Ultra wheels ( Lift and Wheels were installed by the Previous Owner )

I will be building this Jeep in Phases , The first Phase will completed over January, and Febuary 2012. If it was not for Christmas I would have started in December !







Phase One:

RE 3.5" Coils, RE 3.5" full leaf packs, Bilstein 5100 Shocks, , Rock Sliders, IRO Front Tow hook system, Steel Brake lines, RE ADJ Tracbar, ADJ Upper & Lower control arms , Sterring Boxbrace.

Phase 2: Rigid winch bumper, Warn VR8000, JCR rear bumper, . (Winter 2012/Spring 2013)

Phase 3 will be Re-gearing to 456 with Eaton E-locker up front and a detroit in the rear , TNT or clayton longarm and 33's



Sofar I have made some progress. I have replaced the factory radio, An speakers with a JVC headunit, and JVC speakers in the doors an soundbar.

I had got some RE 3.5" coils for christmas (Little Jeeper Approved)


After driving the XJ at night for the first time on Monday night I realized how pathetic the lights are at night. I can not have my wife driving around with my son not being able to see the road when it is dark outside !

To solve this issue I had ordered a set of Autopal E codes, and a Putco Headlight harness. I will get some Before/After pics of the lighting upgrades once they get here and installed.

Now an update on the suspension, I was going to order the RE leafs, U-bolts, Degree shims, and Adj Tracbar at work yesterday, However I ran into a slight issue. The supplier at work I would get the parts from is closed until the 2nd for inventory/remodeling So I will be getting them on the 2nd of January.

In February I wll order the Bilstein 5100 shocks, an get the new lift installed

Once we get our tax returns we will be replacing the wheels on the Jeep with a set of Procomp's simulated beadlock's, Rocksliders, Diffcovers, and Towhooks.

Then she will be clear for going Wheeling !

 

sounds like a good plan! keep us posted on the progress!

 

My wife and I took the XJ Wheeling the other day for it's first time at RattleSnake on 5 Mile Pass, I must say wheeling with a XJ and Auto is way too easy compared to a SWB Wrangler with a manual ! The tires did great I was expecting sub-par performance but they surprised me and stuck on the rocks like glue, And on a few Steep hill climbs that were somewhat loose no slippage at all ! My wife didn't take pics of the XJ on rocks when I was driving cause she was busy with our son. But I did manage to get a few pics of her Wheeling it which was also her first time in the drivers seat ! I can say that the Tuff country lift on The XJ has sagged about 1" so its really around 2" of lift. The Tires do Rub the trim on the bumper endcaps, and it rode like Crap compaired to my TJ, And YJ on Much harder And Rockier Trails . I can not wait to get the new Springs & Shocks Installed .

Today I got my new RE 3.5" Leafs and RE ADJ Trac bar, I tried to order on the 26th but my supplier was closed until today for remodel/inventory. I'll Add pics of the Springs and Tracbar later !

Sadly I wont be able to afford the Bilstein 5100's until next month Febuary is looking like we will get Shocks, Wheels, Sliders, And the Lift installed. Maybe a House with a Garage to park it in too if everything works as planned within the next few months :2thumbsup:

Pics:

 

Miata's make great parts haulers,Well atleast XJ Part Haulers !

Here are my new RE 3.5" Leafs and Re ADJ Tracbar on thier way home from work with me !




Little Jeeper Approved Yet Again !



Here's my Pile of Parts sofar :




I wish I would have learned to piece together lifts a long time ago ! Here is a break down of how much I am into all my Suspension so far !

RE 3.5" coils $ 99.00
RE 3.5" Leafs $ 86.00 (X2)
RE Adj. Tracbar $ 104.00
-------------------------------
Total : $ 375.00

 

great pictures love the one with Jr. wheeler checkin out the new parts.

 

Thanks He had a blast wheeling too.

*Update*

I just checked my E-mail for tracking info for some stuff I ordered. Friday I should be getting my Putco Headlight Harness, and AutoPal E Codes !

 

I scored a Freebie today from my coworker.

 

I received my AutoPal E-codes today, Along with my Putco H4 harness which is still at the Apartments leasing office since I missed both UPS and The Apartment Staff before I came home from work.

So here my Pile of Parts I received today !

AutoPal Ecodes , and Stainless Steel Extended Brakelines for the front of the XJ

 

Nice Jeep man! Let me know how those shocks work with the RE 3.5in lift. I have the RE 3.5in lift, but I have pro comp ES3000 shocks and I feel every little bump. Its not bad in the front, but the back is super harsh. Part of that could be my terrible shackle angles, but still, I've been looking pretty strongly at getting the 5100 shocks and maybe a shackle relocation bracket.

Good luck! and I can't wait to hear how it turns out!

 

The 5100's are great shocks I ran them on my TJ, and YJ The only other shocks I would run are OME Nitrocharger. Your Procomp ES3000's are Rancho 5000's which are Hydro shocks and known to be stiff as hell I learned that while I worked for 4wheelparts. But a $100 shock will always out perform a $30 shock in ride quality and performance .

 

I had finally got around to installing my AutoPal E Codes and Putco H4 harness today, It took me about an hour to install the harness and Headlights along with adjust the headlights. I never took any before shots because it was an after thought. Here's the pics of me Putting the Jeep back together and Light output. The lights are noticbly brighter and more white even with the Autopal 55/60watt bulbs which I've read that the bulbs suck. Once they burn out I'll install some Piaa Xtreme White bulbs. Sorry for the poor quality pics I had took them with my cellphone since the battery's for my camera are charging






Low Beam :


High Beam:


Low Beam:


High Beam:


Low Beam:


High Beam


Low Beam:


High Beam:

 

I just ordered my Rock sliders form Terry at Rigid ( www.rigidco.com ) They only ran $200 and no shipping since I am local.

This is what they look like:

 

let me tell you friend peicing lifts together is smartest thing ever! i peiced my long arm kit together last year and saved myself about $500. good looks on the jeep and the little jeeper approved is a great add as well haha

 

Thanks, This is the 3rd Jeep I build, I learned on my 2nd Jeep (The YJ) that piecing together a lift is a lot cheaper, An you get better components.

If all works out this time next year I will have a TNT Long-arm Upgrade on the XJ

 

i the family jeep, way to save some cash, all my stuff on my jeep is custom and used so its cheep anyhow. idk if u concider it piecing together, i also dont run shocks, mud truck only, she aint street leagle and im not paying for a tag/isurence/tire issues, so therfor it is not on the road so i dont think it needs shocks, it would be nice but mines a budget build