Ultimate Budget XJ?
 

First, I see all these threads about people building up a Jeep in a very tight budget but then they tend to end up dropping thousands of dollars on top of the price of the Jeep. When I bought this Jeep I didn't really know what I wanted to do, but about 6 months in I wanted to get a bone stock 97+ Cherokee and make it a daily/capable trail rig. HOWEVER, I am in college and I have pretty limited funds(well working 2 jobs) so thats where the budget plays in. I want to document how much I am spending(as much as possible) and I want to keep my costs down as much as possible but having top quality stuff. I am pretty much willing to beg, trade or or drive a few hours if its a good deal.
I had to be very patient waiting for sales and steals on Craigslist.

SO
My Jeep. I found what I think is a steal:
I found a 1999 Cherokee with the police package with just a hare over 100k. 1 owner and maintained by the city.
I was able to get the skid package, LSD rear, manual windows, rubber floor instead of carpet, a plow mount, and a few other misc. stuff.
I found it at a car lot for 2,000(plus all the fees).....but I love "negotiating" so I stood firm and walked out the door with a new to me Jeep titled, taxed, and plated in my name for 1600.
I then did a tune up and changed the fluids and some sensors ~100 more dollars.
I then sold the plow mount for 175 + a kicker sub(this will come into play later on)
I sold the flares for I think about ~100
and scrapped all the wiring from all the lights for ~20 bucks.
I bought an overhead console from a fellow member for 75 to my door, the harness was messed up and I am still looking for one.
I bedlined the overhead console, redid my headliner and picked up a soundbar (10 bucks)and bedlined that as well. I had about 20 bucks in that project.

I traded that kicker sub for a set of brand new 5.25 Blaupunkt speakers(for the sound bar) and a bunch of heavy wiring. I feel like I came out ahead and didn't have to spend a dime. I bought a set of Pioneer 6.5s for my doors for 40 bucks. I also found someone selling a BRAND NEW pioneer in the box head unit with iphone plug and all the good stuff. I talked him down to 20 bucks and a dash kit and harness adapter was another 20.
I had a set of shackles from a previous Jeep so I threw them on because my rears were sagging a bit.

Sorry for the lack of pictures thus far, I didnt think to take them when I was doing stuff but I will post the finished product when I can.

I picked up x91j's old Rustys lift for 150 and 60 bucks for new bushings so I was about 210 in the lift.
I went to the badlands with some guys from my 4x4 club (I was still stock) and I felt like I kept up pretty well until here:(see below picture)


I had to get pulled out and I thought my alternator was fried but it turns out I guess It wasnt. It was just my battery. I got a new Delco battery for my birthday and replaced my alternator just to be safe (another 100 bucks)

I also had Ares Fab shop make me up a pretty awesome roof rack and tire mount. I love it and I have had some weight on it. He gave me a deal on that since it was a "prototype". I love it and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking. I will post pictures further on in the thread.

This takes me pretty much up until October 2012.

Before I started the lift I was about 2000 in the Jeep as it sits now.
I got a long arm kit from someone who made a radius arm kit for 400 bucks to my door with the cross member and all that.
I traded my ipad for an 88 Wagonner that had some pretty sweet (set of 5 matching) American Racing 15x10 rims that I cleaned up, stripped and painted black. It had 2 good (almost new) Mastercraft 33x12.5x15s.
I made about 1000 on parting out the jeep and on top of that I kept the shocks, tires and rims and aftermarket back bumper. I think I made out pretty well.
My Canon doesnt want to cooperate with me right now, I will try to pull those pictures off ASAP.

Here's how the rims were and how they turned out.
I got a wire wheel on a drill and knocked off all the loose stuff and got paint stripped and stripped the clear coat off and wire wheeled them again and I painted them with 3-4 coats each. I think they turned out pretty good.

More pictures to follow tomorrow:guns:

Some good wheeling and dealing. iPad for wagoneer? Nice.

I wouldn't mind seeing some pics of overhead console and sound bar bed lined. I was thinking of doing it with the ones I have.

Just seen you're in Indiana, I'm in Indianapolis, colts fan? :D

I'm liking the concept. I'll be watching this one. my rig started out as a budget build but I quickly over spent. any long term plans? or just taking the good deals as they come

This is definitely my kind of build, way to be thrifty!

I got my rokee for 1600 taxed titled and everything also, but it had more miles, and didnt have the LSD rear. Im just in a few grand now and its a pretty decent rig.

I'll get some pics of the sound bar and over head console up as soon as possible.
I have a ton of pictures on my camera but I keep getting an error message when I try to upload them.

I'm in mine really cheap. I have cost break down on my build thread.

Here are a few shots of how my Jeep sat before I started to tear down for the build

I like to build rather than buy things if possible (Cheaper and better quality in most cases) however I needed to buy a few tires and Summit was having a sale on the Spectre cowl filter system and free shipping and other free stuff so I couldn't pass it up. I am going to do a brief write up on it.

The install was pretty straight forward and took me about a half hour:
I cut a hole (3 Inch) in the firewall, and mocked up everything before screwing everything in.
I removed the sock air box, just the 3 bolts, and then put the adapter sleeve on the throttle body. I forgot to mention that I picked up a bored out one for almost nothing.
I assembled the tubing and filter and put all the rubber sleeves and clamps on. It was pretty easy.
I tightened everything down, and that was that. It really was as simple as that.
I love the way it sounds and it is pretty functional.

Pictures continued

Pictures continued-final product