X1994J

Thought I'd share some of the upgrades i'm working on this month. My XJ is getting to the point where I have quit driving it as a daily driver and will be looking for a trailer and tow rig in the next year. It still goes down the freeway fine, it's just not a "comfortable" ride anymore. Eventually I see it getting rolled / flopped, at which point it will get turned into a Chero-buggy. Any comments, suggestions, input is welcome and appreciated. Here we go...

Started with this...



To start I painted this for my buddy...


He in turn is building me these.....
HALF DOORS! Should be pretty sick finished.

I also need to get this mounted up and plumbed in the rear cargo area, 10 lb. CO2......
Purchased it when i built the bead locks, I knew i'd be able to air down ridiculously low and wanted to be able to air back up on the trail.

My buddy built this front bumper, I will be painting cleaning it up and painting it silver to match the bead locks and suspension components.


I picked this up for the new front bumper.... Always wanted a winch!

Also got some Unibody stiffeners, dont have any pics but I will post some up when installing them.

Have to have it all done by the 18th for a Moab trip. I'll keep you all updated!

94xjstud

Looks like some good stuff ahead. But waiting to roll, then adding a cage, not a great idea.

XJ?2010

Nice looking rig man cant wait to see that bumper and those doors on

X1994J

Yes, you are correct, not a great idea at all. I'm working towards some exo-caging. I try to be as careful as I can, I've had two different buddies flop their XJ's this summer. It's crazy the amount of damage a small flop can do to an XJ. Hopefully I can get some protection before it happens to me.

X1994J

UPdate fromt last night... got the rear bumper prepped and painted silver. I'll get some pics of that tonight when I'm installing it.

Got the holes on the front bumper drilled out and cleaned up (they were cut out with a PLasma previous) Thanks to a nice drill press at work and a 1-1/2" bit it made quick work of them. Cleaned the rest of the bumper up, primed and painted it. Installed the fairlead.

Tonight I hope to get both bumpers installed, the winch mounted and wired up. I'll get some more pics then.

Front Bumper...

mobilecherokee4

thats some good lookin stuff there, cant wait to see it all done

X1994J

Well, last night was fun. I got both the front and rear bumpers on. The front one kicked my butt a little bit. At one point I got a little close to the radiator with the grinder, I nicked the end cap on the radiator and put a hole in it. So I yanked the radiator out last night. Going to head over this morning and have it fixed. I am sure they can braze / repair it to like new. It's a 3 row that's only a few months old. I can only imagine the wife's reaction if I told her I needed ANOTHER radiator.
I didnt get the winch mounted up yet, it fits between the grille and the bumper perfect. Nice tight fit. I'm happy about that.
Here's a few pics....


Winch mocked up....


Rear...
:headbanger:

nick_n_ii

Nice looking front bumper.

But

You might have cooling issues now. I've seen a few XJ's here in MI with bumpers of close to that shape. And after installing them they would over heat.

Just something to keep in mind.

X1994J

I have seen this also. I run a 3 row radiator and a 3" cowl hood. Currently right now I run so cool I barely have a heater in the winter. I sit at 200 deg. in 100 degree weather idling in traffic, and it runs about 180 going down the road in the same weather. Needless to say i'm optimistic I shouldnt have any problems with over-heating. If I do.. I'll let you guys know.

cjj98xj

Nice. Stratton make that? I need a hoop for the bumper I am making. I may have to get with him to bend me something up.

X1994J

Yes sir, it is a product of KrazyFab. Hit him up, he'll bend ya some tubing.

X1994J

Guess i'll throw an update on here. Got my winch mounted and wired up. Works great, had to use it a couple times this weekend on my buddy. Also got my CO2 setup done, no pics installed yet, but it's all done. Have a few pics from my trip to moab over the weekend. we ran Elephant Hill Friday, Metal Masher Saturday, then played around in Area BFE Sunday before heading home.

CO2 Setup:


My damage list:

-Another CB antenna and Mount, need to get it moved somewhere else.
-Destroyed left rear tail light on a hill on Metal Masher.
-Have my unibody plated with 1/4" at the steering box, between that and my new bumper mounting brackets the bolts were too short, the bottom two bolts pulled out. Luckily some longer bolts and I was back in business.
-5 minuted before we were ready to head home I toasted my tranny on a ledge in Area BFE. I think i possibly tore the front pump out, ATF is pouring out the bottom of the bell housing.

Here's a few pics...

Rock Chucker on Metal Masher, walked it 1st try...



Hill on MM....

Elephant Hill Trail....





Here's a fews of Area BFE, if you ever go to Moab, spend a day here!



Here's where I got to use my winch for the 1st time... my buddy almost flopped it!

humboldt2door

sweet rig. I like how high and tight your spare sits up there on your rear bumper tire carrier. great departure angle

X1994J

Thanks man, and yes it does make for a great departure angle.

So here's the plan:

1- Pull the Crossmember, transmission, and transfer case.
2-Weld on Uni-Body Stiffeners.

3-Install SYE... ordered one of these today.....




4-Install Used trans, t-case, and cross member WITHOUT the T-case drop this time.
5-Install XJ Front driveshaft in place of old rear shaft.

I figure while it's apart I may as well get it all done and do it right. I'm hoping to tear it apart this weekend. Wish me luck.

humboldt2door

Good luck!
Always better to do it right when you can afford it.