Wanted something different
 

So, this is my first build thread, although this is my third XJ. Couple months ago I picked up this 93 4.0 5-speed because I was sick of the auto and wanted some fun back in my driving. Lo and behold, this is what I came home with.

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I bought it from the previous owner that did all the work himself. He bought it in 07 with 200k something on the clock and didn't like the color red, so it became od green with some digi camo.

As it sits now it has:
RE 6.5" springs front and rear
1.5" coil spacer and 2" rear boomerang shackle
Stock front D30HP with a lock-rite and 4.56 gears
Open 8.25 29 spline and 4.56 gears
AJ's super sliders
Custom made front and rear bumpers
Half doors with original full doors

Plans:
Take some lift out! Lower COG is better for me.. I flopped my last XJ
On board air. I'm constantly inflating and deflating my tires.
Steering. It's sketchy with stock steering, and I absolutely hate it.

So, shortly after I got it home, I had to wheel it to start getting a feel for the new rig.
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Not too bad at all! The front has wonderful articulation since the vehicle has absolutely no sway bars, and the Rock Krawler 3 link can really stretch out. I like.

Shortly after, my parents came to visit. I'm from a small town in Minnesota, so southern Arizona was a vacation in the sun! Took my dad out for an afternoon in the Barry M. Goldwater bombing range that runs along the Mexican border. I stayed in the western range closest to Yuma and we even found a couple of the abondoned mines. Aired the tires down to about 20 psi and hit the trail.

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Since I like to check to make sure the long arms still flex, I found a railroad loading dock and decided to see how far I could make it up..

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It would have kept going and I would have tipped it.. so that was good enough for me.

I took the wife with for her first time off road in the new XJ, she's still less than impressed with it.. however, she thought Ellie looked super cute and snapped this:

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I swear almost every time I fill up or head to the parts store, somebody has a question or comment for my rig. I think I'm going to use this comment a little more often..

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SO. I finally got annoyed enough from my exhaust and did some research and ended up with.. an APN header, Walker 55277 down pipe, 2.5" high flow cat and Flowmaster 44 cat back system from performance curve. Then, the anticipation began.

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Its here! Out with the old, in with the new. I went to the local hardware store and got a can of high temp silver paint to spruce things up a bit.

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And then came the install. It didnt fit. I was angry. I ended up grinding a couple spots on the intake manifold before I could get a snug fit against the head.

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I never ended up getting a shot of it all finished up, but it really woke up the tired old 4.0. It sounds great and the butt-dyno measured a couple added ponies.

I've got the same tires. How do you like them?they suck for me... I must not Be using them right LOLOLOL .... Sick jeep tho, I love that half doors and I love the low cog look that you're hopefully going for. Me likey

Honestly, the tires aren't doing too bad at all for me. It's probably my location. I'm in such a dry, rocky climate that they seem to work pretty well especially when I air them down. And thanks!

Well, it's about time I update this thread again. I actually kinda forgot I made one, so I'll start off somewhere around where I left off..

Made it out to Table Mesa Road with a couple friends. Drive the Jeep all the way there and back from Yuma, averaged a steady 14.5 mpg lol. We had no idea where to go or where the good trails were so here's a couple shots we managed to take. That's my buddies sketchy land beast.. an 86 Bronco 2.

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And then wouldn't you know it, one of my friends let his Ford die. Swapping the engine on a stupid duty is no fun.


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I joined the Yuma Trails organization thru Facebook and did my first run with them a while back. Great group of people.

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And then we did a night run

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The summer heat was upon us, so I got a smoking deal on an 01 330i for my daily driver.

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And continued to do a couple more night runs. One of the guys had a super nice portable welding kit that we were able to use to fix a broken drive shaft and a trac bar mount that ripped off the frame of a TJ.


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And as a result of the night, this is the only damage I came home with. Luckily the stock cover held up..

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Then I went home on leave and had a little fun..

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Ended up never using my blazer like I thought I would and sold it. It's an 86 M1009 with the j code 6.2 and probably a 4 inch lift with 35s and a 700r4. Got rid of it for $500 back to the guy I bought it from.

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Came back to AZ and decided to go down around the Colorado river.. all was fine until I actually found a muddy bottom

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My first and only stuck in it so far. I broke the right front u joint getting it unstuck with an 06 2500 HD. That took out the ears of the shaft, but that's alright cuz it was actually the stock shaft from 1993. I sourced a new style inner and outer and did full circle clips but I don't think I took any pics of that.

Got it all back together in time for some rain to finally hit the desert so I took the pup out for a ride. She had more fun than I did

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And then a friend came over with her stock TJ and did pretty good with the 31" BFG a/t's on it

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Finally started making some of my own improvements. I found a Spartan on eBay for less that half price of new since it had a little surface rust from sitting on the shelf so long. Cleaned it up with a wire wheel and installed it.

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I also added a solid diff cover to the front since I smashed the stock cover. Found it local for 40 bucks. Apparently this is the only pic I have of it.

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Then I got a v8 WJ pump for some much needed assist with the 35s. The tear down:

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Since I had to use the newer style intake and tensioner assembly, I went to the jy and got an intake from an 04 wrangler and made it look pretty

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And since the valve cover was cork and was leaking, why not do it since its all apart.

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Cool! Thanks for the good pictures.