Wilderness XJ Build
#167
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6L
Hope this helps!
#168
If you dont mind me asking , what is the total parts spend tally right now .. I am looking for a Jeep that i can use as a camping/ wheeling rig and yours seems to to set up quite well .. Are you still open/ open or are you locked in the rear ?
#169
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6L
I've currently put ~$3100 into it (the bulk being five new wheels/tires) and I'm still open. I've had a front locker on my list for quite some time, but then I took it off after realizing I've never been in need of it with this XJ yet. I haven't been stuck enough to warrant using my winch so I decided I'll get lockers when I'm tired of winching myself. The only things left on my short-term list are gears and lights - still unsure when those will happen as I'm in the process of moving and changing jobs.
#170
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Location: Roswell, NM
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
So what did your bds suspension consist of? I know you can customize it on their website and was curious as to what yours had on it.
#172
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6L
After over a year with it hanging on the front waiting to be used, I can finally say the Detours backbone and my winch work quite well. With the recent snow we had, a neighbor got his truck high-centered halfway off his driveway which would also then be halfway down a slight cliff ledge. I had to anchor my XJ to another truck for additional weight and then we were able to pull the neighbor's F250 Super Duty back onto the driveway. He was so thankful that he gave me some boxes of Girl Scout cookies!
#173
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Location: Central Maine
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
The last thing I did before Christmas was my Bushwacker install. The install was pretty easy except very time-consuming. After getting the stock flares and brackets off, I taped the fender up for cutting:
After that, cut and fold, and then primer (and eventually paint):
Install the inner flare for mounting:
And then attach the outer flare:
And now fully installed:
And the side profile for comparison from the original:
Now I just need to flex him out to see what a difference it made...
After that, cut and fold, and then primer (and eventually paint):
Install the inner flare for mounting:
And then attach the outer flare:
And now fully installed:
And the side profile for comparison from the original:
Now I just need to flex him out to see what a difference it made...
#174
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6L
Question for when you did this. After you took the stock flare off, there is also a large black plastic covering that I see you took off aswell. the piece I'm referring to is cover much of the inner wheel well. My question is when you put your bw flares on Did the Flat flares inner flare cover the any open space? My flare on the front drivers side came off and to prevent the plastic covering (not sure of its name) from rubbing my tire I took it off and noticed that it was there to prevent debris from getting to the door hinges/hoses. Kinda made me a bit nervous whether I should have done that. I plan on getting the flat flares soon but wanted to know what your take on this is.
Hope this helps!
#175
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
That helps I just was worried with possible issues in the winter and didn't want salt getting in places I couldn't clean out. Any close up pictures of this coverings and new flares perhaps?
#179
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6L
I've been waiting to get a new battery, but the wait is no more. This weekend my battery stopped holding a charge and my wife doesn't want to use the clutch to start it if she needs to drive it, so I picked up a deep cycle yellow top Optima today. It's been on my list of things to get, but it wasn't this high...
Last edited by WillyXJ; 02-14-2016 at 09:26 AM.
#180
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Location: NH (White Mountain region)
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
I do enjoy the 31s over the 33s I had on my TJ. They are lighter and still big enough to go on the trails I do. I am, however, considering going to 32s (if I have the money) once I run the life out of these tires, but I don't want to go any bigger than that. The 3" lift + 31s makes a versatile combo that is still practical. Also, I'm still running the stock 3.07 gears with my 31s and it's too high - I'm considering 3.73 or 4.10. Just a thought to keep in mind when you're considering your XJ and tire size.
Nice clean functional non-hacked up build! As so many have also said, I'm building a similar style DD I but went in a different direction regarding the flares. I have to have the tires covered (state law) and didn't want to cut the body (yet) so I opted to use OEM wheels and retain the stock flares. Only problem with the 3" lift is that 31's rub the back flares when I'm out in the wilderness. So now I'm thinking about dropping to 30x9.5x15's. I'll be interested to see yours after you put 32's on. May have to go that route eventually or just go back to 31's. Also like seeing the photos of the flat flares on a 3" lift with 31's.
And that Detours winch mount looks great. I have his Tailbone swing away rear bumper (not installed yet).
Keep up the awesome work and the build thread.