4WD4EVER

Well, after 6yrs I guess it's time to compete for COTM, win or lose. Lol!

I purchased this XJ with the goal of making a good thing better and I believe I've succeeded so far, but, it wouldn't have been possible without this forum. A special thanks to Neal, Justin, Jim, Lee, Pete, Tim, Adam, Ken and everyone else I learned something from along the way.

I hope you like Project: Preservation.


















The vitals:

'98 XJ Sport I6
AW4
NP231
Dana 30 frt
Corporate 8.25 rr w/3.55
216k original motor

The add-ons:

RE 240 rate frt coils
RE leafs
RE short-arm fixed lowers
5" lift
4° shims
Bilstein 5100's at the corners
ARB steering stabilizer
33x12.50x15 BFG KO2's
American Racing AR61's
Rocky Road Outfitters CAD
3" extended front brake lines from a mid-90's GMC truck
RE extended rr brake line
Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit
ZJ tie-rod upgrade
Brown Dog poly's
Mean Lemons 4ga cables
703 injectors
jhc7399 headlight harness
Teraflex adj track bar
Driveshafts by North Texas Driveline Supply w/ non-greaseable Spicers
JKS boomerang shackles
RR swaybar delete

Misc:

Mopar radiator
Mopar water pump
Mopar fan clutch
Mopar radiator isolators
Mopar radiator support grommets
Interstate 1000 CA battery
Mopar harmonic balancer
Mopar RMS
Mopar crank seal
Mopar oil pump and screen
Mopar transmission screen
Compression fittings replaced trans line quick disconnects
Mopar water return line
Mopar thermostat
Mopar oil-pressure sending unit
Mopar coolant temp sensor
FelPro valve cover and oil pan gaskets
Dorman CCV elbows and grommets
Advance Adapters SYE installed by Mike's Off-Road in Haltom City, TX
Mopar range fork pads
Accel wires/distributor cap & rotor
Champion copper plugs
Wix 51515 oil filter
Spicer U-joints everywhere it uses them
Timken hubs
Spicer upper & lower ball-joints
DEI heatsoak kit
Combustion chamber steam cleaning
Throttle-body and sensor cleaning
Every electrical connection under the hood has been cleaned
Gate belt and hoses
CJ's Pony Parts stainless steel lower radiator hose spring.
Powder-coated thermostat housing and timing cover
Cloyes timing chain
Mopar timing chain buffers
Mopar oil filter adapter o-rings
Mopar transmission mount
Cherrybomb Turbo muffler
Mopar liftgate bumpers
Liftgate struts
Tinted windows
Moog frt swaybar bushings
AutoZone starter
NTK/NGK O2 sensors
NSS cleaned
Halogen headlamps
Door side moldings removed
Bumpers, caps, fender trim, headlamp bezels and grille refinished in satin black
EngineQuest (EQ) cam gear bolt, pin and spring
30+ hrs of original paint claying, cleaning, polishing and waxing
31" spare tire
More crap than I can remember at my age

Future plans:

Install parts that have been around for over a year now
Custom-made Reflexxions reproduction cowl hood
Rear disc conversion
Gibson header
Mopar 4.7l stroker (if/when the motor blows)
New headliner (the one sore-spot in the interior)

Some gratuitous shots:

SteveMongr

2000 WJ 200,000 miles. Cost $2,000 Everything works.
4.0 motor. 242 TC. 42re transmission.
Two inch lift.
Metallic black spray paint hiding anything chrome.
Modifications are kept simple, bolt-on stick-on or spray-on.
Air compressor under rear seat, all self-recovery gear stowed in spare tire well.

Fuzzy

So, I bought this in November primarily as a Bug Out Vehicle for when SHTF. I didn't realize then just how addicting owning a Jeep was, but I'm definitely hooked! I work on it it constantly to get it where I want it. It's a 98, had 160,000 miles and no issues other than the common rust stuff, but not to bad. It has a 3 1/2" lift, Cooper 33" x12.5" off road tires. It has a D30 front axel that I installed Rock Auto chrome moly axles with super joints and a Lokka locker in. The rear is a C8.25 that has limited slip that's been working great for the things I've been doing off road. I also installed tie rods from a 98 Jeep Grand Cherekee V8 as they are solid, not hollow like the Cherekee's to help beef up the steering along with a new heavier duty steering stabilizer. It also has a Rusty's adjustable track bar. I put on a Affordable Off Road winch bumper and am still waiting on my winch to arrive. I also built my own rock sliders and put them to the test going over some logs and trees last weekend. I put the roof top cargo rack on a couple of weeks ago to carry extra gear and my spare tire. I really didn't want to put the tire up there, but I have a SUV tent that goes over the back and around my bumper so it was my only option. I'll be building and installing small cargo cabinets behind the fender wells soon for extra storage. I also did the cut and fold on the fenders and bolted on Pacer Performance 5" fender flares to try and keep the mud off the windows. This Jeep is a work in progress and once I get my winch, everything I wanted to do for it for the off road capabilities will be done. I'm not planning on doing the hardcore off roading stuff, but I need it to be able to in case of situations.

GUARDIAN

April COTM











2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo.

DRIVETRAIN:
4.0 W\165,000 on the clock.
786 injectors
Cold Air Intake/ (thinking about snorkel)
RE 42 automatic trans
Aux tranny cooler
NP242 (Select-trac) Transfer case
Dana 30 and 35 regeared to 4.56
Limited slip in the rear
Aluminum Diff covers
FlowCooler water pump

SUSPENSION;
2.5 inch "Fat Bob's Garage" lift
5100 series Bilstein Shocks
JKS adjustable tie rod
JKS Quick Disconnects on the front sway bar
IRO fully adjustable short arm kit, Upper & Lower Control arms, front and rear

WHEELS & TIRES;
American Racing 16X8 Ledge aluminum wheels
BF Goodrich 265/75/16 (32's)

OTHER:
Superchip
3 Row all aluminum radiator
Custom bumpers painted to match jeep, "Scorpion 4WD & Offroad" Las Vegas
Smittybilt 9500 winch
LED lights in front and rear bumpers
Rear spare tire carrier
CB Radio
Viair 450p portable compressor
Slotted and drilled rotors

FUTURE MODS:
HAM Radio
Headers
Snorkel or cowl induction

Lowrange2

Vote.

4WD4EVER

Dang! That was quick...ask and ye shall receive. Lol