Juan4you

Have a 96 4.0 HO 4x4 4 door. About to ditch my RC lift and go with Serious complete long arms. The more stuff that falls off the more rust I find! The more bolts I try to remove, more are broken and seized!
The wife came up with, what I think is a great idea. I have a stripped 89 2 door shell. Has glass and steering column, that's it!. No doors or fenders. It also has no rust!
When I get my kit, thinking of just mounting on the 2 door and then swapping everything over. Engine Trans axles, and some interior. This way I can build a roll cage, rhino line the floors, build the engine up a bit. Reaching a goal of a clean, very capable rig... And maybe complete. Am I insane????

bhennessee1

It would be a huge pain because of the remix to ho engine swap, you would have to take every piece of the wiring out of you jeep and swap it into the 2 door. Other than that it wouldn't be bad.

Juan4you

I would have to take the wiring. The shell literally only has side glass, rear hatch w/glass, and steering column. I'll post pics of it tomorrow. Just think of it as ready for a restoration paint job!

bhennessee1

If your xj isn't your dd, and you are ok with it being out of commission for a while, I don't see a reason not to do it. You will have to find some 2 door doors though, 4 door doors won't fit. That is if you want doors, I could say doors again if you like.

2doors

I would do it. If you keep the harnesses attached, it's not that hard at all. Time consuming, but not hard.

Juan4you

You need to explain the door thing again cuz all those doors hit me confused with the doors... Jk, lol









the body is very straight. I'm thinking it will take a year...at least. Fortunately business has been very good lately, which means more lil upgrades a things are put back together. Braking, steering, engine performance and maybe some racing seats I just found on CL!

2doors

Wow. I didn't realize you meant NOTHING but the body and steering column lol. I thought you were talking about a rolling chassis. I'd still do it.

Juan4you

Hey, for $40 I can't complain. I originally wanted it for a full width, offroad use only. The shell is just too clean to go hardcore and the 96 is all beat up...I can't even remove the rear bumper and spring shackles! So I'm gonna build one from scratch ;-) my concern is the wires and all the damn brittle vacuum hoses.

bhennessee1

If replace the vacuum lines 1 at a time before you start taking anything off. It would be easier than figuring out where all the broken ones go when the break.

Juan4you

We'll see how it goes. I'm gonna start with coating underneath and getting it ready for suspension...engine bay will be the last thing on my list.

bhennessee1

Sure you don't wanna go the engine bay work while its low so you don't need a step ladder and a crane to install the engine? Lol

Juan4you

Haha, I'm only going 5.5". My buddy has a cherry picker, I actually have it right now. Bout to pull the motor on the family van and put a blower on it...the Wifey doesn't like getting passed up in the freeway.

Juan4you

Only kidding about the blower. Needs new crank, timing chain and gears. While it's out replace all seals and gaskets.

So for under the body, anyone have any tips for prepping it and spray? Wire brushing it? Special spray, or rhino line?