so i picked up a really clean 2WD XJ a little over a week ago for my GF who just turned in her lease.
(please dont shame me on the 2WD. all the 4WD prices within 150 miles of So-Cal are insane. 200k-250k miles for 6500-7500)

anyway this one did need a bit of TLC but had a really great list of recent work including:

new radiator & electric fan
head gasket
oil pan gasket
rear main seal
valve cover gasket
transmission output seal
front and rear brakes
3 new tires (2 rears are mounted and i have 1 loose new tire but someone stole the 4th tire the PO bought before he could get them installed)

bright side:
power windows and locks work
all doors open and shut smooth (no body twist)
ac works
really clean interior
cruise control works



So ended up picking it up and of course the AC wasn't working and it was throwing a CEL but a quick search and found it was literally just changing a fuse

So no more CEL.
AC is ice cold.

Replaced a headlight ballast
Replaced the buggered up battery terminals
Threw on a cheapo light bar with windshield mount ($89 via Amazon)
Wired the light bar to the factory fog switch
eBay roof rack ($112)
Installed some low milage take off XJ Rubicon shocks ($25)
Raised the rear to highest setting on the shackles

i think the rear leaf packs are tired and i should look into picking up a bastard pack or at least another stock set
also may grab a set of black AR-23 wheels and 31" tires locally this week for a deal too good to pass up


anyway we decided to spend Christmas at Joshua Tree National Park and camped on BLM land in the XJ.
needless to say we love this thing!!!

pics from the weekend

XJ was great. no issues at all.


abandoned truck on the trail


sunset at barker dam on Sat


waking up Sunday on BLM land north of the park




Jumbo Rocks


Desert Queen Mine


found a couple of mines we could get into...didnt go very far since its 100 years old and creepy AF




Sunset at Keys View on Sunday


and of course...

 

Great pics and a good looking XJ.

 

Sharp looking XJ, maybe in the future you will get the "mod" bug and swap in front axle from another Cherokee. That would probably be pretty cheap, even with the So-Cal jeep tax


Don't forget to change all the fluids (trans and rear axle I guess), and bleed the brakes to get fresh fluid in the lines. Maybe power steering fluid too, and a quick tune up (NGK copper spark plugs, clean the throttle body and IAC). Throw some new 4-hole injectors in there if you feel the need. Then just upgrade and fix as things come up

 

I'm diggin the wheels that's on it now, I wouldn't change them.

 

this weekend we took a trip to Red Rock Canyon State Park area.

Did some reading about the Burro Schmidt Tunnel and Walt Bickel Mining Camp on BLM land a bit north of the park.

It was roughly 10 miles of very light 4WD trails with no problems at all. Mostly just light rocky climbs and loose sand in the wash areas., either way the 2WD XJ did great





set up camp Sat near the Schmidt cabin

Schmidt campsite" target="_blank">[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4686/39455282541_b9e5ded014_k.jpg%5b/img%5d%5b/url%5d%5burl=https:/flic.kr/p/237wCU6%5dBurro Schmidt campsite

Burro

Burro