Alright. My big XJ is fun, no doubt. When it works, which is rare. Its just very old, and very, very neglected. I built it on a budget because of this, but I spend way, way more time working on it then I do wheeling it. And when I do get to go offroading, it costs a pretty penny to transport it, whether trailer or otherwise. It's useless on the road, would never see DD use like I had origionally hoped. It just sits and leaks, and rusts away. So I'm at a cross roads.

I had more fun in my past smaller XJ's, with shorter lifts and 31" - 33" tires. I enjoyed them because I got to drive them everyday. She's old and worn, and really running on borrowed time.

So here's where I'm at. I can't justify the countless hours of wrenching, in the little spare time I have, when ultimately I'd rather be on the trails. If I were to sell it as is, I'm not sure how much I'd get for it. I certainly know no where near what I have into it. The other option would be to part it out.

But either way leaves me with my 2wd DD XJ. Now I want 4x4, so I'd sell off the 2wd one, and pick up a 4x4. Then I had another idea.

My 95' 2wd is in great shape. Runs like a top, almost flawless, mechanically sound. What if I were to take what I need off the big XJ, front axle, t-case, driveshafts, of which are all in good shape. I just got done replacing the front pads, rotors, calipers, hoses, axle seals, wheel bearings, u-joints, and I've got a Ruff Stuff front diff guard on it. The transfer case is tip top, and the driveshafts have new u-joints.

The 95 also has an 8.25, vs. the 35 my big one has. Then move over my L&L bumper, and snorkel. Use my Rough Country 4.5" springs, sell the spacers, move over my Rustys Shocks, Stabilizer, RC Trac Bar, Rustys Upper & Lower adjustable control arms, then instead of bastard packing, buy a nice set of leafs for the rear. And keep my nice Pro Comp Rock Crawler rims. Then get some new 33" tires.

And yes, make my daily cherry 2wd, a 4x4 mildly build but not over top, and keep it nice and reliable too. And get rid of my headache that is a worn out shell of an old renix era XJ.

Or sell both trucks and pickup a O.E. 4x4 XJ.

I'm honestly 50/50. Just had to rant a little, and want everyones opinion.

 

oh that is a tough one. can you swap stuff from the 2x and make the big one a good dd?

 

Change is always good, sell both and get a bone stock 4X4 XJ and start the roller coaster all over again.

 

Hahaha, not even worth it. It was a good truck, just took a pounding most of it's life in Kansas winters. Its a case of once somethings repaired, the next weakest thing will go. And it's not really stuff trail related, just moving around my garage & driveway. It's just in a constant state of repair, and isn't cost effective nor practical, even as a project truck like it is.

 

Hahahaha!!! I've rode this roller coaster so many times in the past, I have express passes at this point.

 

 

convert the 2wd that you know is good to a 4x4 that way you know the history of it.

then see the renix for parts/scrap

 

X2
X3
and
X4

 

That is what I would do.

 

Yeah, Im seriously tossed at the idea though. The 2wd is my DD. I'd need to convert little by little, swap axle one weekend or whatever, wait, then do the t-case, and sort out and driveline issues, etc.

And at the same time, the allure of getting back into a 97+ is quite tempting as well, ya know. I could tear down the big one and part it out, while saving money, and get a nice XJ, then sell my 2wd (or give it to my pops and get rid of his ZJ), take the money from that and sink it into the new XJ for miscellaneous stuff to get it back to showroom shape.

Or just hold out and wait to see if the Gladiator concept becomes a reality.

 

Time for update what have you choose?