I was just looking a picture of my door tag. My XJ is a 2000 year model but the date of manufacture is 7-99.. the MDH is 072617.. So approximately 07/26/99 was when my 2000 XJ was made. Seems early. I wonder how early? Does anyone know when the earliest production of a year model takes place? Or even when the last of a production run takes place? I'm not sure if it means actual production number but the last 6 digits on mine are 100597.. Is it possible that my jeep was the 597th made for the 2000 year model?

I know none of this really matters, but I'm just the curious type.. Check your door sticker!! Thanks for any input!

 

July '99 sounds about right for an early 2000 model year XJ. Most manufacturers start next year's production around midsummer. The last six digits are usually sequence numbers, so yours could very well be among the first 600 built for that model year.

 

Mine is April in '00 for my '00 so I have to assume yours is pretty close to the beginning for that model year.
From what I can tell you have some differences in yours compared to mine.
For instance none of your exhaust has flanges to bolt pipes together and are all sleeved.
I believe anything made after 1/00 has flanges. Never seen one up close and personal.
Curious about a few things.
Do you have the coil bar or distributor?
Do you have the dual cat up front, if CA Emissions, or the Y Pipe if Federal Emissions?
Also what head do you have on that?
Cause seeing how it is such an early production '00 wouldn't surprise me if it were really a '99 in a sense.
Using left over parts from the previous model year.

 

Yep! Made in 07/99 and mine has coil pack ignition, I do have the dual cats just under the header (CA emissions as my XJ was originally sold in NJ), (the exhaust has been replaced as it all welded so I'm 100% sure on the original configuration past the 2 front cats), I've got the NON TUPY 0331 head, and to top it all off a DANA 30 Low Pinion.

Also - just found out it has the rear main seal WITHOUT the little side wings.

Even though its a super early production for 2000, its made just like a 2000 and does not have any of the good 99 stuff. I would have liked a 0630 head and a Dana 30HP... but it'll be ok.

 

I forgot to ask about the LP30 too. Glad you mentioned it.
This is what I believe the exhaust on your Jeep looked like from the factory.
Just picture the dual cats, and 4 O2 sensors, where the Y Pipe is and notice no flanges.
Also notice how much longer the pipe is to the muffler cause there is no down, or intermediate as it is sometimes called, pipe.

 

Yeah that's pretty much what mine looks like minus the rear cat. It's all welded as one though. One day, when the head gets replaced, ill redo it with federal emissions style set up.

 

Hey, that's an interesting find! Your 2000 XJ with a July '99 build date is definitely on the early side, as most manufacturers kick off next model year's production around mid-summer. Your MDH (07/26/99) confirms it was built late July. The last six digits (100597) are likely the sequence number, so it could indeed be the 597th unit in the 2000 run, but hard to say without exact production data. Check out Jeep's historical records or hit up Chrysler for a build sheet to dig deeper. Anyone else got an early 2000 XJ?

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