This forum has been invaluable to me this past few weeks, so I thought I'd join. I bought a 1999 XJ for $1200 a month ago for my son, with the pan to fix it up with him and for him. It already had a Rusty's 3" lift. 160k miles.
It needed immediately:
Adjustable track bar
longer LCAs
brakes
tie rod
tie rod ends
alignment
ball joints
tires & wheels
clock spring
front bumper, bumper ends, fender flares
muffler re-hung
fluids change, wipers, air filter, battery


This forum got me through the list. Fender flares will arrive this week, son wants the factory flares.

The last and worst thing to deal with will be the rust. Holy cow there is a lot of rust. I'll need to do at a minumum, the rockers, rear right quarter panel, driver's floor board, and the passenger door. The rust makes me wonder if I bought the right project vehicle. Days after I bought it some new XJs came up on Craigslist for around $3k with no rust, cleaner body and similar miles. Now I see how some people end up with a fleet of used XJ's if they have room on their property.

 

Welcome!! We love father/son projects.