J and D - What you did is exactly what I was describing. Too bad you didnt have flat flares. Then I could really see what mine would look like (besides yours being a 2 door)!

Curry - I do like yours too. The black on the doors help tie the bumpers in. And I am sure thats the reason a lot of people do it. It just looks so good... You coated it in Monstaline?

I am torn between decisions! Maybe I will just slap on some black vinyl and see what it looks like. If it is bad, I can just peel it right back off. If it is good, peel it off and paint it!

 

Nope, duplicolor trim paint.

 

Small update for tonight. Got some of these from xjwonders...



Then got a tow hitch as well. Then did all this.






And at the end of it all, finally painted the bumper black.

 

Nice! Your XJ looks great and what better recovery point than that receiver hitch! Actually a P.O. painted it that way and the flares too. like I stated before how I wish my flares were like the ones you have. Buy I have to live with them.

 

Thanks! And there is nothing wrong with the way yours looks. I am sure if you wanted it bad enough, you could switch over flares. And yes, I had no recovery points before and figured I could really use one. I will be getting a d-ring for the receiver next week. After that, I need to figure out a recovery point for the front. Sounds like a new bumper to me....

 

After reading up on endless threads of leaf springs, shackles and shackle relocation kits, I think I have finally made up my mind. For sure I am going with RE 3.5 leafs. They have already been ordered. I am going to try to use my current shackles. Pretty sure they are a 2" lift shackle. Here is the part I am still unsure about, the relocation brackets. I am looking at the HD Offroad ones. I really like the standard version that does not require cutting off the factory mount. But I have a feeling that it is going to add too much of a lift. So I am not sure if I should chance it with those or just get the no lift version.

So long story short, do you guys think that with the standard bolt on relocation brackets and a 2" extended shackle sitting at a 45° angle, it would net me a 1" lift over stock shackles and mounts?

 

Well since there were no comments about which shackle relocation kit I should have got, I decided to try the standard bolt on kit. So it has been ordered. Hoping the leafs and relocation kit gets here by the weekend so I have something to do!

On another note, I took the Jeep out wheelin on Saturday. Just another local trail. It was one I tried a while ago when the Jeep was just 2wd. Didnt make it up very far with 2wd. This time around was different. The trail was even more washed out then before. Lots of 3ft trenches that we had to cross. My buddy took his Renegade out with me. Lots of 3 wheel action from him (we even pulled his front sway bar off which helped out a ton) but the XJ never pulled a wheel off the ground. Very fun trail but would have been a whole lot easier with a locker. Soon enough...

 

Flex that renegade!!!!!!

 

There is no flex to it haha. I will get some pictures next time of it 3 wheelin. There was one point where he got a wheel 3ft off the ground. It would have been a pretty cool picture. But dont worry, I am searching around for a cheap XJ for him to get. No reason to mod the Renegade when he can just buy a XJ and do way more for way less.

On another note, I just checked my bank account and looks like my tax refunds are in! Time to load the parts cannon!

 

We got about 1K back, probably put it in our savings account. Boring, I know. I have a few more shekels left from my last work bonus. Probably get the DEI injector & fuel line wrap kit (heat soak/vapor lock issues) and maybe some JKS front sway bar discos.

 

Ya most of mine is going back in to the savings too. The jeep took a nice chunk out haha. But I am treating myself too. I got back way more then I ever expected could be possible so might as well. You only live once so make it count!

 

For some reason this Jeep just loves leaking oil out of spots you cant see. I thought everything was good after the oil filter adapter o-rings were replaced but that didnt happen. So I pulled the distributor, oil sending unit and the adapter the sending unit goes in to. Then resealed them all. There is nothing else in that area that can leak. We will see if I fixed it when I go out to lunch. There will either be a drip on the ground or not.



I also got some more parts ordered up. So here is the list that should trickle in this week.

- Rubicon Express leafs and new u-bolts
- HD offroad shackle relocation brackets
- Bilstein 5100 shocks and matching steering shock
- Crown TK-9 refresh kit
- Delphi complete fuel pump / sender kit
- Truck lite headlights
- Spartan Locker!!!!
- EDIT - Just added a Magnaflow muffler to the list

 

Yep its still leaking.... What are the chances it is the filter itself? Everything else is dry but the filter. I have a new Mopar one coming in the mail so I figure I will just wait until it gets here and change it. Then hopefully no more leaks.

 

Now that its home and in the garage, no drips on the ground. Wtf is going on here?

 

My buddy has been doing the same thing, trying to eliminate all the oil leaks. He had some friends help him do the rear main seal but they goofed (stuff happens) it up, so the other day he came over and we tackled it in the driveway behind my garage. (we also goofed up and figured out what we were doing wrong so after buying another seal) He finally has that right. I need to tackle my oil leaks in the near future. I would like to drop a new motor in though when I do but.........