1998 xj budget over lander build.

[bpb]

We bought this 1998 limited cherokee a couple years ago from a buddy of mine. It was stock minuet the front bumper with tie in plates and front factory skid plate. Since then I pieced together a lift. 3" tomken semi progressive coils re leaf packs that are tired. I put a pair of skyjacker shocks up front and some tired ranch is in the back with bar pin eliminators. Put a new set of Goodyear durratracks on it. Then I added a hd tie rod and jks disconnects. Then it got the jcr sliders.

After a year working on my mj I decided that it was time for another round on the xj. After a 100 mile dreck through the Gifford Pinchot nf It was time to address the rear suspension that has sagged an was really stiff. Upon inspection I found that my shackles were vertical. I also found a broken shock in the back.

So a friend and I built some shackle relocation brackets.

The rear is now softer then the front. I just ordered a pair of 5150's and a set of steel wheels with proper back spacing. I also bought a 29 spline Chrysler 8.25 that I'm going to build to replace the dana 35.

 

[Septu]

Love the look!

 

[bpb]

Thanks, its going to be sad to see the snowflake wheels go, but the tire rubbing is unbearable

 

[Chris @ T&J Performance]

Love me some XJ's! Ill be watching this build closely! Looks like fun!

 

[Septu]

Thanks, its going to be sad to see the snowflake wheels go, but the tire rubbing is unbearable

Can't you put a spacer on to give yourself a little more room? Or do a little trimming to make it work?

 

[bpb]

I could do wheel spacers but I'd rather not have a second set of lug nuts to worry about. The rubbing is on the control arms.

 

[bpb]

I got bored at work and made a carrier for my new full sized spare. It folds down for hatch access. There is also a d ring on the bottom. It is build out of 5/16 wall tubing. Im going to re drill it to angle it back a bit more. Im also going to add a high lift and shovel mount. Figure it will do till I build a new bumper when A buddy of mine gets back from the Rubicon.

 

[xjman88]

Your tire carrier is very similar to the one i made for my zj. Love the xj btw. Thats the rig i started with.

 

[BlackClassic]

Nice looking XJ! how do you like the duratrecs, almost went with some of those when I bought my new tires earlier this year but decided to go with authorities instead.

 

[bpb]

I love the durratracks. So much that I put a set on my Yukon. I have several friends running them, and the railroad runs them on all of their vehicles that work out in the field. Not a complaint from anyone.

 

[bpb]

I've been busy this past week. I build a storage rack and added a license plate light to my tire carrier.

 

[Jakeleverett]

I love the snowflake wheels, too bad they had to go!
I like the milk crate as drawers in the trunk, I have been holding off on doing my cargo/drawer system because I couldn't find any drawer slides that I liked that were worth the money.
That is a pretty slick(and probably reasonably priced) replacement for full on drawers/slides.
Can I ask why you used such thick wood for the vertical pieces between the milk crate and plastic bin?
Is that for strength? Or just whatever wood you had laying around?
When I do mine, I will make the vertical portions out of thinner plywood so that I have more useable storage space and can fit 2-3 milk crates in the rear.
I also like the little table slide out things.
Pretty slick indeed.
Cool Ideas in this thread, keep it up!