njjeepthing
Explorer
After many years of playing in the Jeep Wrangler world, I went back to where it all began for me! My first Jeep was a 96 2 door XJ. I searched for over a year for another 2 door, and couldn't find anything I liked, while checking the local auto shopper one day I found a 01 4 door sport with 45K on the odo, I decided to check it out, as low mileage XJ's are getting rare around here. It's pretty clean, except for surface rust on the undercarriage, to be expected for a 10 year old vehicle. It looks like it was probably used to tow something, as it looks like it had a hitch on it at some point in time. So I made an offer on it, and a few days later it came home with me. This being I think Jeep #19 for me since that first XJ in 1996!:Wow1:
So now the build plans! It didn't take long before UPS starting dropping parcels off at my house, and I think the first day I got it home I tore into it! First task at hand was to get rid of the cassette deck that was sitting in the dash. I replaced it with an Alpine 9827 that I had sitting on a shelf in the garage, wired up my Sirius, and ordered some new speakers for the worn out paper cone factory ones. After that I wired in my Cobra 75 Cb radio, and a 4 foot Wilson Flex series antenna mounted on a Motion Offroad mount that sits behind the drivers side taillight. Hard wired in my GPS, swapped in a Yellow top Optima, hard wired in a rear 12v plug for my Engle, all that is left is to run some 4ga. power wire back to a distribution block under the rear seat to power all the accessories.
Now on to storage issues! I ordered some Roto-pax boxes and a universal mounting plate, and bolted them to the rear of the back seat. Those hold OBA hoses, gauges, etc, jumper cables, and rain gear. Ordered up a set of Thule bars for the roof and a Yakima basket with hi lift jack holder. Will also be ordering some Roto-pax fuel and water packs to mount on the roof rack. Next I ran down to the local Walmart, bought a small action packer box, than over to the local boat supply store for some cooler chocks to keep the action packer from sliding around. Also ordered a slide n lock for the Engle. This is still a work in progress as I am still waiting for the slide n lock to be delivered. My plan is to cut a piece of wood the exact same size as the husky rear liner I have than attach the liner to the wood so I have something to attach the chocks and the slide n lock too. Somehow I will secure the wood to the floor of the XJ. Didn't want to screw them all directly to the floor as XJ's are prone to rust in this area!
Ok now on to protection! I ordered and installed a Rusty's gas tank skid along with a new hitch and wiring in the rear. My Warn T-case skid appeared yesterday, and I have a set of AJ's rocker guards on their way as well. That should be a good start as far as protection. I think an oil pan skid will also find it's way on there sooner or later!
Recovery- as mentioned above I have a hi lift jack sitting on the roof rack, I have a rear hitch as a rear tow point. Now I needed a place to mount my winch and a front tow point. So on order is Detours USA front winch plate, which gives me a place to mount the winch and front tow points!
Tires-suspension, etc.. At this time everything is on order with the exception of the tires which I already have. I found a like new set of Jeep Factory Ecco wheels on eBay, and loaded them up with some 31x10.5x15 Goodyear Duratracs. For suspension I ordered a Rubicon Express 3.5 Superflex kit with new rear leafs, a new front adjustable RE track bar, and a Rugged Ridge HD steering setup. The jeep has a new steering stabilizer on it already, so I will roll with that for now!
When the lift arrives and is installed I will deal with any sort of drive line issues.
So that is a nutshell is stage I of the build. Stage II of the build will involve upgrading the axles with new gears, lockers and new shafts. Probably won't happen till fall 2010.
I've been so busy with work, and trying to get this build started and done by June 4th as we are headed up to Vermont for one of the Vermont Overland Guide service trips, that I haven't taken any pictures yet of anything! As soon as I get a chance I'll update this post with some pics. Till than I am under the gun to get things done and ready for the VT trip. After the trip will re-assess what the XJ might need that I haven't thought of yet in preparation for EJS 2011 in Moab!
Any questions or thoughts, please share! Thanks
So now the build plans! It didn't take long before UPS starting dropping parcels off at my house, and I think the first day I got it home I tore into it! First task at hand was to get rid of the cassette deck that was sitting in the dash. I replaced it with an Alpine 9827 that I had sitting on a shelf in the garage, wired up my Sirius, and ordered some new speakers for the worn out paper cone factory ones. After that I wired in my Cobra 75 Cb radio, and a 4 foot Wilson Flex series antenna mounted on a Motion Offroad mount that sits behind the drivers side taillight. Hard wired in my GPS, swapped in a Yellow top Optima, hard wired in a rear 12v plug for my Engle, all that is left is to run some 4ga. power wire back to a distribution block under the rear seat to power all the accessories.
Now on to storage issues! I ordered some Roto-pax boxes and a universal mounting plate, and bolted them to the rear of the back seat. Those hold OBA hoses, gauges, etc, jumper cables, and rain gear. Ordered up a set of Thule bars for the roof and a Yakima basket with hi lift jack holder. Will also be ordering some Roto-pax fuel and water packs to mount on the roof rack. Next I ran down to the local Walmart, bought a small action packer box, than over to the local boat supply store for some cooler chocks to keep the action packer from sliding around. Also ordered a slide n lock for the Engle. This is still a work in progress as I am still waiting for the slide n lock to be delivered. My plan is to cut a piece of wood the exact same size as the husky rear liner I have than attach the liner to the wood so I have something to attach the chocks and the slide n lock too. Somehow I will secure the wood to the floor of the XJ. Didn't want to screw them all directly to the floor as XJ's are prone to rust in this area!
Ok now on to protection! I ordered and installed a Rusty's gas tank skid along with a new hitch and wiring in the rear. My Warn T-case skid appeared yesterday, and I have a set of AJ's rocker guards on their way as well. That should be a good start as far as protection. I think an oil pan skid will also find it's way on there sooner or later!
Recovery- as mentioned above I have a hi lift jack sitting on the roof rack, I have a rear hitch as a rear tow point. Now I needed a place to mount my winch and a front tow point. So on order is Detours USA front winch plate, which gives me a place to mount the winch and front tow points!
Tires-suspension, etc.. At this time everything is on order with the exception of the tires which I already have. I found a like new set of Jeep Factory Ecco wheels on eBay, and loaded them up with some 31x10.5x15 Goodyear Duratracs. For suspension I ordered a Rubicon Express 3.5 Superflex kit with new rear leafs, a new front adjustable RE track bar, and a Rugged Ridge HD steering setup. The jeep has a new steering stabilizer on it already, so I will roll with that for now!
When the lift arrives and is installed I will deal with any sort of drive line issues.
So that is a nutshell is stage I of the build. Stage II of the build will involve upgrading the axles with new gears, lockers and new shafts. Probably won't happen till fall 2010.
I've been so busy with work, and trying to get this build started and done by June 4th as we are headed up to Vermont for one of the Vermont Overland Guide service trips, that I haven't taken any pictures yet of anything! As soon as I get a chance I'll update this post with some pics. Till than I am under the gun to get things done and ready for the VT trip. After the trip will re-assess what the XJ might need that I haven't thought of yet in preparation for EJS 2011 in Moab!
Any questions or thoughts, please share! Thanks
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