Hello Expedition Portal!

[mitchanger]

Hey all,

I just signed up for this wonderful forum after finding that I was constantly checking and searching all kinds of things on it when I was stumped or just looking for something to do.

This is just a little of who I am and what I am running.

My name is Mitch, I am wheeling in Alberta, Canada. I have been driving the same jeep for around 7 years but just recently started turning it into a wheeling/expo rig.

The vehicle I am running is a 1988 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
4.5" Rusty's off-road lift
Upgraded to the AX-15 trans.
Safari Snorkel
Rusty's Quick disconnects
Can't forget the chopped rear hatch.


As you can see this a Working Progress.

Things to be done sooner than later;

New Tires (not sure if I am going to go 33" or 35")
Dana 44 front and rear with ARB Air Locker
Paint the vehicle and Rhino Line from door handles down
Rear bucket seats with center locking council

lots more, that is what I would like to do first. My plan for the Jeep is to have it as an expedition rig that can be taken on nice long trips that are not too crazy, fun also the rock crawling, creek crossing, mountain conquering unstoppable Jeep it was born to be!

 

[Chi-Town]

Welcome from a fellow XJ owner!

I like the chopped hatch, any more pics of it?

 

[Septu]

Welcome from a fellow XJ owner!

I like the chopped hatch, any more pics of it?

Agreed. More pictures!

 

[mitchanger]

Hey guys!

Thanks for the welcome, I will get some pictures for you later tonight when I get them on the computer. I do have some photos of the project. I haven't finished it yet, still needs some paint and body work.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

Welcome. Such a rare car. Share more pics...

 

[familyofjeeps]

Hello Mitch and welcome to this form.
Looking forward to seeing more pic's and the completion of your project. Sounds like your building a little white tank.

 

[matthewp]

... car...

Blasphemous peasant! You should be banished from this section of the forum!:ar15:

Nice XJ there mitchanger!

 

[Expedition.Report]

Welcome!

What part of Alberta?

I'm up in Edmonton


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Gaucho919]

It'd be great to see more of the chop, I have a '90 XJ that's wrecked in the back end and wanna do the chop.

 

[mitchanger]

Hey guys,

Sorry it didn't happen last night and Thank you for the warm welcome. Here are the photos of the "Build" you asked for.

These Photos are the Cutting of the original back hatch. This is even Pre-Lift!!

The Left picture is of the roof coming off, we just cut it with the reciprocating saw. Worked really well, I wish we would have cut further back and welded the back part of the original hatch seam that would have given a better finished look.. Just means I need to do a little more work making it look nice.

The picture to the right is my Father (familyofjeeps) making room in the side fender for the new rear hatch to slide in and fit nice. We needed to go with a 98 Hatch because the 88 was fiberglass (that's why it's blue) and the 98 was metal. so it's all welded in and hopefully when I am done you can float the Jeep on it's roof!


This photo is of the hatch half way in. It needed to be cut at the bottom to have it fit in flush with the roof.
The second photo is actually the scrap roof metal to fill in the space between the hatch and body. (That's why I wish I would have cut further back) Also, I have no clue with the photo will not turn upright ALL of my other one will!

To answer some questions

RamRod, I am south of you in High River. (20-30 Minutes south of Calgary) Where do you do most of you wheeling?

 

[Septu]

A buddy did this with his GC, and it looks amazing. It's also great for on the trail, as he carries our garbage and firewood lol. Cant wait to see more pictures.