Mtbxj87's 1989 XJ

[borison]

I'm 5'9" and used to sleep in my XJ....but not comfortably.

 

[mtbxj87]

We stared on the power line road where it crosses FS4613. Here we aired down and disconnected sway bars. I only aired down to about 25, any more I start loosing precious ground clearance.

After a hairy situation on the power line road, which was gnarlier the expected, we made it to highway 45. From here we would cut south to Edison Butte OHV.
I was the only rig in our group that could of made it under this tunnel.

Edison butte was slow going for the group. Tight in a lot of spots. My xj didn't have much of a problem anywhere though. The much bigger fj80s and Land Rover did.



At higher elevation we encountered snow, the real wet kind, it made the trail much tougher. I slid off a ledge and perched my xj on its crossmember pretty well. We had enough resources to get me out but my friend had just installed a winch on his land cruiser. So we used that. After some sliding around on the snow from both of us I got pulled back. All in all it was a fun day out, nothing broken or too damaged.

 

[mtbxj87]

After cleaning up the jeep and assessing the rock rash, I found that diff covers moved to the top of my list. Then I went for a ride.

 

[mtbxj87]

So here's what my rear diff cover looked like after Edison butte
I can't quite afford the cover I want, ruffstuff's cover, at the moment as I'm saving for tires and bike parts.
So I searched through the scrap bin at work and I found 1"x.25" flat stock and some .188" 4x4. So I pulled the cover and straightened it out. Then started cutting flat stock for a half ring.

Some pie cuts, bends, and angles made for the lower ring. I welded it together then drilled my holes.

Then using Cardboard Aided Design I cut out some shapes from the .188" tube . Made some pie cuts and bent it all into shape and tacked it together.
That's where I'm at now. I did all this inbetween jobs at work so tomorrow I'll try to finish it up. I think it will hold up well enough. I'll buy a ruffstuff for the front.

 

[MuckSavage]

Regarding the net "loft" on Page 1;
Great idea! I thought of the same thing a few weeks ago. I had a bag of chips hanging from the clothes hook behind the drivers seat. I don't know what was worse....the sound of the plastic bag swinging back & forth or wife complaining about it! I said "I'm making a "loft" somehow!
Where'dya get the net & How'dya fasten it?

 

[mtbxj87]

It's just a cargo divider net with hooks. You can get them almost anywhere. I'll probably use cable clamps to mount it cause heavy items bounce. I just have it hooked on right now

 

[mtbxj87]

Painted and installed

 

[MuckSavage]

Nicely done!

 

[mtbxj87]

Thanks! I guess time will tell

 

[mtbxj87]

A buddy of mine and I went out east to check out Millican OHV and explore a part of Oregon that is so close yet I know nothing about. It was freezing out in the middle of the desert.
Not much to see out here, this was most of what's out there.

We took the route under the power lines to cut back to hwy 20 from the north end of Millican OHV area. Then cut over and came up and over horse ridge.

This was the highest point of horse ridge. Around 5500 feet of sand and lava rock.

 

[mtbxj87]

So today I scored a 97 ZJ for free!! I really didn't want it but it has the front axle shafts I've been looking for. I can get rid of the front disco on mine plus I'll have the bigger u joints. Also the ZJs front drive shaft will work either front or rear on my xj (so now I'll have 2 spares) I will also get the rear discs and master cylinder and booster for brake upgrades for my xj. I might take the fuel injection and everything thing to convert mine to OBD2

 

[Overland History]

So today I scored a 97 ZJ for free!! I really didn't want it but it has the front axle shafts I've been looking for. I can get rid of the front disco on mine plus I'll have the bigger u joints. Also the ZJs front drive shaft will work either front or rear on my xj (so now I'll have 2 spares) I will also get the rear discs and master cylinder and booster for brake upgrades for my xj. I might take the fuel injection and everything thing to convert mine to OBD2

Great score and upgrade!

I like the homemade diff guard, hopefully it'll hold up!

 

[mtbxj87]

Pulled the half shafts out of the zj. I probably won't have time to put new u joints and install them on my xj for a couple weeks tho. The holiday will take up some time.

 

[mtbxj87]

**** yea!! Baby got new shoes today!!
I mounted 31" k02. I gained about 1.25" of clearance at the diffs. I can't wait to hit the dirt!

 

[Overland History]

Looks great! Any rubbing?