Lightweight, Baby! - Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest

John D · March 3rd, 2019, 06:34 PM

Well, after deciding to be done with the XJ and go without a Jeep for the summer.... I held out for three and a half weeks before finding something new.

In my defense, it does align pretty close to what my future goal was:
CJ7, LS base, stock or 1/2 ton axles, 33” tires, clean frame, clean body and able to drive.

As purchased:
5.3L/4L60/300.
Long tube headers with dual 3” Flowmasters.
D30 front and D44 rear with spool.
Fiberglass tub, fenders and hood.
Clean frame.
Gray vinyl wrap.
Newer Bestop seats front and rear.

Issues:
Needs tuning.
Brakes work but pedal goes to the floor.
Steering turns much more right than left.
Wiring is a mess inside and out.

Goals for this one are:
Something my wife can drive.
Dependable daily driver for summer.
More time driving than upgrading.
Fun and fast-ish
Sand will be only off-road.
Maybe 1/2 ton axles.

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John D · March 3rd, 2019, 06:36 PM

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greygoose · March 4th, 2019, 06:44 AM

That didn't last long.

Nice Jeep!

JohnnyJ · March 4th, 2019, 10:07 AM

Looks good. Will be interested to see how this goes.

When you say needs tuning, as in it needs a tune-up, or is there some non-stock parts in it that it needs tuning for?

My only gripe with the fiberglass tubs is the rear panel looks so bare. Needs some stickers or something.

John D · March 4th, 2019, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greygoose

That didn't last long.

Nice Jeep!

Lol, I don’t think anyone around my house was surprised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyJ

Looks good. Will be interested to see how this goes.

When you say needs tuning, as in it needs a tune-up, or is there some non-stock parts in it that it needs tuning for?

My only gripe with the fiberglass tubs is the rear panel looks so bare. Needs some stickers or something.

It runs really bad - doesn’t want to idle and rich fuel smell chokes you out when you’re inside. No engine codes but something isn’t right. I’m told stock other than the headers/exhaust.

I couldn’t agree more about the tailgate. I’m thinking of options now... I wonder if a decal would look okay. Or, what if an artist painted an original tailgate with depth/detail? Hmmmm

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greygoose · March 4th, 2019, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John D

Lol, I don’t think anyone around my house was surprised.

It runs really bad - doesn’t want to idle and rich fuel smell chokes you out when you’re inside. No engine codes but something isn’t right. I’m told stock other than the headers/exhaust.

I couldn’t agree more about the tailgate. I’m thinking of options now... I wonder if a decal would look okay. Or, what if an artist painted an original tailgate with depth/detail? Hmmmm

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That might look pretty sweet.

JohnnyJ · March 4th, 2019, 04:08 PM

Yeah, that might not be bad. Or maybe a nice bead rolled aluminum panel or something?

jhnyquest · March 5th, 2019, 05:56 PM

Chrome trucker girl decal would look great.

John D · March 6th, 2019, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhnyquest

Chrome trucker girl decal would look great.

I was thinking in addition to the decal, which I obviously already ordered.

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whiterhino · March 6th, 2019, 06:45 AM

Nice dune toy. So is the xj gone?

Maybe a 70’s vintage mural on the back. How about John Wayne fighting Indians?

greygoose · March 6th, 2019, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterhino

Nice dune toy. So is the xj gone?

Maybe a 70’s vintage mural on the back. How about John Wayne fighting Indians?

I like it!

John D · March 6th, 2019, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterhino

Nice dune toy. So is the xj gone?

Maybe a 70’s vintage mural on the back. How about John Wayne fighting Indians?

The XJ is gone. All the usable parts are moving over to my son’s CJ project, I sold or gave away all the XJ specific pieces and cut the rest into pieces. It was time, I had that car for 16 years and I was disinterested for the last two.

If I do that mural it would have to be this one...

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feva4u · March 6th, 2019, 08:46 AM

Do you have hptuners? I think I read that you had purchased it.....

John D · March 6th, 2019, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feva4u

Do you have hptuners? I think I read that you had purchased it.....

I had purchased it probably around 10 years ago with ambition to be one of those super-cool kids that does their own tuning.... turns out I wasn’t and won’t be one of those guys. Lol

Baker Engineering in Nunica is my choice for the tuning.

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green50gt · March 6th, 2019, 09:21 AM

I like it! It even has some silver lake inside it!

feva4u · March 6th, 2019, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John D

I had purchased it probably around 10 years ago with ambition to be one of those super-cool kids that does their own tuning.... turns out I wasn’t and won’t be one of those guys. Lol

Baker Engineering in Nunica is my choice for the tuning.

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Good choice in Baker.

John D · March 6th, 2019, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by green50gt

I like it! It even has some silver lake inside it!

Actually A LOT of sand. I’m pretty sure it is making sand as we speak.

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fabricator · March 6th, 2019, 10:16 AM

Maybe beadroller the “jeep” on a piece of aluminum to make a fake tailgate

fabricator · March 6th, 2019, 10:19 AM

Like this?

greygoose · March 6th, 2019, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John D

Actually A LOT of sand. I’m pretty sure it is making sand as we speak.

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March 3rd, 2019, 06:34 PM	#1
John D Senior Member Join Date: 02-01-08 Location: Rockford, MI Posts: 955 iTrader: (7) Mentioned: 2 Post(s)	Lightweight, Baby! Well, after deciding to be done with the XJ and go without a Jeep for the summer.... I held out for three and a half weeks before finding something new. In my defense, it does align pretty close to what my future goal was: CJ7, LS base, stock or 1/2 ton axles, 33” tires, clean frame, clean body and able to drive. As purchased: 5.3L/4L60/300. Long tube headers with dual 3” Flowmasters. D30 front and D44 rear with spool. Fiberglass tub, fenders and hood. Clean frame. Gray vinyl wrap. Newer Bestop seats front and rear. Issues: Needs tuning. Brakes work but pedal goes to the floor. Steering turns much more right than left. Wiring is a mess inside and out. Goals for this one are: Something my wife can drive. Dependable daily driver for summer. More time driving than upgrading. Fun and fast-ish Sand will be only off-road. Maybe 1/2 ton axles. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ XJ Instrument Cluster Swap XJ Width HP44/9" Swap 231J HD Transfer Case Upgrades '98 XJ 5.3L/4L60/Atlas/D60/14B - Slo-Mo Rebuild Last edited by John D; March 3rd, 2019 at 06:41 PM.

March 3rd, 2019, 06:36 PM	#2
John D Senior Member Join Date: 02-01-08 Location: Rockford, MI Posts: 955 iTrader: (7) Mentioned: 2 Post(s)	Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ XJ Instrument Cluster Swap XJ Width HP44/9" Swap 231J HD Transfer Case Upgrades '98 XJ 5.3L/4L60/Atlas/D60/14B - Slo-Mo Rebuild

March 4th, 2019, 10:07 AM	#4
JohnnyJ Low Range Drifter Join Date: 11-09-05 Location: Hartland, MI Posts: 7,953 iTrader: (38) Mentioned: 86 Post(s)	Looks good. Will be interested to see how this goes. When you say needs tuning, as in it needs a tune-up, or is there some non-stock parts in it that it needs tuning for? My only gripe with the fiberglass tubs is the rear panel looks so bare. Needs some stickers or something. __________________ Surviving Project Car Hell Buggy build

March 4th, 2019, 04:08 PM	#7
JohnnyJ Low Range Drifter Join Date: 11-09-05 Location: Hartland, MI Posts: 7,953 iTrader: (38) Mentioned: 86 Post(s)	Yeah, that might not be bad. Or maybe a nice bead rolled aluminum panel or something? __________________ Surviving Project Car Hell Buggy build

March 5th, 2019, 05:56 PM	#8
jhnyquest goof ball Join Date: 05-26-08 Location: West Olive Posts: 26,871 iTrader: (18) Mentioned: 23 Post(s)	Chrome trucker girl decal would look great. __________________ ...

March 4th, 2019, 06:44 AM	#3
greygoose Gustafson Join Date: 02-18-08 Location: New Baltimore / Presque Isle Posts: 8,636 iTrader: (1) Mentioned: 5 Post(s)	That didn't last long. Nice Jeep!

March 6th, 2019, 06:45 AM	#10
whiterhino I'm not old, honest... Join Date: 03-07-06 Location: Davisburg MI Posts: 29,598 iTrader: (26) Mentioned: 175 Post(s)	Nice dune toy. So is the xj gone? Maybe a 70’s vintage mural on the back. How about John Wayne fighting Indians?

March 6th, 2019, 08:46 AM	#13
feva4u LCG Join Date: 04-01-07 Location: Caledonia, MI Posts: 10,903 iTrader: (12) Mentioned: 22 Post(s)	Do you have hptuners? I think I read that you had purchased it..... __________________ My Jeep

March 6th, 2019, 09:21 AM	#15
green50gt Got rocks? Join Date: 04-16-08 Location: Goshen, IN 46528 Posts: 3,818 iTrader: (63) Mentioned: 11 Post(s)	I like it! It even has some silver lake inside it! __________________ I heart Jeeps

March 6th, 2019, 10:16 AM	#18
fabricator throttle jockey Join Date: 08-15-06 Location: twin lake Posts: 1,636 iTrader: (35) Mentioned: 27 Post(s)	Maybe beadroller the “jeep” on a piece of aluminum to make a fake tailgate

March 6th, 2019, 10:19 AM	#19
fabricator throttle jockey Join Date: 08-15-06 Location: twin lake Posts: 1,636 iTrader: (35) Mentioned: 27 Post(s)	Like this? Attached Thumbnails

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