[EERNGER98]

After years of beating up DD’s I decided back in 2012 to pick up an XJ as a wheeling rig. I have always loved XJ’s and while this is far from what I would call a solid trail rig, it constantly impresses me with what it can do without much other then a small lift and tires.

The day I picked it up. i was so dang excited to get it home. 1991 4.0 HO with the aw4 auto and a np231 t case. non Abs too, so I got to miss out on the Dana 35 rear end.

picked up a set of second hand eBay bumpers and ordered a 3”lift with a 3/4” front spacer and upper/lower short arms.

I have been around enough Xj’s to know about unibody flex issues, so I made sure to invest in a set of frame rail stiffeners from T&T customs to lock things down. It might have been just placebo, but I swear it made the Jeep feel a ton more solid going down the road.

Grabbed a set of bald 32’s and some Ford ranger rims, ran it pretty much like this for 6 years. I made up for whatever it was lacking in the hardware department with a heavy right foot.

2 years ago I finally broke down and bought new rubber for it. 33x10.5 dick cepek extreme country rollers on the same ranger rims as before. ZJ steering added as was a steering box brace, and an adjustable trac bar. Under the hood I mounted a ZJ alternator in the location of the AC compressor and removed the engine driven fan and installed a Ford Taurus E-fan. Also ran a cowl intake off the back of the factory air box.

when lack of lockers and a winch caught up with me. Doesn’t look that bad but soaked the carpet And under dash fuse box. Luckily my brother saved my bacon with his Tacoma, it was a bad day to take my hi-lift jack out of the back and just go.

pulled the carpet to find the floors were starting to go. My current project is patching them up. I’m hoping to have them patched and painted up by spring.

 

[FlyingXJ]

Good job! I too need to start patching my floors. But I have recently sold pretty much all my transport. So my cherokee from Alabama might become my daily soon. In the salt....................................

 

[EERNGER98]

Good job! I too need to start patching my floors. But I have recently sold pretty much all my transport. So my cherokee from Alabama might become my daily soon. In the salt....................................

Thanks! And- nooooo!!!!! :-( my Jeep was pretty clean underneath when I got it. I took it out winter wheeling a few times and forget to wash it down afterwards, I swear it made it so much worse. And then on the other hand... you gotta do what you gotta do!

 

[greygoose]

Nice XJ!

I look forward to seeing the rebuild!

@FlyingXJ Please don't drive that XJ in the salt.

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

Glad to see the new thread and look forward to following along.... thanks

 

[EERNGER98]

@greygoose @SHARPMACHINE , thanks guys! I’m motivated to get after it, and finally post progress.

 

[EERNGER98]

A couple of shots of the taurus fan install. I went with a ZJ v8 alternator to up my amperage for the high speed setting on the fan, while leaving some room for lights etc. to add on later. For extra control I ran both high and low speed settings on separate switches (smudged label on the center is high) so the whole thing could be shut down for high water. On the High speed setting this fan moves a crap ton of air. The crawl toggle switch is a manual override from the TCM to the second gear solenoid to lock the trans in first gear when the jeep is in the 1-2 range.

shot of the cowl induction setup. I cut off the factory intake location in the air box and used JB weld to seal the box up so the 3” flex hose would draw air from the cowl. A higher intake location and no snorkel to get nocked off back on the tighter trails.

 

[EERNGER98]

Of course the drivers side was much worse then the passenger side. Most of the drivers side pan I pulled, while the pass side just needed a couple patches to get back to being solid. Got the new pans spotted and set to be welded. Once it’s welded it will be time for primer and Herculiner.

 

[greygoose]

Nice work!!

 

[EERNGER98]

Nice work!!

Thanks! im hopeful to get things welded by the end of November and get after painting things.

 

[EERNGER98]

So things are welded up and primed. The plan is to Herculine the floor next, but with low temps and no heated shop, that’s on hold for right now. Got a jcr diy bumper for the front end and the 3” springs needed a bit of help. Got a set of rubicon express 4.5” coils and 3/4” spacers set up to get the front end where I want it.

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

Looking great !!!

 

[greygoose]

Looking great !!!

I agree! Great progress so far!

 

[EERNGER98]

Thanks guys! Gotta address the rear suspension next, I’ve got a set of shackle relocation brackets and RE boomerang shackles to go in.

 

[bennet1787]

Impressive work. I'm excited to see more progress on your build.

 

[EERNGER98]

So, funny how life works. Not long after getting my floors prepped, my wife and I found out we were expecting. Not long after that we found out it was double occupancy.. a boy and a girl. So the XJ got mothballed for a while so we could prepare the house (and upcoming hospital bills) lol. Anyhow they both arrived happy and healthy.

And with that out of the way (and a few months to get back to 4hrs + of sleep per night lol) I’m finding time to get back to the jeep.

Got the floors rolled on with herculiner, on one of the last warm days of summer. Then an hour at a time I started putting the interior back in place.

Kind of a cool moment. My 1yr old son got to sit in the jeeps driver seat for the first time. Lol ya your math is correct, I have 3 children under 2. I’m a borderline diaper professional at this point.
Now working on cutting and folding the rear fenders, not just for clearance but easier access to the factory shackle boxes. I’ll be cutting those out to install a set of HD engineering no lift shackle boxes and rubicon express boomerang shackles (sye next on list). After that I’ll be heading back up front to pull the Dana 30. It’s going to need new ball joints and wheel bearings. While I’m in there I’ll be changing out shafts and adding a locker. Also while the axle is out I’ll be pulling the oil pan and changing out the rear main seal. While in there I have a HV oil pump to add.
After starting the jeep for the first time in a year I identified a fuel leak by the rear axle. Brand new fuel sending and return hoses installed and a new wix filter. Now I won’t set my barn on fire while cutting out the rear shackle boxes.. lol

Hoping to keep after it, and update more then once a year.

 

[greygoose]

I love how this thread hasn't been updated for 9 months, then the first post by the starter is of 2 new babies! Hahaha

Congrats on the addition to the family!

 

[EERNGER98]

I love how this thread hasn't been updated for 9 months, then the first post by the starter is of 2 new babies! Hahaha

Congrats on the addition to the family!

Thank you!
hahah, ya it’s amazing how much something like that changes priorities. Hahaha
Hopeful to keep cracking at this thing!

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

Congrats!!!!!!

jEeP is looking good also!!!!

 

[EERNGER98]

Congrats!!!!!!

jEeP is looking good also!!!!

Thanks man!