Just another XJ

6242 Views 43 Replies 9 Participants Last post by EERNGER98, 6 mo ago

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · Oct 30, 2020 (Edited)

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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.

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EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #21 · Nov 16, 2021 (Edited)

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Got a start on the hd engineering no lift brackets. Passenger side upper shackle bolt was agreeable with the impact so the process went relatively smoothly cutting out the old box with the angle grinder. It’s funny how new straight parts help you to realize how out of wack your rig might be. I had to use “beater”the hammer quite a bit to get things back in line and then get the boxes in place. Not even off the jack stands and I can tell a huge difference. Suspension droop is waaay better, although now my largest set of jack stands is now useless for anything other then the axles as a lift point without pulling tires. A new experience for me- and I’m excited to see with a difference this makes out on the trail.

I am just starting on the drivers side and I can already tell this side will be a battle. Impact broke off the frame side weld nut so it’s coming out piece by piece.

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Plato2k5

· #22 · Nov 17, 2021

LOL at the jack stands to small. I feel ya there! Good progress you are making. The unibody looks pretty clean and rust free at least

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #23 · Nov 18, 2021

Plato2k5 said:
LOL at the jack stands to small. I feel ya there! Good progress you are making. The unibody looks pretty clean and rust free at least

lol time for a bigger set! Thank you, I’ve been trying to hit it an hour here or there as much as I can. I’ve been lucky with the main unibody on this critter, I’ve been around much worse. It’s Michigan winter driving days are over. Haha

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #24 · Dec 31, 2021

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Things that used to take me a weekend, now take a month. Lol Finally got the drivers side shackle relocation bracket in place and got the boomerangs at as close to 45 degrees as I could manage. Also got my diy bumper primed. Paint hopefully this week so I can get it on the jeep.

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MiNiBeast

· #25 · Jan 2, 2022

Progress is progress. Good family wheels. Enjoy the adventures. 😁

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EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #26 · Feb 3, 2022

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I really liked the whole “progress is progress” statement, kinda keeping me sane at this point.. lol.
Anyhow, my wife is a badass and surprised me with a warn 10k winch for Christmas. I’ve had to hog out the jcr bumper a bit to get everything clearing properly, but finally got around to getting that done. Finishing up the second coat of paint as I type this up, so I will hopefully be picking up bolts from the hardware store tomorrow and hang the bumper Saturday. Looking forward to seeing how much squat I get on the front end for dialing in the suspension moving forward. Can’t wait to see how it all looks.

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EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #27 · Apr 15, 2022

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So my Meddling dd got in the way of my Jeep Project. Lol with fuel prices so high and my wife’s Hemi Durango is so thirsty, I had to prioritize the little TDI. But with a new radiator in place it was happily back to 50mpg’s and I could get back to the jeep.

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Finally got the JCR bumper hung and got the warn mounted. I was going to get the cable re spooled, but I found my battery has finally kicked the can. It’s time to shop out a new battery and while I’m at it, I’ll be upgrading the wires in the jeep to something better suited for winch work. I had been super concerned with my control arm angles, but after the 1/2” or so of the lift up front was eaten by the winch and bumper, I don’t think they will be too severe. I really don’t currently have it in the budget for long arms and I don’t really love the idea of drop brackets so we will see how it rides. Next up after the wiring I’ve got brake work in the back, and then I can finally start working on the front axle.

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Plato2k5

· #28 · Apr 16, 2022

I'm sure once load it all up with gear and yourself, it'll settle to a ride height that is fine. If not....... well its just money.... lol. Springs should settle some after you beat on it a bit. JCR makes some nice stuff.

I been buying my big power cables on amazon from these guys. Really nice flexible cable. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUC9JPA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Use one of these fancy tools for pain free crimps! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X51S00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These guys have great wire as well: Del City - Electrical Supplies & Professional Grade Wiring Products

What all is left to get it on the trails?

Reactions: 1

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #29 · Apr 16, 2022

Plato2k5 said:
I'm sure once load it all up with gear and yourself, it'll settle to a ride height that is fine. If not....... well its just money.... lol. Springs should settle some after you beat on it a bit. JCR makes some nice stuff.

I been buying my big power cables on amazon from these guys. Really nice flexible cable. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUC9JPA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Use one of these fancy tools for pain free crimps! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X51S00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These guys have great wire as well: Del City - Electrical Supplies & Professional Grade Wiring Products

What all is left to get it on the trails?

I have to think it will be close on the angles, but probably ok. I think I’m making a bigger deal then it is. I will need to get a slightly longer lower control arm (I’m thinking about just getting an adjustable lower control arm) to get it dialed in.

I’ll have to check out those links, I’ve still got stock ‘91 wiring with a 136a ZJ alternator, and I have to think the flow is meh. It needs a good update.

So to get the jeep on the road I’ve got to fix:
-rear brakes
-replace oil pressure switch
-check and see if my trac bar is long enough (I have an adjustable trac bar but it’s for smaller lifts- I might need another one)
-ball joints
-wheel bearings
-Dana 30 Lunchbox locker (I’m thinking Spartan?)
-alignment

Reactions: 1

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #30 · May 10, 2022

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lack of time seems to be a re-occurring theme.. lol anyhow instead of doing my own cables I ended up ordering the jeep cables “big 7” kit in 2-gauge. I am pretty satisfied with the kit and it was nice to get everything upgraded.

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Lol just ignore the cheap bungee strap holding down the battery, I’ll get around to putting a legit hold down In one of these years. Lol
Finally with everything together I got to test the winch for the first time. Things are starting to fall in line. Also got the rear brakes bled, and a new oil pressure sensor installed.

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whiterhino

· #31 · May 11, 2022

lookin good

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SHARPMACHINE

· #32 · May 11, 2022

Nice looking XJ. Gonna be a great trail cruiser!

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #33 · May 11, 2022

SHARPMACHINE said:
Nice looking XJ. Gonna be a great trail cruiser!

Thanks! I can’t wait to get it back on the road. My oldest loves the darn thing, but it hasn’t been drivable for longer then he’s been around. When I finally got it running yesterday, he came running across the yard and was grinning ear to ear. Can’t wait to get him out in the woods.

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EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #34 · 11 mo ago

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The day finally came! After 3 years and 7 days it can finally move under its own power again. I still need to:
-Replace front wheel bearings
-address control arm angles/length
-alignment
Then we should be able to put plates back on and go hit the trails.

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By far and away the coolest moment was getting to take my oldest for a ride around the yard at last- him grinning ear to ear.

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SHARPMACHINE

· #35 · 11 mo ago

Looks great!!!! Nice work!!!

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greygoose

· #36 · 11 mo ago

That's awesome that your son is so excited!

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mcbrennan1991

· #37 · 11 mo ago

Nice! Where you located?!

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greygoose

· #38 · 11 mo ago

mcbrennan1991 said:
Nice! Where you located?!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Michigan

Reactions: 1

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #39 · 11 mo ago

greygoose said:
That's awesome that your son is so excited!

Thanks man! Ya I’m super excited he is into it. I’ve been eyeballing local trails for once plates are on it. I’m thinking of starting small with little destinations where he can get out and play either on the way or at a turn around point. Make it fun for him to tag along. Once the twins are bigger I’d love to take the whole group of them up to Drummond island. I’ve wanted to go since I bought the jeep.

EERNGER98

Discussion Starter · #40 · 11 mo ago

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…. Aaanndd we are all back apart again. Issues needed to be addressed, so no better time then before the family rides into it. I already had planned on ball joints and wheel bearings, however I discovered the axle side upper control arm bushings were shot, so out came the axle. I figure “since I’ve gone this far” I’m going to make sure everything is nice and tight before it goes back together. I might as well get the locker in and do something about the factory 260x “small” shafts while it’s out.

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I also knew my new AGM battery wasn’t fitting worth a crap, so I wanted to make sure I had clearance.. only thing for it was removing the factory hood latch, and adding hood pins. Now I’ve got plenty of space, but I’ll have to pull the rest of the front clip off to complete the pin install, so I’m considering updating the headlight relay and adding some LED headlights to the mix.

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