XJ V4.0 the Man Child Edition (yes, another Cherokee)
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:25 pm
Here we go again. . .
Eventually, this will be the only white XJ in the fleet. . .
Starting with:
1996, 2 Door, 4.0, AW4, NP231, C8.25
Rubicon Express 4.5" lift that looks like it is netting around 6". It is the full meal deal with the control arms, Edlebrock Shocks, adjustable track bar, OME steering stabilizer, full leaf packs, braided lines, etc.
Window is busted out of the back hatch (I have a good hatch)
One of the rear windows is busted (I have the mobetta kind with the vents anyway)
Dude's old man put a new tranny in it and didn't loctite the torque converter to flexplate bolts. . .which promptly backed out of the equation. . .so it runs like a top but won't move anywhere.
Typical busted exhaust manifold
pretty nice exhaust system with a flowmaster that I'll probably pirate for the green one.
Grey interior is in really good shape. Just needs a detail job.
Needs a new bumper and maybe a header panel. Dude hit a tree. Didn't get into the unibody thankfully. Still can't figure out what he did to the roof rack. . . but whatever. . .
Has mismatched 33s on it on chrome mods. . .rears (2) and unmounted (2) 33x12.50 wild countries that I WISH were in good shape. . .love those tires for snow when they are new. Fronts are BFG 33x10.50s. 1 KM2 and 1 KM. probably keep the KM2 for a spare or Keep the KM for a spare and buy 3 more KM2s.. dunno yet. Maybe a set of 32s so as to keep the stock gears a tiny bit happier. Not that he needs breakneck acceleration or overdrive. . .
MIGHT need a hack and tap (it is the newer/sealed NP231) if it vibrates at all. Some do, some don't. . .it has a small transfer case drop in it now and since it isn't going to be a hardcore wheeler (yet), this can stay.
At any rate, the plan is to get it running and driving. . .then see what else is wrong with it.
Will gets his permit in the next couple of weeks and I want him to get seat time in the rig he will be driving to school. . .
Then we'll lower it just a tad in the back via shorter spring packs, put an auto starter, alarm, and a decent stereo in it (already has the $$$ cables for the system). . .build a front bumper either skin or fix the few dents in it and let him drive it to class or to the mall.
If Orville doesn't sell in the next 9 days, this one will get his locked rearend, wheels and tires. O's front is going in the Green one. . .
So. . .with some good tires, a little lower stance, general clean up and maint, this will be a GREAT rig for my boy. Not only that, he picked it out and negotiated the deal. Just when I think the teenagers around this joint aren't paying attention, I get a "proud papa" moment!!!
Anyway, here's a pic of it now. It will start to look different almost immediately.
Also, He'd like some suggestions on the kind of non-wheelin' mods that he can make to it. I'm typically a "function only" kind of a guy and DGAFlip about coolness, but he's 15 (on 1/4) and has to rock this thing for the next 5 or 6 years. Gots to pull the girls. . .
He also likes TECHIE stuff. . .and comfort items (heated seats maybe??).
Also keep in mind that I may inherit this at some point so I don't want it "teenagered" to the point of no return. The Green one, as such, could end up being extremely purpose built for something like snow wheelin'. . .
Lastly, since this one has a really nice suspension system, it just might get the nod for our family style excursions to CO, CA, BC, etc. . .depending on it's hiway manners. Granted, the 95 has cruise control. . .so. . .this one would likely be a toad.
So, the goal is to have it on the road in about 1 week from Saturday. That is a tall order since all of my bays (both of them??) are taken in the garage, but if the tranny gods treat us right and I can weld up the exhaust manifold (for now, it will get a new one in the spring/summer when the weld breaks, because it WILL break), It shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time will be spent on R/R the rear windows since I have never put them IN before. . .lots of internet wive's tales about that. Anybody with experience in rubber gasket style windows can chime in!!! "Wrench or Tim?" What about the lads that work in shops (Graham, Mike?). . .
Eventually, this will be the only white XJ in the fleet. . .
Starting with:
1996, 2 Door, 4.0, AW4, NP231, C8.25
Rubicon Express 4.5" lift that looks like it is netting around 6". It is the full meal deal with the control arms, Edlebrock Shocks, adjustable track bar, OME steering stabilizer, full leaf packs, braided lines, etc.
Window is busted out of the back hatch (I have a good hatch)
One of the rear windows is busted (I have the mobetta kind with the vents anyway)
Dude's old man put a new tranny in it and didn't loctite the torque converter to flexplate bolts. . .which promptly backed out of the equation. . .so it runs like a top but won't move anywhere.
Typical busted exhaust manifold
pretty nice exhaust system with a flowmaster that I'll probably pirate for the green one.
Grey interior is in really good shape. Just needs a detail job.
Needs a new bumper and maybe a header panel. Dude hit a tree. Didn't get into the unibody thankfully. Still can't figure out what he did to the roof rack. . . but whatever. . .
Has mismatched 33s on it on chrome mods. . .rears (2) and unmounted (2) 33x12.50 wild countries that I WISH were in good shape. . .love those tires for snow when they are new. Fronts are BFG 33x10.50s. 1 KM2 and 1 KM. probably keep the KM2 for a spare or Keep the KM for a spare and buy 3 more KM2s.. dunno yet. Maybe a set of 32s so as to keep the stock gears a tiny bit happier. Not that he needs breakneck acceleration or overdrive. . .
MIGHT need a hack and tap (it is the newer/sealed NP231) if it vibrates at all. Some do, some don't. . .it has a small transfer case drop in it now and since it isn't going to be a hardcore wheeler (yet), this can stay.
At any rate, the plan is to get it running and driving. . .then see what else is wrong with it.
Will gets his permit in the next couple of weeks and I want him to get seat time in the rig he will be driving to school. . .
Then we'll lower it just a tad in the back via shorter spring packs, put an auto starter, alarm, and a decent stereo in it (already has the $$$ cables for the system). . .build a front bumper either skin or fix the few dents in it and let him drive it to class or to the mall.
If Orville doesn't sell in the next 9 days, this one will get his locked rearend, wheels and tires. O's front is going in the Green one. . .
So. . .with some good tires, a little lower stance, general clean up and maint, this will be a GREAT rig for my boy. Not only that, he picked it out and negotiated the deal. Just when I think the teenagers around this joint aren't paying attention, I get a "proud papa" moment!!!
Anyway, here's a pic of it now. It will start to look different almost immediately.
Also, He'd like some suggestions on the kind of non-wheelin' mods that he can make to it. I'm typically a "function only" kind of a guy and DGAFlip about coolness, but he's 15 (on 1/4) and has to rock this thing for the next 5 or 6 years. Gots to pull the girls. . .
He also likes TECHIE stuff. . .and comfort items (heated seats maybe??).
Also keep in mind that I may inherit this at some point so I don't want it "teenagered" to the point of no return. The Green one, as such, could end up being extremely purpose built for something like snow wheelin'. . .
Lastly, since this one has a really nice suspension system, it just might get the nod for our family style excursions to CO, CA, BC, etc. . .depending on it's hiway manners. Granted, the 95 has cruise control. . .so. . .this one would likely be a toad.
So, the goal is to have it on the road in about 1 week from Saturday. That is a tall order since all of my bays (both of them??) are taken in the garage, but if the tranny gods treat us right and I can weld up the exhaust manifold (for now, it will get a new one in the spring/summer when the weld breaks, because it WILL break), It shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time will be spent on R/R the rear windows since I have never put them IN before. . .lots of internet wive's tales about that. Anybody with experience in rubber gasket style windows can chime in!!! "Wrench or Tim?" What about the lads that work in shops (Graham, Mike?). . .