The "Impound" Build

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

A while back I posted up some pics of the red 98 XJ that I picked up for my brother. It came out of the City of Chicago Impound and we had no clue as to the overall shape of the rig until we dug into it. All in all, it was a good rig for the money. He replaced the fuel pump in it due to a crack in the regulator and it was seeping fuel out. The A/C needed the evaporator replaced and the exhaust had a few holes in it. Well, all those "minor" things addressed and fixed, it was time to install the lift. We ended up going with a Rough Country 4.5" lift w/ full leaf packs. I pieced together the lift consisting of the new shiney silver 4.5" coils, 4.5" packs, RC drop brackets, the new RC track bar and double shear frame bracket, some RC stainless extended brake lines, RC shocks and steering stabilizer, some used 32's (courtesy of 97Country, Jeremy) and some 1.25 wheel spacers. Here are a few pics of the before & afters and some of the lift install.

As I picked it up

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01694-1.jpg

the prior owner had numerous unpaid tickets strung through out this rig..and a lot of garbage

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01701.jpg

got it back to my place and cleaned it up a bit and stuck it in one of the sheds until it headed south to southern Missouri for its new home

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01712-1.jpg

Made it to my brothers and the lift party began. We pulled the front axle out and installed the new RC track bar bracket.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01919.jpg

We installed the new RC coils, RC drop brackets, new brakes/rotors, extended brake lines and wheel spacers and started getting things back together for the front end.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01925.jpg

Now the front was done we worked on the rear leafs..those stock bolts were a MOFO! This is my brother earning his merit badge on the leaf bolts :D

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01931.jpg

Leafs on, front and rear complete and ready for a test drive. Who says you can't lift an XJ in a day in the middle of suburbia w/ limited tools? :D

Good thing I brought my air tools and about everything else I could think of!

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/XJ_TJ4ME/Tonys%20XJ/DSC01935.jpg

It has been a cool project to see my brother get involved with. He and his family are really into the project and have plans for a new front bumper/grill guard and a roof rack, swing out tire carrier etc. I happened to mention to them a company by the name of JCR :D Enjoy the pics...more to come as the project evolves :thumbup:

[BIGSLVRXJ]

That thing is fresh lookin' Tyler, excellent work. That is the best I've seen a rig look with Eccos I do believe.

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Thanks Collin, he is a perfectionist about things (note the epoxy painted garage floor that he actually mops when done w/ a project!), so it will get the rockers replaced and repainted and he has it all detailed up and clean now. He is more into fire roads and Sunday drive type trails at the moment since he is new to the sport, but I know him and he will get the itch for something more challenging very soon. That is if he can git it back from his wife :D She loves it!

[comancheon33]

Looks great. I normally don't like red but looks good there. If I get off my behind and finish Kaylas 99 XJ I could get the pics up also.

[XJ Stryker]

Nice build. Can't wait to see it evolve.

[seanR]

When my son gets home, we are going to take all of the goodies off of my rig and put them on something fresh. Looks good Cheeseman...

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Thanks Sean, there is an 01 coming on from the impound for $2500 but that is the only details I have, no pics etc yet. When is Travis getting home?

[seanR]

Not until January

[4wdParakeet]

Nice looking jeep. I wish I would have started with a new xj like that. I think I'm getting to the point that I enjoy working on mine though



Parakeet

[jakeWI]

nice

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

I sent my brother home with a box of goodies this past weekend for the XJ. Sent him a new pass side mirror, set of factory fog lamps and factory switch panel and front end harness for the lights. He called me last night and said he had the panel installed as well as the harness and lights but it was not powering up. Finally found that it did not have the relay under the hood, let alone there was not even prongs/wiring for a relay to plug into. So he was going to tackle wiring a Bosch relay set up into it and still run the factory switch inside to keep it looking clean. He installed an Alpine CD player in it as well. He is looking at JCR bumpers right now, but can not make up his mind on what he needs verses what he wants. I am getting him a lunchbox locker for his birthday, hope he likes it....

[SAMSET]

looks really good

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Thanks, it is looking to possibly have its first official trail run at KS Rocks in October. We are needing to get some front tow points on it if he does not get a bumper by then.

[IllianaXJ]

The fog light thing is similar to what I did. I ran my own wiring and relay but used the factory switch and panel. Shouldn't be too hard for him to rig up. Hardest part is stuffing the wires behind the switch panel.

[4wdParakeet]

Thanks, it is looking to possibly have its first official trail run at KS Rocks in October. We are needing to get some front tow points on it if he does not get a bumper by then.


Since I'm on the haunted hiatus till Nov I will miss the ignagural run for him. Hopefully I can talk you guys into coming to Wheeling 4 Toys in Dec.


Parakeet

[Rockhound89]

Thanks, it is looking to possibly have its first official trail run at KS Rocks in October. We are needing to get some front tow points on it if he does not get a bumper by then.

Hi country off road makes some nice d-ring mounts for the front. I have used them a time or 2 on the wife’s jeep.

[SeeJay]

Any vibration issues?

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

not that he has mentioned, we are going to throw a SYE on it next time I am down there just b/c I had an extra one for him.

[seanR]

You are still Gay

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

but you told me you loved me Sean :lastara:

[BIGSLVRXJ]

but you told me you loved me Sean :lastara:
I love you Tyler, in a completely heterosexual way (or mostly anyway) :D

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

then start answering my calls bitch! You have missed out on a couple of smokin' deals!

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

well, the nonfinctioning heat issue has been resolved, it was a plug that was not fully plugged in by the blend door :rolleyes: Now it is a mess trying to get the hack job alarm out of it and return the wiring back to stock. Hope that he has it done tonight b/c I can tell he is really getting frustrated with taking the dash out multiple times :D

[KSXJ]

looks like he needs my rear bumper ;)

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

got everything back together last night and it runs again. The blinker assembly is acting up a little bit, but other then that it is good to go. I will mention the bumper to him Blake :thumbup:

[Blaine B.]

Nice, looks clean! I could use a newer XJ. I'd prefer a darker color but if the price is right I'd settle on anything!

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

well, the project received a new JCR roof mount ligt bar for Christmas. He has 2 lights for it right now and I have the other set for him as a late birthday present. Hope to get down that way in the next few weeks and help him hook up the lights and relays correctly :D Still need to install a locker for him as well, but all will come in good time.

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Thought I would update this thread....the XJ was causing all sorts of problems as of late..TPS, CPS, fuel pump, internal filters, blinkers and other odd items. He finally said hell with it and had it towed to a shop and just said "fix it" one day later it was done. apparently there were some pinched or cut wires in various places that were causing the electrical gremlins. So, it is now back on the road and he called me last night and said "I got flagged down by another guy in an XJ and he talked my ear off about my rig" I told him, welcome to the XJ world my friend! I have a matching fullsize spare for him on a silver Ecco so it will match his current set up. He has the JCR light bar and 4 Hella 500's on it. Looks nice and clean. We are going to wheel it around my folks place over Easter and I wil give him a little "Wheeling 101" class :D I will post up some pics after this weekend of its current state.

[GRIMUS99XJ]

tyler I didnt think you graduated from wheeling 101 class yet so how do you plan on teaching it.

Blind leading blind never works friend sorry hahaha

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Haha wise ass! I have the cliffnotes version .!.:D.!.

[GRIMUS99XJ]

thats for the cheese and spotted cow comment

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

haha!! your lucky I did not have the drunken dials that evening...you get me and Sean together and some good beer...who knows what can happen :D I can now see why you like that Spotted Cow so well...mighty tasty! :cheers:

[XJosh95]

haha!! your lucky I did not have the drunken dials that evening...

Or you can call me on a Monday night...That whole conversation, although still a memory, was a blur.

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

funny you mentioned that in this thread b/c when my brother and I started this build we were very much in the same state of mind as I was on Monday evening :D Drink a few beers, work some, drink a few more beers, work a bit less, drink a few more beers and go in and watch TV, drink a few more beers and piss in the neighbors bushes, drink a few more beers....well, you get the point. :D

[XJosh95]

Hey Cheeseman, what ever happened with this thing?

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

He still has it and it suffered some damage a few weeks back. He put on some new Maxxis Bighorns and loves the way it handles. He got twisted up on a small rock face in southern Missouri and slide into a tree that ended up crunching up the front fender and caved in all the rocker to the rear fender well and busted off both fender flares. It shoved the rocker into the bottom of the doors and even f'ed up the passenger rear door. So we are trying to figure a weekend I can go down and pick it up and bring it up to my shop and put it under the knife. We are going to cut out the rockers and replace w/ 2x5 rec tube and then tie into the unibody like we did on my rig. We are also gonna knock out some bumpers for him as well. he was gonna try to go to Winterfest 2011 but can not get his leave rescheduled. He has to book vacation 1 year in advance. I might sense some "sick leave" in his future :D

[XJosh95]

Wow, lots has happened. Just goes to show you how good you are at updating a thread that isn't about your pile of Jeep or your pile of bacon.

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

This rig is now for sale. I hate to see him sell it but he never drives it and it is an eye sore for the neighbors in his Country Club neighborhood. $3000 obo.

[CherBear]

This rig is now for sale. I hate to see him sell it but he never drives it and it is an eye sore for the neighbors in his Country Club neighborhood. $3000 obo.

Pics? CL listing link or similar?

[XJosh95]

http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1061364