What should I do to my '95 XJ

[tgregg]

One of my friends who went out and ran the NAXJA run at Calico last fall told me REMI was able to do the run very well and I might want to learn what he has done to his XJ. So my question is "what should I do first to my stock '95 XJ? (4.0. AW4, 8.25 rearend)" And what has REMI done to his that I should set as a longer range goal?

[JohnX]

Detroit front and rear. 4.56 gears. Alloy shafts and good joints for the front, alloy shafts for the rear. Truss the front, maybe the rear. Rock sliders for sure. skid for the tank, skid for the Tcase. Heavy duty steering (1 ton, etc.) 6 inch short arm with drop brackets lift, trim fenders, 35 inch rubber. Good bumpers, winch in front, spare in rear. Roll Cage. Carry spare parts and toools.

With this setup, you can run 95% of local trails with very little effort.

[cal]

wow. I never thought I'd see a "What Would Remi Do?" thread.


Don't forget remi has a teralow transfercase, although with an automatic its not really needed.

[MJR]

One of my friends told me REMI was able to do the run very well and I might want to learn what he has done to his XJ.

:roflmao:

You need a chicken on the hood and a red/herculiner/green paint job.

[karstic]

:roflmao:

You need a chicken on the hood and a red/herculiner/green paint job.

Don't forget the wheel o' fortune tire carrier!:spin3:

Joking aside, the question is, "What do YOU want to do WITH your rig?"

Rock crawler, go fast ala Jeepspeed, exploration/expedition rig or some sort of compromise.

Do you need the reliabilty to have to get the rig home under it's own power or is being towed home? Flat-towed or on a trailer?

Answer that then build with that goal in mind.

[Kejtar]

One of my friends who went out and ran the NAXJA run at Calico last fall told me REMI was able to do the run very well and I might want to learn what he has done to his XJ. So my question is "what should I do first to my stock '95 XJ? (4.0. AW4, 8.25 rearend)" And what has REMI done to his that I should set as a longer range goal?
well I got front and rear detroits with 4.88s. You'd be limited to 4.56's with your axle but as others have asked the big question is what kind of a rig you want? My red XJ is an all around rig (or at least I like to think so) and it will both let me wheel and also get me to and from the trails (even if they're as far as Moab).

[Kejtar]

wow. I never thought I'd see a "What Would Remi Do?" thread.
Yeah, this is a scary thought


Don't forget remi has a teralow transfercase, although with an automatic its not really needed.
Last fall? Well if it's this fall then I had teralow. Last fall I did not have teralow.

[Monkey55]

One of my friends who went out and ran the NAXJA run at Calico last fall told me REMI was able to do the run very well and I might want to learn what he has done to his XJ. So my question is "what should I do first to my stock '95 XJ? (4.0. AW4, 8.25 rearend)" And what has REMI done to his that I should set as a longer range goal?


:eek:

Doesn't Remi have Rhino Liner on the lower half of his XJ??

Big question like others have asked, "What do you want out of it?" .. Do you want a daily driver that's a capable rig off-road? Which can be done... Do you a nice driver and be able to keep up on mild or medium runs? Do you a trail only rig? Do you want the most capable rig that's barely street legal??

Once you figure that out, then we could give you suggestions. Learn from our projects. I think most of us would do something different if we would we were to start over again. It's a long process, but fun.

Just remember that I think most of us are really never done modifying our rigs.

E

[IslanderOffRoad]

:roflmao:

You need a chicken on the hood and a red/herculiner/green paint job.

the hood chicken is to wheelers what type r stickers are to ricers. they're the part that gets you over the top.

[Kejtar]

the hood chicken is to wheelers what type r stickers are to ricers. they're the part that gets you over the top.
hey... don't go giving away all my secrets!

[IslanderOffRoad]

hey... don't go giving away all my secrets!

I've got a gold one brewing.... my jeep is gonna look like Smokey and the Bandit

[Kejtar]

I've got a gold one brewing.... my jeep is gonna look like Smokey and the Bandit
sweeeeeeeeeeeet Yuu know that you'll have to jump a bridge then though, right?

[xjjeeper19]

Detroit front and rear. 4.56 gears. Alloy shafts and good joints for the front, alloy shafts for the rear. Truss the front, maybe the rear. Rock sliders for sure. skid for the tank, skid for the Tcase. Heavy duty steering (1 ton, etc.) 6 inch short arm with drop brackets lift, trim fenders, 35 inch rubber. Good bumpers, winch in front, spare in rear. Roll Cage. Carry spare parts and toools.

With this setup, you can run 95% of local trails with very little effort.

Well John, with that description you should just sell him yours.....


Justin

[IslanderOffRoad]

sweeeeeeeeeeeet Yuu know that you'll have to jump a bridge then though, right?

note to self: truss d30 first.

[JohnX]

Well John, with that description you should just sell him yours.....


Justin
Nope...I'm still missing the cage.

I was describing Remi's, but I changed the gear ratio to match the limits of his 8.25, I also left out the 4:1 because he has an auto.


But yeah, it does sound a lot like mine :D

[xL8 APEKSx]

While a fully built rig would be fun, someone mentioned being able to run most of the local trails with "very little effort."

I guess I'm a fan of the underdog...I'd prefer to be at minimum spec for a trail and be challenged to pick the correct lines, rather than built to overkill for a particular route and drive through it with the same amount of effort it takes to drive through Del Taco... :)

[Kejtar]

While a fully built rig would be fun, someone mentioned being able to run most of the local trails with "very little effort."

I guess I'm a fan of the underdog...I'd prefer to be at minimum spec for a trail and be challenged to pick the correct lines, rather than built to overkill for a particular route and drive through it with the same amount of effort it takes to drive through Del Taco... :)
In that case 2 lockers on 33's and 4.56's or 4.88's is a nice all around rig (though I'd recommend 4.88's). To that about 4~4.5" of lift and a winch for SHTF moments and you're set.

[karstic]

While a fully built rig would be fun, someone mentioned being able to run most of the local trails with "very little effort."

I guess I'm a fan of the underdog...I'd prefer to be at minimum spec for a trail and be challenged to pick the correct lines, rather than built to overkill for a particular route and drive through it with the same amount of effort it takes to drive through Del Taco... :)

When I was on 31's w/3.55 gearing I was uncomfortable with the amount of skinny pedal needed to get through some obstacles. I alwys had that thought at the back of my head that I was gonna break something.

[Monkey55]

ummmmm.. what happened to tgreg?? :dunno:

Maybe he doesn't want a rig like Remi's anymore... :looney:

E

[mikedashg]

Who's making the "WWRD?" stickers?

[GrimmJeeper]

Who's making the "WWRD?" stickers? its not a sticker its a stencil that you rhino-line over :D:D

[tgregg]

In that case 2 lockers on 33's and 4.56's or 4.88's is a nice all around rig (though I'd recommend 4.88's). To that about 4~4.5" of lift and a winch for SHTF moments and you're set.

Thanks everybody, I've been reading the posts with great interest. To answer a couple of questions: I currently drive the XJ to trails but I trailer the CJ5 when I use it; so long term I have the ability to trailer it and get the XJ home if I break it! I am currently using the XJ for a work car while the real estate market is slow so I am not thinking radical yet. When business gets better I want to buy a newer Cherokee to show property and start building the '95 into a more serious trail rig. I think my desire is for an all around off road purpose vehicle and the above post by Kejtar may be the direction I should go. I'm asking now as I want to start buying the parts I'll need for the day I can retire the XJ to recreational only use. Thanks for all the help.

[Kejtar]

I'm asking now as I want to start buying the parts I'll need for the day I can retire the XJ to recreational only use. Thanks for all the help.
Start looking for parts that come up for sale and accumulate them. Worst case scenario you can resell them.