New to SoCal and XJs

[HawkZero]

Background - I just moved to the Indian Wells Valley (Ridgecrest) from the other coast and realized my wife's subaru just wasn't off-roady enough to handle the awesome terrain out here.

Sooo....I bought a 2000 XJ from Craigslist a few weeks ago and am totally hooked.

The rig is stock at this point and I have some plans but need some help along the way. I am mechanically inclined but have a family and busy job. Therefore the mantra of "whats more important - time or money" applies.

I'm wondering if there are any shops within a couple hours drive that can help get this thing set up. Wants = 33" Tires, 4.56 Gears, 4.5" lift and SYE. Anybody have any great ideas or a clue as to how much it would cost to have this done by a shop?

I've used SEARCH with limited success, but are there clear how to threads on how to do this stuff yourself?

Also - The $40 steel wheels from American Racing ok or should I pony up the cash for the MT Classic II?

Who sells 4.56 gear conversions for the Chry 8.25 and Dana 30?

Thanks in advance.:helpme:

[GauchoMD]

Most lifts can be done by do-it yourselfers...but the re-gearing thing is best left to the experts. As far as cost to have it done by a shop? Lots and lots. Most people here are usually willing to help out with mechanical stuff (i.e., installing lifts, etc.) for food and/or beer :) All lifts are a little different so there may or may not be a thread for whatever lift you buy. Oh, BTW, be prepared for a lengthy debate on which lift to buy if you dare ask the members!

[xtimmax]

welcome..

Congrats on the XJ

Keep an eye on the for sale section for many good deals on things. Always good stuff on there. It just happens to pop up when I'm broke.:dunno:

There are many people on here that can do gears, and will do them for fairly cheap.

Also when you want to do the lift and stuff, post up for a lift party, lots of people around here are very helpful.

If you XJ is pretty and you want to keep it that way, start with the body armor, or at least some rock rails.

Good luck.

Tim

[Monkey55]

Background - I just moved to the Indian Wells Valley (Ridgecrest) from the other coast and realized my wife's subaru just wasn't off-roady enough to handle the awesome terrain out here.

Sooo....I bought a 2000 XJ from Craigslist a few weeks ago and am totally hooked.

The rig is stock at this point and I have some plans but need some help along the way. I am mechanically inclined but have a family and busy job. Therefore the mantra of "whats more important - time or money" applies.

I'm wondering if there are any shops within a couple hours drive that can help get this thing set up. Wants = 33" Tires, 4.56 Gears, 4.5" lift and SYE. Anybody have any great ideas or a clue as to how much it would cost to have this done by a shop?

I've used SEARCH with limited success, but are there clear how to threads on how to do this stuff yourself?

Also - The $40 steel wheels from American Racing ok or should I pony up the cash for the MT Classic II?

Who sells 4.56 gear conversions for the Chry 8.25 and Dana 30?

Thanks in advance.:helpme:

Welcome HawkZero...

There are definitely shops within a couple of hours; I just could recommend any. There are a few guys are here who do gears. I'm not sure about shops that lift Jeeps. You'll find that a lot of people around here will encourage you to do it yourself. But, that's your choice. I have PORC gears and haven't had issues with them so far.

As far as wheels.. :dunno: Some guys really like steel wheels because they can "re-work" them if they get bent.

Anywho.. Welcome...

E

[tcm glx]

Welcome..and congrats on the most expensive, cheap Jeep you could have bought...(kidding). The naxja community is a wealth of information, as well as helping hands. I encourage you to join the club, and plan out your project...most (myself included) typically say they will do a small 3" lift and 31" tires........and most, end up on 33" or 35" with 4-6" of lift......But, that is part of the fun!

[SanDiegoXJ]

Welcome, bro! As for the gears, I'd have to reiterate, check out the guys on the board....Rawbrown did mine, and I've had zero problems...will have him do my 4.88's when I finally get a real rear end.

As for the lift, well, I'd suggest a lift party personally. $50 in beer and pizza will likely be enough to get folks to come out and give you more help and advice than you anticipated....not to mention it's just another way to meet folks on the board.

As for the steel wheels....well, I'm a big fan. It's a lot less painful for me to scratch up a $50 wheel than a $150 wheel...but that's all personall preference.

Anywho, welcome and grats on the jeep.

[HawkZero]

Wow...thats a great response so far and more or less exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. I was reading the responses to my wife and she was laughing...now I have to convince her to have a lift party!

I will search for "best lift" threads before I dare ask the question...thanks for the advice Gaucho.

My first project lasted the past week. Previous ownwer was probably a smoker and habitual coffee spiller. Pulled out all the interior and used the portable steam cleaner to scrub down the interior with fairly decent results. Now it just smells faintly like the air freshner they used to cover up the odor...no offense to smokers...just not my bag.

[GauchoMD]

No prob. BTW, there are a few member here with nice garages/tools who have hosted the "lift parties". Just post a thread asking for help and someone will come to the rescue. Oh yeah, one more FYI, for what its worth red names get more helpful/quicker replies than black ones! :) One last thing, I dont think anyone here will disagree that if you're willing to pay a little more, a Rubicon Express or T&T lift is the way to go...its when you ask for the CHEAPEST lift when people start putting each other down around here...

[Mr.OverKill]

lift, all of us can do, gears i recomend jeeperjohn, he did my gears and i am really happy

[HawkZero]

No prob. BTW, there are a few member here with nice garages/tools who have hosted the "lift parties". Just post a thread asking for help and someone will come to the rescue. Oh yeah, one more FYI, for what its worth red names get more helpful/quicker replies than black ones! :) One last thing, I dont think anyone here will disagree that if you're willing to pay a little more, a Rubicon Express or T&T lift is the way to go...its when you ask for the CHEAPEST lift when people start putting each other down around here...

I'm guessing Red Names are paid members?

Funny thing you should mention, but I was looking at E 4.5 or 5.5 lift.

[hellbilly04]

Welcome to NAXJA Hawk! Yep paid members names are red & it's worth every penny of the $35.

Billy

I'm guessing Red Names are paid members?

Funny thing you should mention, but I was looking at E 4.5 or 5.5 lift.

[Jump This]

I still am using the same control arms from my first lift I bought five years ago. They are the RE fixed length 4.5" jobs.
Lift party in Ridgecrest!
BTW...beer and pizza is running closer to $100 now adays...

:D

[Blazair]

Welcome to the desert!

[HawkZero]

Welcome to NAXJA Hawk! Yep paid members names are red & it's worth every penny of the $35.

Billy

Sweet...I'm red now and for the next 25 months!:party:

[2stix]

congrats on being red. its a good cause and is extremely helpfull. plus as mentioned allready, you CAN get some great deals on stuff. that aside, id suggest doing the lift party. not only will you get some knowlegdable help, but you will get to meet some cool people that you will WANT to go jeepin with.

[Monkey55]

Sweet...I'm red now and for the next 25 months!:party:
Wow, that was fast..

CONGRATS.. Welcome to The DARKSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, we can heckle you knowing that you are going to be around for awhile.. :shhh: Just kidding... For all we know, you might move to Texas.. :shocked:

:D

E

[hellbilly04]

NICE 4 post & your already red! Thanks for your support...

Sweet...I'm red now and for the next 25 months!:party:

[Jump This]

Wow, that was fast..

CONGRATS.. Welcome to The DARKSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, we can heckle you knowing that you are going to be around for awhile.. :shhh: Just kidding... For all we know, you might move to Texas.. :shocked:

:D

E


Leave the harassment and heckling to me!!

:D

Who the hell joins a club before meeting a single one of us....
Does your mom know you do things like that?
And do something about your damn profile, maybe a name or age....for criminy sakes....
Procrastinator huh? And you already joined......(here is where I need a smiley of someone shaking his head)

[GrimmJeeper]

Leave the harassment and heckling to me!!

:D

Who the hell joins a club before meeting a single one of us....
Does your mom know you do things like that?
And do something about your damn profile, maybe a name or age....for criminy sakes....
Procrastinator huh? And you already joined......(here is where I need a smiley of someone shaking his head)

:twak: down boy!


Rick we need to shorten your chain you're scaring the new neighbors


:D

[hollywood32]

Leave the harassment and heckling to me!!

:D

Who the hell joins a club before meeting a single one of us....


Actually its really not that hard to run background checks. :rtm:

j/k:smoker:

[SanDiegoXJ]

Actually its really not that hard to run background checks. :rtm:

If he did that, there's no way in hell he would have joined! :cheers:

[HawkZero]

Wow, that was fast..

CONGRATS.. Welcome to The DARKSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, we can heckle you knowing that you are going to be around for awhile.. :shhh: Just kidding... For all we know, you might move to Texas.. :shocked:

:D

E

Funny you should mention that...I just applied for a position in Houston.

[HawkZero]

Leave the harassment and heckling to me!!

:D

Who the hell joins a club before meeting a single one of us....
Does your mom know you do things like that?
And do something about your damn profile, maybe a name or age....for criminy sakes....
Procrastinator huh? And you already joined......(here is where I need a smiley of someone shaking his head)

Somebody mentioned free beer and parties it was only AFTER I signed up I realized that I was supposed to be the one supplying it!

[hollywood32]

If he did that, there's no way in hell he would have joined! :cheers:

I joined. But thats probably becuase misfits run in packs.:gee:

[HawkZero]

Kinda funny...maybe not.

Looks like I might actually be north of the SoCal chaptor boundary. The closest major towns are in the inland empire, but technically Ridgecrest is farther north than Bakersfield.

[johnnyc]

I thought that maybe you had failed geography in school. But I just checked Mapquest...and you're right. :twak:

It's okay though. Between the two chapters, SoCal is the better one to be in. ;) You're welcome to stay.

[ScottyDog]

Funny you should mention that...I just applied for a position in Houston.


Welcome... I've been a member here off and on (well off more or less since I sold my XJ) but still a paying and supporting member....

BTW, what are you doing in Ridgecrest? Working for Raytheon supporting China Lake NAWS I assume?

[HawkZero]

Welcome... I've been a member here off and on (well off more or less since I sold my XJ) but still a paying and supporting member....

BTW, what are you doing in Ridgecrest? Working for Raytheon supporting China Lake NAWS I assume?

I work in support of NAWS on the .mil side of the food chain.

[HawkZero]

I thought that maybe you had failed geography in school. But I just checked Mapquest...and you're right. :twak:

It's okay though. Between the two chapters, SoCal is the better one to be in. ;) You're welcome to stay.

Never took geography...but in this case I just really didn't bother to check where the chapter border was until AFTER I announced my presence.:anon: Thanks for letting me stay...

[Jump This]

Never took geography...but in this case I just really didn't bother to check where the chapter border was until AFTER I announced my presence.:anon: Thanks for letting me stay...


who says we are letting you stay?
I didn't see any vote taken...
You are close to Goatman....let the Sierra Chapter have him!
you are Gay arn't you?

:D

Wait a moment here....you updated your profile....gays don't smoke cigars!

YOU can stay!

[WraithKWK]

Leave the harassment and heckling to me!!

:D

Who the hell joins a club before meeting a single one of us....


I joined before I met anyone....
Membership was worth every penny ... honestly that 35 bucks was worth thousands and i've only been a member for bout 2 months.

[Jump This]

I joined before I met anyone....
Membership was worth every penny ... honestly that 35 bucks was worth thousands and i've only been a member for bout 2 months.

I must have gotten' some sort of senior discount, I paid 50 bucks for two years.

:D

I'm wondering if you have met any of us yet....:D

[TheWarWagon]

Welcome to as they say- the dark side. As you will soon learn, Jeeps are one of the greatest, most satisfying money pits(next to a chick) you'll ever have. At one time or another, we all started with bone stockers. Pretty soon you'll have "inchitis". Say goodbye to your paycheck, your jeep owns them now. :scottm: