After 3 years I finally get to tackle my XJ and build it up to what I want-a reliable wheeler, good road manners, plenty of power for towing and try out some new ideas I have. Here's the plan...
Gut it completely...engine,trans, tcase, axles, suspension, dash, wiring, seats...all gone. Take the header panel and front fenders off and cut the entire front off from the firewall forward. Open up the rest of the framerails top and bottom, weld in rect. tubing to replace the weakened framerails and give me a good base to support everything. Fab up the front framerails wider, build some inner fenders to reattach the header panel and fenders. Cut out a large section of the firewall and move it back a bit and give clearance for the C6 trans and 351windsor. Lengthened radius arms for the fullwidth D44 and 4 link and coils for the 9" in back. Chop the back off and move the gas tank up or fuel cell, small bed with a pull out storage in the floor. Front and rear flares yanked, bigger wheel tubs in back, run tube and sheet metal to bulge the fenders out a bit and give "some" coverage over the new meats.
Full cage, custom dash, Summit heater unit, a REAL radiator (front crossmember is going bye-bye so I can put a universal aluminum TALL radiator in. Should start on the tear down within a month, I'll post up pics along the way!
Gut it completely...engine,trans, tcase, axles, suspension, dash, wiring, seats...all gone. Take the header panel and front fenders off and cut the entire front off from the firewall forward. Open up the rest of the framerails top and bottom, weld in rect. tubing to replace the weakened framerails and give me a good base to support everything. Fab up the front framerails wider, build some inner fenders to reattach the header panel and fenders. Cut out a large section of the firewall and move it back a bit and give clearance for the C6 trans and 351windsor. Lengthened radius arms for the fullwidth D44 and 4 link and coils for the 9" in back. Chop the back off and move the gas tank up or fuel cell, small bed with a pull out storage in the floor. Front and rear flares yanked, bigger wheel tubs in back, run tube and sheet metal to bulge the fenders out a bit and give "some" coverage over the new meats.
Full cage, custom dash, Summit heater unit, a REAL radiator (front crossmember is going bye-bye so I can put a universal aluminum TALL radiator in. Should start on the tear down within a month, I'll post up pics along the way!