1999 XJ - June

Welp, I bought one. Her name is June. I'll be taking this on as a budget build due to that fact that she's my second vehicle. TRYING to build under $3000 including the vehicle, so I'll document along the way.

Current Picture:



Current Modifications:
-Rusty's 3in lift w/ spring packs
-2014 Jeep JK Rubicon Wheels w/ 1.25in adapters on 255/75/17 BFG Mud Terrain T/A KM
-no shocks (temporary)
-no swaybars (temporary)

I'll try to keep this updated as much as possible! Thanks for lookin'.

27OCT14

On 27OCT14 I bought June from a kind of sketchy Mexican guy who spoke not a word of english. My Spanish is shaky, but everything checked out and I drove her home. Needs some work, but 1300 bucks isn't too bad around here.

From the Craigslist ad






On the drive home, I passed over the 225,000 mile mark



Total $: 1300

29OCT14

Was creeping craigslist today in class and came across some Moab wheels of of a 2014 Jeep Wrangler. Tires are the BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM with 10k miles on them and a full size spare with 0 miles. OH! I paid $100 bucks for 5 of them. PO said he had no idea what they're worth and to consider it as an early Chrismas present. When I went to pick them up he had his new JK, a new track-prepped Audi TTRS, a newish VW GTI, and his wife's newer Merc AMG something-or-other. Anyways my first vehicle is a STi so the wheels barely fit in the back, BUT I got them home.



They're all currently silver, but more than likely will be plasti-dipped/ bedlinered black in the future.



Unfortunately, because they're ~32s, I won't be able to put them on until my lift and adapters get here. Into storage they go :icon_cry:


Total $: 1400.00

31OCT14

Got my build sheet from Jeep this morning..

VIN 1J4FF68S4XL605160
Vehicle Description JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT UTILITY 4-DR
Model Year 1999
Body Model XJ J L 74
Color PCN- Deep Amethyst Pearl Coat
Engine ERH- 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine
Transmission DGSS- 4-Speed Automatic AW4 Transmission

M5 Prem Cloth Hi-Back Bucket Seats
AZ Agate
ADAP Light Group
APAS Monotone Paint
ARWP Sport Decor Group
AWHP Power Equipment Group
A20P 4.0L Engine(ERH)/4Sp Auto Trans(DGS
BASS 124 Amp Alternator
BCDS 500 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
BGAS Power Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes
CADP High Back Bucket Seats
CBWP Highline Door Trim Panel
CDBS Reclining Front Seats
CFMS Rear Fold w/Removable Cushion Seat
CGGS Traveling Inboard Seat Belt Buckle
CGWS Next Generation Front Air Bags**
CKAS Carpets - Floor and Cargo Area
CKNS Cargo Compartment Carpet
CKTS Cargo Tie Down Loops
CKXS Plastic Liftgate Trim Panel
CLEP Front & Rear Floor Mats
CSAP Spare Tire Cover
CSRS Passenger Assist Handles
CSSS Lift Gate Assist Handle
CUFS Full Length Floor Console
DGB All 4-Speed Automatic Transmissions
DGSS 4-Speed Automatic AW4 Transmission
DHAP Lock-Up Torque Converter
DHNS Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System
DHSP Floor Mount Automatic Shift Lever
DJHS Dana M30/181MM Front Axle
DMDP 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio
DRAS Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle
EAAC All Engines
ERH 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine
GAL Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass
GBBS Tinted Windshield Glass
GCBS Front Door Tinted Glass
GEEP Deep Tint Sunscreen Liftgate Glass
GFAS Rear Window Defroster
GNAS Rear View Day/Night Mirror
GNCP Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors
GTS Power Heated Mirrors, Fold-Away
GVBC All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors
GXMP Remote Keyless Entry
HAAP Air Conditioning
HGDS Deluxe Insulation Group
JAYP Instrument Cluster w/Tach
JBFP Instrument Panel Black Bezel
JCDS 100 MPH Primary Speedometer
JHAS Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
JHBP Rear Window Wiper/Washer
JJBS Dual Note Electric Horns
JJJS 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
JPAP Power Windows
JPBP Power Locks
KDPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - CH
KGPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - JE
KRPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - 4
KTPS RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - JEEP
KVPP RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - SP
KYPP RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - 4.0L
K2ZP BLACK - MOLDING - BODYSIDE
K3CS DEEP AMETHYST - FENDER FLARES
LAJS Headlamps On Warning Chimes
LBBP Courtesy Lamps
LCDP Map/Dome Reading Lamps
LDAP Underhood Lamp
LDBP Cargo Compartment Lamp
LHDP Headlamp Off Time Delay
LMAS Halogen Headlamps
LNJ Fog Lamps
LPSS CHMSL Lamp
MBKP Black Front Bumper End Caps
MBLP Body Color Front Bumper
MBSP Black Rear Bumper End Caps
MBTP Body Color Rear Bumper
MCAS Front Bumper Guards
MFBP Body Color Headlamp Bezels
MFKP Body Color Grille
MHAS Black Windshield Moldings
MMCS Rear Qtr Solid Window Insert
MMGS Belt Moldings
MMKS Body Color Drip Trough Molding
MNAS Black Door Handles
MNNP Body Color License Plate Brow
MWGP Roof Rack
NAA Federal Emissions
NBKS EVAP Control System
NFAS 20 Gallon Fuel Tank
NHM Speed Control
PCN Deep Amethyst Pearl Coat
QCNS Deep Amethyst Pearl Coat
RAAC All Radio Equipped Vehicles
RASP AM/FM Cassette Radio
RCRP 4 Speakers
RDDP Fixed Long Mast Antenna
SBAS Power Steering
SCGP Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
SDAS Normal Duty Suspension
SHAS Front Stabilizer Bar
SHCS Rear Stabilizer Bar
SUAP Tilt Steering Column
TBCS Compact Spare Tire
TBLS Inside Mounted Spare Tire
TRLP P225/75R15 Wrangler RT/S AT Tires
TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires
WJ5P 15X7.0 Full-Face Steel Wheels
WLYC All Steel Wheels
XCYS Upgraded OBD-II Connectors
XJFS Tethered Fuel Filler Cap
XPFS Protective Coating and Remover

3NOV14

Not much of an update, but I spent a bunch of money today. First and most important, I ordered my lift. 3" from Rusty's with the full spring pack and I'm super excited for that. Also ordered my wheel adapters for the JK wheels. They're 1.25in so hopefully that takes enough backspacing away to make the jeep wider than it is now. I ordered some MOLLE gear and bulk fasteners like key rings, buckles, clips, small d rings, and q clips. Finally I went to Home Depot and got some necessary tools and some tools that'll make life easier.

From Home Depot:



Anyone running this lift? Likes? Dislikes?

5NOV14

Well my MOLLE gear is being sent from europe.. WTF? so it'll be a while before I can do anything with that. Started working on the outside of the jeep. Pulled the front bumper, side moldings, fender flares and their retainers. I've got a big load of trash in the back..



Also removed my rear sway bar for super flecksy time this weekend.



Some good progress which keeps it fun, PLUS I didn't break any bolts! Also have have hardcore PB Blasting all the suspension bolts for the past week or so for when my lift gets here.

7NOV14

For the four day weekend I decided to pack myself up and spend a few days in the mountains. I haven't been camping in a truly long time so I'm rather excited to say the least. Also this will act as a test for June as an expedition vehicle and my current camping set up. I'm taking the mindset of "If I don't have it, I don't need it."

But, I'm not too worried about not having it..



Also, my wheel adapters came in. No sign of the lift yet, but I have no doubt it'll arrive shortly.



Current $: 1502.98

11NOV14

Plugging away at little things today when I had some time. Rapidly realizing that the Air Force just loves sapping every little bit of spare time that I should have..

ANYWAYS got the adapters and new wheels on



In desperate need of that lift!



Wheels stick out just a bit, but ME LIKEY



Also picked up some gate lift thingies to make life a little easier



Break down of the cost:
~sold my stock wheels +100
~lift struts -35.98

Total $: 1438.96

17NOV14

Just a quick update-

In preparation of the lift I decided to start tear down on the Jeep. Shocks are out and all of the remaining bolts are broken loose. Once the lift gets here on Thursday I'll undo everything real quick and slap the new parts in.

The best part- I DIDN'T BREAK A SINGLE BOLT



Knock on wood that I won't break any for the whole build.. Are the stock shocks worth anything? Maybe like 20 bucks even?

21NOV14

Okay, so this weekend has been madness. I got my lift Thursday and was planning on camping Friday night and wheeling Saturday morning. Unfortunately, with the short time frame with school and blah blah blah I never took breaks to take pictures during the lift install. The story:

Thursday: class ended at 3 and I picked up the lift. I got everything off with ease except the bolt that mounts the front of the leaves to the frame. I got it out of the frame, but stuck in the leaf so I cut it off and pulled it out. Everything bolted up and went to bolt the axle to the springs, but the Rusty's bolts that hold the leaves together are too big to fit into the axle guide. Apparently they're just really snug, but I was in a rush. Before I researched anything I just hit them with a grinder. By the time I got all the rear done, I had to get some sleep.



Friday: Classes released at 3 again and issues getting the springs in made me to run to A/Z to get compressors. With the compressors the springs slid right in. At this point I decided to open up the shock boxes to install. Well I don't know what the deal was, but the shock bushings and bar pins weren't installed so we spent an hour or so trying to get them in. After some lovely key words came out of my mouth, I decided to just throw stock shocks in to get us by for the weekend. I picked up my buddy around and we were off. The jeep rode crappy without any down travel, but it "worked". We got to the campsite and cracked open the beers.





Saturday: woke up feeling good and ready for a day of wheeling. Shortly after we woke up, it decided to start raining. We camped at the obstacle course, so before we packed camp up, we took the jeep out on it's maiden lifted voyage. Well the shocks were clearly too short and the wheels too big for stock front fenders. I removed the shocks knowing it'd be bouncy, but it got us by.







Sunday: Well at least it was fun. The fenders are toast and I have to figure out the shocks. I may also need a wash.. or two



Total: $1998.15

Looks good. I've been thinking about some JK 17's- either those or the new Rubi wheels- if I can find them for the right price.

IslanderOffRoad said:

Looks good. I've been thinking about some JK 17's- either those or the new Rubi wheels- if I can find them for the right price.

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Do it! Dumb craigslist people are your friend.

Keep an eye out for JK takeoff shocks and run a set of bar pin eliminators. Should be good for about 3" of lift if I remember correctly from a junkyard upgrade list in the modified tech section.

I have the shocks and bushings that came with the lift, I just need bpe. Hopefully cheap! I went to the jy and got the brackets for the rear swaybar, the opening is just too small for the eyelet to fit in maybe some threaded rod and nuts will fix it?

nice xj like that its a purple one too dont see to many i got one sitting behind my work to build for my fiancee picked it up for less than yours but needs so body pieces replaced from po's accident

mcguyver_xj said:

nice xj like that its a purple one too dont see to many i got one sitting behind my work to build for my fiancee picked it up for less than yours but needs so body pieces replaced from po's accident

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thanks man! I'm not a huge fan of the purple, but it works for now

Looks good. Its hard to build a quality XJ on a budget. Found mine already lifted 3.5" RE but all the bushings and heims had to be replaced. My exhaust motor back had to be replaced which cost 1K... but now its Banks header, new up pipe, new cat, and Banks Monster exhaust

I'm into mine just over 2K and almost done! Keep up the good work, looks much better than stock.

lightfighter said:

Looks good. Its hard to build a quality XJ on a budget. Found mine already lifted 3.5" RE but all the bushings and heims had to be replaced. My exhaust motor back had to be replaced which cost 1K... but now its Banks header, new up pipe, new cat, and Banks Monster exhaust

I'm into mine just over 2K and almost done! Keep up the good work, looks much better than stock.

Click to expand...

thanks man! I've still got a long way to go and much more to learn

26NOV14

I went to the junkyard for the first time a couple days ago and really enjoyed myself. Picked up 4 rear sway bar brackets to use as bar pin eliminators. Today I had some time to get them installed. The bushings were wide so I got some threaded rod and made room. After that everything seemed to fall right into place. These aren't my favorite shocks, but they'll do for now. Fox shox are in this jeep's future. Maybe when tax return time comes around?



Jeep doesn't bounce like a lowrider anymore! Next week starts the aesthetic phase of the build, which shouldn't be too extensive.. Just a good wash and a clean up. For now I'm going to leave the smashed fenders on there until I can figure out what I'm doing in the bump stop department. After that I'll source some previously loved fenders from the junkyard. It's time I get some sleep, but here's a picture of my two lovely vehicles

Couple hockey pucks and silicone will sort out the bump stop issue cheap and quick, until you find a better solution.
My first set of tires after lift were my wife's 08 JK take offs, she had the sahara so 18's and street tread, looked kinda lame but got me going. The Moabs you have look much better, and they are a dime a dozen everywhere. With 1.25" adapter width the JK wheels would be equal to stock backspacing.
Keep up the good work!