Big Red..... and Black

[Naterenfo1]

Hey there folks!
My name is Nate, and I am a new XJ owner! So here is my shiny new build thread!

I currently own a 98 Ranger as a DD, and I have an 86 MJ with a 2.8L, 6.5" lift, 33" mudders, AX-15, NP207, D30/35 both open.

I originally wanted to purchase this as parts for my 86 MJ, but then I kind of maybe just a teensy bit fell in love with it :loveu: ....
Its a 1996 XJ (OBDII style). I paid $700 for it.

List of Upgrades:
8.25" rear end, Lock-Right Locker/ D30 up front
Catco extended stainless brake lines
6.5" short arm lift
33" tires/ 15in rims
NP231/SYE
4.10 gears
AW4 Transmission
Chromoly Axleshafts in 8.25", and D30
Triple core radiator
B+M Tranny cooler
Header
Jet performance chip
Bilstein? shocks
Sway-bar quick disconnects
Dual Battery set-up
Rocksford-Fosgate Speakers
Bushwacker cut-out fender flares

So far, all I have done is repair the blower-motor, changed the front bumper out for a different custom bumper with recovery points, prepared wiring for off-road lights, and bought 2 new tires for the rear (wrangler MT/R's)

Current plans are to wheel the sh*t out of it until it breaks, fix-er up, then do it again! :greensmok eventually, the entire drive-train will be swapped into my MJ. The interior looks like poop, because the PO gutted it for wheeling, and the vehicle has been broken into roughly 174645742x times, but who's counting.

Anyway, looking forward to continuing my build, and learning a thing or two from the crew over here at !

 

[Naterenfo1]

Well, made some headway today on the jeep! Firstly, I painted up my front bumper, and mounted my license plate back on it.

I had no side mirrors, so this rig wasn't exactly street legal... Today I added a drivers side mirror! :thumbup:

I also decided to start getting some off-road lights ready to go on this bad boy - I had a set of some 1970's-ish KC Hi-Lites sitting around, one had a bad bulb and rust was starting to take them both. I brought them to the sand blaster at school and knocked off the rust. My plan was to paint them black, just because I knew they would re-rust quickly. I thought I knocked off all the top layer of chrome, but based on the fact my paint didn't stick, I was wrong. I used 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of paint - still no good

Sandblasted.

Primed/painted.

More updates to come.