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MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 12:18 PM
Hi guys new to the site and figured I would start my build now as I just picked up my Jeep 3 weeks ago. It's a 97, 4.0, 5 speed, 160K, sport trim, 4.5 RCX lift, 33/12.5/15 Goodyear Duratracs, 15x8 Blackrock Lobo wheels, unknown exhaust, . What really drew me to this Jeep was the 5 speed, tan interior, and it was from Virginia so there's no rust. Also I found the original window sticker of the jeep and it has the skidplate package, heated mirrors, and the infinity sound package from the factory. I used up all my money from selling my old truck on parts to get it on the road, so I will need to save up to do all the mods. I have already done a right side caliper, breakpads, trac bar end, right wheelbearing, blower resistor, and put a Kenwood deck in it. This jeep is my daily driver, but it will see occasional wheeling. There's a lot of mud up here in Maine and it really beat the crap out of my last two jeep. Anyways on to the to do list (in no specific order)

Tint(will be done this month)
Header(there's a small crack in mine)
Take the side moulding off
Paint axle housings and underneath black again(PO painted red)
Install O2 sensors after I put in header
New crackshaft position sensor
Headliner(PO ripped the old one out)
Rampage Headlights
New rims and tires eventually
So here she is:
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3129.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3127.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3128.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3130.jpg

Mudderoy
12-03-2012, 12:21 PM
:welcome: to :xjtalk: You started off well with lots of pictures. We like to look! :D :popcorn:

MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 12:26 PM
Thought you guys might want to see my previous jeeps:
My first one. 1993,4.0,5 speed,96k original miles, 3 inch rustys lift with rustys BB, 31/10.5/15 General grabbers, and lost of New England rust.
Before the BB
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_0257.jpg
After
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/CIMG1986.jpg

Second Jeep. 2001,4.0,5 speed, 150k, 2.5 inch Old Man Emu lift, 31/12.5/15 Thornturds, 15 inch procomp extreme alloy wheels. By far the best vehicle I've owned. Rolled it :(
When I got it
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/CIMG2058.jpg
Last pics I have
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_3188.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_3187.jpg

And just for kicks, my previous project I just got rid of. I won't give specs cause it's not a jeep and you guys don't care :p
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_3879.jpg

MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 12:29 PM
:welcome: to :xjtalk: You started off well with lots of pictures. We like to look! :D :popcorn:

More to come! Pics are worth million words and I'd rather not type... haha

Mudderoy
12-03-2012, 12:31 PM
Thought you guys might want to see my previous jeeps:
My first one. 1993,4.0,5 speed,96k original miles, 3 inch rustys lift with rustys BB, 31/10.5/15 General grabbers, and lost of New England rust.
Before the BB
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_0257.jpg
After
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/CIMG1986.jpg

Second Jeep. 2001,4.0,5 speed, 150k, 2.5 inch Old Man Emu lift, 31/12.5/15 Thornturds, 15 inch procomp extreme alloy wheels. By far the best vehicle I've owned. Rolled it :(
When I got it
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/CIMG2058.jpg
Last pics I have
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_3188.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_3187.jpg

And just for kicks, my previous project I just got rid of. I won't give specs cause it's not a jeep and you guys don't care :p
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/IMG_3879.jpg

What year is that? Reminds me of my old truck, 1983 Chevy.

http://xjtalk.com/images/special/Tonys_Old_Truck.jpg

MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 12:35 PM
What year is that? Reminds me of my old truck, 1983 Chevy.

http://xjtalk.com/images/special/Tonys_Old_Truck.jpg

It was a 1985. Nice looking truck you had, gotta love squarebody chevy's!

MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 02:16 PM
Reading the forum made me need to go wheelin! Nothing too crazy, a few little holes on the pipe line then a trail through the woods. This was my first time out in this jeep so I took er easy. It did do well though.
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3919.jpg
No action shots, just went out with my dog. And he's not very good at taking pics lol. Couldn't get a flex shot either cause my camera died on the trail. It wouldn't be much though, this rough country lift is stiff!! I think I may change it out someday... Also snapped a shot of the interior. It's a little dirty atm cause it recently snowed.
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3920.jpg

Mudderoy
12-03-2012, 02:20 PM
It was a 1985. Nice looking truck you had, gotta love squarebody chevy's!

Yep yep, thought so. My buddy bought a 1985 "red" Chevy truck. Then he had me help him set it up just like mine.

MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 02:24 PM
Yep yep, thought so. My buddy bought a 1985 "red" Chevy truck. Then he had me help him set it up just like mine.

Cool, they're wicked fun trucks. I wouldn't have gotten rid of mine but it was an unpractical DD. What's the specs on that btw, 4 inch lift and 36's?

4.3LXJ
12-03-2012, 02:42 PM
Congrats on the trip. It is good to get them dirty now and then. On the suspension, RC shocks if you have them are stiff. If you find some shocks that are soft on compression and stiff on rebound you will find your ride has improved.

MaineXJ
12-03-2012, 02:56 PM
Congrats on the trip. It is good to get them dirty now and then. On the suspension, RC shocks if you have them are stiff. If you find some shocks that are soft on compression and stiff on rebound you will find your ride has improved.

Yea I do have them, and unfortunately I am used to OME shocks. I may get some in the future.

XJ Wheeler
12-04-2012, 12:17 AM
Hey Drew, welcome to this fun filled family. Looks like you got a nice history with the four wheeled kind. Kudos on the clean find, although the red accents are not my taste.

MaineXJ
12-04-2012, 07:53 PM
Hey Drew, welcome to this fun filled family. Looks like you got a nice history with the four wheeled kind. Kudos on the clean find, although the red accents are not my taste.

Thanks. Yea there is a little too much red for my too. The rough country stickers will be coming off, the axles will be painted black. I do however like the red cherokee logos because they are so unique. The skid plate will most likely be left red as well. But to each his own right!

Anyways pulled the side moulding off today. I did this on my old truck and it was a PITA, but man this was even worse!! I used a heat gun to take the moulding off, then used the heatgun and my thumb to get the foam tape off (yes I have a massive blister), then used 3M adhesive remover to get the residue off. This was the worse part because the adhesive remover just spread the glue around instead of taking it off. After that I hit it with rubbing compound and a coat of wax. There's still a few spots with a little residue, but I ran out of time and will need finish another time. Using the rubbing compound on my lower doors made me realize I need to do my whole Jeep, it took out a lot of scratches. Anyways on to the pics!! I think it looks a lot better, the moulding was bent and falling off. Also, you may be able to notice I painted my bumper end caps and fenderflares gloss black.. not the best pics for it though, the jeeps a little dirty. Looks waaay better than before though.
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3158.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3157.jpg

XJ Wheeler
12-05-2012, 08:38 AM
Thanks. Yea there is a little too much red for my too. The rough country stickers will be coming off, the axles will be painted black. I do however like the red cherokee logos because they are so unique. The skid plate will most likely be left red as well. But to each his own right!

Anyways pulled the side moulding off today. I did this on my old truck and it was a PITA, but man this was even worse!! I used a heat gun to take the moulding off, then used the heatgun and my thumb to get the foam tape off (yes I have a massive blister), then used 3M adhesive remover to get the residue off. This was the worse part because the adhesive remover just spread the glue around instead of taking it off. After that I hit it with rubbing compound and a coat of wax. There's still a few spots with a little residue, but I ran out of time and will need finish another time. Using the rubbing compound on my lower doors made me realize I need to do my whole Jeep, it took out a lot of scratches. Anyways on to the pics!! I think it looks a lot better, the moulding was bent and falling off. Also, you may be able to notice I painted my bumper end caps and fenderflares gloss black.. not the best pics for it though, the jeeps a little dirty. Looks waaay better than before though.
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3158.jpg
http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/DrewMacVane/Jeep/IMG_3157.jpg

For sure, on the each his own part. Build it for yourself and no one else and you'll have something unique to be proud of. If everyone built to please everyone else, every rig would be the same.

Looks great minus the molding.:thumbsup:

Oh, and thanks for all the pictures. You seem to take about as many as me.:D

XjMudder
12-11-2012, 12:40 PM
IS YOUR FRONT BUMPER IN THE FIRST FEW PICs original or custom. I got a 96 and im wanting to add round fog lights. mine is metal and im thinkin i could bolt them to it and run the wires through the grill

MaineXJ
12-13-2012, 03:58 PM
IS YOUR FRONT BUMPER IN THE FIRST FEW PICs original or custom. I got a 96 and im wanting to add round fog lights. mine is metal and im thinkin i could bolt them to it and run the wires through the grill

Yes it is original. That's how mine are set up.

XjMudder
01-11-2013, 09:09 AM
[QUOTE=MaineXJ;135390]Yes it is original. That's how mine are set up.[/QUOTE/]

Thanks, sorry bout the caps. I basically have a stock jeep and its getting a little old. not much changed on the my build section and it sucks to be driving a stock rather a custom

zr2toxj
01-14-2013, 12:05 PM
Hey another Mainer! Nice looking rig, Drew. If you want to get out and about with a group of knuckleheads sometime, check out ME4x4.org if you haven't already. It's a pretty good club and we'll be having a lot of events coming up.