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Joliet Johnny
05-16-2015, 06:40 AM
Ive been in my house for about a year now so now its time to start my build. Of the XJ, I tire of the EG.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/jolietjohnny/377101_4364888570873_1693199407_n_zps7498be43.jpg (http://s1222.photobucket.com/user/jolietjohnny/media/377101_4364888570873_1693199407_n_zps7498be43.jpg. html)
History:

I went to look at a 94 Wrangler and it wasnt that great. As I was driving out of the dealership I spotted my 99 red XJ. I needed to finance something to build credit to buy a house so I bought that XJ with its clean car fox report. After all was said and done almost $5k and a week later a 96 lifted on 33s showed up for $200 more :( well it came with a 30 day warranty which I wish was a 32 day as my XJ left me on the side of the road overheated. Water pump ate itself and was leaking. No problem and fixed the next day, but I didnt know the radiator had one week to live. Yeah that was fun, Nobody had the right radiator for my XJ so I settled for one from a 96 or so and everything that went wrong did and I ended up installing a trans cooler (http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7973) after all that my XJ has been mostly problem free for the past 4 years, until now. You may have noticed I said car fox instead of carfax. I pulled off my flares and bumper covers and found lots of rust and yeah my XJ has taken a bad rear hit before. I also saw evidence of a front hit when changing my radiator and I like to think my yelp review put that place out of business. So now Im at a point wher I can make my XJ presentable and sell it or build it and I have chosen to build it. I generally have one day a week to do anything but Ill do my best to click on the computer once a week and post pics of what I have done. Im focusing on body fixing and mods right now so any suggestions are welcome, its mostly stock right now.

Mudderoy
05-16-2015, 07:29 AM
Sorry to hear all that. I think failing cooling system components is something you can expect when it over heats. I think when mine over heated for the first time is was bad factory water pump, then bad radiator a month or so later.

Did they provide you a Car Fax before you purchased?

autotech98
05-16-2015, 09:46 AM
Build it!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547

robuilt
05-17-2015, 09:00 PM
Build it up. Enjoy it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Joliet Johnny
05-23-2015, 04:55 AM
Sorry to hear all that. I think failing cooling system components is something you can expect when it over heats. I think when mine over heated for the first time is was bad factory water pump, then bad radiator a month or so later.

Did they provide you a Car Fax before you purchased?

Not exactly a car fax, more like the car fox like in the commercial. With the damage and rust I'm trying to find a nice clean shell at this point. I plan to upgrade the current XJ with easily transferable mods. Once I find a good shell I can take precautions to protect it from rust and get the red paint more like yours on it. Also it opens the door to do fun things like diesel swaps provided it's a 95-
I figure this build will be close to $20k when all is said and done. But I'm building it to last, look cool and perform.

Joliet Johnny
04-12-2016, 11:12 AM
Wow has life got in the way. Since this original post I have 100%-house escaped debt then went back in on a Disney time share. Killed myself all last summer paying that down. Then we added a Renegade to our stable. No money for XJ parts. The old 99 kept working without fail through it all. This February the waterpump went out costing me the chance to drive a non 3 year old vehicle to the rich people mall for valentines day. Wasn’t that bad of a fix but a week after I fixed it I decided to take care of the valve cover leak and broke the PVC valve, down another week till I could get one. After that I had a :turd: or get off the pot moment and almost sold the XJ to buy an Xterra or a Discovery. Instead I bought a new rear bumper for the XJ. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1449/26107022560_839b07586e_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FLZjfC)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/FLZjfC) by John Welsh (https://www.flickr.com/photos/134420787@N02/), on Flickr
I made a crude video of me relocating the plate and I'll add it once I figure out how to edit video in Linux, this weekend. My plans for the future are to build an overlanding rig but I’m working from the inside out and top down cause I spend more time driving to work and eating my lunch in it than anything else. My next project is either to fix the wobbly center console for good or to do roof mods.

nickyg
04-12-2016, 04:23 PM
Love that bumper. Where did you get it?

XJ Wheeler
04-13-2016, 04:52 PM
Love that bumper. Where did you get it?
That's the smittybilt bumper with built in tire carrier.

Johnny, nice job with the plate. That sami light looks perfect!

Sent via messenger pigeon. I talk, he types.

Joliet Johnny
04-13-2016, 06:47 PM
Love that bumper. Where did you get it?

Smitybuilt XRC from ebay was on sale for $650 shipped. Wasnt easy to put on with no help but is possible.

Joliet Johnny
04-16-2016, 04:38 PM
Some fresh bedliner paint on the front bumper. This will have to do until I can find the money for the ARB bumper I want. Im going to add tow hooks and I was going to add foglights till I found out you cant just add the factory switch where it should be. I’m looking into a custom switchpod now. But so far I haven’t found any I like.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1638/25865444263_609b2357f4_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FpDarz)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/FpDarz) by John Welsh (https://www.flickr.com/photos/134420787@N02/), on Flickr

Joliet Johnny
04-27-2016, 06:28 AM
Added a Ram Mount for my phone. I believe I could roll my XJ into an unrecognisable ball and the phone would still be attached.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1684/26070115743_3b6790a387_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FHJa9c)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/FHJa9c) by John Welsh (https://www.flickr.com/photos/134420787@N02/), on Flickr

bluedragon436
04-27-2016, 10:26 PM
Ram Mounts are crazy beefy... That is what we use on our aircraft to hold the tablets that the pilots use.. and I've seen some crazy stuff and they've held up to it...