My Blue XJ build.

[KH96XJ]

Well, when I got my XJ it already had a small lift, ARB front bumper, and cut fenders.

So far I have put on some 33" BFG AT's, Bad Apple Fab diff guards, and just got it back from the shop this week. I had 4.11's, Spartan locker in the front, and a detroit in the rear installed. So this week is the break in for the gears, which is really disappointing because I am missing out on a club run this Sat due to not being able to complete the break in period in time.

After upgrading the fan clutch to a Grand Cherokee clutch I decided I need to get the hood vents done.

I pulled the hood off so it would be easier to work on. This project gave me an excuse to buy an air powered cut off tool.

I started off with an idea of something like this for spacing.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/IMAG0284.jpg

I ended up with about the same placement.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/IMG_2249.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/IMG_2247.jpg

I measured it all out twice then a third time after I had the trace lines taped off. I started to cut the hood and found out that my little compressor isn't cut out for this task. So I will have to borrow or find an excuse to buy one :rolleyes:

[KH96XJ]

Hmm, camera must not have liked the light level in that last picture.

[4.3LXJ]

Hmm, camera must not have liked the light level in that last picture.

That was just so the guys with green XJs could feel better. Makes them feel included:rolleye0012:

[KH96XJ]

That was just so the guys with green XJs could feel better. Makes them feel included:rolleye0012:

That's why I used the green masking tape.

[KH96XJ]

Well, I tried to finish the rest of the cuts tonight, but even with a borrowed compressor that had a larger tank the motor wasn't enough to keep up. Plus, after I tripped the breaker twice I decided to call it quits and take the hood to my parent's and use the old 100 gallon shop compressor out there tomorrow.

On a sad note. I found out my jeep has been keeping a secret from me. since the hood is off I noticed the grill section was actually painted green before.

[4.3LXJ]

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk:mad0090:

[bigjim350]

Well, I tried to finish the rest of the cuts tonight, but even with a borrowed compressor that had a larger tank the motor wasn't enough to keep up. Plus, after I tripped the breaker twice I decided to call it quits and take the hood to my parent's and use the old 100 gallon shop compressor out there tomorrow.

On a sad note. I found out my jeep has been keeping a secret from me. since the hood is off I noticed the grill section was actually painted green before.
No wonder it runs so good :D

[KH96XJ]

At least the rest of the it really was blue.

On a positive note,

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/IMAG0309.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/IMAG0311.jpg

I found that the set I got are a little warped. I will have to take them off and flatten them around the edges then repaint. After taking it for a drive I found that the temps are staying close to where they were with the hood off so I'm taking that as a good thing. However, since the remp is running at 210 or just a bit above, even with the A/C on, I want to try and get it down a little bit more.

[4.3LXJ]

Vents are looking good. It is good to be blue

[KH96XJ]

So far the vents and the HD fan clutch I have put in seemed to have helped at higher speeds. I didn't run the a/c on the way home today since the compressor is starting to crap out, but for a short stretch I was actually running just under 210* where I would have been just over 210*. Now if I can get it to stay there when I'm in stop and go traffic without the Aux fan kicking on.

[KH96XJ]

Ordered some A-pillar light mounts and some C3R recovery points from Detours that I hope to get in and installed once I have some free time from work.

But I also picked up another couple of items.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/proc3321.jpg
http://www.electronictoysforus.com/rchobby/images/HPI102115-4.jpg

I shall dub this project mini me, well mini blue XJ. Will see how bad I screw it up :D

[bluedragon436]

XJ's looking good... I plan on completing my mini me XJ project one day.. might finish it before the real one, maybe not.. guess we shall see!! LOL What chassis is that you got??

[KH96XJ]

I found a HPI Crawler King on Ebay I won yesterday for a decent price, but the wrangler body has to go. I've only ran stadium trucks in the past so this is new to me. I was looking at an Axial Wraith, but the price I got for the HPI was cheap enough that if I decide I find it lacking I can always get the Axial later or maybe a 4x4 short course truck to play with.

[KH96XJ]

So today I finally got around to installing my Warn X8000i that I've had sitting around for many years. I had originally planned on using it for my FSJ Cherokee but I ended up selling it when I bought my house. So the winch has been used on my Dad's trailer till now. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/Jeep/photo3.jpg

Having never installed one before I took my time. I had to remove the lights and grill before I could install the winch. Lights were easy to remove. The grill had eight screws the take out before the grill could be removed. I bolted on the fairlead first because I figured I wouldn't be able to get to it if the winch was in place.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/Jeep/photo1.jpg

I had to work the winch in under the hoop, which was why the grill had to come off to give enough room for this.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/Jeep/photo4.jpg

Finally in place.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/Jeep/photo5.jpg

I ran the cables from under instead of through the grill like others have done. I used a cat5 cable to help pull the ends through next to the radiator.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/Jeep/photo7.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c169/KH01GTP/Jeep/photo6.jpg

I secured the excess cabling under the winch with some zip ties to reduce the chance of them getting snagged on something.

So the only thing left to do is pull the cable out since it has gotten loose and reel it back in tight, but that will have to wait till I remember to get the control.

I was playing with an ipad when I was working on this at my office, but I had expected the pics to be more in focus, but that was probably something I neglected to check in the settings.

[Brasscatz]

Nicely done! I can't wait until I get my winch and bumper.

[cantab27]

did you have to cut your arb bar...... to install my winch i had to take my arb bar off....was a pita.....on a side note , can get them bars off pretty quick now....

looking good mate

[KH96XJ]

did you have to cut your arb bar...... to install my winch i had to take my arb bar off....was a pita.....on a side note , can get them bars off pretty quick now....

looking good mate

I didn't have to cut anything. I got lucky I guess. Was pretty straight forward install and I didn't have any issues. One of the previous owners welded the bumper to the frame. I need to get a photo of that and get an opinion on the strength.

[KH96XJ]

I wanted to swap my front doors out for a '97+ so I could get rid of the vent window. Mine leaks pretty bad on both sides and the one heavy rain so far this year I ended up with about an inch of water in my floor board.

There were a few different write ups on it that I looked at. Took a lot longer than I expected to do just the driver door. Was disappointed that the '97 doors didn't line up with the latch. So now I have a door I can take off when I go wheeling. I need to make some time this week and do the passenger door also before the election run on the 24th.

I'm contemplating moving the power window controls from the door so I will still be able to operate the windows when I take the driver door off. Has anyone done this before and if you did do you have pics of where you mounted it?