94 XJ England New Member Pleased To Be Here

[Ogri]

Hello Everybody, Please comment or just say howdy.
I have owned my factory black 94 for just over 25yrs. right hand drive, grey leather interior. I have always come to the for many years now, but this is my first post, as I might need some advice over the next year or so.
I plan to recommission the old girl and fingers crossed, take a tour of Spain and Portugal. Looking for somewhere to stay for a while. I will probably sleep in the Jeep, mostly.
I have tried to keep XJ as standard as possible, it has and will not go offroad ever in my ownership. with only a few mods to discard the inherent weak spots. Rear diff trutrac to remove the clutch pack drawbacks. Rear 3.5 inch lift HD springs. Small TC drop. full stainless steel exhaust handmade. The front end is all stock so it looks like a bit of a hotrod lol. Though I love the stock front handling, you may think this a bit of a heresy. Considering all your lovely examples on the forum. I cannot compete with you in the parts dept or costs wise. The stuff is just not here and even if they were the prices would be outrageous.

You must understand the XJ is very rare here. Many were massacred in the Gov scrappage scheme some years ago. They are now a collectable classic car, the market for parts and accessories especially is very limited. For all intensive purposes it is a huge engined luxury SUV and I love it dearly.
So this winter I have a mild front end lift to do, with Energy Suspension Cal 2 inch poly spacers and pro comp shocks with droplinks.
After that I need to replace the head gasket, oh what a bum deal not looking forward to that. New OEM Rad, Water pump. Remove AC condenser, for better cooling and AC has never worked, in my ownership.

So my first question tonight is what tyres would you run with my small lift, 30 or 31 bearing in mind I want it to run like a normal road car. No rubbing, no close gaps and definitely no modification or cutting bits off. No deviation in the speedometer. This will have to be Gov inspected before it is legal on the road.
Best wishes to all members. Thanks in advance.
Regards Ogri.

 

[50willys]

Welcome!!
I would recommend running a 30" tire with your mild lift. I was running a 31" tire with 3 inches of lift.

 

[Ogri]

Thanks Bob, nice to meet you. I was erring on the 30`s so good to know your experience.
Geoff.

 

[75SV1]

I run a metric 31" on my 2" lift. I have some front springs from IRO (Iron Rock Offroad). I have 1.5 'Up Country' springs in the rear. The other .5" of the lift is due to running a Ford 8.8. I run a 3.73 gears. So, due to the gears and 31 tires, no need to change the speedometer gear. ZJs have 3.73 gears. The tires are about 9.5 width. I've done a bunch of other mods. Still, I really like the 2" lift. Easy to get in and out of. Handles well. I don't think I took any hit on MPG. I was getting about 17 mpg. Then a few other changed and 19.5 to 20.5.

 

[Ogri]

Hey dude, thanks for your input. You have 31`s on a 2inch all round lift, with no rubbing or other interference, even on the front on full lock. It sounds like a well sorted Jeep. For arguments sake if you were running 31`s on stock gearing would that affect the speedo and mpg, I`m assuming the mpg would get better and the speedo would under read, is that correct.
Oh and I have to do all my ball joints this coming winter too. Plus I will re do the back faces of my wheels in white smootherite. It looks really cool when looking underneath the car. I have a spare set of oem wheels but the ones on the Jeep are Chrysler Silver Stars, mirror polished as standard. I have to say my XJ is a really nice example only 80k miles. It is the nicest car I have ever owned.
Nice to converse with you, if you have any questions for me then I am all ears.
Ogri.

 

[75SV1]

80K and I'd probably druel if I saw it. I'm taking it that yours in an automatic. ??? I do not notice any rubbing. Again, mine are 9.5 width. I think others run a 10.5 width. I did run 10.5s on a 4.5 lift. Latter 32s on that lift. I felt 31's were a bit sluggish on the stock 3.55 gears. OK, on flatlands. Getting into mountains, then I had to downshift. I went to 4.10s on that one. I really liked how that performed. I also had and have a 60mm bored TB, 2.5 CAT back exhaust and a Doug Thorley ceramic coated header. Sort of helps to an extent.
I think going to 31's with 3.55's, it might actually hurt your MPG. The engine sort of lugs a bit. If only highway, then maybe a bit better MPG. I think I lost maybe .5 MPG on 31's and 4.10's. Still, tire specs, I think would make a difference. Say, 6 ply, vs 8 ply, vs 10 ply. The wight and weight come into play. If you don't plan to change gears, then I'd go with 30's. If more on road, then say 9.5 width. Also, I used Crown springs in the rear. Not the best choice, but have OK for now. Also, shocks make a difference.
On 31's, you should be Ok, with the stock steering and brakes. As long as the systems are in good condition. I'd probably do a few minor mods. Steel steering box spacer. Headlight upgrade. And a steering gear box brace. Also, some polyurathane bushings for the swaybar.

 

[Ogri]

Hiya mate, You really have a lot of experience with mods I can tell. There is nothing like that over here.
I have done quite a lot to my XJ but only to beef up what is already there. Yes the 30`s that I have looked at on ebay are 9.5 wide. I hope to do a lot of flat roads in Spain, they have vast open spaces, some mountains too but I will try to avoid them if poss. I am strictly on road .only going off road for field camping in a tent or similar.
A pro friend in Birmingham built my exhaust in stainless onto the car, it took all day and at that time would have cost 3 times the value of the car. I watched him do all of it, amazing. All his equipment was American. Married to a twinflex stainless header.
It sounds meaty. Poly engine mounts and the DUI ignition kit, dizzy red cap and rotor, screaming demon 50k volt coil and their Livewire flameproof fibreglass sheathed plug leads.
I am so looking forward to fixing the XJ, it has taken many years to get to this stage. collecting the parts along the way. Yes it is auto selectrac I believe, 4.0lt with cruise.
Write back when you get a minute matey. Pleasure to speak to you.
Best regards. Geoff.

 

[75SV1]

I'm kind of down on the Totem Pole around this board. I think my last or on going board is similar to what you want. Or at least plan to do. I went a bit, OK a lot overboard on mine. WJ Big Brakes with cross over steering, frame stiffeners, and some other stuff. I was hoping some others would chime in. A few things I don't have the experience with is the RHD and a Budget boost. There are some here who deal with the RHD. I think a few from England. I'm sure they deal with the VAT tax and cost of XJ parts. Also, I have about 3-5 Junkyards in 20 miles. Then about 5 Pick and Pulls withing an hours drive. So, a bit different reality, than Europe.
A few things to ask are Manual Transmission or Automatic? ABS brakes?
I am running 245-75-R16 10 Ply or E tires. So, those are about 31's and 9.5. I bought them during covid. So, 6 plys were not available.

 

[Ogri]

Hey mate, I hope this finds you well.
Do you mean you are down on this board because its for unmodified XJ`s and you clearly have gone to town on a number of Jeep projects..I dont know what crossover steering is.
Well of course the RHD are very similar to yours. But there are some crucial differences. I was going to take a pic of the engine bay for the members to see, just for interests sake. The guys on here are so knowledgeable and so dedicated I thought someone might be interested.
One big difference that is not easily seen, is the radiator. My trans lines enter the rad on what you would call the passenger side.
My rear springs were made here by Hunter Engineering, years ago when the XJ`s were popular, there was a fad for parabolic springs. So I bought a set,, fitted them myself, what a bloody job that was on my own. Anyway within a few weeks one of them had sagged, so I had to go to their workshop to have the HD towing springs fitted.
There are of course breakers yards here, I could only find one on the net and that caters to Chryslers, not just Jeeps. Aa stated the XJ`s are long gone now, at one point they were literally worthless, so nearly all of them were sent into the Scrappage scheme, the values were much higher, but you had to buy a new car instead.. My car dropped to about £700 about $900 of your American bucks. lol
Today it could be valued at about £7000.
We dont have pick and pull. That would just be another term for a regular breakers yard.
When I did a google tyre comparison size. The metric ones are not the same sizes at all. Its a bit confusing.
6 or 10 ply means nothing here or at least I have never heard it and tyres are not really advertised that way in general.
Yes my car is 4.0l automatic, with Selectrac, cruise control and ABS. Though the ABS can feel a little weird at first, I did a very slow stop on gravel once and it felt like I had stepped on a bag of spanners. lol.
I thought I had broken something, I told my Jeep tech mate and he said yeah thats how they are and laughed.
My rotors are Powerstop, crossdrilled and vented, a huge upgrade in feel and performance.
I also have Energy Suspension poly swaybar bushes.
Great to hear from you, have great weekend and tell me about your Jeeps when you get a chance.
BTW years ago I read on here that you do not have adjustable headrests on your XJ`s seats.
Is that true, because all my seats have them as OEM. In grey leather my interior is sumptuous.
I also retrimmed my door cards in grey and black Italian calfskin,. .
Hope to see you soon my friend. G.

 

[Unclewolverine]

I'm a rural mail carrier that drives a rhd here in the states, my main piece of advice would be maybe look into converting to the triple e fan set up before your adventure. The mechanical fan hub bracket was a 94-95 only piece and hasn't been made for many years. It would be unfortunate for it to go out in the middle of Europe and be stuck doing the conversation when you are not prepared.

 

[Ogri]

I'm a rural mail carrier that drives a rhd here in the states, my main piece of advice would be maybe look into converting to the triple e fan set up before your adventure. The mechanical fan hub bracket was a 94-95 only piece and hasn't been made for many years. It would be unfortunate for it to go out in the middle of Europe and be stuck doing the conversation when you are not prepared.

Hello Buddy, thanks for your advice. Do you mean having 3 cooling fans. I have the standard viscous coupling fan and I swapped the Aux fan for the multiblade fan from the later Grand Cherokee.
I will also remove the AC condenser from in front of the radiator to increase air flow. You are correct it is hot in Spain and Portugal, thats why I`m going there lol
Why do you have a RHD in America.
Hope to see you again, sunshine.

 

[Unclewolverine]

They make a kit that is an assembly of 3 electric fans that replaces both the factory fans, that way you can run a shorter belt and bypass the pully the viscous fan is on. I am a rural mail carrier, I drive a rhd to deliver mail since the boxes are on the right side of the road.

 

[Ogri]

Thanks for replying, the 3 fans sounds very trick, I would like to see it, I know google is my friend. lol
The short belt might be a problem, getting replacements for example. Unless it is designed for a current model of any comparable make of car, its unlikely to find them here. The standard belts can be found and are not expensive at about £20. However if the XJ struggles in the foreign heat then the 3 fan looks like a very neat option. Especially compact.
Oh you mean the `wrong` side of the road. he he just pulling your leg.
So its actually a safety factor being RHD. You eliminate crossing the road thousands of times on foot.
Do you have your own vehicle, or are you allocated one. Are they made in Austria, thats where my one was manufactured.
Have a great day, stay safe, sunshine. G.

 

[Unclewolverine]

The factory fan set up actually cools the best, the triple fan set up is done to avoid being stranded somewhere when that irreplaceable viscous fan hub bearing lets go. Serpentine belt part numbers contain the width and length, I just figured my new length and asked for the corresponding belt at the parts store, they had it on the shelf. Most rural mail carriers use personally owned vehicles, the post office only supplies llvs, the little white box, to more suburban carriers. Mine was made here in the states then sold in Japan, then at some point brought back here.

 

[Ogri]

I looked on the net for the 3 fan and there are tons of them on ebay uk. They are extraordinarily cheap some include an alu radiator too. Not much more than £100.
What manufacturer did you go with, as you being a pro driver, you surely picked a good one.
Did it come with a belt, I would love to see your setup and the whole car actually. Not right now of course but if you ever get a chance, please do show us.
Did you have to paint it in USPS livery too.
I had no idea that the viscous hubs were unobtanium. Should have expected it really, considering their age.
I had to google the llvs, what an odd looking vehicle, bet you are glad you have a Cherokee instead of one of those.
Did you declare to your insurance co. about the 3 fan. Pretty sure they would demand to know over here.
Well thanks for all the info, it really is something to consider.
Getting to Spain has been a years long plan, when I get there it is going to be for quite a long while. I recently obtained my EU passport.
So if I ever break down it wont involve an international recovery. My last trip there was on my Ducati, I slept in fields and sometimes car parks. The Jeep is going to be a real luxury. lol
Do keep in touch, warmest regards. Ogri.

 

[Unclewolverine]

I bought the triple fan kit with the radiator, but I've found the cheap spectra radiators cool better and are more durable. But this was all on my old 95 rhd in which I was t boned and it was totaled at 416 k miles. I now have a 96 rhd and still have all the factory cooling. It's also not the viscous coupler that you can't get, it's the integrated bearing built into the braket that fan spins on. My jeep is just the factory red, some people do paint theirs or put signage on, but I just have a strobe light. I just had to declare that I'm a rural carrier for my insurance, they could care less about what I've done to it. I ride a BMW r1200c that I would love to ride through it's homeland, but that isn't happening on a mail carriers salary!

 

[Ogri]

Hi Wolvey, Hope your week has started well. That T Bone sounds just awful, did the heft of the XJ save your life, I hope so..
So sorry to hear the car was in that too. Another one lost to fate. It must of been a sound car to reach that mileage.
Well the 3 fans are very attractive and I would like to have it.
I have not seen the later bracket oem fan, Im guessing it is like an idler pulley with a fan mounted on it. I guess you cant swap one for the other.
From the little I know about viscous couplings they are pretty reliable, in the most part down to them being mechanical. Rihjt up until they are not. So long as I can get mine on the road again, then I can focus on the other stuff later.
The BMW is a cruiser, a big one, looks real nice. I like cruisers too. Have you seen the Diavel, what a brute and so handsome, way beyond my reach though. Still its good to have aspirations. Cruising through Germany is up there. All the way to Oktoberfest, right sunshine.
What helmet do you wear. I have a couple of Sharks.
Drive carefully mate and keep up the vital public service. See you soon if you get a minute spare.
Regards. Ogri.

 

[75SV1]

Thread 'XJ Build, again.'

Jul 9, 2024

Hey all, been awhile. After about 5 years gone, I am back in the Jeep world after my ADHD has decided to re-focus on building a Cherokee again. For some context, this will be my 4th XJ (89, 97,99 and now 01) and Second build thread.

I initially wanted to name this thread "XJ build, a tail of bad choices" but I don't want that Mojo with me forever....... hopefully. Being out of the game for a hot minute has allowed my to day dream about what rig I'd want to build as an "ideal XJ" and I've really always liked the look of the JCR Real Hawk. Specifically the Notch Customs fender flares...

• Jeepedo129
• Replies: 47
• Forum: Modified Tech Discussion

• 

Look through that thread. He has WJ Big Brakes and the cross over steering. vs the Y link in the XJ. The bearing Unclewolverine is referring to, is that same as the water pump bearing. I have changed one. Yeah, I had one go out on me. Had to drive 2 hours to get home. That was on a LHD. I hear the LDH housing for it, might crack when replacing that bearing. I did pull one from a PnP. I see one on EBay for $600 .??? I started to run an electric 3 fan on mine. At highway speeds it seems to run a bit cooler. Some say it is worth say +2 mpg. XJ and MJ prices have gone up here as well. As for the ABS, then you have a Dana 30 rear end. Probably need to keep the ABS, for Europe inspections. Some States over here might snag someone on that too. I did have a '98 with ABS. Yeah, a bit unsettling at first. Some say it doesn't work. It might have saved me twice. On a Contour I had, it saved me on s trip to Chicago. Caught some ice going through an underpass. Hit the brakes, and chunk, chunk, chunk. I kept in the brakes, and steered through the curve. On the other side of the tunnel, there were 3 other cars in the snow bank.

 

[Ogri]

Hey mate, everything alright your end.
So its not the viscous coupling that goes bad its the bearing behind it itself. That is outrageous $600. its odd that there is not an aftermarket bearing to replace it, as usually they are recognized sizes. If mine goes wrong then its gonna have to be the 3 fan. They are really cheap on ebay and the trans lines are on the correct end of the Alu rad. Though they look like the wrong push fittings, not sure.
No I pretty sure my rear is a D35 the super turd. as that thread states, ha ha how I laughed at that.
Yes I`m sure the European inspectors will want to know all mods. This year the MOT test is to become extra strict, with photos of the vehicle taken at the test centre by the examiner etc etc.
Oh my word what a lovely silver Jeep that was, I even liked it as standard, but what a fascinating build he did.
That is what makes your take on the XJ`s so special, it just could not be done here and the cost is just frightening.
I felt very disheartened for him, he was lucky to walk away and live to build an even better one, all respect to him indeed.
I get the bigger brakes but am none the wiser on crossover steering, it certainly looks massive and miles stronger, but does it have other qualities.
I never had any fears with my ABS It seemed to work flawlessly on the road, it was only on that loose gravel car park did it feel clunky. I only took it out once in the snow, put it in 4wd and had the most fun on the road for years, what a blast, the 2 wheel drive cars behind just could not keep up and were all over the show, I laughed my bollocks off. Plus no squeak from the ABS or anything, though I tried to control the huge Jeep with throttle and not the brakes so much.
I am glad you survived the Chicago pile up, avoiding any personal injury is a big bonus, sounds like you reacted as needed, good job buddy, hat`s off to you.
If you do another project then let me know I would be interested in anything you decide to do.
See you when you get some spare time ok mate. Thanks. Ogri

 

[75SV1]

I know what bearing it is. There is the shaft that the viscous fan turns on. It is actually, the same as the water pump's shaft bearing. I get some from Gopher Supply, out in Arizona (I think). Its the aluminum casting for the RHD, that is rare, or expensive. Since mine is LHD, that casting is a dime a dozen. (Corrected to LHD)