An XJ build thread!

Headliner replaced over the weekend. Was PAST due. The sag was serious and the P/O apparently had a greasy dome.








I initially was going to go with factory grey but i forgot how much i love a good flannel.



 
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With the heat returning here in the entrance to the valley, I quickly realized I need to address my transmission heat issues. I had installed this temp gauge shortly after I had the aw4 rebuilt last June. I tapped the factory port on the trans. Pretty sure Toyota had the right idea by utilizing this :eyes:



 
Pretty cool. And good job getting the stripes to line up.
 
Decided on going the cheap route as far as an actual trans cooler. Nipped this off of a Mercury Mountaineer today at the junkyard.



Anybody have experience with this cooler? Pick n Pull is not as affordable as it once was, but after pulling the damn thing i was committed. Might take it back and go with a legit stacked plate cooler.
 
upsidedownxj said:
Decided on going the cheap route as far as an actual trans cooler. Nipped this off of a Mercury Mountaineer today at the junkyard.







Anybody have experience with this cooler? Pick n Pull is not as affordable as it once was, but after pulling the damn thing i was committed. Might take it back and go with a legit stacked plate cooler.
Click to expand...


I don’t have experience with that cooler, but I did add an external cooler to my XJ. Not sure what you paid, but a general purpose cooler I picked up was $50ish shipped. Pretty cheap for improved cooling for the trans.

upsidedownxj said:
With the heat returning here in the entrance to the valley, I quickly realized I need to address my transmission heat issues. I had installed this temp gauge shortly after I had the aw4 rebuilt last June. I tapped the factory port on the trans. Pretty sure Toyota had the right idea by utilizing this :eyes:







Click to expand...


I’m going to be doing a trans gauge myself. Unfortunately that port isn’t open on the 99’s. I’m going to have to cut into the steel lines and add mine.

upsidedownxj said:
Headliner replaced over the weekend. Was PAST due. The sag was serious and the P/O apparently had a greasy dome.








I initially was going to go with factory grey but i forgot how much i love a good flannel.



Click to expand...


Ok, please tell me where you got the fabric. All I find online are kits with solid color.

Oh, and I’m jealous of your overhead console. I would love to find one to add to mine.

Nice rig!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
BigNuge said:
I don’t have experience with that cooler, but I did add an external cooler to my XJ. Not sure what you paid, but a general purpose cooler I picked up was $50ish shipped. Pretty cheap for improved cooling for the trans.


I’m going to be doing a trans gauge myself. Unfortunately that port isn’t open on the 99’s. I’m going to have to cut into the steel lines and add mine.


Ok, please tell me where you got the fabric. All I find online are kits with solid color.

Oh, and I’m jealous of your overhead console. I would love to find one to add to mine.

Nice rig!
Click to expand...
Thanks man! The trans gauge is super nice to have. But pushing 33s with 3.55 gears right now , mine is definitely warmer than it should be.

I paid 20 for the cooler. Should do the job though. Made in Canada.

I got the fabric off http://fabric.com. Not many patterns that are wide enough for headliners but this one i got is great.
 
After some trimming and fitting this Ford cooler was tits; as far as fitment. Bypassed the radiator for now. This car wont see many cold temps for a while. I have a quattro to get me to Tahoe in the winter.
 
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Also scored a Drop bracket kit to fix my nasty short arm angle. I swore I wouldnt put any RC parts on this thing but its hard to pass up a really good deal. :looney:
 
Some parts showed up this past week!

Skid Row TC skid


(dont mind the busted crossmember.. lol)

THOR cowl intake.



Great kit. You'll definitely notice it from the cab though as far as noise. Kinda wondering about heat soak with all that surface area above the valve cover with the hot temps of our motors?
 
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upsidedownxj said:
THOR cowl intake.



Great kit. You'll definitely notice it from the cab though as far as noise. Kinda wondering about heat soak with all that surface area above the valve cover with the hot temps of our motors?
Click to expand...

I just bought one of those used for $115. Not sure if I want to use it for the very reason that you stated about the noise. My Jeep is just a DD but would not mind uncluttering the engine bay some.
Also the cutting part. I have no problem with the cutting but if it is just noisier then I would like and I take it out now I have that hole there.
Part of my commitment issues. LOL.
 
whitexj98 said:
Noise is awful IMO, I ran the THOR kit for maybe 1 week before taking it back off. Now I have a hole in the cowl to remind me...
Click to expand...

That was my thinking yo but used in good shape for $115 shipped I figured I would grab it.
And then overthink it like I do everything else. LOL.
 
upsidedownxj said:
Some parts showed up this past week!

Skid Row TC skid


(dont mind the busted crossmember.. lol)

THOR cowl intake.



Great kit. You'll definitely notice it from the cab though as far as noise. Kinda wondering about heat soak with all that surface area above the valve cover with the hot temps of our motors?
Click to expand...


I have the thor kit as well. If you live monitor, on the highway your temps will be about 20-25 degrees more than ambient. It does very with keeping intake air temps cooler. Imo the best cold air intake on the market for xjs
 
I have run a cowl intake, for 11 years, utilizing the stock airbox.
It is quiet except under full throttle and,in the summer, the intake air is 20-30 degree cooler when cruising. I cut a hole in the driverside firewall.
The box has a second opening, near the stock location for a cap, used when fording deep water. I leave it off in the winter when hot air isn't an issue, replacing it in the summer when cooler intake air is desired.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157622703531169/

4116231749_9b57fa3a45_w.jpg


Leaving the airbox and stock air tube in place keep our emission inspectors happy.
 
lazyxj said:
I have run a cowl intake, for 11 years, utilizing the stock airbox.
It is quiet except under full throttle and,in the summer, the intake air is 20-30 degree cooler when cruising. I cut a hole in the driverside firewall.
The box has a second opening, near the stock location for a cap, used when fording deep water. I leave it off in the winter when hot air isn't an issue, replacing it in the summer when cooler intake air is desired.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157622703531169/

4116231749_9b57fa3a45_w.jpg


Leaving the airbox and stock air tube in place keep our emission inspectors happy.
Click to expand...

THOR cowl intake has a CARB EO#.
 
GordoSmasho said:
I have the thor kit as well. If you live monitor, on the highway your temps will be about 20-25 degrees more than ambient. It does very with keeping intake air temps cooler. Imo the best cold air intake on the market for xjs
Click to expand...

Sweet deal man, thanks for the info. I can deal with the noise; got a loud enough stereo. And this is not my daily driver.
 
Works been real busy lately, but I've been squeezing in some wrench time on the ol' girl where I can. Was really hoping to make Sierra Fest with the local chapter here, but I dont wanna jump the gun and be ill-fit for the trip. Im currently saving for sliders and a new rear axle. Waiting for an XJ d44 to pop up in a local JY... (might be a little too hopeful on that one) or im gonna just go with the 8.8 exploder setup.

Aussie lunchbox in

 
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