cherokeecrawler
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
He didn't even say anything related other than he had just installed new brakes. Other than that he was just randomly posting like it was his own thread. No common sense whatsoever.
Back in an XJ: Building a mild 1998 Sport
- Thread starter DutchVDub
- Start date
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Yeah, I don't mean to come off as a self proclaimed expert. I do appreciate constructive criticism as no matter how many times or different ways you do something there is always a chance of a better method. I'm just getting very annoyed with unrelated pictures being posted in my thread. It also doesn't make sense to me that the same guy who can't figure out the part number for a master cylinder he also wants to swap to is going to turn around and try to tell me how I should set up my brakes.
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
After going through what felt like 1,000,000 cans of rattle can bed liner the cage is painted and ready to install tomorrow.
trippled
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- colorado springs, co
I'm excited to see thing mounted up. Looks good! Are you just mounting the front to sliders? Any other tie ins?
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Yeah, A-pillar welds on top of the sliders. I’m going to add another leg to the sliders directly under the b-pillar and tie those in. I also got rear frame stiffeners and will brace the c-pillar into the frame once those are on. I’ll probably add another leg from the frame to the sliders up towards the front too.
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Today I was able to get the cage bolted back onto the XJ and weld the A-pillars to the sliders. Then with the help of my friend Steve we got the fenders trimmed and reinstalled. The Jeep looks like an XJ again. Now onto the interior. I did manage to get the headliner back in, so tomorrow begins the tedious task of sorting through the coffee can of screws and getting all of the plastic back in.
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Forgot to show off my new 1/2" dimple die, used it to make small tie-in plates for the A-Pillars to the inner fender/cowl
smokeyyank
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Littleton, Crawlarado
Damn Sexy
- Location
- Campbell, CA
Looking really nice. Good work on the hybrid cage!
cherokeecrawler
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
I love opening up this forum thinking DutchVDub has posted something new and exciting and it just being another person saying his nice build looks nice.:worship::laugh:
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Thanks
Thanks, I wish I could take full credit but the kit did save a lot of work
Shhh, don't discourage them. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Its from XO-Fab. $600 plus shipping, which I think is a little more than I paid a month ago.
ZipperheadXJ00
NAXJA Forum User
I added an upper tube to my “strut brace” that gets the spare tire off of the back seat. I also added the tie down points so I can use my old 3 point tire strap that’s just been collecting dust. Last thing to do is add some mounting points for the hi-lift jack that will attach to the main/lower tube.
Hey man, awesome build, and howdy from a fellow Army guy.
Question for you: What did you do with this bar? If you still have it, would you be willing to sell it?
cherokeecrawler
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
As far as I know it's still in the Jeep
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Its sitting in my garage, and yes I'll sell it as it won't fit with the cage in there. However I won't ship the thing, sorry.
ZipperheadXJ00
NAXJA Forum User
Sadly you're too far away to drive to right now... oh well, it was worth a try!
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
I got sidetracked with home improvements in preparation for listing my house and buying another. I wound up getting so busy I wasn't able to make the 35th Anniversary event or even think about working on the XJ. Now that everything is in order with the builder for my new house and my current house is all prettied up and ready for market I am able to get back into it.
I finally got the Eastwood 2 in 1 Heat and Sound Barrier Coating rolled onto the floor of the XJ. This stuff is supposed to be like Lizard Skin but does both with 1 coating and you can use a roller. I found the little 4" roller to work the best for getting around all the contours and stuff. I only used a full size roller for the cargo area. Hopefully this stuff will at least be as effective as the factory carpet since I'm not putting it back in.
My buddy Steve also came by and sprayed my CJ6 tub with some PPG Red Oxide primer.
I finally got the Eastwood 2 in 1 Heat and Sound Barrier Coating rolled onto the floor of the XJ. This stuff is supposed to be like Lizard Skin but does both with 1 coating and you can use a roller. I found the little 4" roller to work the best for getting around all the contours and stuff. I only used a full size roller for the cargo area. Hopefully this stuff will at least be as effective as the factory carpet since I'm not putting it back in.
My buddy Steve also came by and sprayed my CJ6 tub with some PPG Red Oxide primer.
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Here is how the interior went back together
With the spare tire against the cage I can fold down the back rest of the seat and get to my tool/recovery bags. It works out fairly well, although I really want to cut a hole in my hatch and lay the spare flat. Then I can put a hinged floor/shelf above it and have cargo room again.
The floor coating seems to do a pretty good job with heat and noise. After a day on the trail I can still put my hand on the tunnel and just fell warmth, not burning heat.
With the spare tire against the cage I can fold down the back rest of the seat and get to my tool/recovery bags. It works out fairly well, although I really want to cut a hole in my hatch and lay the spare flat. Then I can put a hinged floor/shelf above it and have cargo room again.
The floor coating seems to do a pretty good job with heat and noise. After a day on the trail I can still put my hand on the tunnel and just fell warmth, not burning heat.
DutchVDub
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Milliken, CO
Went out to Moab for Veteran's Day Weekend with the g/f, kid, and dog. There were 2 other XJ's in our overall group from Northern Colorado, plus an old Army buddy from Montrose joined us in his little Tracker.
Trent and I left for Moab about 3:45 PM on Thursday and were making good time until one of the brand new tires on my truck blew out the sidewall. This was about a bit before hitting Grand Junction. On the side of the Interstate we pulled the spare tire out from under my truck. I'm pretty sure it had been there unmoved since my F250 rolled off of the assembly line in 2001. With some noticeable dry rot I set the cruise for 60mph for the remainder of the trip and got into Moab just before midnight.
With no Les Schwab anywhere nearby I bought a new tire locally and had Les Schwab put it on my spare wheel once they warrantied out my failed tire after the trip.
After dropping the truck off at the local tire shop we headed over to Pritchett Canyon with mine and Jordan's XJ's. Trent wasn't keen on running it in his so he rode with his son Jordan.
I made it exactly this far on Pritchett LOL, its an optional ledge just after the drop into the river bed. I had forgotten to lock the zip locker in the front axle and while on the throttle the jeep slid back off of the ledge. Once the rear tires hit ground I heard a nice loud bang. I had broken the straps off of the 8.25's yoke.
Removing the rear drive shaft
After getting the drive shaft out I drove back out of the trail in FWD and we headed back to the cabins where Trent had a spare yoke and straps in his Jeep. I put the spares on and we went to lunch at the Moab diner.
Trent and I left for Moab about 3:45 PM on Thursday and were making good time until one of the brand new tires on my truck blew out the sidewall. This was about a bit before hitting Grand Junction. On the side of the Interstate we pulled the spare tire out from under my truck. I'm pretty sure it had been there unmoved since my F250 rolled off of the assembly line in 2001. With some noticeable dry rot I set the cruise for 60mph for the remainder of the trip and got into Moab just before midnight.
With no Les Schwab anywhere nearby I bought a new tire locally and had Les Schwab put it on my spare wheel once they warrantied out my failed tire after the trip.
After dropping the truck off at the local tire shop we headed over to Pritchett Canyon with mine and Jordan's XJ's. Trent wasn't keen on running it in his so he rode with his son Jordan.
I made it exactly this far on Pritchett LOL, its an optional ledge just after the drop into the river bed. I had forgotten to lock the zip locker in the front axle and while on the throttle the jeep slid back off of the ledge. Once the rear tires hit ground I heard a nice loud bang. I had broken the straps off of the 8.25's yoke.
Removing the rear drive shaft
After getting the drive shaft out I drove back out of the trail in FWD and we headed back to the cabins where Trent had a spare yoke and straps in his Jeep. I put the spares on and we went to lunch at the Moab diner.
Last edited:
trippled
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- colorado springs, co
Damn dude that's quite the blow out. Saw so e of the Moab pics. Looked like fun. Did you guys do much wheeling this summer?
