- Location
- Fullerton, Ca
This is my third XJ, and will be the third revision. Not like I ever finished it, just keep tinkering, adding to it, braking stuff, and changing things. I've met a bunch of great people. Got to see new places, got to enjoy racing KOH and Jeep Speed. It's no longer my daily driver but I do love getting out in it. It's not my wife's favorite means of travel, small and somewhat cramped, and noisy. It was fine when it was the two of us and our 2 Labs. We still pulled a small trailer so we could set up a base camp and explore. Now with a son I don't really want/ can't build something bigger. I don't have the time and energy to start another build with my work schedule and the time I want to spend with my son. My son Alexander who is 4 loves the Jeep. I know, he doesn't know any better:roll:
Goal is to make it stronger, faster.... I mean make it more comfortable, add some sound/ heat insulation, improve ride on/ offroad, improve seating add storage, revisit mods and correct drive line angles, steering angles and hopefully some paint. I plan to update this thread to help with maintenance and parts used, as less and less of this thing is stock and I end up spending so much time trying to find receipts on what parts I used or how I did it.
I bought this 2000 XJ from a guy named Derek in Ranch Cucamonga. I was watching Craigslist for a while and saw his XJ with a RE short arm lift and 31's for 3-4 k. It was clean but more cash than I had. A few weeks later I saw it for a 1000. I called him immediately. He lost the front trans seal and was giving up. I headed over with a dolly, paid him and dropped the drive line and brought it home. After some time I built it up and it looked like this on 33 x 10.5. I really liked the Jeepspeed series.
Grand Canyon
After some time I found a high pinion D44 while looking for parts for my wife's Neon. I walked by the old Ford, it was half price weekend and told here I need that! She looked at me very confused, and at the old totaled '76 Ford pick up. I ripped out a nice seat out of an Explorer so she could sit and help while we pulled the axle. It took me some time to strip it, shorten it and truss it. When looking for gears and lockers I went to RWK Haus since he was local. He ended up needing some help getting his KOH EMC XJ built and wired up for the upcoming race. I ended up changing my build up a bit so we could "borrow" parts off my rig if needed. That's when it jumped up to 35. Since I needed new wheels to go 5 x 5.5 I got a deal on some OMF beadlocks.
At the Hammers, Vern with JP was checking it out and asked if he could take some pictures. I thought he was kidding and my wife thought he was nuts. But after some talking we were off. I think this helped my wife's view of the money spent on the build so far and she hasn't left me yet!
http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/154-1307-2000-jeep-cherokee-attention-to-detail/
I picked up a trailer off expedition portal and found a deal on a CVT tent. Yes I'm always looking to save money. It doesn't always work out, but I have too many projects waiting for me so I try. Did I mention I'm Dutch? LOL. I know roof top tents are trendy as of late but I sleep well on that mattress and love it.
Goal is to make it stronger, faster.... I mean make it more comfortable, add some sound/ heat insulation, improve ride on/ offroad, improve seating add storage, revisit mods and correct drive line angles, steering angles and hopefully some paint. I plan to update this thread to help with maintenance and parts used, as less and less of this thing is stock and I end up spending so much time trying to find receipts on what parts I used or how I did it.
I bought this 2000 XJ from a guy named Derek in Ranch Cucamonga. I was watching Craigslist for a while and saw his XJ with a RE short arm lift and 31's for 3-4 k. It was clean but more cash than I had. A few weeks later I saw it for a 1000. I called him immediately. He lost the front trans seal and was giving up. I headed over with a dolly, paid him and dropped the drive line and brought it home. After some time I built it up and it looked like this on 33 x 10.5. I really liked the Jeepspeed series.

Grand Canyon

After some time I found a high pinion D44 while looking for parts for my wife's Neon. I walked by the old Ford, it was half price weekend and told here I need that! She looked at me very confused, and at the old totaled '76 Ford pick up. I ripped out a nice seat out of an Explorer so she could sit and help while we pulled the axle. It took me some time to strip it, shorten it and truss it. When looking for gears and lockers I went to RWK Haus since he was local. He ended up needing some help getting his KOH EMC XJ built and wired up for the upcoming race. I ended up changing my build up a bit so we could "borrow" parts off my rig if needed. That's when it jumped up to 35. Since I needed new wheels to go 5 x 5.5 I got a deal on some OMF beadlocks.




At the Hammers, Vern with JP was checking it out and asked if he could take some pictures. I thought he was kidding and my wife thought he was nuts. But after some talking we were off. I think this helped my wife's view of the money spent on the build so far and she hasn't left me yet!
http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/154-1307-2000-jeep-cherokee-attention-to-detail/

I picked up a trailer off expedition portal and found a deal on a CVT tent. Yes I'm always looking to save money. It doesn't always work out, but I have too many projects waiting for me so I try. Did I mention I'm Dutch? LOL. I know roof top tents are trendy as of late but I sleep well on that mattress and love it.


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