if you could start over and buy another xj/mj what would you look for?

i dont hate my xj so much as of today, i sprayed pbblaster on it for 4-5 days before i took off my lca's, coils to replace them with a different set and the only thing i broke was a sweat. i'll wait until i gotta do the rear leafs, then i'll prolly hate my jeep again when i break the bolt or break the nut loose on the front leaf bolt =/ ive been spraying pb blaster everyday on it, so hopefully it shows a little justice...
 
maxxxj has been reading too much mod tech, and listening to too many back-easters when it comes to rust!

ive never broken a single shock bolt, on 3+ jeep lifts... people from back east like to complain.

and your probably driving a southwest xj, nothing thats probably even seen road salt.

SO, what are you doing tommorrow to celebrate the love of your xj?
 
xcm said:
maxxxj has been reading too much mod tech, and listening to too many back-easters when it comes to rust!

ive never broken a single shock bolt, on 3+ jeep lifts... people from back east like to complain.

and your probably driving a southwest xj, nothing thats probably even seen road salt.

SO, what are you doing tommorrow to celebrate the love of your xj?
Click to expand...


idk yet... drive it lol, and the first 5-6 years of my xj's life was spent in michigan, the other 2-3 were spent in san diego, trust me =) its seen road salt and salty air.

ive broken so far, all 4 upper shock bolts all 4 rear sway bar bolts, 2 bump stop bolts ( cuz the other one is still ok ) i really struggled with the front sway bar bushing bolts i had to replace them with new grade 10.8's i snapped my bottom track bar bolt and had to get it out with a sawzall. my rear nut strip was toast i had to break both exhaust hanger bolts where the nut strip sits... i cant remember if thats all but thats about it, im kind of stressing whats going to happen to my leaf spring bolts, mostly the front one inside the unibody so you cant say i havent expierenced rust and im just complaining lol
 
If I were to start over again (planning on starting in the next 6 months)

94 2 door Blue 5spd no options
Put a Liberty 2.8 CRD in it
NV3550
241OR
D44 F/R 35 spline ARBs 5.39
Clayton long arms
H.D. Offroad Engineering Frame stiffeners F&R
Frame side Leaf spring mounts moved foreward 2"
Reverse mounted shackle drop brackets
MJ leaf springs for a 1" WB stretch
Internal/External hybrid cage
 
98 or 99 Limited (or whatever came with nice plushy seats....was there such a thing? Leather in an XJ?)

Totally clean inside and out
4.10 gears (possible???)
Auto
HP D30 front/C8.25 rear (obviously?)
2 door
No ABS
Auxillary coolers (PS and Tranny)


I'd run WJ brakes/knuckles/steering
RK 3 link
ACOS + DPG coils in front
DPG leafs in the rear
Whatever shocks would work best with this
32" tires
HD Offroad (or similar) frame stiffeners
TNT/Treks belly skid
AJs Rock Rails
Detours slimline rear bumper
JCR rear quarter guards w/ light boxes

Front bumper would be my big ???. So many out there I like. Maybe RigidCo...
 
Well, the damnedest thing happened and now I am looking for another rig. SO, I would say 31-33's some lift and armor. and Cruise control. Didn't have that on the last Jeep. As much as I enjoyed building mine up. I didn't want to do it again so soon!
 
JNickel101 said:
98 or 99 Limited (or whatever came with nice plushy seats....was there such a thing? Leather in an XJ?)
Click to expand...
I believe Limited or Classic is the one you're looking for, pretty sure it was Limited.

JNickel101 said:
4.10 gears (possible???)
Click to expand...
Those came stock on the 2.5L engine equipped models, except some really rare ones with 4.56s which I believe were 2.5s with the towing package. I could be wrong on this.

I'd rather get the 4.0L w/ 3.55s or 3.73s, then put an 8.8 in the back with 4.10s and discs and regear the front. Or, if at all possible (assuming ordering new, back in 99 or so) do a special request for a 4.0L equipped XJ with axles for a 2.5L, if that was even possible for them to do.
 
kastein said:
I believe Limited or Classic is the one you're looking for, pretty sure it was Limited.


Those came stock on the 2.5L engine equipped models, except some really rare ones with 4.56s which I believe were 2.5s with the towing package. I could be wrong on this.

I'd rather get the 4.0L w/ 3.55s or 3.73s, then put an 8.8 in the back with 4.10s and discs and regear the front. Or, if at all possible (assuming ordering new, back in 99 or so) do a special request for a 4.0L equipped XJ with axles for a 2.5L, if that was even possible for them to do.
Click to expand...

Who would get a 2.5l with a towing package?!?! Thats dumb...
 
I fully agree, it seems like a really stupid idea... and as far as I can tell, very few 2.5L equipped XJs were even built compared to the 4.0.
 
JS3-1.jpg
 
Something about that looks terribly wrong....
 
Basically I'd be looking for about the same thing I've looked for the last two times, which is a clean, not too tricked out 5 speed. I'd settle for a fresh version of my current 99 Sport, with nothing broken, worn out, or rusted. Preferably without a bodged-in crapped out light duty hitch in need of replacement.
 
a stock, clean 1988 MJ longbed (what i started with)

and right off the bat do :
rocker protection
bed protection
front and rear bumpers
exo cage
lift (6'')
narrow 9'' and narrow 44

the rocker/bed protection and bumpers are what i regret not doing most. i started with this:
IMGP2729-1.jpg


and now i have this: =[
DSCF1444.jpg


i beat on it too much with no protection. it has more damage from last weekend too.
 
Last edited:
kastein said:
Those came stock on the 2.5L engine equipped models, except some really rare ones with 4.56s which I believe were 2.5s with the towing package. I could be wrong on this.

I'd rather get the 4.0L w/ 3.55s or 3.73s, then put an 8.8 in the back with 4.10s and discs and regear the front. Or, if at all possible (assuming ordering new, back in 99 or so) do a special request for a 4.0L equipped XJ with axles for a 2.5L, if that was even possible for them to do.
Click to expand...

the 4 cyl xjs with 4.56 gears were automatic rigs.

what ive seen:
4.0 auto - 3.55
4.0 stick - 3.73
2.8 auto - 4.10
2.8 stick - 4.10 or 3.73 (i think)
2.5 auto - 4.56
2.5 stick - 4.10 or 3.73
 
88manche said:
the 4 cyl xjs with 4.56 gears were automatic rigs with the AW4.

what ive seen:
4.0 auto - 3.55
4.0 stick - 3.73
2.8 auto - 4.10
2.8 (4 or 5spd...can't remember) - 3.73
2.5 auto - 4.56
2.5 stick - 4.10 or 3.73
Click to expand...

I think some 2.5/autos had some other transmission, but I personally found 2 2.5/AW4 combos in the junkyard once and verified that both had 4.56s by popping the covers.

Also verified a 2.8/4 or 5-spd that had 3.73s.

If I had to start over, I'd get a 91+ MJ, 4.0/AW4/NP231 with no options as my trail rig.
 
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