Mira's '93 XJ 2-dr. build (11-year-old's first Jeep)

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

with the late model front fascia

why not take it off that donor 99 XJ? It looked in good shape.

Btw great build, im taking notes for my 93 4dr

The pics (at least on the front clip) of the '99 donor are deceiving. When the Jeep was hit on the side, it slid into another car, which cracked the header panel and tweaked the driver-side fender decently, too. The hood is perfect, but the fenders aren't usable.

I'm still looking for some rust-free, dent-free '97+ front fenders.

Craig

 

[Tacedaddy]

How much are you looking to spend? Our local pick and pull has two 97+ black xj's with straight fenders
not sure how bad shipping would be tho

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

How much are you looking to spend? Our local pick and pull has two 97+ black xj's with straight fenders
not sure how bad shipping would be tho

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm guessing shipping would be a deal-breaker on something this big. I know a guy who has a source for aftermarket replacement fenders, too, but hope to round up some reasonably-priced take-offs from someone's (semi-local) part-out.

Again, thanks for thinking of us!

Craig

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Mira sportin' her new TeraFlex adjustable lower control arms. Thanks again, TeraFlex! What a wonderful "bonus" Christmas gift.

 

[clean4drxj]

Merry Christmas!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you, as well, clean4drxj. :eeks1:


The sad news this Christmas morning...Mira & her sister left at 9:00 a.m. to spend a week with their mother. The upside is that I took advantage of my quiet morning and finished up Mira's Dana 44 rear axle (minus calipers, which still need to be painted). I'm quite happy with the end result.

Craig

 

[cranesrule]

Updates?

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Updates?

Unfortunately, no. Thanks for asking, though.

Weather has been cold (finally) here in Michigan, so work has slowed down. I'm also shifting focus to installing a long-arm lift and 1-ton axles on my '05 LJ, so Mira's XJ progress will probably be slow for the next 6-8 weeks. Once the weather eases up, progress will improve.

Craig

 

[cranesrule]

Ok, cool. Looking forward to more of your thread.

 

[Dozer11B]

I have 3 daughters of my own, the oldest getting close to Mira's age. They have helped me "torque" down som bolts on minor repairs and each one has aspirations of a pink Jeep. Ugh- but to each his own...

Kudos to you for being an awesome Dad and instilling character in your kids, and Kudos to Mira for tackling a character building project at such a young age. My oldest is only 8, but the way I see it, you work hard when they're young to make sure you can take it easy when they get older...

This is an awesome idea... Now to sell it to the wife!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

B-I-G thanks to TJontherox (Ryan) for donating a NEW late-model XJ grill insert to Mira for her XJ, and for Alix (alix4d) for transporting it to us from the East side of the state! (Both of these guys are from GreatLakes4x4.com). Much appreciated, gents!

With the weather breaking, and with my '05 LJ on the final stretch to being done, we can get cracking on Mira's XJ again.

Craig

 

[jeeperjohn]

Good to see an update dude! Out here on the left coast we are used to wrenching year round

 

[Fore Wheeler]

subscribed.

can't say anything that hasn't been said.

I look forward to seeing you guys at Winterfest with the finished project in the future.

dan

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Small update. Mira & I changed the alternator in her '99 donor XJ this weekend. The original one had locked up. It was a good teaching experience as I explained what the alternator does. Mira asked some good questions, and did a great job troubleshooting how to get it out (it's low on the passenger side...kind of hard to get to). Her donor XJ is running like a top again.

Craig

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

And it shall be dubbed "Muttly". Here's Mira's XJ with the updated ('97+) front clip. Door install and axle reinstall is next on the docket, as well as building the JCR Offroad DIY front bumper.

 

[Voteban]

I like the colors, if I Frankensteined a Jeep together I probably wouldn't paint anything to match.

Painting is a good teaching experience though, automotive paint can be tough, good luck with the rest of the build, it's looking great!

Also, you're an awesome dad, I'm 17 and I've been doing this kind of stuff with my dad (well, step dad, but he's my dad ) since I was 7 or 8, and now there's nothing I can't fix or modify on my Jeep, I'd say I'm a lot better mechanic and person because of it.

:thumbup:

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

I like the colors, if I Frankensteined a Jeep together I probably wouldn't paint anything to match.

Painting is a good teaching experience though, automotive paint can be tough, good luck with the rest of the build, it's looking great!

Also, you're an awesome dad, I'm 17 and I've been doing this kind of stuff with my dad (well, step dad, but he's my dad ) since I was 7 or 8, and now there's nothing I can't fix or modify on my Jeep, I'd say I'm a lot better mechanic and person because of it.

:thumbup:

Thanks, and great story, Voteban!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Today's project was Mira's JCR Offroad DIY front bumper. So easy, even an 11-year-old can build it! Overall, this was a very straightforward project, and well worth the money. I did realize that I have outgrown my Miller 115V welder, though. I have to save for a 220V unit.

Mira cutting out the hole for the 2" receiver hitch - it comes partially cut already, and just has 4 tabs holding it in. If you don't want a front receiver, you can weld in the cuts, then grind smooth.

The JCR DIY bumper kits come pre-cut. You just have to bend them into shape, and weld them together. We used a combination of clamps/wood block/hammer...

...and a large crescent wrench and a piece of 1" x 2" rectangular tubing for additional leverage.

Here's Mira sportin' her new bumper after tack welding, but before the D-ring mounts & receiver hitch. While Mira has done some welding before, I actually gave her a break from the heat today, and did the welding myself.

And the mocked up JCR bumper test-fit on Mira's XJ. We have to do a little treaking on the position of the bumper mounts (original bumper was tweaked slightly, so things may be slightly out of true.

 

[jeepdreamer]

Spent a lazy Sunday here reading through the entire thread. I love it! Mira will have an awesome Jeep when it comes time for driving and the ability to proudly say she helped build it. Not many kids, boys or girls, can offer that up. Congrats to Craig for taking the time and doing this right... both the Jeep build and the child raising duty. :thumbup:
I've been eyeballing that bumper from JCR myself, glad to hear your experience has been a positive one. Looks like they cut most of the metal out but leave small parts still attached so you can bend it in shape? Kind of like steel origami (sp?). What else is required when you buy the bumper... the frame extenders? Can't wait to see this on and painted with your OCD!
Keep rolling, I'm subscribing.
And could you post a sample of the final color? I couldn't see it earlier in the thread. *scratches head*

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Spent a lazy Sunday here reading through the entire thread. I love it! Mira will have an awesome Jeep when it comes time for driving and the ability to proudly say she helped build it. Not many kids, boys or girls, can offer that up. Congrats to Craig for taking the time and doing this right... both the Jeep build and the child raising duty. :thumbup:
I've been eyeballing that bumper from JCR myself, glad to hear your experience has been a positive one. Looks like they cut most of the metal out but leave small parts still attached so you can bend it in shape? Kind of like steel origami (sp?). What else is required when you buy the bumper... the frame extenders? Can't wait to see this on and painted with your OCD!
Keep rolling, I'm subscribing.
And could you post a sample of the final color? I couldn't see it earlier in the thread. *scratches head*

JCR bumper do not come with the frame tie-in's so you would need to purchase those as well.