my new red 1998 xj.

[98REDXJ2]

So after about 4days of waiting i finally got her yesterday. 2/16/12.
just bought a tune up and going to go do that in a few minutes, then going to head to junkyard to see if they still have a jeep there i wanted parts from. then oil change and full inspection =]

Here's the first pics.
2in budget lift, spacers and shackles. on 30x9.50x15s

and so begins the emptying of my wallet :smoker:

 

[98REDXJ2]

plans for now:
just did a tune up.
reese hitch.
center caps.
better tires.
rust preventative precautions.

future plans:
3.5-4in lift.
31 or 32in tires.
full steel bumpers.

 

[typicalsundayxj]

Awesome man we git the same exact jeep lol

 

[98REDXJ2]

Bought her without a spare. so I threw in one of my old XJ wheels for a spare.
then last week i stopped by home depot and bought a hooked bolt and put the spare upright lol. saw that idea on here somewhere.

When I get my tax returns I'm hoping to have enough money to have my rear carrier bearings replaced. (pretty sure that's where my wining is coming from, read the forums about that) and also get the seal in my power steering box replaced. (its leaking annoyingly)

First on my parts list after the repairs are a tow hitch in back and tow hooks upfront.

Once it warms up ill be modifying my rims for the stock xj centers.

 

[98REDXJ2]

also when i modify my rims for the centers, ill have to buy another rim. for some reason it has one rims with a wider offset. doesnt affect anything other than slight rub on front fender (i trimmed it so it would stop)

i like the wider look of the one non matching rim but its one out of three so its got to go.
ill probably just use it as my spare.

 

[98REDXJ2]

went to the junkyard to day and pulled myself a hitch for $20.
cleaned up the rust. ill paint it withe the next few days.

also gave the xj a bath, then it rained then snowed though =[

 

[Voteban]

If you're going to take this thing wheeling I suggest doing the modifications necessary to flip your hitch before you even put it in. I drag my hitch coming down off of a lot of things. I'm going to flip mine and build it into my rear bumper (when I get around to building one).

 

[98REDXJ2]

hmm im not exactly sure how that would work out but maybe...

i have a stock rear bumper for the time being.
thinking of your idea, could i mount it flipped and just have to trim the bumper out for the hitch to fit in place right?

 

[Voteban]

hmm im not exactly sure how that would work out but maybe...

i have a stock rear bumper for the time being.
thinking of your idea, could i mount it flipped and just have to trim the bumper out for the hitch to fit in place right?

Exactly, there's a thread about it somewhere around here. With a stock bumper you just have to trim a little section of it.

 

[98REDXJ2]

ok thanks ill try to find it

 

[whitexj98]

Yeah,the first time I got my jeep stuck was because of the low hanging hitch. I cut it up and welded it into the center insead of under the cross bar.

 

[Voteban]

Yeah,the first time I got my jeep stuck was because of the low hanging hitch. I cut it up and welded it into the center insead of under the cross bar.

Flipping it puts it up above the cross bar

 

[98REDXJ2]

no luck finding a thread on flipping it... i went through pagesss

 

[98REDXJ2]

may have found something... lol



edit: nope.

 

[Voteban]

This is the only one I could find... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1065573&page=2

I saw a write-up for it at some point though... It looks like this dude chopped / rewelded his... I thought you could just turn it upside down with some minor modification... :dunno:

 

[98REDXJ2]

yeah thats exactly what i had found.

 

[98REDXJ2]

So I got my new to me hitch all repainted. Going to start pbing all my bumper bolts before i take it off.
also I bought red an XJ sticker as well as my self a shirt from allthingsjeep.

Hopefully getting my tax return, going to take her to a shop to see if my carrier bearings are the cause of my hum. depending on what it really is I will most likely end up fixing it myself. and hopefully have enough to get a decent set of rear tires for now and a 3in rough country lift.

 

[98REDXJ2]

lil mud on the tires was a good lil time. drove up a muddy incline it was STEEP! she handled it like a champ. not even wheel spin in 4wd. Reminded me how amazing these are offroad