New to XJ life

[FlexdXJ]

The transformation has begun! I picked up 5 15" Jeep 5 spoke rims off of craigslist for $250 (good deal, right?) with 31x10.5 tires (they're an off brand from Sears, but they're rubber). Anyway, I couldn't wait for the lift, so I put them on just to see. Take a look:

Before

After

It's a real Jeep again!!! Now, I just have to get the lift kit ordered and put on. I'm still debating between the Rough Country & Rusty's.

nice it went from 2 fast 2 furious back to a Jeep. chalk one up for the good guys

 

[Twicepardoned]

Looks pretty good again... I think those rims and tires might look decent on a sport compact hahahaha

 

[alwaysready]

prolly what they came off of too.
hey jason
give me a call if you have ?'s
you have my #

 

[BlkXJ21]

Stryker, they did the same for me (AAL for now). I'm just too anxious to wait. I figure I'll get through this season with the AAL, then put the new full leafs on over the winter or next spring.

Jeepm@n, thanks for the front hitch thought. A couple of other guys have thrown that at me, I'm just not sure if the chain hooks would be strong enough to be tow points.

Rims update: they were sold to a friend with a Cavalier; thought they would fit (but obviously never checked), but they won't, so if anyone's looking for some 17" rims, let me know.

 

[Jeepm@n]

You don't use the chain hooks as tow points.You put a receiver in it with a D-ring on it or hook. Chain mounts are if your trailering backwards. J/K Or use the trailer ball and watch it fly through your friends back window. J/k

 

[BlkXJ21]

hahaha! well, after further review (and talking to a few folks), i think i'm just gonna go with the tow hooks for now. if i ever decide to change the bumper down the road, so be it.

 

[jeepman75]

Jeepm@n, thanks for the front hitch thought. A couple of other guys have thrown that at me, I'm just not sure if the chain hooks would be strong enough to be tow points.

I use the hitch itself as the tow point most of the time (like the above pic) but have used the end hoops to pull another XJ that was stuck.

 

[BlkXJ21]

Well, it is done (mostly)!!! Last night, we (me, my uncle & the bigbadwolf twins) installed my 3" AAL kit (of course, I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pics while we worked, but everyone has seen a lift go in, right???) Here's a couple of "after" pics:

Started @ 6:45, front was on by about 9 (after deciding to cut the stock control arms & buying new ones). The AAL was a little more complicated. Everything came off ok, had some troubles getting the new U-bolts to work because they were 1/8" spread too big (you never realize how much 1/8" is until you're trying to squeeze a U-bolt at midnight!). Then, we snapped both upper shock bolts on the passenger side, so we decided to call it a night (but I still drove it home). I'm going to Ben & Steve's later this afternoon to drill out the studs and get the shocks set. Other than that, I really can't complain for my first lift. I don't have much mechanical background, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I must admit, I'm a bit proud of the work I put in and VERY grateful to Ben, Steve and my uncle for their help and guidance. And, the truck looks like a Jeep again (look back at original pics to remind you of the sins committed against this truck!!!). Next up, tow hooks!

 

[XJ Stryker]

Nice pics right now i am trying to squeeze my 3in lift coils in... I got the sway bar off and the axle as low as it will go with out removing the steering and control arms. and i cant get it in there. I got the coils compressed as far as my depresser will go but seems like they are just too big lol. What is the secret here

 

[FlexdXJ]

Nice pics right now i am trying to squeeze my 3in lift coils in... I got the sway bar off and the axle as low as it will go with out removing the steering and control arms. and i cant get it in there. I got the coils compressed as far as my depresser will go but seems like they are just too big lol. What is the secret here

did you undo the trackbar to help the axle drop more?

 

[bgwyllys61]

did ya take the shocks off? oh, and remove the front brakeline brackets too, sometimes they will not let it drop enough to get the springs in

 

[XJ Stryker]

I removed the shocks i was trying to keep from undoing all the steering so I dont have to pay for a alignment. Thanks for the help i will probably end up doing it sorry to high jack your post.

 

[BlkXJ21]

No worries, Stryer. We did take the trackbar off and then pushed down on the wheel while we did it. We actually got pretty lucky; had no problems with the front. The only issues we had were the rear upper shock mounts (snapped all four bolts). We did get those in yesterday. The truck is absolutely awesome! Nothing but compliments everywhere I go. Now, on to tow hooks & hitch. Pics to follow.

 

[BlkXJ21]

And the evolution continues - just finished installing the Reese 5,000 lbs receiver hitch (a little lower that I expected, but it'll work for now). Tow hooks are on order; probably won't get those on until after the holiday weekend (maybe that Monday). The only things left are a new exhaust, new air intake and some new speakers (they're all currently stock and one is shot, so might as well swap them all, right?). May put a roof basket on down the road, but no hurry. I'm also probably gonna move to BFG A/T's down the road, but since there is still pretty good tread on these, it's tough to justify dumping them. I also need to change the leafs out (since I was too impatient to wait for them & installed the AAL's), but I might as well wear these out, right? Well, I'll keep you posted.

 

[Blaine B.]

Get the Rusty's 3" HD kit. Same price, why not do it?

 

[BlkXJ21]

Everything I've read pushed me to the Rough Country kit. If you include the discount & the customer service, it's no question RC is the better choice. Of course, having said that, I've never bought anything from Rusty's, so I have no first hand knowledge, just what I've heard.

 

[alwaysready]

hey jason,
do you have some euro tail lights and does it say super sport on your tailgate?
i was behind some guy last weds on harlm going form frankfort into tinley.
black looked to be a 3" lift etc...
it was a limited(chrome tailgate brow),yours is a sport though right?
so maybe its someone else in your neck of the woods..

 

[BlkXJ21]

Wasn't me; mine is a sport, no chrome, no euro lights.

 

[BlkXJ21]

And the evolution continues...

The new (old) Kargo Master Safari Basket

notice only one tow hook. Couldn't get the two bolts out of the power steering pump that night, so it has been put on hold.

The new hitch.

I think I'm done for a while (although the idea of disc brakes intrigues me). Oh yeah, I need to put some lights on the rack, too, so I guess I'm not done (are we really ever done???).