Project "Red Rocket"

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

OK, so I finally have a few minutes to post up some pics and progress report of this rig. It is a 98XJ that I picked up and it had "some issues". It was a project that the prior owner was done messing with, so I took it on. It was set up with full width axles and a D300 t-case at one time. He put stock axles under it and I bought it with a stock t-case in it and a huge hole in the floor. I had to cut a patch section out of a donor XJ and repair the hole in the floor, install all the new t-case linkage and shifter assembly. the rig had a black hatch on it due to being rearended at one time and had some ugly homebrew bumpers F&R. I have since amde new bumpers for it, put on a new red hatch to match, tinted the rear glass, completed a very indepth cleaning, rewired 3 10" electric fans, installed a new steering gearbox, reworked the discos, remounted the aux tranny cooler, complete tune up and service, installed new front drive shaft (it did not have one when I bought it), cut and folded the rear quarter that was not done yet, trimmed the fenders and installed trimlok, installed a 10" Kicker marine sub enclosure, installed a new Sony CD player, 2 amps (1 for mids and highs, 1 for sub), and will be doing a few more minor things along the way. I just ordered a SYE for it and will either be going with some Rough Country drop brackets or maybe the long arm upgrade. It already had a Rough Country X-Series 6.5" lift in it, so I am going to stay with the RC stuff on this rig. It only has 94K miles on it, so I ma thinking I might drive it to MOAB next year with John and Rev, as long as it deems itself worthy. Gears and lockers are next on the agenda. OK, here are a few pics....

as it was when it came off the trailer to the shop...kind of looked like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit

this is the wiring mess under the hood I found... :gee:

put the new rear hatch on (yeah, that is a PBR on the roof )

started on new front bumper

finished front bumper

installed bumper and trimmed front fenders

sorry for a bunch of crappy cell phone pics, but it is what I had with me in the shop. I will have a few more pics tonight of what is completed on the rear bumper.

to be continued.......

 

[KSXJ]

nice!

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

holy crap, you are alive!!! we need to get together and wheel, or at least just eat bacon and drink some cold beers my friend!!

 

[REWSTER]

Looks good man, its coming along nicely

 

[seanR]

It needs more red wires under the hood.

 

[kastein]

Same color and general state as my 98 when I bought it!

Mine was entirely OEM though, except it had assorted parts not installed / broken, a mismatch colored (white hood, black fenders, dark metallic red nose) 96-down nose, no wipers, seats weren't bolted in, dash was torn apart, etc.

 

[KSXJ]

holy crap, you are alive!!! we need to get together and wheel, or at least just eat bacon and drink some cold beers my friend!!

I still lerk around here. Just don't have time to post as much anymore. That may change once I start my new job next week! And more time to wheel with 3 day weekends since I will be working 4/10 work weeks!!!!! But yes we need wheel\drink some beer\ and eat a lot of bacon!!!!

 

[Fore Wheeler]

sweet. one question tho, why didn't you build D ring mounts in your front bumper?

fore 'red with envy' wheeler

 

[99SJ_Ex]

sweet. one question tho, why didn't you build D ring mounts in your front bumper?

fore 'red with envy' wheeler

X2

P.S. - Will you take my 99 in trade?? :gee:
P.P.S. - How much for a bumper with D-tabs?
P.P.P.S. I know above you read 'P.P.' but we can all be grown up can't we?? :shhh:

99SJ 'How much to finish my Creep?' Ex

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

sweet. one question tho, why didn't you build D ring mounts in your front bumper?

fore 'red with envy' wheeler

I thought about it, but I do nat have a torch or plasma at the shop at my house to cut through the heavy wall 2x5 that I used. I decided to go the route of tow hook brackets mounted on the frame rails and they will be bolted through the rails and welded along the bottom side of the bumper brackets since I ran them all the way back to catch all the extra mounting holes in leiu of just the front 3 that are basically worthless. Or I might just use a chain wrapped around my front shock as a recovery point

 

[REWSTER]

Whats with all the weights on the wheels? they really didn't want to balance:dunno:

 

[Fore Wheeler]

I thought about it, but I do nat have a torch or plasma at the shop at my house to cut through the heavy wall 2x5 that I used.

you're a freaking farmer! you don't have a torch? how do you guys grow anything w/o a torch?

fore 'farmer rig the thing' wheeler

edit:

 

[RoughCountry]

Nice :yelclap: You bringing it to WF? Farmers here in Tn use torches for everything.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Whats with all the weights on the wheels? they really didn't want to balance:dunno:

It was like that when I got it, my guess is since they are directional claws and have been ran on road, they are pretty well wore and out of balance. hell, I think that there are weights on the back side too!!

you're a freaking farmer! you don't have a torch? how do you guys grow anything w/o a torch?

fore 'farmer rig the thing' wheeler

edit:

I was at the shop at my house. it is the "Jeep shop", our full on shop for the farm has the torch down there. I was not too interested in driving down there and hauling it back to my place. I personally like the clean look of the front bumper w/o clevises on it. I have done some pretty hillbilly/farmer fab with the torch on many occassions, but usually ag related.

Nice :yelclap: You bringing it to WF? Farmers here in Tn use torches for everything.

Doubt it will come to WF since Goldie is still running good. We use torches for a lot of things, including lighting cigs We also have been known to use anhydrous ammonia to cool beer down as well :cheers:

disclaimer: we are experienced in the use of tools not being used for their intended purposes as well as chemicals. Dont try this at home. Read all warning labels before use. Do as I say, not as I do. If you have a hot girlfriend, wife or daughter give me her number.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

hell, the pics are like "Wheres Waldo" except you can try and find the beer cans in the pic. Only one pic does not have a can in it somewhere...I am soo proud...

 

[GRIMUS99XJ]

i dont see one in the first or last pic but the others I do

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

the last pic is pushing it for visibility, it is a smashed can that is by the passenger front tire of Goldie. I just know it is there b/c I ran over it earlier this week I know that if the internet had a smell option that you would have found it being the professional booze hound that you are!

 

[GRIMUS99XJ]

haha for sure

 

[XJosh95]

It was like that when I got it, my guess is since they are directional claws and have been ran on road, they are pretty well wore and out of balance. hell, I think that there are weights on the back side too!!



I was at the shop at my house. it is the "Jeep shop", our full on shop for the farm has the torch down there. I was not too interested in driving down there and hauling it back to my place. I personally like the clean look of the front bumper w/o clevises on it. I have done some pretty hillbilly/farmer fab with the torch on many occassions, but usually ag related.





Doubt it will come to WF since Goldie is still running good. We use torches for a lot of things, including lighting cigs We also have been known to use anhydrous ammonia to cool beer down as well :cheers:

disclaimer: we are experienced in the use of tools not being used for their intended purposes as well as chemicals. Dont try this at home. Read all warning labels before use. Do as I say, not as I do. If you have a hot girlfriend, wife or daughter give me her number.

I'm with you on using things in manners other than directed. One of my favorites is toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil in a soda bottle...:explosion:

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Jermey came ourt for an hour or so tonight and assisted with the rear bumper. Did not get a lot done, but got the mounting feet cut and holes drilled, tacked the 1/4 rails onto the bumper, and tacked the spacers between the mounting feet and bumper. I still need to cut the end angles, finish welding everything, and figure out how the hell I am going to finish up under the tail lights....a bit more tricky then the old 96-down square tail lights. no pics tonight, maybe tomorrow.