Thinking about selling my XJ.....

x2elite

x2elite

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Texarkana, AR/TX
I have been toying with the idea of a Buggy for some time now. However, I am torn on whether or not to just sell the XJ, and use the funds to build a full tube chassis buggy, or if I would be better off (cheaper) to just use my current axles/engine/tranny/transfer case from my XJ to build the buggy, and then just scrap the body. I just don't know what I want to do. I will probably just continue to wheel the XJ for the rest of the season, and probably around November/December get ready to make a move. Just looking for opinions I guess.
 
From what I've seen of you 4-wheeling (you wheel HARD), and since I believe you're normally trailered in and it's not your DD, the only logical step for you IMHO is a dedicated buggy. If I were to build a buggy, and it's something I've been considering, it would be full tube mid-engine. Reason being, I wouldn't want to sit behind a hot engine all day and would want something light (aluminum block) back there.
 
Just remember building a buggy is damn expensive!! Take everything you figured and double it!! I was seriously thinking about doing the same recently but I talked myself out of it. I kind of like driving around the old cherokee on the streets and with a buggy it wouldn't be possible. --------Kyle
 
Yeah I know what you mean, I do drive mine on the street occasionally. However, as far as building a buggy, everything would be custom. I have a good buddy that would pretty much build the chassis from scratch, custom longarms, coilovers, then just strip my axles and do all new brackets on them, and bolt in my drivetrain and wiring harness. Probably do battery, fuel cell, radiator, and possibly spare tire mounted on the rear to evenly distribute weight.
 
I just don't know...... I am thinking that if I use all the mechanical parts out of my XJ, then I could probably keep the cost to less than $4k. LOL I know that still isn't "cheap" as most of us consider cheap, but for a buggy, that is super cheap.
 
why not chop up the xj to make a buggy with it.

i dont like buggys imo. they seem to take the challange out of wheeling which is what i really like about wheeling (well one of the many reasons)
 
Well I used to think the same thing, but honestly no matter how badass of a buggy you build you can always find something challenging to run it against! It is just that I feel that I have pretty much reached the limit with what I can do with my XJ. I don't know..... I guess if I plan on chopping it up, or parting it out, I can just wheel the crap outta it, and if I trash it i am not reall out anything, and can just build a buggy then! LOL
 
you need to talk to macgyvr and check out his build...you are not at the end of what your xj can do BY FAR....i would say rear 4 link first if you still want more back half it and when its all done you will still have a ton of nice parts to swap into a buggy
 
justin check out some of the other xj based "buggies" and i would say make yours one of those-basically just transform yours. That would give you time to do the drivetrain upgrades that would make yours a buggy like a stout tcase, then you can just chop slowly.

On the other hand-your gonna waste your new cage you just built pretty much! Just beat the crap out of it more than you normally do...
 
StylerG said:
On the other hand-your gonna waste your new cage you just built pretty much! Just beat the crap out of it more than you normally do...
Click to expand...


I think this is pretty much the plan for now.... LOL But I do have a secret.... I got a longarm setup and unibody rail stiffeners coming soon as well. Then my next upgrade is going to be rear long arms, and hopefully coilovers all around eventually.


Oh yeah.... BTW my xfer case was toast after ROM as well. But it had like 200k on it already so no huge loss there. LOL
 
longarms? really taking that rti ramp seriously ha its ok my 32's measure closer to 36's (sorry still laughing to myself about that whole ordeal)
 
check out pirate4x4 in the cherokee section. There is a TON of builds with xj truggy's, back half's, pretty much anything you can think of has been done there. Lots of ideas to help you decide. The main drawback for us is tire size with out major body modification. I've seen a guy stuff 40's with 3 inches of lift. He did a realy nice job, but probobly spent hundreds of hours in body work. There are lots of ways to go, just depends on what you like. Good thing about a buggy is no sheet metal to damage :)
 
Well even if I went full tube buggy, I was still gonna XJ it out! LOL XJ drivetrain, and some XJ panels. I just think I am about to go wild with what I have.
 
I would think you would be disappointed with your drivetrain in a buggy. With the D44s you're going to be limited in tire size and its still going to be pretty breakable in "buggy" territory.
 
im doin the same thing. when summer comes around, im gunna buggy my xj from the firewall back and skin the rear quarters with new panels. i say go for it. it looks wicked when done right
 
Exxon Valdez Jeep said:
I would think you would be disappointed with your drivetrain in a buggy. With the D44s you're going to be limited in tire size and its still going to be pretty breakable in "buggy" territory.
Click to expand...

x2

a buggy you are gonna want to go one ton for sure... probably full hydro steering, and all that good stuff... the 4.0 would still be good stuff for a buggy
 
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