Trucks Tv Xj build on Spike TV Sunday

muckleroy said:
Even though I did some 4x4'ing years ago I am learning more now by far. I was thinking that before I could do some serious off roading I would need to trim my fenders. Before I do that I want the bushwacker flares. So what I have now is a nice rig with good lift for basically high water on paved roads.
Not bad for Houston.

I hear you guys talking about bump stops and I am wonder if I can use bump stops to get my tires off my fenders. I think the answer is yes.

My next upgrade is the 4.56 gears. I have that lined up (parts on the way and mechanic lined up) so now I'm going to look into bump stops.

It would be great to be able to get off road before I have to spend another bucket of money.
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We refer to them as bushcrackers out here. The tend to get broken, and cost a good chunk of change. TJ's are an alternative, or just trace a line on your stock flares, and cut there, then raise them. Re-attach with some 1/4-20 bolts and lock washers and your done. RE 5.5 lift with just raised/trimmed stock flares, no issues.

Almost forgot and this is for the Cheep Cherokee too. Once you go to 33's, the tire can hit the brake line and rip it off. Move the brakline closer to the center of the axle. I've got mine almost behind the shock now.
 
Well after watching closely and being skeptical at first you guys did a great job on the XJ. Big props for the Naxja stickers too! And Kevin...I have to agree in all areas about the Imron, but you do get what you pay for. My father has a paint store which I have worked on and off in for the last 5 years and we have never received a complaint about the Imron stuff. I got stuck mixing 10 gallons of that stuff one day and only made it through 5 before getting sick and having to go home, and that was wearing a respirator :gag:.

What are the plans for the XJ now? If you guys part it out or something I would very much like to buy that bumper. That thing is sick.

BTW what does it take to get a DuPont product like Standox used on a project for Powerblock!? All I ever see is PPG and HoK! The Hot Hues on that truck looked killer though...
 
Hey Kevin and Ryan, thanks for an outstanding show and special thanks for focusing on the beloved XJ. You guys did a fantastic job on the project and I for one am grateful that another Cherokee has been resurrected from the dead and is alive to roam the trails once again.

We here on the forum are fanatics about the XJ so we will be a tad more harsh when it comes to opinions about the venerable Cherokee. For most of us, when we are not wheeling our Jeep, we are dreaming about wheeling our Jeep. When we are not under our Jeep, we are thinking about mods to put on our Jeep. We are fanatical about our Cherokees, which just means we are right in the middle of stupid and crazy.

Long live the XJ.
 
First... Kevin and Ryan... A HUGE thank you for having the courage to come one here with the crazy obsessed group here and hear what we had to say.

Second... Thank you for making the show watchable again. There were a couple of seasons there that were just wrong...

I guess I run a little bit different than some of the comments you guys are getting. I don't consider $6200 to be too bad of a price for a build from a drag home to a wheeler. Yes, there were places you could have cut some corners. But we do realize that you have advertising contracts to meet so that has to figure into a TV build.

I don't consider spending money on good tools to be a waste. Buying something like your Mighty-Pull might be $1800 up-front but how many times over the next 20 years might I have a use for something like that???

But once again, Thanks alot for making the Cherokee episodes. I certainly appreciated them.
 
Kevin and Ryan-you two are awesome and make a great team. I appreciate all you guys did and especially for taking the initiative to come on here. Because of how you conduct the show, I will probably download the rest of the Trucks! episodes through iTunes just so I can watch them (it seems I'm never inside on the weekend). I like the way the whole thing is setup and the ideas you have. Thanks again fellas you really helped us out.
-Collin
 
Wow! Thanks for the kind words!..... where are all the guys that were hackin on us? LOL! I agree, there was about a season and a half that we were sorting things out...( diplomatic statement #223) Thanks for hanging in with us. I think Ryan should market that bumper design..... aparently it added structural rigidity to those frame rails, because it didnt pull off the unibody even once.... I'm not disagreeing that those mounts may be a weak point, it's just that we never intended on hard-corring a basically stock rig, so it's all about dose-and-duration and the whole scope of the build didnt call for the added weight of a multi point mounting system. The way they're made it would be very easy to attach some supports and tie it into the frame.... maybe a future episode? Thanks for the tip on the brakelines as well... out back it was a non- issue with the new rear axel, we locked them well out of the way.... out front we didnt have any issues, even with the wheel stuffed, but it's something to consider regardless.... no brakes = no brakes = not fun wheelin.

Now I have a question........ what's the cheapest XJ that anyone here has built? Tell the truth!, add up all the trips to the parts counter, every little added on part..... let us know what a dirt cheap budged build is over here.... This is an honest question not a counterpoint.... wew know we could have been a little cheaper without a winch and high lift jack.... off road lights, E-locker blah blah blah.... but tell us your story.



KT.
 
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kttrucks said:
Keep the comments coming! critisizm is how we learn... all of us..... we dont take if personally when the comments are heated up... that just shows us thay you guys are passionate about these vehicles and that you've been down these roads before. Besides, if you werent throwing rocks, how would we know that you're still watching? Even Stacey would agree with that.
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Thanks for taking the time to come by and post. Needless to say, I was very interested in your 4 part XJ series and I made sure I saw each one of them. It was great seeing it out on the trail to.

And yes, we are cheap bastards! lol
 
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kttrucks said:
Now I have a question........ what's the cheapest XJ that anyone here has built? Tell the truth!, add up all the trips to the parts counter, every little added on part..... let us know what a dirt cheap budged build is over here....



KT.
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So far Mine is 1500. I have tow points all around 3 in lift. And a good running motor.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=951490


The Black one was the Cheeper build. Not too Rugged yet but it is coming around.

DSC03254.jpg
 
Now I have a question........ what's the cheapest XJ that anyone here has built? Tell the truth!, add up all the trips to the parts counter, every little added on part..... let us know what a dirt cheap budged build is over here.... This is an honest question not a counterpoint.... wew know we could have been a little cheaper without a winch and high lift jack.... off road lights, E-locker blah blah blah.... but tell us your story
Click to expand...

Ok lets see...

1) 98 Jeep XJ $24,000 with Up Country package
2) RC 4.5" lift $595
3) BFG 32x11.5x15 tires (x5) $835
4) American Racing Baja 15x10 alloy wheels $500
5) Replacement NP242J drive chain $110
6) 4.56 gears for HP Dana30, C 8.25 master kits, and carrier $520
7) New speedo gear $25
8) Being able to drive around traffic during next hurricane evacuation ---- priceless

So I have about $2595 (minus the $24k for the Jeep) in it now.

I figure that after the 4.56 gears are installed I still have the following...

1) Bushwacker flares - $400
2) Rock sliders with weld points - $440
3) Powertrax auto locker for the rear - $420
4) Rear bumper with tire carrier - $750
----------- This is where my wife leaves ---------
5) Front bumper with winch mount point - $850
6) Winch - $500
7) Selectable locker for Dana 30 - $1000 (locker and air compressor)
8) Snorkle - $400

The day after I get everything installed, the transmission will quit! :laugh:

Oh and I still need upper control arms, disconnects, adjustable trackbar, blah blah blah. The more I read and learn on NAXJA the more I have to spend :thumbup:

jeep_lift19.jpg
 
Not exaxtly what you were looking for but...

AS IT SITS(jeepspeed build in early stages)
1994 4 door auto 4.0 2wd!!! $400 (minor front end damage)
new hood, front grill/header panel, and a good used rad $200
rubicon express 4.5" leafs and coils (good/ used) $250
rubicon express lowers and drop brackets (good/used/need new bushings) $150
Running total $1000

If this were ment for wheeling and it were 4wd you could add some junkyard brake lines,hack the fenders, find some uppers, get some welding rod(for the rear), and have yourself a wheeler... Well for the most part

My friend and I are splitting this build right down the middle on cost so we plan to be into it on the cheap side of 2-3k each( plan :rof: )
 
1988 Jeep Cherokee $1500
Repair front end after wife crashed it $500
Replace AC condenser $200
OME Lift $600
Ford 8.8 and newer Dana 30 with 4.88 $700
33" TrXus $650
33" Swamper Radials with AR Black Steelies $400
99 Grand Brake Booster and Master $70
TJ Flares $50
Trailer Hitch $50
Paint job $100
Misc parts for repairs $100
so far $4920 but I have owned it since 1999 so over the course of 10 years it is not too bad
 
I will say this, now that I have seen the whole series, you won't hear anymore complaints from me about the show.

My 87 XJ may be stock for now, but the tips and tricks as well as ideas from your show will be used when I finally start my build up.

Again, thanks for the great show, AND the pay off was worth the wait.
 
Thanks Maud'Dib!

I'm usually busy on the weekend and don't get to watch.
I wouldnt' have seen any of the Cheep Jeep stuff if not for you.

The best part? No commercials!!

Thank you!:thumbup:
 
HaleYes said:
Thanks Maud'Dib!

I'm usually busy on the weekend and don't get to watch.
I wouldnt' have seen any of the Cheep Jeep stuff if not for you.

The best part? No commercials!!

Thank you!:thumbup:
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x's 2! :yelclap:
 
Im about 4 grand into mine including the original purchase price of 800 bucks.

Another big thanks for the show and for representing us here on naxja

O yeah I love the cherry bomb exhaust upgrade, I like it because it takes away the flat edge that you would have with a normal muffler, less to get caught on the rocks, and cheap to replace got mine for 20 bucks at the local pepboys
 
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kttrucks said:
Now I have a question........ what's the cheapest XJ that anyone here has built? Tell the truth!, add up all the trips to the parts counter, every little added on part..... let us know what a dirt cheap budged build is over here.... This is an honest question not a counterpoint.... wew know we could have been a little cheaper without a winch and high lift jack.... off road lights, E-locker blah blah blah.... but tell us your story.



KT.
Click to expand...

Great show fellas. Glad to see our little XJs have made believers out of somemore people!

As to your question on who has built the cheapest XJ. I am building a SUPER low buck rig as wee speak.

It is a 94 2 door with a 2.5, 4x4, HP30, 8 1/4 rear, stolen rear shocks, and it already has a 2" BB!
So far,
I bought it for $300
$100 on a used engine
$150 for 2" wheel adapters
$30 shipped on a t-case skid
$20 for the paint job (10 cans of wallyworld white spray paint, tape, 300 grit sand paper, rubbing alcohol as a degreaser, and old newspapers)
was given a set of wheels from a JK, free set of 265/75/16s, and some MJ rear shocks

I am almost ready for the trails, I need a few more parts to finish it. Which are a tank skid, rear hitch, front tow points, and cheap lockers.

My total budget is $1000 and not a penny more.

I spent over $11K on my last XJ build and promised myself I will build a low buck beater that can be driven to and from the trails.

I will meet my goal and budget. I just need to wait for the "deal" to come around.
 
Clarifiication on my 87....

2dr, White Bonestock.

Used to belong to the US National Park service in Oregon.

I so far have put in about $800 including the cost of the vehicle ($600)
Brake Master Cylinder ($30)
Found out it WAS a 5spd (pukegoat), now an AW4 :clap:
Full tune-up ($60)
New(er) seats from an 89 2dr.($40)
Transfered my Sony head unit from my old Mazda p/u (free)
Made a cargo shelf from scraps from our remodel project (free)
Removed the carpet, and subsequent rust, then pained the floor in prep for herculiner $15.00 for paint and supplies)
double checked EVERY fastener under the thing, just to be sure of no surprises
Replacement speedocable ($45)
Replacement bulbs ($20.00)


Future plans:
2" RE Budget Boost (cause it matches the wheeling I intend to do)
30x9.50 BFG All Terrains
Possible disc brake conversion (though the D44 brakes should be fine)
Possible master/booster swap so I can gain more affective braking power
Winch and bumpers
Aux. Lighting
 
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