I've Got My Xj!!!

[mingez]

Well, the guy liked the Miata, and now I'm back to my roots with a XJ, IMO the best Jeep out there. So I am officially no longer jeepless!!! (For the record, I was only Jeepless for ~1 week.

I have a new (to me) 98 XJ. Finally, I have the "new" body style that I've always wanted. Along with all off the normal accoutrement, it also has power everything, mpg gauge, bells and whistles, yada yada.

Power windows in a XJ? Didn't know what that was like.

Everything's straight, except for a little body work on the rear driver's side quarter, but it's minor.

Transmission's good, engine's strong, and I LOVE IT!!!

Question is: What do I do first? Leave it stock (and therefore less prone to issues) or should I lift it?

Obviously I'm gonna lift it, so I don't even know why I typed that last sentence. Who am I fooling?

So then, how high? I want to keep this one more road friendly. (but still want it to look fairly aggressive.)

I'm thinking 3" so I don't need an SYE, if that's as high as I get. I'm thinking more "Sleeper" XJ this time....maybe not. Lock the front and back, gear down, 32's?

Waddya think?

Yay me.

Oh, and now I have to name it.

PS- sorry the post is so scattered, I'm on my 6th Guiness. :drunk:

 

[jeepless20]

3" on XJs is a very b-e-a-utiful thing. gives it that perfect look IMO. ultimatly i want a 6" and 33s for mine but i feel a 3" and 31s is perfect. congrats on your new babie. i hope she makes you happy as all get out. btw i still need to name mine

 

[mingez]

Here are the pics he sent me (taken earlier this winter)

It now has aluminum rims (not my fav) as opposed to the stock rims. (I actually like the stock steels better) I'll probably buy some black steels right away.

 

[KrazyJeeper]

I think those rims are steelies.

 

[mingez]

I think those rims are steelies.

Yes. And like I said, he put some aluminum rims on there. Those aren't on there anymore. Keep up man! (I'm kidding)

Here is a similar style to what is on there now:

I hate them, but they are brand spankin' new. As in, he JUST purchased them last week.

I'll probably be putting some Black Steel rims on, like "Rock Crawlers" or a similar style.
Something more like:

 

[southtj]

Congrats on the new family member! You may now remain a Jeepz member in good standing.

 

[Saurian]

Well wow, I think you have my Jeep's older brother there!

Congratulations!

 

[TwistedCU]

Look under the pass side of the rear axle. The tag might still be on the end of the tube telling you what gears, diff type. i.e.: 3.55, open. It may have a limited slip (LS)

If you have 3.55 gears like I had on mine you can easily run 32's and still have good power and performance. I had no performance mods, except a drop-in K&N.

If you do go with a 3" lift, consider a 1.5" BB that uses front spacers and rear shackles to combine for 4.5". I say this because with extended rear shackles and a 1.5" TC drop you should be fine with the stock TC output. I had a set of adjustable LCA's to straighten out the caster/front pinion angle. It worked real well and zero vibes. I put a lot of miles on the setup - highway and trail

Then you'll have 4.5" and could well clear 32's on wheels with 4.5" BS. Good performance, plenty of clearance for offroad. Something to consider.

As for wheels, you need to think about width because as you well know there isn't much room under those wheelwells. Even less than your old XJ. A 16" wheel would allow you more choices to run taller tires without them being too wide. 15" wheels there are fewer options, but there's always BFG's 33x1050 mudders (although they might warrant a little fender trimming). Unless you intend to run 33x12.50x15's or larger I would get 7" wide wheels. 8" wheels will only make your tires spread a bit more and not help with clearing the fenders, in addition the 7" wheels would be a better fit for just about any tire size the measures 10.50 width or narrower.

If you stick with 3" of lift your pretty much limited to 30-31" tires.


Nice looking Jeep you found there!

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Sweet ride! Though I'm not a big fan of XJ's, I still am a small fan of them, and that looks pretty darn good for a grocery-getter! Seriously, nice job, Ian! Six Pack was always the best looking XJ I've ever seen, so I'm sure you'll do something good with this one to win me over. As for a name...hmmm....how 'bout "Ol' Sparky"?

Blue Boy?

Little Boy Blue?

Anything but "Ol' Blue". That name is waaaay over used.

Well, since you live in the Rockies, why not "Rocky"?

I can do better, once I've looked at it a while. My last thought for now would be "Miata Masher".:lol:

Congrats!

 

[TwistedCU]

I see it has the factory tow hooks, that's cool! The hitch might be factory... if it is you should have the transmission cooler (good to have, especially with bigger tires on stock gears).

 

[Utah_jeepster]

I am happy to see you finally bought a Jeep Mingez...and sadden

Now as to you petition signers and those that mapped out travel routes to Migez'es place I thank you for all of your hard work...but we will not longer be doing that midnight linching...

I am sorry Sparky I know you wanted to pull the lever but he is now a jeep owner again...

Yes TC I will keep that in mind if he sells it off again but I still don't know where we were going to get a pot big enough to boil him in.

Mud I hope you still get a refund on all those feathers, since I returned the tar this morning and got a full refund.

For the rest of you...thank you for the signatures and suggestions...and at the very end congratulations Mingez on your purchase.

 

[currupt4130]

Congrats mingez, thats a good lookin XJ. I say skip right to the 33's or 35's and do it right the first time. No sense wasting time and money on smaller tires and a smaller lift when you know you want to go bigger anyway.

 

[LadyJeepFreak]

Congrats Mingez! You will love your new Jeep!

 

[Green97TJ]

Man I understand why your thinking of staying with a smaller lift, but you know your eventually going to go big anyway :twisted:

And honestly, two of the best looking XJs I've seen (at least that haven't been cut up and highly modified) were your old one and TC's old one. Love XJs like that. But then I dont know how they drove either. Anyway, I'm rambling, so congrats!

So Utah, does this mean I no longer have to figure out how to attach each of his limbs to jeeps? I mean c'mon, it would have been the first time someone was drawn and quartered with a jeep!

 

[redrooster]

"Blue Ballz"
Notice the use of the "z".

Jump in there with both feet...put a Skyjacker Rock Ready 6" on that thing and a Con-fer roof rack and hit the trails.

 

[mingez]

LOL. I should've known better than to ask you all what amount of lift I should do.

It's like asking a bunch of meth addicts if I should get high or not. :lol: :lol:

Remember guys, I'm a college student again, and I'm on as fixed a budget as retired New Yorker in Del Boca Vista, in Miami FL.

 

[Utah_jeepster]

So Utah, does this mean I no longer have to figure out how to attach each of his limbs to jeeps? I mean c'mon, it would have been the first time someone was drawn and quartered with a jeep!

I am sorry Green but yes...no drawn and quarting this week...but keep those drawings handy...Mingez has been known to change vehicles faster then some change the underwear.

 

[TwistedCU]

Upon further review, I think you should do the Rusty's 4.5 like 6 pack had. Just use the Skyjacker TC drop and you'll be fine

Go for the bigger lift. You can always go with 31's then get bigger ones when you strike it rich :lol:

Funny thing about XJ's... you can run a 31" tire on a 2" BB, a 3" lift, or 4.5" of lift and they all look good :lol:

 

[Sparky-Watts]

faster then some change the underwear.

HEY! :evil: You promised you wouldn't tell!! :x

 

[mingez]

I am sorry Green but yes...no drawn and quarting this week...but keep those drawings handy...Mingez has been known to change vehicles faster then some change the underwear.

You guys can come and try, I need a good warm-up before I do something that would require more physical demand than beating you guys up... like ping pong and lawn darts.

I might just leave you guys for my girlfriend. She outta make short work of you pansies. :twisted: :lol: