Big Blue!
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bowie, MD
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
![Default](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So a little over a month ago I bought my first XJ 1999 120K on the clock (I'm 35) Found her on Craigslist. I have big plans for it and have done a few things already thanks in big part to this forum. I'll use this thread to document everything as I build one bad *** daily driver XJ
Day after I brought her home
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The lift is shoddy though guy I bought it from said 5.5"(to be redone soon with an IRO 5.5" with Bilsteins)
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First thing I did was hit the local jy and pulled the seats out of a '01 that were perfect. The ones in it were quite dirty and had a couple small tears.
2nd thing I did was install a new head unit/amp/subs
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Temp amp and cap location, have plans for a really sweet dual amp/cap enclosure and mount. Kicker 750.1 build sheet says 954 watts RMS
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Dual 12' Kicker CVR's in a ported box, prob gonna get rid of these soon and have a friend of mine build me a custom box for a JL W7 10" so I can reclaim some of my cargo space. These things THUMP but I'm not 17 anymore LOL
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Future plans for the audio include a lot of dynomat a 4 channel amp and some rainbow audio speakers in the doors and sound bars, a custom box with a 10" JL W7 and custom amp/cap rack
Next I scored a sweet deal on 5 32x11.5x15 procomp mud terrains on rims for $1000
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For now I'm staying with a 32" tire.............for now
So next I needed a place to keep that full size spare so I bought a roof rack from a forum member here
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Coming soon to the roofline is a light bar and some KC daylighters, going to mount 2 on the rear corners of the rack as well.![Thumbup1](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/images/smilies/thumbup1.gif)
Last but not least to this list of what I've done so far is this nice Rustys Offroad tube bumper I snagged for cheap, it was brand new and never mounted
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So that's pretty much what I've done to date. This morning 2 members and I diaged and fixed a knock she had in the bottom end. turned out to be the drive gear on the distributor so that and the oil pump got replaced today.
Now on my list of to do's
1. Valve cover/oil filter adapter gaskets (have a few leaks)
2. Dodge steering box upgrade
3. Injector swap
4. replace rad/hoses/thermostat/water pump
5. ZJ tie rod and upgraded drag link
6. IRO 5.5" lift with Bilstein shocks
7. Cut out rockers (passenger side damaged and rotted) and build rock sliders
8. Front winch bumper/beefier rear bumper
9. Skids TC/gas tank/front
10. Lockers still TBD HP D30/8.25 3.55 gears for now. Gonna beef up and eventually truss the axles change the gearing etc...
11. 8.25 disc brake upgrade
12. Audio stuff I mentioned earlier
I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting..................stay tuned
Day after I brought her home
![Name: 42754a82.jpg
Views: 305
Size: 238.7 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380774d1501525801-big-blue-42754a82.jpg)
The lift is shoddy though guy I bought it from said 5.5"(to be redone soon with an IRO 5.5" with Bilsteins)
![Name: Jeep002.jpg
Views: 59
Size: 109.2 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380775d1501525801-big-blue-jeep002.jpg)
![Name: Jeep005.jpg
Views: 59
Size: 145.7 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380776d1501525801-big-blue-jeep005.jpg)
First thing I did was hit the local jy and pulled the seats out of a '01 that were perfect. The ones in it were quite dirty and had a couple small tears.
2nd thing I did was install a new head unit/amp/subs
![Name: eecf8445.jpg
Views: 56
Size: 122.7 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380777d1501525801-big-blue-eecf8445.jpg)
Temp amp and cap location, have plans for a really sweet dual amp/cap enclosure and mount. Kicker 750.1 build sheet says 954 watts RMS
![Name: 544d9f3c.jpg
Views: 62
Size: 99.3 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380778d1501525801-big-blue-544d9f3c.jpg)
Dual 12' Kicker CVR's in a ported box, prob gonna get rid of these soon and have a friend of mine build me a custom box for a JL W7 10" so I can reclaim some of my cargo space. These things THUMP but I'm not 17 anymore LOL
![Name: 7fcd81d3.jpg
Views: 61
Size: 108.5 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380779d1501525801-big-blue-7fcd81d3.jpg)
Future plans for the audio include a lot of dynomat a 4 channel amp and some rainbow audio speakers in the doors and sound bars, a custom box with a 10" JL W7 and custom amp/cap rack
Next I scored a sweet deal on 5 32x11.5x15 procomp mud terrains on rims for $1000
![Name: 0ec46e48.jpg
Views: 90
Size: 106.8 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380780d1501525801-big-blue-0ec46e48.jpg)
![Name: 40eb433c.jpg
Views: 87
Size: 91.6 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380781d1501525801-big-blue-40eb433c.jpg)
For now I'm staying with a 32" tire.............for now
So next I needed a place to keep that full size spare so I bought a roof rack from a forum member here
![Name: Jeep001.jpg
Views: 144
Size: 227.1 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380782d1501525801-big-blue-jeep001.jpg)
Coming soon to the roofline is a light bar and some KC daylighters, going to mount 2 on the rear corners of the rack as well.
![Thumbup1](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/images/smilies/thumbup1.gif)
Last but not least to this list of what I've done so far is this nice Rustys Offroad tube bumper I snagged for cheap, it was brand new and never mounted
![Name: 0b34df38.jpg
Views: 57
Size: 83.0 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/380783d1501525801-big-blue-0b34df38.jpg)
So that's pretty much what I've done to date. This morning 2 members and I diaged and fixed a knock she had in the bottom end. turned out to be the drive gear on the distributor so that and the oil pump got replaced today.
Now on my list of to do's
1. Valve cover/oil filter adapter gaskets (have a few leaks)
2. Dodge steering box upgrade
3. Injector swap
4. replace rad/hoses/thermostat/water pump
5. ZJ tie rod and upgraded drag link
6. IRO 5.5" lift with Bilstein shocks
7. Cut out rockers (passenger side damaged and rotted) and build rock sliders
8. Front winch bumper/beefier rear bumper
9. Skids TC/gas tank/front
10. Lockers still TBD HP D30/8.25 3.55 gears for now. Gonna beef up and eventually truss the axles change the gearing etc...
11. 8.25 disc brake upgrade
12. Audio stuff I mentioned earlier
I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting..................stay tuned
Last edited by mikefrost; 03-04-2012 at 08:40 PM.
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#11
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Join Date: Feb 2012
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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Okay, so I sold my rifle and in the next week or so will be ordering the IRO 5.5" short arm lift and their HD sye and a rebuild kit for my NP231.
#13
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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Brown man brought me some goodies today!
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Before (when I bought the truck the drivers side bezel and turn signal lens were broken and there aren't many XJ's in the junk yard in my color so I just grabbed a pair of black ones)
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During
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After!
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CB antenna mounted, now gotta go get the thing peaked and tuned and hook it up.
![Name: 4ab833cd.jpg
Views: 53
Size: 109.6 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/379356d1501522477-big-blue-4ab833cd.jpg)
Before (when I bought the truck the drivers side bezel and turn signal lens were broken and there aren't many XJ's in the junk yard in my color so I just grabbed a pair of black ones)
![Name: d3f318ca.jpg
Views: 62
Size: 172.7 KB](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f46/379357d1501522477-big-blue-d3f318ca.jpg)
During
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After!
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CB antenna mounted, now gotta go get the thing peaked and tuned and hook it up.
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#15
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Join Date: Feb 2012
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
![Default](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Haven't done anything other than change cap/rotor/plugs. Just collecting parts. I wanna do everything I have planned for the front end at the same time. Steering upgrade, injector upgrade, VC gasket, Radiator, water pump, hoses and thermostat.
So far I have parts wise the Durango steering box (picked it up today) the injectors and the VC gasket. Gonna order the rad and water pump sometime this week and this coming Thursday I am taking it into my friends shop and we're cutting the rockers and building rock sliders. I should have them done by Sat evening. Once I get those it I'm gonna cut n fold my drivers 1/4 to match the passenger. Trim the BW flares and finally install the set I just got and get rid of those stupid TJ flares on the passenger side once and for all. Once the sliders and flares are on I'm having them all bedlined as well as the bottom of the doors where the body bumps out.
Once all that is done I'm ordering my lift!!!
So far I have parts wise the Durango steering box (picked it up today) the injectors and the VC gasket. Gonna order the rad and water pump sometime this week and this coming Thursday I am taking it into my friends shop and we're cutting the rockers and building rock sliders. I should have them done by Sat evening. Once I get those it I'm gonna cut n fold my drivers 1/4 to match the passenger. Trim the BW flares and finally install the set I just got and get rid of those stupid TJ flares on the passenger side once and for all. Once the sliders and flares are on I'm having them all bedlined as well as the bottom of the doors where the body bumps out.
Once all that is done I'm ordering my lift!!!