So I acquired an 2000 XJ Sport last year after my car got totaled. Picked it up for $1200 with a clean body and interior. Until recently I haven't done much of anything with it expect oil change, and pads. My buddy also got an XJ at the same time and we were planning on lifting it. Well now its that time again and we want to do it right! I plan on getting this thing to become a bulletproof XJ by next year.

On first inspection it looks like pretty much everything on this XJ is original. Bolts, shocks, etc, etc are all from the factory after 136,000 miles . Time to start replacing stuff! As with fixing anything, you end up finding 10 more things to fix along the way. The front U-Joints have been clicking for about 4 months now, so I took a look and found I need to replace....

Replace
U-Joints (NAPA gold)
Hubs
Hub bolts (I am going to grind off the old hub bolts
Ball Joints (MOOG)
Rotors (rotors are WARPED)
Pads
Shoes
Drums
Shocks
Hard brake lines (rusted...)
Tires (Wrangler Discovery 235s)
Wheels Crager Soft 8s

Short-term goals
4.5" lift (still undecided on brand)
SYE
CV Driveshaft (Tom Woods)
32" M/Ts (KM2s)
JCR DIY Bumper Front
JCR DIY Bumper Rear
DIY Roofrack (JCR backets)
Hood louvers (not only for trails but for NYC traffic!)
Undercoat
Durango Steering

Long Term
Ford 8.8 Rear (need to replace the fragile D35C)
Long arms
More armoring
Unibody stiffeners

Dreams
Build spare engine to swap in (4.0 or maybe 4.7 stroker)



Me and my buddy's XJ

 

Looks like you have a great start to a great build!
cant believe you found such a clean low mile XJ for only 1200, those low mile ones go for around 2-2.5k around here haha

just a few budget type tips, don't waste the money on OEM shocks, your lift will usually provide lifted shocks witch would defeat the purpose of your new stock shocks, Also your tires dont look to bad in the pics i would not waste the money on another set if you plan on buying a larger set later on when you lift it, just saves a few bucks for other mods.

Good luck on the build, look forward to seeing how it goes.

 

Yea I got the XJ for super cheap for a couple reasons. The Jeep was their fifth car, I had cash and it had issues that to them seemed crazy expensive to fix, mainly the non-working AC (they got quoted $1500!!). The other "big issue" was the e-fan was chipped and vibrated like crazy when it kicked on. $50 bucks for an e-fan solved that problem and the AC, I really could care less. I guess for people taking cars to a shop makes it seem unfix-able but honestly super super cheap to fix yourself. I mean hell the Monroe shocks were $15 a pop!

As far as the waiting to buy tires/shocks, I really had to as it was getting down right scary to drive as my DD. I really don't mind spending the $60 bucks for shocks to keep the jeep from hopping. The tires I got were super cheap (80 a piece shipped) and will make an OK set of spares/highway tires as I would rather save the M/Ts for trails/beach.

I'll post pics as I go along. A real pain in the *** to not have a second vehicle, so I gotta wrap up whatever I'm doing usually by the next day. Slows me down a bit but I've been moving along pretty quickly!

 

Yea not many people realize that it doesnt take much to be able to fix some of the simpler problems that shops charge thousands for, Shops that over charge, and people who think they cant fix their own cars make it so people like us can find amazing little gems like yours for cheap haha.

Damn didnt know shocks were that cheap for a jeep, or tires for that matter, thats not as big of a hit as i figured it would be haha.

As for lift, i know you mentioned having not decided on a brand, i would recommend the Rough country 4.5" kit ($460) or their upgraded x-series kit ($830) or depending on your budget, the IRO critical path 4" long arm ($1050) ive heard great things about them, or RE has also has great stuff, but a little spendy.

Good luck.

 

Parts are cheap if you shop around...a lot haha. I went to about 3 different local stores (NAPA, Autozone, other local spot), PLUS a few online retailers (tirerack, partsgeek, amazon, etc)

Lift brand is really more about planning my mods in the correct sequence. If I get anything above 3" I would want to do the SYE/driveshaft which means more money at once and more stuff to do at once. I really want to do a 4.5" long-arm low COG but that gets spendy quick for what I want.

Been eyeing up Rubicon express long arm, Clayton and my cheap-o option of Rusty's but really have to think hard on that one.

Fixing general driving issues (hubs, ball joints, etc) is first and foremost, then I would really like to solidify the structure (bumpers which tie the unibody together). Lift might end up being more toward the end.

My biggest fear is my dreaded Dana 35 rear, which would limit my tire choices, in turn limiting my maximum lift.

 

Just started shopping for a 8.25 or D44 to rebuild while I finish up some of the maintenance work.

Replaced:
Shocks (front)
Rotors
Pads
EFan
Windshield
Cleaned TB and IAC
Oil change

Waiting to get my new tires mounted and searching for the "right" bumper to tie the front unibody. Probably going with the JCR Prerunner with unibody tie ins.


Got my build sheet

*M5 Cloth High-Back Bucket Seats
-K5 Camel
AA4 Sport Value Group
ADAP Light Group
APAS Monotone Paint
AWHP Power Equipment Group
AWS Smoker's Group
A20P 4.0L Engine(ERH)/4Sp Auto Trans(DGS
BASS 124 Amp Alternator
BCDS 500 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
BGK 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
CADP High Back Bucket Seats
CBWS Highline Door Trim Panel
CDBS Reclining Front Seats
CFMS Rear Folding Seat
CGGS Traveling Inboard Seat Belt Buckle
CGWS Next Generation Front Air Bags**
CKAS Carpets - Floor and Cargo Area
CKNS Cargo Compartment Carpet
CKTS Cargo Tie Down Loops
CKXS Midgate Box Access
CLEP Front & Rear Floor Mats
CSAS Spare Tire Cover
CSRS Passenger Assist Handles
CSSS Illuminated Rear Assist Handles
CUFS Full Length Floor Console
CUXP Front & Rear Ash Trays
DGB All 4-Speed Automatic Transmissions
DGSS 4-Speed Automatic AW4 Transmission
DHAP Lock-Up Torque Converter
DHNS Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System
DHSP Floor Mount Automatic Shift Lever
DJKS Dana 30/181MM Front Axle
DMDP 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio
DRMP Dana 35C/194MM Rear Axle
EAAC All Engines
ERH 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine
GAL Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass
GBBS Tinted Windshield Glass
GCBS Front Door Tinted Glass
GEEP Deep Tint Sunscreen Liftgate Glass
GFAS Rear Window Defroster
GNAS Rear View Day/Night Mirror
GNCP Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors
GTS Power Heated Mirrors, Fold-Away
GVBC All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors
GXMP Remote Keyless Entry
GXX Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
HAAP Air Conditioning
HGDS Deluxe Insulation Group
JAYS Instrument Cluster w/Tach
JBFS Instrument Panel Black Bezel
JCDS 100 MPH Primary Speedometer
JHAS Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
JHBP Rear Window Wiper/Washer
JJAP Cigar Lighter
JJBS Dual Note Electric Horns
JJJS 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
JPAP Power Windows
JPBP Power Locks
KDPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING COLOR
KGPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KRPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING COLOR
KTPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KVPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KYPP STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K2ZS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K3MS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
LAJS Headlamps On Warning Chimes
LBBP Courtesy Lamps
LCDP Map/Dome Reading Lamps
LDAP Underhood Lamp
LDBP Cargo Compartment Lamp
LHDP Headlamp Off Time Delay
LMAS Halogen Headlamps
LNJ Fog Lamps
LPSS CHMSL Lamp
MBKS Front Brake Duct Bezels
MBLS Body Color Front Bumper
MBSS Carbon Front Splitter
MBTS Body Color Rear Bumper
MCAS Carbon Rear Diffuser w/o Strakes
MDAP Front License Plate Bracket
MFBS Body Color Headlamp Bezels
MFKS Body Color Grille
MHAS Black Windshield Moldings
MMCS Rear Qtr Solid Window Insert
MMGS Belt Moldings
MMKS Hi Black Gloss/Black Mirror Molding
MNAS Black Door Handles
MNNS Body Color License Plate Brow
MWGP Roof Rack
NAE California Emissions
NBKS EVAP Control System
NBVP Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)
NFAS 20 Gallon Fuel Tank
NHM Speed Control
PJP Medium Fern Green Pearl Coat
QJPS Medium Fern Green Pearl Coat
RAAC All Radio Equipped Vehicles
RAZ AM/FM Cassette Compact Disc Radio
RCRP 4 Speakers
RDDS Fixed Long Mast Antenna
SBAS Power Rack and Pinion Steering
SCGP Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
SDAS Normal Duty Suspension
SHAS Front Stabilizer Bar
SHCS Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars
SUAP Tilt Steering Column
TBB Full Size Spare Tire
TBLS Inside Mounted Spare Tire
TRLS P225/75R15 Wrangler RT/S AT Tires
TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires
WJW 15X7.0 Aluminum "Ecco" Wheels
WKBP Matching Spare Wheel
WLZC All Aluminum Wheels
XCYS Delete Remote Start System
XJFS Tethered Fuel Filler Cap
XPFS Protective Coating and Remover
YAAS Build To U.S. Mkt. Specifications

 

About to pick up a 8.25 29 spline. Damn this is moving fast!

Looking into putting in either a spartan or detroit in the rear, and some superior shafts

 

Good and bad news.

Just put on a new set of A/Ts on it, picked up some lights and finalizing my decision on a bumper. As I pulled into the driveway I blew a rear brake line real bad. Almost ran into the motorcycles in the garage.

The XJ is now sitting until I can get it towed to my Uncle's shop at school to get fixed. Damn!

 

Fixing the brake line is a simple task actually u can easily do it in your garage or driveway, if u feel up to it

 

Yea I would normally be down with doing anything but I hate brake lines. Plus I have no other car to go pick up the parts.

 

Well here is how she sat right before the brakes went

 

Long overdue update after a work-related hiatus.

Added:

New wrangler discoverys
Replaced U-Joints
Replaced hard brake line to rear
Fixed driver side window switch issue
Fixed my tea-kettle whistle (loose manifold bolt)
Fixed stuck shut tail gate
New window regulator on order

Also my roommate just told me at his machine shop they have some materials they are getting rid of....aka 20 4'x4' sheets of steel along with some flat bar stock. Guess I'm making bumpers as soon as it gets warm!

Lift kit is still in the works of getting sorted out and doing my buddies lift at the same time on his XJ. See you all in the pine barrens come spring!