New shop project - Bullwinkle - 88 XJ wheeling rig

Blaze

Blaze

The Jeeper Reaper
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Location
Wake Forest, NC
Bullwinkle, as in "this time for sure" :lol:

So bought this Jeep at auction, had a clear title and it said it didn't run and had mechanical damage. Got it dirt cheap and figured it would be a good parts Jeep from the looks of it. Well, got it to the shop and did some rewiring and it fired up. Runs like hell and raps like crazy, low oil pressure, blows smoke, all that fun stuff. On top of that the whole frontend was bouncy and rattling and it honestly sounded like the axle was shot. Got under it and looked around and realized that the front shocks were missing the lower bushing and they weren't tight up top and were just slapping around.

Already has what I believe is a 3" Rusty's lift, front doors have been rigged up to be removable, and has some lights wired up. The body is fairly straight except for the driver's front fender. It really is too solid of a Jeep to part, especially with a clear title. I really wanted to build an XJ, so figured why not do a cool shop build. It is going to be a long slow process because most of my time needs to be spent making money in the shop and not working on my own junk, but I am going to throw some stuff at this to build it up nice.

Will probably keep the Rusty's 3" lift for now, eventually go to a 4.5" lift. I have a nice set of 16" ProComp wheels here on a wrecked ZJ that I am going to run on it. Probably try and squeeze some 33s, or at least 31s for now. Might run an XJ Dana 44 I have here, lock it and regear it. Front I'll build a non-disco D35 I have here, lock and regear, strengthen a bit. Then I am going to build half doors, fab up some bumpers, and do some other stuff to it and take it wheeling.

Oh, and the engine is going to be a 4.6L stroker. Going with an HO motor out of a ZJ I have here and stroking it, going to run the newer intake and exhaust with the Renix ECM.

Going to leave the AW4 and do a SYE on the 231 tcase.

And probably will convert to a 97+ frontend when I get a decent one in here, just sold the one I had here right before I bought this. :lol: I might keep it as is too, kind of like it both ways. It'll be red with black accents no matter what I do.

So here it sits behind the shop. Probably will sit here for a few weeks till I can move out some stuff and find some time.

2015-07-31 18.45.06.jpg
 
I would mount that disco D35 front in a glass case if you have one. o_O

Depending on how much you want to cut and bumpstop, but I have ran 35s on a 3" lift. It took a lot of work to get them to not rub, and it was all down travel.
 
Yeah, this disco axle is definitely on the short list to leave. I think with what my setup is going to be for now, the 33s will be fine. I don't mind cutting and everything, but no need in doing it if I can run what I need without for now.
 
33x10.5 work well with 3" and minimal trim. GL! Welcome to the unibody madness!
 
I'm trying to figure out a plan here now. I got another XJ in the other day, it is a 97 but is pretty beat up. I haven't done anything to it other than put the jump box on it and find out that it won't run and the transmission rattles when it turns over. Supposedly only has 115k miles, bought it as a title loan repo. It has a nice lift, nice bumpers, some lights, has a hoop behind the front seats, etc. Tons of goodies on it. I have another 97 XJ here with a frontend collision. I am trying to figure out if it would be smarter to use the new lifted 97 XJ and the wrecked 97 XJ to fix up the 88 XJ, or swap everything off of the 97 XJ onto the wrecked 97 XJ and then sell the 88 XJ.

Honestly I am kind of leaning towards fixing the wrecked 97 XJ. I know it runs and drives good, just needs front sheetmetal work. I can take a day and do the lift, frontend, bumper, etc and have a running and driving rig. If I keep the 88 I'll have to do the same, plus swap in a new engine.

So here is the 97 XJ that I might build:
2015-07-17 13.26.37.jpg


Here is the lifted ratty one:
2015-08-21 15.57.13.jpg
 
Yeah, I'm sure that is what it is. It is still extremely ragged though, and not sure if it is worth the effort to get it running and replace that flexplate and all.

I might do it though. I'm trying to figure out the one that will take me the least amount of time and cost me the least amount of money. :lol:
 
I'd part the ratty one and use it as a donor for building the Black one. Sell the 88 or part it. Just my .02! Personally I prefer the 91 - 95 xj's though. I have a 98, 94, and 95 right now and about to try and get a 88 MJ back together. The 95 and 94 are my favorites. Especially the 95.
 
I really like the interior upgrades on the 97+
I vote fix the running 97, rob from the ratty one and part out the rest.
 
OK, so I am definitely going to build this 97 XJ that is wrecked. I was at the shop today looking at my options and this one seems really solid. Starts up and runs great, drives good, just needs some exhaust work and it could be on the road. The header panel is cracked but repairable and the front bumper is destroyed, but don't need that anyway with this setup.

I have a couple of Jeeps ahead of it in line, but I am going to clean up the 88 XJ and sell it and part out the beater 97 and fix the black 97. :)
 
Good call on building the 97'. Better body lines, better interior, and it should have the 29 spline 8.25, which can handle a decent size tire.

With your business, you have lots of little freebee's like V8 steering upgrades, ZJ rear disc brake swaps, 99' intake manifold, plenty of driveshafts and axleshafts for spares, donor half doors, ect.

First thing I'd do is replace the water pump, radiator, tstat and hoses.. I've had to do this to ALL my XJ's and ZJ's. They like to run a little warm in the summer so I like knowing the cooling system is all new.
 
It already has a newer radiator in it and the water pump doesn't look that old. It was wrecked in the front and repaired, then wrecked again so I think they put a lot of new parts on it the first time around that weren't damaged in the second accident.

I went to the DMV and sent the titles in on the 88 and the 97, so once they get here I am going to clean up the 88 and sell it and start building the 97.
 
Back
Top