neXtJeep Build Thread

[jeepinmatt]

These would look sweet

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When you want your truck to match your side by side.

 

[jeepinmatt]

So a somewhat frustrating update. Pulled the gigantaflares off to see if there’s some way to French some stock flares back on. The answer is somewhere between maybe and probably. I love how much beefier it looks with no flares, but I can’t leave it like that.

The gigantiflares extend over the rear door and add a bunch of holes to the body.

Here’s where the stock one should fall.

Sorting out the front looks pretty easy, I just need another set of flares and a big bottle of superglue.

Rear is gonna be more difficult because of the curvature of the flares. But the big disappointment was the rust I found.

Honestly I’ve been waiting to find something like this since it’s a northern Jeep. Thankfully I’ve been all over it now and this appears to be the only place with any notable rust, but it’s amazing how bad it is just in this one area. The rear portion is an easy fix with these Rough Country corner guards

I was wanting to get their rear bumper anyway, so this will just tie it all together nicely. Above the fender there’s enough I can just chop it out and stop the cancer. Still not sure what to do about the flares though. I thought about modifying the pocket flares to just be thinner, but I’m certain I will butcher them and it will look like crap. Another option I found is these Notch Customs Xmax flares

Notch Customs X-Max Fender Flares | Quality Jeep Cherokee XJ Flares

Our X-Max Fender Flares look great with the Jeep Cherokee XJ body style, and provide you with as much tire clearance as you can get. Arrives paint-ready (you’re not stuck with just black!). Here at Notch Customs, we’re a bunch of Jeep XJ guys. We do some serious off-roading here in Utah, and...

notchcustoms.com

But they are pricey and still stick out really far. Decisions decisions.

 

[skyhighZJ]

Bigger tars. The answer is always bigger tars.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Bigger tars. The answer is always bigger tars.

That’s the way I’m leaning. 33s would look good on there haha.

 

[jcramsey]

So a somewhat frustrating update. Pulled the gigantaflares off to see if there’s some way to French some stock flares back on. The answer is somewhere between maybe and probably. I love how much beefier it looks with no flares, but I can’t leave it like that.
View attachment 433660View attachment 433661View attachment 433662View attachment 433663

The gigantiflares extend over the rear door and add a bunch of holes to the body.
View attachment 433664

Here’s where the stock one should fall.
View attachment 433665

Sorting out the front looks pretty easy, I just need another set of flares and a big bottle of superglue.
View attachment 433666View attachment 433667View attachment 433668

Rear is gonna be more difficult because of the curvature of the flares. But the big disappointment was the rust I found.
View attachment 433669

Honestly I’ve been waiting to find something like this since it’s a northern Jeep. Thankfully I’ve been all over it now and this appears to be the only place with any notable rust, but it’s amazing how bad it is just in this one area. The rear portion is an easy fix with these Rough Country corner guards
View attachment 433670

I was wanting to get their rear bumper anyway, so this will just tie it all together nicely. Above the fender there’s enough I can just chop it out and stop the cancer. Still not sure what to do about the flares though. I thought about modifying the pocket flares to just be thinner, but I’m certain I will butcher them and it will look like crap. Another option I found is these Notch Customs Xmax flares

Notch Customs X-Max Fender Flares | Quality Jeep Cherokee XJ Flares

Our X-Max Fender Flares look great with the Jeep Cherokee XJ body style, and provide you with as much tire clearance as you can get. Arrives paint-ready (you’re not stuck with just black!). Here at Notch Customs, we’re a bunch of Jeep XJ guys. We do some serious off-roading here in Utah, and...

notchcustoms.com

But they are pricey and still stick out really far. Decisions decisions.

Bigger tires with the pocket flares would help for sure. I’d be curious to know the width difference between the Notch flares and the ones you’ve got now. I like the Notch ones a lot since they look like a stock flare when painted. I’ve got some Bushwacker flat flares on mine and they look ok, but I’ve been keeping an eye out for some cheap factory paint matched ones. Are you thinking of stretching those stock flares?

Also agree with you that the no flare look does look good, but probably not practical.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Bigger tires with the pocket flares would help for sure. I’d be curious to know the width difference between the Notch flares and the ones you’ve got now. I like the Notch ones a lot since they look like a stock flare when painted. I’ve got some Bushwacker flat flares one mine and they look ok, but I’ve been keeping an eye out for some cheap factory paint matched ones. Are you thinking of stretching those stock flares?

Also agree with you that the no flare look does look good, but probably not practical.

Yeah I’m contemplating cutting up a couple stock flares and trying to splice them together.

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

TJ flares?

 

[jeepinmatt]

TJ flares?

Kinda too wide. I'd like to keep the stock width. That's the main thing I don't like about the pocket flares that are on it.

 

[Kickdeez]

That’s the way I’m leaning. 33s would look good on there haha.

33s would look good. 35s would look better.

 

[jeepinmatt]

33s would look good. 35s would look better.

33's would work with no other mods. 35's would take a 4.5" lift which I just sold this past weekend Plus stock 150k mile 4.0 and 35's just sounds slow. My secret undisclosed plan is to either stroke it or swap the stroker from my TJ since noone will buy it.

 

[Monkeynono]

33's would work with no other mods. 35's would take a 4.5" lift which I just sold this past weekend Plus stock 150k mile 4.0 and 35's just sounds slow. My secret undisclosed plan is to either stroke it or swap the stroker from my TJ since noone will buy it.

So when we doing the swap?

 

[jeepinmatt]

So when we doing the swap?

I'd really rather just stroke the 4.0 in the XJ. If someone would come pull it for me, I'd take care of the rest

 

[ghost]

I'd really rather just stroke the 4.0 in the XJ. If someone would come pull it for me, I'd take care of the rest

Why not get a 4.0 and stroke it then do the swap? That was my plan. Got 2 sitting on the shop floor. Just no dollars to do it.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Why not get a 4.0 and stroke it then do the swap? That was my plan. Got 2 sitting on the shop floor. Just no dollars to do it.

Because then I have 2 4.0s. I don't want any extra junk sitting around the shop. Also, the current one is a known entity with no cooling or oil pressure issues. I'll never forget rebuilding a buddies 4.0 and stroking it, only to find out his stock cam journals were junk and the clearance caused low oil pressure.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Update: I think I may have had a built stroker short block fall into my lap. This could happen sooner than later (but it will still be months, just not years, haha). And if that happens, then I definitely need those Rubi axles and some 33's.

 

[1stgenxxx]

Update: I think I may have had a built stroker short block fall into my lap. This could happen sooner than later (but it will still be months, just not years, haha). And if that happens, then I definitely need those Rubi axles and some 33's.

Hope your lap is ok buddy.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Hope your lap is ok buddy.

It was actually set gently on my lap, just the way I like it.

 

[RHSCTJ]

Man, how do you always find the deals?

 

[jeepinmatt]

Man, how do you always find the deals?

Apparently the secret is posting on NC4x4, not in the WTB section

But who said it was a deal? Last time something new and pleasant sat gently on my lap, it cost me countless dollars and the rest of my life!

 

[RHSCTJ]

You're the one who made it all about your lap, ya weirdo!

 

[jeepinmatt]

Another piece of the puzzle.

 

[1stgenxxx]

Nice. Big brake Dana 35

 

[skyhighZJ]

Will the suspension components be color matched to the front diff cover?

 

[jeepinmatt]

Will the suspension components be color matched to the front diff cover?

I wasn’t going to, but since you asked, I think I will.

 

[NickMaul]

Another piece of the puzzle.
View attachment 436264

should be good to go after dumping about $2k in parts and labor