1999 XJ build thread

[millhousenator]

This thread has been started by me to record my progress as i continue to purchase parts and modify parts for my XJ. Starting out, it is a 99 Sport, currently 101600 miles, and is bone stock. As i progress, i will update with pics. This thread is for your entertainment as much as it is my own. Nothing super hardcore, just a DD that will be one mean looking one.

Starting out, here are the pics as she sits (August 8, 2007)



Lift kit purchased, no pics yet, ill get some. For now here are some pics of my Driveshaft rebuild that i will use in my SYE (Rubicon Express Hack n Tap). I got the Driveshaft at a local salvage yard. Fortunately for me i got it when i did, because he only had three dozen more in stock (all front DS for cherokees). Got it for $31.51 after tax.

Heres my workspace, its all right, but we dont have many automotive friendly tools. Mostly shovels and hammers, which has been quite handy.


My tools of the trade: WD-40, PB blaster, rubber mallet, hammer, tack hammer, 5/8 socket, flat head, blocks of wood, and a brick. Hands of course too. Also, note the old u joints, they were in terrible shape, but the ball and spring are in great shape. Also you can see the shiny new hack n tap.


Heres the CV flange yoke i got. Painted it flat black with some sort of enamel.


Driveshaft, painted and hanging from the garage door by some electrical wire for when painting. (Note, that isnt our garage)


Here the CV collar thing. Cant think of the exact term, someone can correct me. Was a ***** to get all of the ujoints out of. I was roughly going by sharpies thread, buy i ended up taking the collar off of the shaft before getting the ujoints out. I ended up hammering a screw driver into a block of wood and then put it through the holes where one of the ujoints go to get the other off. Worked real good, ill get a picture of what im talking about.


Finally for now, Here some stuff. The hackntap, new greasable ujoints, some bolts and nuts for the HnT, and the useless rubber mallet. Didnt help much, i just used the mini-BFH.


Oh yeah, and the floor is littered with bearings from the Ujoints. Thatll be fun to clean up. Im a messy worker.

[millhousenator]

Heres what i was trying to explain with the collar and screwdriver. To the left is a brick for some weight, then a screwdriver hammered into wood below with the CV collar on the right. The left ujoint was already removed along with the shaft, the screwdriver is there to hold the collar so i could hammer out the other ujoint. Worked great!


Heres some pics of the lift, everything is there, i just kept it in the boxes cause im lazy.


Heres where ill be putting the lift on. Backing both vehicles out and pulling my jeep into the garage so that well have the whole garage to work with. Its gonna be quite a challenge ahead, i cant wait!


Last for tonight, a shot will the driveline parts together. From left to right. Greasable ujoints, Flange yoke, HacknTap, CV collar, below is the repainted used shaft from a 00 XJ. I used Krylon Flat black enamel. Worked out great, and dried pretty quickly. And yes, there is my beautiful foot.

[camjeep3]

groowdy. i cant wait to see it all put together. seems like so many people are lifting their xjs

[bmyohn]

theyre definetly are a lot, its the new thing, like adding stickers to ur jeep...lol

[millhousenator]

Originally Posted by camjeep3

groowdy. i cant wait to see it all put together. seems like so many people are lifting their xjs

yeah i can hardly wait too. I want to stand out from all of the other 300 grocery getter XJs in our town.

[XJ_Glen]

Originally Posted by millhousenator

yeah i can hardly wait too. I want to stand out from all of the other 300 grocery getter XJs in our town.

the xjs all belong to the teenage girls who just got their licenses [sadly]. the grocery getters are the commanders and libertys in my town. lol

pretty unfortunate.

edit: unless they are cool and go wheelin...

[millhousenator]

Originally Posted by XJ_Glen

the xjs all belong to the teenage girls who just got their licenses [sadly]. the grocery getters are the commanders and libertys in my town. lol

pretty unfortunate.

edit: unless they are cool and go wheelin...

yeah just about every jeep minus like 5 are grocery getters. The other 5 look like they arent, but i couldnt really tell you if they were/are wheeled.

[XJ_Glen]

Originally Posted by millhousenator

yeah just about every jeep minus like 5 are grocery getters. The other 5 look like they arent, but i couldnt really tell you if they were/are wheeled.

yea i hear you. and the compass / patriot. gah.

[millhousenator]

Well, before i go to bed, anybody know what grease i should use on the ujoints on the DS? Also, where can i get new leaf spring bolts, shock mount bolts, etc.? Can i get them locally at a hardware store. I need to know before saturday when we start the lift.

[GRDCHRKE555]

lol not too many lifted jeep in my town either. i had the only lifted WJ in the town and now their are a few grands lifted. theres 2 xj's then thats it. lol rest is audi's, mercedes, cadillacs, well... mainkly expensive cars and suvs but also tons of wk's and commanders.

too bad only a few jeeps wheel here when theres mostly jeeps here.

[millhousenator]

Took the center caps off of my steelies, taped em up, and painted them a gloss black. Just used electrical tape and a knife to cut it into the circle emblem.



Used a first coat of Flat black enamel followed by a second coat of gloss krylon fusion, and a final of acrylic laquer.





Slowly but surely, ill get all of this back on eventually. Ill get a shot of them dried with the tape off tomorrow. Gotta get some PB blaster under the jeep asap. Has been raining and raining. Also i found my bumpstop just laying at the bottom of the coil spring...

[millhousenator]

Center caps are done. Now just need to figure out how im gonna mount them to the cragar soft 8s.






Comments are welcome. Id like to know what you guys think along the way.

heh... didnt notice i can see myself.

[camjeep3]

those caps should be cool if you get them to work, nice job. i want to see a lift

[millhousenator]

Originally Posted by camjeep3

those caps should be cool if you get them to work, nice job. i want to see a lift

Yeah... i figure if they dont turn out, ill just paint the rusted hubs black and get some cheap chrome caps once the $$$ replenishes. And yes, we start the lift tomorrow hopefully. Going to summit racing today at 11 so i have to go the the bank... oh the funds just keep dwindling... lol.

[millhousenator]

Got the rims and lug nuts at summit today. The store was amazing. The building itself is the biggest warehouse ive ever seen in my life. The store part is smaller, but the building is HUGE. There is an entire wall of wheels, and sections devoted to street, and trucks. It was sweet.

Kinda sad that nobody is replying, but i understand. Not really much action going on right now, just getting little things done before tomorrow. Hopefully i can get the tires on sunday, but im not sure. My mom just sold her libby, and has already picked out a new vehicle. Go figure, she picked a Commander. I must say they are sweet, and would make a great tow vehicle (why we are buying it, for an RV).

Anyways, here are some pics for the heck of it. I put my painted center caps up on one for kicks and all i must say is... (oh and they are soft 8s)




I decided to get new lug nuts because mine are crap, and these are guaranteed not to rust, which is good in ohio. Plus it came with the locking ones and valve stems too.