Well I decided it was time to post up a build thread since I have some work I will be doing to my newly acquired XJ. I had been on the search for months looking for the perfect XJ. Dont ask me why I choose to buy a Cherokee. Something just appealed to me about them. Since I first got my license I have always have low and fast cars. Progressed from my first car (96 Maxima) to currently a 600whp IS300.
I have had some much frustration with the IS and so tired of tinkering with it I wanted something basic. I also have a 2003 Acura CL-S but I hated have to let people in and there was 0 room in there for passengers or cargo. I have two bigger dogs and there just wasn't enough room. ..Enter Jeep..
I think two friends from my old job turned me onto them. Mark had a Red XJ lifted, locked, roof rack, wheels, etc. Other friend had a TJ lifted, etc. I drove both of them while I worked with them and I think that is what got them stuck in my head. I had never owned a "bigger" car and I liked driving them. So I set out on a craigslist journey for months finding and going to look at Jeeps all over MD. I had found a White 94 in york. Was listed, locked, 31's, rack, etc. Downside was the floor boards were gone. Also had a dead idler pulley. I was so tired of searching and searching for a XJ I just bought that one. No more then two minutes after pulling out of his house the power steering was losing power and fast. I stopped and realized it was DUMPING power steering fluid everywhere. While under the car trying to find the leak I also noticed the header had a decent crack it in.
I called the guy and lucky enough he was very cool. We talked about it all and ended up trading back money for Jeep and I went home. That night I opened up craigslist again and BOOM! A 1 owner, white, 96 right down the street from me. The ad was a little sketch because there was poor typing and grammar errors. I got ahold of the guy and went to take a look at it. He wasnt going to be home for me to see and was nice enough to leave the keys in it for me to check it out. As soon as I opened the door I knew it was the winner. Almost zero rust, interior was basically spotless, had almost all the service records from 96 and even had the window sticker!
I picked it up the next day and was like a 5 year old on Christmas! Got to work cleaning the carpets and wiping down the interior. I was in shock on how clean it was. It was that mythical unicorn used car everyone talks about but no one can find. Here are a few pictures of it a day or so after I brought it home.
Super clean right?
After driving it for a few days it happened. I was driving over to a friends house to work on his Evo and Molly (My XJ) just died. WTF! Maybe my mythical creature wasnt so mythical after all. Get stopped and pop the hood. Noticed my distribution cap was loose. Hum.. Got it tightened down and tried again. Nope, ****. Check all my wires and everything seemed fine. Friend picked me up and we got gas thinking maybe the gauge was broken. Negative. Now I was worried. I talk to my dad since I have never owned a car with a distribution setup. Tells me to check the rotor. Well my knuckle head friend had pulled it out already "examined" it and put it back in. I decide to recheck his work (which seems to be a common occurance) Sure enough the metal tabs on the rotor were missing.
Woohoo for a 7$ fix! Im happy again. Put in the new rotor and she fired right up
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Jeep Build: Minty White Country XJ Build
Anyone recommend a decent but cheaper muffler?
