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Project thread: Zeeps, the almost scrapped 01XJ

7K views 45 replies 13 participants last post by  LobstahJeep 
#1 ·
So it's almost been a year since I found this Jeep, and I am just about to start on some fun things. I figured I would make a build thread now.

The original thread is HERE and shows all the fun stuff we did to get it running, cleaned up, etc.

Last February/March:


Which now brings us to tax return 2013, which gives me a hefty budget to play with.

On the list so far:
-Rusty's offroad 3.5 inch lift (new rear springs, HD front coils, 4 shocks, all new bolts, new steering damper, stainless brake lines)
-Aussie locker
-Wheels with 31 inch tires
-A trailer hitch (why don't all Jeeps come with one?!)
-New headlights because stock ones suck
-Some kind of Safari rack
-Hella lights on the front bumper

Lets mark of a few things already:
-Hella lights, acquired from a local friend
-Wheels and tires. My friend found these Canyons with brand new General Grabber AT2's on his local VT Craigslist for $400




He got right to work breaking them down to refinish them






After some sanding and grinding of the curbed up lips


First coat, primer


second, third, fourth coats, gunmetal VHT wheel paint


Final coat, clear


That's it for now, until the tax return hits the account. I will update as we do the lift and other stuff.
Thanks for looking! :cheers2:
 
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#4 ·
Interesting this popped up, I looked at your other thread and realized I had posted in it and apparently forgot to check it again haha.

What a steal, will certainly keep an eye on this!

Also (although over a year ago now) you asked what was up with my username and current location since you were from Vegas. This is about a year too late but its VegasGT because I had a 5.4 swapped Mustang GT I nicknamed Vegas because "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Very corny and cliche but it certainly fit the bill back then haha. I just transferred the same username over to Jeepforum when I made an account in 09.
 
#5 ·
Also (although over a year ago now) you asked what was up with my username and current location since you were from Vegas. This is about a year too late but its VegasGT because I had a 5.4 swapped Mustang GT I nicknamed Vegas because "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Very corny and cliche but it certainly fit the bill back then haha. I just transferred the same username over to Jeepforum when I made an account in 09.
That's funny. This was the FIRST forum I didn't transfer the username I use most, even though I moved to Maine. Everyone on the VW forums know me as VegasJetta...
 
#6 ·
Everything for the lift arrived in the middle of that Nemo Blizzard on Friday!
2 rear springs, 2 front springs, 4 shocks, stainless lines front and rear, trailer hitch, and transfer case drop.
Very excite!
Can't wait to get this all installed, not sure where or how I am going to do it. It's too cold to play in my garage...
 
#7 ·
So your the guy who bought those AT2s!!!! I was eyeing them up and you must have bought them just before I called! Damn you haha Your going to love them and the lift, it's the same combination I'm running. The kit came with a rear brake line relocation bracket but I didnt use it. I was worried about the metal line snapping trying to bend it that far so i bent it as far as i felt safe and zip tied it in place.
 
#9 ·
Sooooo...
Got to the shop today to put in the lift. What a ***** that was to do!
Considering this Jeep is 99.9% rust free, I was hoping it would be easier.
The top shock mount bolts in the rear were all broken and someone tried to fix them, the left rear lower shock mount stud was/is stripped. We had to cut the front mount of the left rear spring apart to get the damn sleeve out. The front springs were a BASTARD to get in. It's all together though.

Start of the day, I measured from the floor to the middle of the fender flares. front was 31 inches and rear was 30.5 inches. End of the day, front was at 34 inches, rear was at 36.5 inches. SIX INCH GAIN in the rear?! Did I get the wrong leaf packs? I know it will settle some, but even with the 1" transfer case drop, there are driveline vibrations from 0 to about 35mph, but I haven't gone over 50mph yet. Something doesn't seem right...

Before:


After:








Does that look right? Ideas on how much it will settle?
 
#13 ·
A quick email to Rusty's confirmed that they sent the correct ones. During the installation process, I was stupid and tightened the rear leaf points while in the air, and forgot to crack them loose and settle the suspension down and tighten them. I did that today and it brought the back down a bit, and will settle 1.5 to 2" over the next week. I am going to put new U-Joints in the rear driveshaft on Wednesday for good measure.
 
#14 ·
Ended up not doing U Joints because I got the wrong ones somehow. We DID get the trailer hitch installed though. What a pain in the *** that was!
Also did an oil and trans fluid change while it was up in the air.
Next week is U Joints and SS Brake lines, track bar relocating bracket, and then alignment.
 
#15 ·
The temp was higher than freezing today so I got busy installing the Putco Harness and AutoPal lights, with Hella Yellowstar bulbs. Took about an hour, not very hard to do. The difference in light output is astonishing. I should have done this a year ago!




Also bought a 2" receiver for the trailer hitch, and realized I didn't like the way the back bumper looked so I Plasti-Dipped it.

Before:


After:
 
#17 ·
It's in the original thread, so it's possible to miss.
My friend Jason knew someone in Vermont that had it. The guy bought it in 2008 and never used it, so Jason went and asked the guy what he would take for it. When he told him $200, Jason couldn't get money out of his pocket fast enough. :thumbsup:
 
#18 ·
Got a dropped track bar bracket from Fat Bob's Garage, installed that and new rear driveshaft U Joints. The front axle is now centered!



The wheel is turned like this, until I go for an alignment


And a quick pic of the H4 conversion AutoPal housings with Putco harness and 130w/100w Hella Yellowstar bulbs
 
#32 ·
Negative. I love those wheels and the tires are practically new. If I could, I would run the Eccos with the new tires, but the backspacing is different, I think. They will be put up in my attic storage. Last time I sold a set of my favorite Jeep wheels, I regretted it!

Lift your jeep up on jack stands
2 5/8 bolts and a pipe wrench adjust the drag link sleeve till your wheel is centered.
Profit.
I watched my friend do exactly that on the alignment rack! I now know how to do it myself... :laugh:

Btw, just noticed a couple little pieces of 3 wheeled nostalgia in your garage. Ive been wanting to track down an old Honda ATC like what I started riding on and restore it, but I cant keep up with my projects as is. :D

What kinda decal is that on your fenders? Looks neat.
The decal was an eBay find, I liked the AMC/Jeep logo for old skool goodness!
As for the ATC70, that's for sale, too bad you live so far away! I also have the mid 80's Manco Rustler deathtrap, and an 87 TRX250.

 
#31 ·
Btw, just noticed a couple little pieces of 3 wheeled nostalgia in your garage. Ive been wanting to track down an old Honda ATC like what I started riding on and restore it, but I cant keep up with my projects as is. :D

What kinda decal is that on your fenders? Looks neat.
 
#33 ·
I used to have an '85 trx250 just like that, I recall it having an odd trailing arm style IFS on it. I learned to ride on '80's era Honda ATV's, always good memories when I see pics of em. One of these days Ill have to track down another just to have.

Id like to put some decal there myself, just dont know what. Really like the idea of incorporating the AMC into it since that is the XJ's origins and all.
 
#34 ·
Exactly why I did that one. Find it on eBay, I think it will look good on your XJ! The other option was a $35 dealer installed "trail rated" badge from the newer Jeeps on the drivers fender.

You should buy this ATC70, I can arrange shipping down to Kentucky... ;)
 
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