I'm looking to build a newer XJ for my girlfriend. I know for sure we're going to get one with the 4-liter but the 5-spd manual is kinda hard to find around here. We're looking at a 96 with the 4-liter but it has the auto tranny in it...stay away or look into it some more?

The rig will be used to tackle snow (She lives in the hills) and some mud and will be used for rockcrawling as well. I want to be able to fit 35s minimum with at least a rear locker and I know you gotta have a lot of lift for the XJs to fit such a tire. Any advice or recommendations or just stay away from Xjs? :D Any input would be very much appreciated!

Well, before the flames get started, ill give you a little advice...

www.jeepsunlimited.com

Look for new axles, or at least the rear and some work on the front. The stick will be hard to find, but they are out there. 35's are possible with 6" of lift or so, but you will need to do some major trimming to really make it worthwhile, or lift it to the moon the leave the fenders alone... XJ's are not very condusive to trimming in the rear wheel wells, plan to get handy with a welder. Control arm angles suck in the front on the road with that much lift, so a custom built long arm kit or drop brackets should be considered for comfort and maximum down travel as well if you are worried about flex. To get the lift to actually work, you are gonna need to do an SYE conversion on the transfer case and get a new rear driveshaft. Steering will need to be addressed as the stock "Y" design really sucks with anything bigger than 32's... 96 will have a better cooling system, and the 4.0 is a good motor, I believe an HO option was available in those years... jeepsunlimited has a great beginners section for XJ's, they can even tell you which color would look best and whether whitewalls will make it go better. Seriously though, they have a good bunch of information there, so mke use of it...

Definitely try and find one with the 4.0 HO. They can be built big, but I'm pretty sure the cost is big as well. Wanna go big? Get Skyjacker's lift. With fender trimming, you can squeeze in 38's. But I doubt she wants one that high.:)

buy something with a frame.


Hunter

trd12, that aw4 auto is as good as they get, don't be worried about it. you may want to look for a 242 t-case, kinda nice in the snow / slick icy roads/ and hills with curves area. its that full time 4hi, but that is the only time it is needed over a 231.

check out the link in the sig for cuttin for 35's and everything else.

Thanks for the advice guys. I didn't realize the XJ was a unibody until yesterday when one of my buddies told me. But again, it's for the girl and so I'm not too worried about it. The one we're looking at has the NP231 case, it's not full-time 4WD. Skyjacker's 8-inch lift looks nifty but costly as well.

The reason why we are choosing the XJ is she wants something with 4-doors and something we wouldn't mind keeping for a long while. I could build a 2nd or 3rd gen 4Runner but too much work to get it crawl'n right on the rocks, and too much $$$. ZJs are out of the question, too yuppy for me and no other newer 4-door SUV is really worth building. We'll see how it goes :D Thanks again!

get the RE 5.5" Ecxtreme kit, and some 33's. 35's if you trim. then some new axles.

The reason why I decided on an XJ was so I wouldn't have to put new axles under the SOB but nothing never works out like as planned doesn't it :D What's under the XJ, Dana 35 rear 30 up front? How prone are these things to break? If I had to put new axles under it, I'd do a solid axle swap on a 2nd or 3rd gen 4Runner instead. Maybe I'll stick with 33s...I wanted to go 35s so we wouldn't have to buy new tires for it, when my current 35s get 70% worn down, I'll just put it on the XJ and get new ones. Then when my new 35s get worn down to 70%, we'll put'em on the XJ and I'll get new ones again...and so on :)

I have six inches in the front and about 8" in the rear of my 96 and have no steering problems. Get good adjustable upper control arms (I have RE) and either fixed length that are long enough for the lift or adjustable lowers and you don't have to worry about the steering too much. It is sort of weak for 35" tires, so that is a concern. You will 99% have a Crysler 8.25" rear axle, which are stong but c-clip axles. I have never heard of people breaking a c-clip and the axle walking out, but it is possible. Also, with the Dana 30 front, it is a reverse rotation high pinion and will 99% have dana 44 u-joints (297-x). Supposedly they are comparable to a front end standard rotation 44. I have seen people run 38" tires with 30s and not a problem and they even had tons of money and an axle specialist said not to worry about it. With the Crusler 8.25 and Dana 30 combo, you can run 4.88 gears which would be great on and off road. Anyway, hope this helps.

well, first climb in and out of the rear doors on a cherokee, then convince yourself that you really want a later model 4 runner, good reliability, and something with a real frame... Id personally swap for one that was nice, even stock, just to have a great start all over again.. Too bad for me i have way to much invested to really come out ahead that way... Go the Runner....

Oh yeah, on the steering, i bend mine everytime I go out, not from hitting it, but it just can't handle bigger tires and a front locker... Trust me, getting death wobble from a screwed up alignment after hitting the trails sucks... Hugh

I would build something else. The cherokee takes alot of time and money to get right for the amount of lift you are looking at running. I would go 4 inches of lift and maybe 32's if you want something that is save,cheap and easy to maintain. I run 34s and my cherokee drives like a dream but it took alot of time and money to get it dialed in. If she isnt wheeling it you will be fine with the stock axles. The negatives might out weigh the positives on this one. Good luck.

It really all depends. Like everyone else said, XJs take a lot of work and money to really get dialed in and working properly. If you are willing to invest the time and money, then go for it, they can make a nice rig.

If you are looking for a serious trail machine though, get something with a frame and you will be happier. I love my XJ, but let's face it, they have their drawbacks if you want to go psycho on the trail. Good luck.

Check out the picture in the link to see why you are going to want an axle swap if you did get stuck with the D35 (not overly likely, but it happens) The top shaft was a D35 and the bottom is my D44. Don't ask...

Picture (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mudslut89/vwp?.dir=/Scout+II+D44+Buildup&.dnm=35vs44.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t)

Thanks for all the advice. We'll probably save up some more $$$ and find a 4Runner or something. Josh that axle pic is pretty scary :eek: Not gonna ask what happened :D

My 99 XJ has 8in lift, gears, lockers, etc. Yeah the unibody sucks but that does not hold us back when going off road. It is also an automatic which I love. Skyjacker 8in RR lift is nice but one other problem is no flex. The money is the other problem. :rolleyes: We have wheeled in Utah, California, Oregon & have never had any problems keepin up with anybody. As far as 35's, you might have to do some minor fender trimming. ;)

:beer: :)

OK- 97 got the 29 Spline (vs. 27) 8.25" rear, dual airbags, ceramic sleeves on the cylinders, and a nice facelift. Worth the extra money in my book.

Sometime in 95 the 297 joints were addes to the D30 making them pretty stong front axles.

I have 7" of lift with 35s and I had to trim pretty good front and rear.

Cooling system sux big time. Get 3 core rad, high flow water pump.

Engine is pretty good. Carry extra CPS and TPS as spares.

Stock steering blows. Buy Rusty's conversion for $240.

The XJ is nice. The unibody has weaknesses (steering box attach, CA mounts, etc) but it has nice crawling abilities. Very nice approach and departure angles compared to 4 runners. Lots of room for gear and 4 passengers. Stability of 102" wheelbase is nice when climbing obstacles.

Everybody will make fun of the "grocery getter." Then you explain that the "getter" part means you "get it" and proceed to climb like a mutha.

SeanP

PS-Kosinski, you traitor! Stop bad mouthing the XJ!

I love to wheel my XJ and I don't give a shit that it has a unibody design. If you ask the guys I wheel with they will tell you that the XJ rocks. Yes they do cost a little more to build right and dial in but if you want to carry gear and passengers get a XJ and be glad to drive a Jeep instead of a POS Toyota.

:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by ExtremeXJ
Yes they do cost a little more to build right and dial in but if you want to carry gear and passengers get a XJ and be glad to drive a Jeep instead of a POS Toyota.

Alittle narrow minded :flipoff2: But since you're a newbie to the forum I'll let you slid :D

I am new to posting on this forum but not to reading it. Also not new to wheelin'...I would put my XJ up against a 4Runner anytime. Not saying they arn't able to be built up to wheel but you would spend more to get the same gains in my mind. Just my opinion. This is not intended to insult anyone.....:D :D