1996 XJ the Locker Room

[JMO413]

Thanks to my 6 year old I'm finally working on the poor old neglected XJ. It's name is the Locker Room. I played slow pitch softball and it was the teams locker room. I should say my drinking team showed up to drink and had a blast playing softball.  The old XJ was my DD until the drivers seat fell through the floorboard. That was 8 years ago. Then life hit and had a second son. Needless to say but the XJ got put on the back burner. 

One of my teammates had the sticker made.

2012 wasn't that long ago. LOL

 

I did spend some time removing the rusted out floor pans. I couldn't believe how bad they were. The rust never seemed to end.

Bye bye rust.

POR-15 and the rails look ok.

Still have a piece that needs to come out on the passenger side.

 

Then I found my MJ and pretty much forgot I had an XJ. Then last week my 6 year old said "Dad we need to go work on the green Jeep". I have never been happier!!

Little man removing the bumper.

We started by removing the flares. He broke off every one of the flare retainer bolts. He was quite amused with breaking them off. Then we removed the front bumper. Today he helped me remove the gas tank.

He's quite handy with a ratchet and 1/4 impact already. He is also turning out to be a great tool fetcher. Best way to learn fractions is tools in my book. He still isn't a fan of the grinder so he went in while I trimmed the rear quarters and cut out a rocker panel.

Rusty quarter panel.

 

I really like how the quarter looks trimmed.

What was left of the passenger side quarter.

Passenger side turned out good also.

The pieces I cut off and the crap that was inside them.

Nice hole in the passenger rocker.

Bigger hole now. Just gotta clean up the rusty inner rocker.

Definitely looks better on the floor than the Jeep.

Replacement panel fits okay ish. Made some good progress today and spent some quality time with the 6 year old. 

[Pete M]

it's one thing when you bring in the next generation on a project, it's a whole 'nother level when they bring you in on a project.    you're for sure doing something right!   

 

also many of us feel your pain and I just couldn't not share:

 

 

[JMO413]

5 minutes ago, Pete M said:

it's one thing when you bring in the next generation on a project, it's a whole 'nother level when they bring you in on a project.    you're for sure doing something right!   

 

also many of us feel your pain and I just couldn't not share:

 

 

Actually all four doors are in good shape and the front half of the rockers are nice. The whole front clip is almost rust free also. 

It definitely makes me proud that he wants to work on Jeep's. He has already decided he wants a Comanche for his first vehicle. Not sure about the blue and orange color combination he wants. Dark blue with orange stripes might be okay I guess. That will probably be the next project after this one. Definitely heading south to buy the next one.

[eaglescout526]

I fear Chunks floor is gonna look the same exact way. 

[JMO413]

5 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

I fear Chunks floor is gonna look the same exact way. 

For your sanity I hope not. It will definitely be a long road ahead.

[eaglescout526]

Lol I am already insane enough lol. I have been doing my best to prepare and hope I don't have to rip out a whole floor. I have a plan if that happens.

[JMO413]

So the plan for this fine unit will be a family toy. Planning on long arms on the front and 4.5" of lift on 33's. Planning on plenty of trimming, body armor and 4.56's. Planning on learning how to install gears myself on this build. I have access to all the tools I will need from the dealership.

Rusty's steel flares and armor.

Rusty's rear cut out bumper.

I'm fairly sure these panels are my Christmas present.

DirtBound mojave front bumper. Also going to install DirtBound frame stiffeners front to rear. Should make for a fun capable family wheeler. 

[JMO413]

I finally pulled the rear carpet.

It's still in pretty descent shape. It had weather tech liner covering it.

Put this guy to work cheating it before it got put up for a while.

Gotta get them started young.

Here's what it looks like after some serious rust removal.

Working around the fuel filler should be fun.

With the lower quarter gone this might not be to horrible.

Just a little pipe of rust and gravel dust.

The good news is I can get to the rear upper shackle bolt. Hopefully they will come out now.

[MiNi Beast]

comp cut, raise gas tank up, add reinforcement and shackle relocation brackets or set up for coils , run it done. 

[Jesse J]

whenever I see the xj interior I always think "why is the cab so long?"

[89 MJ]

I do like the looks of your plan for this. It will look pretty sweet when it is done! Do you plan on going back to the factory color?

[JMO413]

1 hour ago, 89 MJ said:

I do like the looks of your plan for this. It will look pretty sweet when it is done! Do you plan on going back to the factory color?

The factory green top will stay it's all in good shape. Bottom will all be black. The armor comes powder coated in black and everything I replaced I'm planning on raptor liner. Just gotta find country stripes in black.

 

 

[89 MJ]

32 minutes ago, JMO413 said:

The factory green top will stay it's all in good shape. Bottom will all be black. The armor comes powder coated in black and everything I replaced I'm planning on raptor liner. Just gotta find country stripes in black.

 

 

Nice! I'm a sucker for green Jeeps.

[JMO413]

2 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Nice! I'm a sucker for green Jeeps.

The green is why I initially bought it 18 years ago. And owning it for 18 years is why I'm going to put way to much work, time, and money into it.

[JMO413]

Cleaned and organized the garage for the last couple weeks.

I can finally actually work on this old girl.

Used the trans jack to set this in place.

I love the looks of this DirtBound front bumper! Now this is what I get to see when I open the garage door.

[JMO413]

Well I'm officially sucked back into this project. Opening the garage door to that front end has me hooked.

Installed clear corner lamps. Just love the front of these with the clear lamps. 

Depo makes some nice lamps. They fit perfect.

 

 

Got the rear bumper off.

Added a nice solid ground for welding. Now I just need to get the stuck hitch bolts off.

[MiNi Beast]

Get it !  i dig it. 

[Pete M]

  I was wondering what happened to this! 

[Jesse J]

looks great!

[JMO413]

28 minutes ago, Pete M said:

  I was wondering what happened to this! 

Life, work, and kids. The 6 year old isn't a fan of cutting and grinding yet. Really limits my time to work on projects.

[JMO413]

They days to get out eight bolts. At this rate I'm never going to get anything done.

The remnants of said bolts. 

The hitch is finally off!!

The trans jack that keeps on giving. 

I can finally start fitting these frame stiffeners. 

 

[JMO413]

Think I may have found my new rocker panels.

Looks like it belongs there.

A little more trimming and it's almost a perfect fit.

It's a rock rail from a new Gladiator.

[MiNi Beast]

Parts is parts. 

[JMO413]

So after bailing on the gladiator rock rails I went a different way.

 

[JMO413]

 

These things are BEEFY!

I think these might outlast the Jeep.

No directions but they have a download on their website of them.

All pieces are well marked.

Out with the rust.

More trimming to do on the top seam. Definitely glad I went this route! Back to work.