87MJROB Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 This is the start of the thread for a project I began last year. I picked up this stripped down shell with a title. Essentially all it had was a blown up 4cyl 4spd 2wd, steering column, back window, front dummy axle, and a hood. I have been using an entire 1994 XJ 4.0 ax15 231 as the donor to rebuild this truck into my winter daily/back up wheeler/yard work horse. To take the place of a 1998 XJ I sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvagedcircuit Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Aww yeah, that has some good bones right there. This is going to be good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Nice having doner rig right there. Did mine same way. No rush its there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I do love an empty shell. so much potential! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 I started by removing what was left and cleaning the engine bay, painting the engine bay, and removing the junk windshield. I found one small hole which I patched up later on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 I then moved on to doing front floor pans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 After starting the new color I rolled it into the shed to start swapping parts from the donor xj. At this time I also started adding sound deadening for the first time on a project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Continuing parts swapping from donor xj. drivetrain slung in, painting of doors and header panel. I swapped on 97+ mirrors and door handles. Swapped some Laredo door cards in as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 After I labeled pin outs for the xj dash wiring and mj body harness I made an adapter to plug the xj dash into the mj body harness before I could start assembling the interior. Got a brand new windshield installed with the rubber gasket. I acquired all the MJ specific interior trim etc and carpet from the same person I bought the shell from. We converse on a regular basis about Jeeps lol. Kinda how I ended up with this in the first place. I installed all interior, xj e brake and center console, Laredo buckets, b pillar speakers, installed vw beetle down lights into the b pillars. Azzy gauge faces, a random radio I had, as well as silver dash bezel. I did also modify xj seat belts to work as I didn’t have mj ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Got a junk roller from a friend for the 3.55 axles. I had to straighten passenger LCA mount as well as repair the passenger coil bucket. I made a UCA stiffener and replaced both upper bushings. Welded on some Barnes LCA skids. Added some iron rock bump stops. Swapped the axle in. During this I installed a brand new steering box and a used jcr spacer and the bumper tie in plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Every hard brake line was replaced with stainless kit and then some. Most the old lines were all gone already. Replaced all the fuel line and fuel filter, replaced the gas tank as it was rotted which allowed me to toss the 94 xj sender in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Started 8.25 swap. Cut all old brackets off. mocked it up under the truck after having to modify the incorrect spring perches I had ordered 🙃 I did the ubolt strap mod on the pinion. I welded shock mounts to the axle as I didn’t have any mj ubolt plates to use and figured this way I can get away with running stock shocks on 3” of lift. I replaced every single rear axle brake part and lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 I have a 2wd manual xj rear driveshaft bolted in temporarily until I can get the mj shaft I have cut down to length I need. The xj shaft is about 2” too short for comfort. I put a tip on the tailpipe from Amazon because the stock of was all bent up and crusty so I just chopped it off and bolted the tip on. This is about where I’m at with it now. the wheels on it currently are temporarily until I get my tires mounted on some jk Willy’s wheels. I have to continue bleeding the brake lines if not replacing the master cylinder, build some bumpers, repair the rockers, and repair areas of the bed. I’m planning to make my own bed armor to cover the Swiss cheese bed sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 I haven’t been able to work on it in almost a week. Whole family got an awful stomach virus. Before that happened I spent a couple hours patching up the bed behind the cab on the passenger side and I folded the cuts on the rear quarters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvagedcircuit Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Lookin good! I should throw an 8.25 with discs under mine one day to replace the stock D35. one day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted Thursday at 10:46 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 10:46 PM On 1/14/2025 at 2:52 PM, Salvagedcircuit said: Lookin good! I should throw an 8.25 with discs under mine one day to replace the stock D35. one day... Thanks. It was easier to just leave the drums for now. Maybe if I put a rear locker in it eventually I’ll do disc brakes at the same time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted Thursday at 10:50 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 10:50 PM Yesterday I welded up my diy bumper I’ve had laying around and added my dirtbound tubes that showed up a week or two ago. Ground down the excess welds and started painting it to put back on soon. I still need to try to bleed my brakes again or might have to replace the master cylinder. I will start a home made cut and fold rear bumper soon as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted Saturday at 05:11 AM Author Share Posted Saturday at 05:11 AM Front bumper is finished and bolted on. I started a rear bumper today from scratch. Still need to cut the corners and cap them otherwise I’m waiting for clevis mounts and receiver to show up to weld on and then paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizzaman09 Posted Saturday at 02:35 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:35 PM This truck is coming together beautifully. If you make it too nice you might not want to drive it in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchamakalit Posted Sunday at 01:03 AM Share Posted Sunday at 01:03 AM Mine is far from "nice" but I still try hard to keep it out of the salt. I personally would advise anyone who wants to keep their mj indefinitely to do the same. And considering the time and parts invested I bet this one isn't going anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted Sunday at 10:24 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 10:24 PM On 1/18/2025 at 8:35 AM, pizzaman09 said: This truck is coming together beautifully. If you make it too nice you might not want to drive it in the winter. It’s my beater work truck project still. I have another 87 mj that is my prized truck that is staying out of the salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted Sunday at 10:25 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 10:25 PM 21 hours ago, watchamakalit said: Mine is far from "nice" but I still try hard to keep it out of the salt. I personally would advise anyone who wants to keep their mj indefinitely to do the same. And considering the time and parts invested I bet this one isn't going anywhere. Yeah I have three other Jeeps that I’m keeping out of the salt. My other 1987 mj, 1998 xj trail rig, and 1996 2door xj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJROB Posted Sunday at 10:28 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 10:28 PM Just finished building a rear bumper. Used what I had around and ordered clevis mounts and receiver. It’s like zero degrees here so I had the torpedo running till near empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizzaman09 Posted Monday at 12:19 AM Share Posted Monday at 12:19 AM Nice clean, yet very functional bumper design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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