Input needed

[oshen]

So ive been running a couple of xj's over the last 10 years as weekend toys.
Got a bit of money saved up, have been looking at upgrading to a jk wrangler @$20-25K...
I asked in the wrangler section here, and a couple of responses were to build an xj for less.

Now I do love my xj's. I have 3 running, 3 wrecks and a ZJ. All the same year and colour haha. Yeah they have their cps, overheating and rust issues, but it has been a solid 4wd drive for me. I use them for mainly camping, beach and track work to get to said spots. Running 2 inch, 31 muds seems to do the trick.

Wrangler appeals for the newer car etc, but 25K is alot, and hearing the 3.8 v6 is lacking until the penstar 3.6 has me wondering if building another xj for much cheaper isnt a better plan. I'm familiar with the the setup, just wondering how much it will set me back?

In my collection, I have a bone stock, no rust, xj jeep with 120k on it.
How far will 6-7K get me?

I would like a 3 inch lift, replace anything worn, a roof rack.
Already has rear tyre carrier. One of the wrecks has aftermarket extended control arms, extend brake lines, trans cooler, new radiator, bullbar, spotlights etc
Bigger tyres Ill be getting for my current rig.

Problem I am finding, is anything over 2 inch is hard to get in AUS. It only comes from US, which has a huge postage fee. Even anything other than stock, has to come from the US.

The only thing I can think, is a 2 inch lift, add 1 inch spacers in the front.
And shackle relocation brackets in the rear, which I found from my previous shackle angle, they really are needed. The brackets generally net 1 inch there, so would be 3 all round.
Then your left with adjustable track bar, and extended sway bar links, which only seem to come from the US.
It all adds up fast.
Factor in id want 2 inch coils, 1 inch spacers, 2 inch leaf springs, relocation brackets, new shocks all round, adjustable track bar, extended ( probably quick disconnect) sway bar links, steering dampener, extended bumpstops, possible transfer case drop, then I might need a SYE....and thinking of doing all this labour myself, so the JK starts looking appealing again haha.

What do you think, what would you do. Im keen to hear from the xj diehards that I have learnt from.

Cheers

[Fishframe]

Sounds to me like you should just buy a JK. They are an excellent Jeep.

[humdingerslammer]

Well... i dunno....sounds like a lot of work and pain and $ and time and still no TJ.

With what u r saying u will/want 2 do, sounds like u should b working in Toledo jeep factory. Might get a purchase price discount too!!

Let's see what the figures would look like.

An (illegal) 3" lift : say for roof rack $2000; springs x 4 $600; shocks x 4 $1200; relocation brackets x2 $200; suspension bushes all round $1200; 1" spacers $200;track bar, lanyard rods, sway bars say $2200; steering dampener $110; extended bump stops x 4 $400, TF case drop + SYE $750. Add say $1500 for tyres

Well, there's about $12,000 for starters + $2000 for unseens.... not counting labour, time and lost love.


Mmmm... I have been considering selling my 07 Rubicon 3.8 JK... getting keener.

[humdingerslammer]

So to give u an idea, here is the service/replacement parts list and money I have spent on the JKU Rubicon 07 3.8 since I bought it. Quite expensive cos some repeat/alternative change of parts when things were not as I wanted and preventative maintenance as we'll as necessary maintenance.

All up about $20000 over 15 years of ownership. JKU still looks great, goes well and due for another desert run. Engine 240000km doesn't burn oil. doesn't rattle, pulls well (have 2 work the gears) tows well, slightly more economical with petrol than a TJ, absolutely first class off road and I am still as happy as a pig in shit.

Will probably sell early next year unless a buyer comes along sooner with about $28000 in their pocket to hand over..

JK WRANGLER SERVICE HISTORY COST $
DATE KILOMETRES ITEMS
23.8.07 0 Purchase
1.9.07 1000 Routine post purchase check $45.00
15.9.07 2000 Oil and filter change $350.00
28.9.07 11424 12000 km service $550.00
1/7/08 24100 24000 km service (oil & filterchange etc) $45.00
19/8/08 36444 36000 km (oil & filter change) $45.00
15/6/09 50825 OME shocks and springs $1,250.00
10/7/09 47070 oil & filter change; air filter change $80.00
13/8/09 56840 oil & filter change $45.00
10/9/09 64400 spark plugs changed $45.00
21.2.10 69750 oil & filter change $90.00
20/11/10 70000 Remove OME springs; replace with Lovell springs; fit rear airbags $760.00
6.1.11 79800 oil & filter change; air filter change $90.00
11.1.11 80263 Replace clutch with Centreforce Dual Friction; Replace Throwout bearing; Machine Flywheel $1,800.00
31.1.11 80539 Replace water pump and gasket; Replace Serpentine belt. Empty & refill radiator $490.00
2.4.11 91000 oil & filter change; air filter change; front & rear diff oil change $120.00
27.4.11 92497 Replace clutch slave cylinder; replace rear brake pads $295.00
17.10.11 103430 oil & filter change; air filter change $90.00
24.7.12 116322 oil & filter change; air filter change $90.00
25.8.12 125500 oil & filter change; air filter change; front & rear diff oil change; spark plugs & wires changed $375.00
15.11.12 138139 oil & filter change; air filter changed $45.00
15.3.13 146283 change front upper & lower ball joints; front discs & pads changed $750.00
20.4.13 147458 change x 4 shocks to Bilstein 5100 (0-2" lift) $1,000.00
12.12.13 147770 air filter change; spark plugs& leads change $200.00
8.1.14 149000 oil & filter change; air filter change; front & rear diff oil change $120.00
12.3.14 151200 change rear brake discs & pads $350.00
12.6.14 162000 oil & filter change $45.00
21.6.14 163000 Oxygen sensors x 4 changed $45.00
27.8.14 165000 Front track bar, drag link, tie rod changed. Front (L) & (R) wheel bearing change $325.00
16.7.15 178437 oil & filter changed; air filter changed; front JKS sway bar links fitted; bleed brakes; Front diff oil changed. Replace Clutch slave cylinder. Clean out (L) axle tube; clean out diff breathers $2,400.00
17.10.15 178500 Replace serpentine drive belt tensioner & idler pulley $145.00
28.10.15 178500 Replace alternator $525.00
10.7.17 185000 Change steering dampener (Teraflex) $110.00
18.7.16 187864 Change Front Left shock absorber (leaking) $100.00
23.7.16 187910 Change oil & oil filter $55.00
9.2.17 189597 Change rear diff oil $40.00
12.4.17 196496 Clock spring repair (warranty) $-
25.4.17 196550 Air filter change; $10.00
25.4.17 196550 PCV valve change $14.00
25.5.17 196620 Replace Front & Rear Upper & Lower control arm and all suspension bushe; F&R brake pads; F&R brake discs; change front struts $620
4/7/17 196950 Replace clutch with Centreforce Dual Friction; Replace Throwout bearing; Replace Flywheel; Replace Clutch slave cylinder; Oil filter and oil change; Replace Spark plugs and leads; Replace engine oil sump seal (between engine block and spacer) $2,250.00
15/7/17 205000 Repair/replace front sway bar link $200.00
9.10.18 210750 Change oil & Oil filter $70.00
7.3.19 220000 Change oil and oil filter $50
18.3.19 220500 Front wheel alignment; front wheelbalance @ Tyrepower Eltham $80.00
22.1.20 229075 Front and rear Diff Oil Changed $80
17.6.20 230000 change engine oil & oil filter & air filter $150.00
6.7.20 230100 Change rear main seal (differential) $1,000
5.8.20 230667 Replace valve cover gaskets and grommet; replace PCV valve; replace EGR valve $457.50
15.10.20 230000 Check front ball joints and wheel bearings - all OK. $-
17.12.20 233371 oil and oil filter change $60.00
8.1.21 233750 2 x rear tyres M/T $400.00
23.2.21 234325 Change Front & Rear Shocks; Spark plugs; Plug leads; Front wheel alignment $1,095.00
19.10.21 235000 Flush radiator and Engine block; Replace radiator fluid/coolant; Replace Top & bottom radiator Hose; Replace serpentine belt $285

[awg]

$ 6-7k will get you everything (if you do most of it yourself)

look at Go Jeeps webpage, an extra leaf out of a original XJ will get you an extra 1" on a 2" lift kit, ZJ coil and a spacer, so there is your 3" lift, look at Alex Brown winch setup, a front driveshaft in the rear, f all for modified rear bumpstops, etc etc.

http://gojeep.willyshotrod.com/

all spare sensors & computers from your wrecks

my read on spending 20k + on a newer Jeep is you wont gain much in reliability, maybe some fuel economy and a nicer ride, but you will be down $15k + extra depreciation

working with an Engineer like Alex did you would still be 15 thousand ahead, and it would be fully legal.

I'm sure he will chime in

[alexbrown64]

Going 3” suspension lift opens up a can of worms.
Besides not being legal in a lot of states, you start having vibration issues and generally need SYE, extended brake lines, modified drive shafts and all sorts of stuff.

If it was me doing it for a great off roader, I would stick to a 2” lift. Can do cheap with spacers and shackles.
Then run 30” mud terrain tyres.
Pretty much legal with this setup. Add some quick disconnects up the front and a locker in the rear and you could go anywhere.

Once you go bigger suspension and much bigger tyres, it’s just time and money. Brake upgrades, cooling upgrades, steering upgrades and the list goes on.

They also use heaps more juice the higher and bigger you go. My XJ with 5” lift and 33” tyres now runs at around 18lt/100.

Cheers,

[Fishframe]

Option 1

Rebuilt classic which is becoming harder to find

Option 2

Modern reincarnation with modern creature comforts but all the technology that can also go wrong at times

I’m an Option 1 type of person but it’s all personal preference.