XJ: Doka's - My Little Cherokee

[doka404]

Well a few months ago I sold my Patrol and was thinking of having a break from working on cars.
That lasted about month when I could not work out what to do of a weekend

So I decided to buy another Jeep, this time an XJ which I have always had a soft spot for.

So its started off as a stock standard 1996 XJ Sport






As Christmas was looming, not a lot of work was done to it apart from service items :

Tappet Cover Gasket
Coolant Flush/Change and new Thermostat
All Diff Oils Changed
Engine oil and Filter
Trans Oil and Filter
Transfer Case oil
New Plugs, Leads, Distributor cap, Rotor and MSD Coil
Axle tube seals

But over the last few days, the build has started in earnest, with the arrival of some parts.

Also was thinking about tyres..wanted to try something different than what I would normally run which are would be a set of BFG KM2's. SO shopping around, reading reviews..i picked up a set of Khumo KL71's in 31.10.5R15 for 169.00 each. I know a few people who have run these on Patrols and had good thinsg to say for them, so for the money I thought I would give them a run.

Going to chuck a KM2 on as the spare as the Khumo's are directional. Never been a fan of directional tyres on a 4x4, but for the price figured why not. These got chucked on a set of Steel rims with a 3.75" BS

Monday, the Flares turned up along with a sump gasket and a rear main seal (yes it is weeping).

Picked up a front and rear bar (rear bar needed a quick fix to plate where a Hitch was going in), some 3.5" coils and leafs and Unibody Stiffners
(Thanks Wooders!)

Still have a long way to go, have the bars cleaned up, rear bar plated (fixed) and started marking for the trim to fit the flares. But its good to finally see some progress on the build.

Plans are to go long arm, but they may take me a while to get the kit..so for the immediate future its going to stay short arm.

New vs Old


Wooders comes through with some parts..cheers Dave!


Needs flares


rear bar repair complete


Have to put lights in the bar an relocate the nbr plate


Mocking up a flare to get an idea how it will look

[Rangers]

Nice build so far! I didn't know wooders sold chassis stiffners? Did you get a full set?

[doka404]

Originally Posted by Rangers

Nice build so far! I didn't know wooders sold chassis stiffners? Did you get a full set?

He only had the center stiffners and it was really just a stroke of luck that he happened to have a set left hanging around.

[doka404]

A quick flight to melb yesterday with a mate resulted in us driving back in his new JKJ lol.

but today got the flares on, a lot more work than I expected. But also measured 5 times and cut once

[Wooders]

Originally Posted by doka404

He only had the center stiffners and it was really just a stroke of luck that he happened to have a set left hanging around.

Actually i do also hsve the front extensions but ypu need to remove the from lower arm mounts (ie long arm).
But great progress there.



Sent from my GT-N7105T using Tapatalk

[doka404]

Originally Posted by Wooders

Actually i do also hsve the front extensions but ypu need to remove the from lower arm mounts (ie long arm).
But great progress there.



Sent from my GT-N7105T using Tapatalk

Hmmm I might get them off you then for when I eventually go long arm. Your a dangerous man Wooders, too many goodies tuckedmaway which is no good for my bank balance

Thanks again for all the bits, will be back soon for more!

Got to strip and paint the winch ..looks too tatty in the front bar now

[doka404]

No work on the jeep in the last day or so as we had a huge clean up/out in the shed. but managed to get it up on the hoist and give the under body a bit of a clean up and hit all the necessary bolts with penetrating oil in prep for the lift going in tomorrow.

but did start making a 'dress panel' to hide a gap between the rear bar and the body. Not sure if I like it yet but will see how it looks painted up and decide.