Stumptaco's has gone over to the darkside..XJ style.

[StumpXJ]

The time has come for me to start the new thread showing my buildup of my recently acquired 1996 XJ. This is the vehicle I decided to replace my 98 Taco with since Toyota is buying it back.

I decided to BUY an XJ here instead of shipping ours over from the states (we have an identical one at my in-laws in Georgia) It was going to cost about $2,600 bucks just to get it shipped from my inlaws to Germany, so I couldnt really justify spending the money on a perfectly good daily driver jeep that is barely worth the cost to ship it over. So, we will keep the XJ we have in the states as it is much easier when we visit family and friends since we dont need to rent a car. I stumbled on a 1996 XJ sport at the local Auto Recycling Center here on the military base last week and put in a bid. Well, I found out Monday I had the high bid, so I went to check out the XJ a little more thoroughly. It has about 50,000 less miles than ours, and everything works perfectly.

The reason it was up for bid/didnt pass inspection?...... Right rear wheel cylinder was blown out and leaking, and the right front signal doesnt work. 15 dollars in parts, and she will be as good as new.

I took delivery of/paid for it on Monday, and had to wait until today (Friday) before I could register it with temps tags and until I get the wheel cylinder fixed. I thought it was a HECK of a deal, so I jumped on it. It was driving me crazy trying to decide what I wanted to do and which vehicle to buy. With the XJ, I had almost $9,000 bucks left over from the toyota buy back, so I am getting ready to order a huge amount of goodies to make it as close to the ultimate expedition/trail XJ as I can.

Mods will start very soon, firstly with my roof rack, lights and RTT on top as we have a camping trip to Finland on July 4th weekend.

Specs:
1996 Cherokee Sport
4.0Liter High Output
Automatic Tranny
NP 231 Transfer
Chrysler 29 spline 8.25 rear axle
Dana 30 in front
127,000 miles.

This is as stock as it will ever be. Took a little time today and cleaned it up.










Took about 2 hours in the engine area. I am anal about engine compartment cleanliness, probably from being a mechanic for about 10 years. This one was filthy, I should have done a before and after shot.





The truck it is replacing.







Thanks, ~James

[adrenaline503]

I hope part of your buget is for paint! I had a 96Xj and it was pretty cool. I can't wait to see the build, 8k would go a loooong way. Do you plan to ship it back to the states at some point?

[StumpXJ]

Yeah dude... not sure what they were thinking with the teal. The color isnt exactly expo white, but it will get a re-vamp soon enough. Yep, if all goes well it will be coming home with us, and will be our trail/camping/expedition vehicle. I will daily drive the jeep we have in the states.

~James

[adrenaline503]

I am seriously jealous, for that price you couldnt go wrong. I would reinforce the "frame" above the rear wheels sooner than later though. Is that a US spec one or a Euro one?

[OverlandZJ]

James, nice platform! Best of luck with it.

Whats the plan for mods?

[StumpXJ]

I am seriously jealous, for that price you couldnt go wrong. I would reinforce the "frame" above the rear wheels sooner than later though. Is that a US spec one or a Euro one?

Its a US spec. It was owned by a Senior Master Seargent in the Air Force here, and I assume he is the one who brought it over. I will do a carfax report on it just to find the history later on.

Yeah, I have been reading for weeks over on the NAXJA site (just became a member), and have gotten familiar with the trouble areas. I will definitely be plating the unibody rails. I Put about 50 miles on it today just doing some around town stuff, and it didnt skip a beat, drove nice and straight, shifts good, has plenty of power, and no rattling or clunking. I think it was a good deal, and aside from the color, I am extremely happy with it.

~James

[JPFreek1]

Nice catch on the XJ; however, that Taco was freaking awesome!

[StumpXJ]

James, nice platform! Best of luck with it.

Whats the plan for mods?

hmm.... I always get into trouble when I list things I "want" to do to vehicles, but I will give it a go:

Many of the items will be coming over from the Taco.

Full length roof rack, HID hellas on front, just like the taco, space behind the lights for a few items, probably the size of Jerry Cans. Then at the very rear of the rack will be the RTT. I have the rack, but I will have to extend it and do some modifications to it, especially the mounting.

Front bumper and winch will be first, I am pretty sure it will be a tube/plate hybrid, and will have a stinger, about the size of the taco.

The rear bumper will be next, and will include a tire gate, Jerry can mounts, and possibly high lift mount, but it may go somewhere else.

Kick out sliders like the taco, once the unibody gets beefed up.

all my elecronice gizmos, fridge, cameras, TV monitors, DVD, Navgation, stereo (this thing still has the factory tape deck!), etc will come over.

I will be going with the Rubicon Express 5.5" Longarm kit, unless I can be talked into something different. I want longarm, but not a rediculous amout of lift (8 inches etc.) I will run the Cooper STT's in probably 33 inch size. I would run the 285/55's, but we have too much mud around here for an AT tire. I need the full mud terrains.

probably some soft 8 wheels, or I may just paint what I have.

I want to re-gear to 4.56's, and an ARB in the rear.

The interior will get a revamp as well, I will be building a custom dash area to house my switches, Scan Guage, and anything else out of machined Delrin plate. Also, the mud around here does not bode well with carpet, so that will most likely come out and get rhino lined on the inside, or atleast in the cargo area. Not sure if I am going to use a drawer system or just keep it open, but that will come once I get it all figured out.

Thats a pretty substantial list, and will most likely EAT most of my budget. I will be doing all of the wleding and fabricating myself, but steel over here in Europe is rediculously expensive, as well as most anything else. I will have to pay for the lift kit in euros and buy it from here as its too heavy to ship from the states, so that will eat about 3000 bucks, not to mention the ARB, Gears, SYE, Tires/wheels, and I am MAKING myself get a new Engel out of the deal Budget will non-existant after all that!

Cant wait to start on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~James

[StumpXJ]

Nice catch on the XJ; however, that Taco was freaking awesome!

Thanks man, it is in my driveway getting torn apart slowly. Its a painful process to say the least. Still dont know when Toyota is going to come pick it up.


~James

[Purple People Eater]

Did I miss the thread that explained why Toyota is buying your truck?