So......What got you

[Mountain Goat]

into the "Jeep Thing" and when?


My brief (or not so brief) story: My wife and I have always been involved in something that had to do with cars, motorcycles, boats or anything with an engine. A little over 3 years ago my wife and I drove to California on a business/pleasure trip. About 7 hours west of Kansas City we began seeing quite a few Jeeps headed west also. (Come to find out later there was a big event in Moab the coming weekend). I was following one of these Jeeps (XJ) for what seemed to be MILES and MILES. On the rear window was a decal that read "It's a Jeep thing....you wouldn't understand". After staring at that decal for 20 minutes or so, I looked over at my wife and asked her "do you understand?".She replied "no, not really". I said "I don't either". So, 30 or 40 more minutes go buy and I pipe up again and said " I think I would like to understand, would you?" She responded "Sure, why not?".

While in California I started searching "Jeeps" online.......and quickly became overwhelmed!! However I was drawn to the Cherokee XJ for some reason, I think her and I mostly liked the way they looked and they were in our minds still a "real Jeep" compared to the newer versions of "SUV" style Jeeps. For whatever reason neither of us really warmed up to the Wranglers. (Now she thinks a NEW 4 door JK may change her mind about that last statement....lol)

We weren't looking for a daily driver, we wanted to build something we could do some serious offroading with. 3 months after we returned from the Cali trip AND after tons and tons of research we found ourselves flying to Florida to buy a 2000 XJ Sport we found on Craigslist.

I had full intentions of making it a dedicated "rock crawler". It had 80k on the clock and was in EXCELLENT condition. Drove it home and couldn't bring myself to "cut" it. I told my wife we needed to find another one because this one was too nice.....she agreed. So....I bought my second one sight unseen in St. Louis, 105k on the clock. I picked it up at night and towed it home on a trailer. Morning came and WOW, this one was really just as nice :bang:....So......I tell the wife, "we really should find another one to "cut" since this one is really too nice also. ( I just couldn't bring myself to cut up a perfectly awesome XJ). THIS TIME she said " You either start cutting the fenders tonight or I will cut them for you after you go to bed!!!!"

I started by cutting the front fenders, figuring I "could" replace them If I had a "what was I thinking moment". It went so well and I got so excited that I stayed up all night trimming all 4 fenders and tucking the rears. I was a happy camper!! From that day on the rock crawler got all kinds of modification that required cutting and welding etc. I NEVER LOOKED BACK!

Today the first XJ from Florida is the wife's Daily Driver and the second one can be seen at various rock parks regularly. It is still evolving .... cutting / welding or, any modification for that fact, is something I now look forward to. The very first trail dent was a bummer, especially since it happened on the first outing ( 3 years ago), but there has been many war wounds since then ..... not a problem .... I built it to use, NOT JUST TO LOOK AT

Still not sure we "understand", but we are having a blast trying too!

That's how all of this "craziness" started...... HOW ABOUT YOU?




.

[cpttuna]

I bought an 87 XJ for my son who was 16 at the time. Driving to karate practice ,he fell asleep at the wheel. He ran off the right side of the road and flipped the jeep onto its roof. He crawled out on his own power and only needed a couple of stitches by his right ear from a seat belt cut. Needless to say, we went looking for another XJ for him to drive(and now there are 5 XJ's in the family.

[nateyz2000]

Sold my lifted 87 blazer, wife was prego at the time, she hated the 6" lift with 35's... Used the money to buy "her" a 2004 grand Cherokee... That was my first jeep... After driving it and liking it, I decided to buy myself one to build (92 xj). 245,000 miles on the clock, EXCELLENT condition, I have every service document, including the sale slip the day it drove off the lot. The guy took great care of it, and had paperwork to prove it. First I did a lift, then I got tires. Rebuilt the engine, and took it offroad for the first time... Got stuck on dinky hill Then it started... I needed disconnects for better articulation in front, rock sliders so I could stop worrying about crunching it, then of course front and rear bumper got ordered, with winch, sye kit and front bumper was installed last weekend. Ordered bigger coils(bumper is heavy and I want more lift) Rear bumper and bull bar on back order till end of month. I will be hitting the rubicon next month. And slick rock close to home after that. Next: Ford 8.8 rear with disc brakes, gears front and rear and 33's. Eventually, lockers...

Nate

Edit: somewhere I forgot to mention I picked up a "donor" xj that is parked in my garage... I have used many parts off front steering set up... And few engine components...

[XJ4IV]

wanted a jeep when I was younger...
my first 4x4 was a hardtop sammy always wanted a removeable top so back in 03 I bought a 2000 TJ and had it a few months back when i THOUGHT my now EX-wife was taking care of the bills... apparently she hadnt paid my car note...at ALL so we had to surrender it, but about three weeks prior to getting rid of the TJ I bought my first XJ for 200$ yes two HUNDRED dollars all I needed to do was replace fuel injectors and fuel rail and replace battery and we hit the road for another 100k... until I was hit by an uninsured motorist, my insurance totaled it out and I went a few years without one and back in 08 I bought the one I have now!

[Mountain Goat]

I bought an 87 XJ for my son who was 16 at the time. Driving to karate practice ,he fell asleep at the wheel. He ran off the right side of the road and flipped the jeep onto its roof. He crawled out on his own power and only needed a couple of stitches by his right ear from a seat belt cut. Needless to say, we went looking for another XJ for him to drive(and now there are 5 XJ's in the family.

Wow, Glad your son escaped serious injury!

5 XJ's may be considered an addiction.....lucky you:notworthy:



.

[XJMJeep]

I got my 1st Jeep by chance, I had just totaled a 4wd 1979 Chevy Luv and my uncle was a wanta be car flipper.
He had a 1952 Willys and knew a someone that needed the engine from my Luv so we traded.
Had that Jeep for a while then ended up trading it for a 1968 Wagoneer which was a lot of fun but I still kick my self for getting rid of the Willys.
I ended up trading the Wagoneer for a 1980 Ford Bronco which starts my Jeepless years.

After a whole lot a life happened, a couple of years ago I traded a 1978 K5 for my 1993 Cherokee and there aint been nothing the same sense!

We currently own 5 Jeeps, 2 XJ's 2 MJ's & a Wrangler :crazy:

[oderdene]

I looked over at my wife and asked her "do you understand?".She replied "no, not really". I said "I don't either".
.

nice bite of jeep bee...


THIS TIME she said " You either start cutting the fenders tonight or I will cut them for you after you go to bed!!!!"
.

what a good girl...


.... I built it to use, NOT JUST TO LOOK AT

.

2X

[cantab27]

well i had a yota dbl cab 4wd plus a Nissan ....wanted something different down these ways....i stumbled on the xj by chance ,, drove it loved the way the widow washer worked so brought it....a nice clean 95 $3000.......didnt know shit about them,, hell didn't even know they had no chassis :o.....soon lernt in a hurry and now would never own another brand but jeep... did a couple of little upgrades wheeled it drowned it sold it.....:rolleye0012:

there is a post on here as to why...quick run down was she was gonna cost a shit load to go to next stage i wanted a 4wd for.......so went out and brought a v8 wrangler with heaps of goodies on here, plus have started to do my own thing with here,,longer arms blah blah......her are the girls......

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr52/cantab27/v8%20tj/1strun052.jpg

sure miss the xj but...built that thing,, now starting again...love that you wouldnt understand shit...............:D

[xj4life2]

Well heres the long and the short of it I "built" my first jeep , granted on paper at about 12yrs old out the Sears catalog (yes I'm old), my mom actually has the catalog I used and all my notes.I then had some street cars and a couple bikes my Harley being my Favorite. Moved north and had to get another 4wd, My Blazer was sold in So Cal 454's get terrable milage. Went to work in a 4wd shop and build my first XJ and then more and then a couple of YJ's ect ect. As most of you know I just sold Mulee my fav. XJ and few months back and got a Bronco as I wanted to something in a full size short wheel base and explore TTB and if it can actually wheel. My wife refers to this as homework and I'm good with that. For the record I tore my first engine down and rebuilt it at 14. It was a nissan L16 , 11.5 to 1 comp. pistons, 485/387 lift duration cam , offenhouser dual port 360 manifold with dual delordos on it and finaly destroked with an 1800cc crank. It ran 13.89's in the quater mile before i squeezed it. (nitros oxide injection) So as you can see i've been into cars/trucks forever , Jeeps are the best my next project is already in the works,cj3b high hood with a v8 ect ect. were just argueing over price right now:)

[Carves]

1960's ... Two kids who could hardly reach the pedals ... paddock bashing a khaki, 4wd roofless buggy with ... " Caution - Left Hand Drive" stencilled across the back of it ...

It was a piece of junk .. ;) .. :rolleye0012: ... it broke - and no parts available ...

Soooo ..... back to the ol FE Holden ute ... which also broke regularly ... but had spare parts backup.

We weren't allowed to drive the new LandRover .. :mad:

Several years later ... an interest in specialised WW2 vehicles/eqpt - spiked an interest in the funny little khaki buggy again .... especially British LRDG & SAS kitted out, recon/assault versions .... all that weaponry mounted on em I guess .. :drool: .. :D

Had a coupla Landrovers for a bit ... and then about 1980 - eyed off new CJs and the tray truck, J10 ?? ... but down here - they couldnt compete with the price and build quality of japanese diesels ...

Roll on to 1997 and I look at the dissappointing selection on offer from Mr Toyota as replacements for my aging collection of 4x4s.

Conversation with the salesman went something along the lines of ....

Whattt ??? ... No SWB ....
Whattt ??? ... Ohhh Pissorff - I want a 2dr shorty - so be damned if I'll buy a 4dr Prado shopping trolley, or that top heavy Troopy ...
Stick your holier than thou, toyota worshipping propaganda, up your tailpipe, ya drongo ...

Clattered off round the corner in a cloud of diesel smoke and exasperation ... and there they were .. :eek:

The 1984, little french american, all wheel drive. station wagon ... that I wanted instead of a subaru I bought ... had finally reached Australian shores in about '94.

... but there in the sales yard was a "new" release item - that looked suspiciously like that little khaki buggy from when I was a kid ...

Ohhhh what the heck ?? ... at least it still has a big ol straight six, 4.0l donk in it ... so thats a start ... and all the new diesels are full of electronic junk anyway ...

So I had another sales conversation ... something like ....

Hoy you .... have this list of extras in the back and I'll collect it monday.

5yrs and about 140k fairly trouble free, all over Oz, miles later .... I moved onto XJs.

Not the best things Ive ever owned ... but Ive had a damned sight worse ...

I dont have "the jeep thing" coz a car is just a car to me ... Im more interested in other facets than the brand sticker on the hood.

... but for some strange reason ... I do get a little defensive of the things - when some clown says ....

It'll never go where I take my toyota .... :rolleyes:

:D

[olds-cool]

As a kid, I always had a thing for the old CJs but where I grew up, they cost a ton for a rotted out heep so I never got to have one. Fast forward through a number of years... I owned a 84 Lebaron, 85 F150, 85 Cougar, 85 Grand Marquis, 97 Stratus, 95 Probe, 98 Integra GSR, then a 02 Sentra SE-R SpecV. In between the Probe and the GSR, I drove my brother in laws 95 XJ 4 door 5 speed. I loved it, especially since it was winter, but I hated the cable clutch. I could see myself owning one of these I said to myself but I loved small, fast, sporty cars and didn't want to give up my SpecV even if it did suck in the winter. There's just something about approaching 70mph between a 2-3 shift and knowing there are still 3 gears left to grab, haha. The wife get preg again, making our 3rd child. Now what? My boys just fit comfortably in the back of the car now, no way I could add a car seat to the mix and expect them to jam in there. I told the wife I wanted a XJ because all 3 boys would fit across the back and the 4wd would be better for the winter. She agreed. Unfortunatly, my brother in law had just traded in his second XJ about 2 months before so I was one the prowl for a few months checking CL and Autotrader 6 times a day looking for the right one. Found mine at a dealer in Akron. Drove 2 hours to see it, traded in the Spec and the rest is history.

[4.3LXJ]

Started with Jeeps when I was 15. 42 GPW driving up and down tall mountains in the Sierras. The only thing I could pass was Greyhounds and VWs going up hill. LOL Always had 4WDs around since. I had another 42GPW, 69 Bronco that I stuffed a 351 into and the first rig I modified the suspension on at the age of 18, but that was a long time ago. Then a 69 CJ5 with modified everything including D44s front and rear. A 64 one ton Power Wagon I put a big block in and now the XJ, which I swore I would not modify much since I wanted it for a daily driver. But the smog police got after me and once the motor swap started, it was all over. One thing keeps leading to another. It may never be done.

[07Negative]

I went in for a Toyota Prerunner. The dealer was a prick so I cut over to GMC dealer. The salesmen told me to try this used Jeep. I stepped on the gas and was woken up to a little I6 surprise. The guy let me drive it for over an hour to feel it out. SOLD!

[KH96XJ]

Back in '02 I was working at a retail store and my '94 T-bird was stolen from the parking lot. I ended up getting it back two weeks later, but the car was molested while they had it and I didn't want to pay to get the damage fixed since the insurance wouldn't have covered most of it. I sold it and wound up with an '81 Cherokee wide track. I put a 4" lift on it and some 33" tires. It was a love hate relationship for several years.

I got around to buying my house a few years later so I sold the '81 to help pay closing costs. Then last year my commuter car was totaled and I decided I wanted to get another 4x4. I found my XJ on CL and it already had a small lift, cut fenders, and the ARB winch bumper. I have added lockers, gears and a winch and there are several more things I will be doing later on. I still want to get another full size Cherokee, but it will be a while before that happens.

[89Laredo]

Girlfriends dad got one, ended up giving it to her. I learned how to drive in it and decided I wanted one. One day she told me there was one down the road from my house for sale. I talked dad into buying it for my birthday. Was a rusty old 89 with 4" of lift.
Ive had 3 total now.

[Brasscatz]

1960's ... Two kids who could hardly reach the pedals ... paddock bashing a khaki, 4wd roofless buggy with ... " Caution - Left Hand Drive" stencilled across the back of it ...

It was a piece of junk .. ;) .. :rolleye0012: ... it broke - and no parts available ...

Soooo ..... back to the ol FE Holden ute ... which also broke regularly ... but had spare parts backup.

We weren't allowed to drive the new LandRover .. :mad:

Several years later ... an interest in specialised WW2 vehicles/eqpt - spiked an interest in the funny little khaki buggy again .... especially British LRDG & SAS kitted out, recon/assault versions .... all that weaponry mounted on em I guess .. :drool: .. :D

Had a coupla Landrovers for a bit ... and then about 1980 - eyed off new CJs and the tray truck, J10 ?? ... but down here - they couldnt compete with the price and build quality of japanese diesels ...

Roll on to 1997 and I look at the dissappointing selection on offer from Mr Toyota as replacements for my aging collection of 4x4s.

Conversation with the salesman went something along the lines of ....

Whattt ??? ... No SWB ....
Whattt ??? ... Ohhh Pissorff - I want a 2dr shorty - so be damned if I'll buy a 4dr Prado shopping trolley, or that top heavy Troopy ...
Stick your holier than thou, toyota worshipping propaganda, up your tailpipe, ya drongo ...

Clattered off round the corner in a cloud of diesel smoke and exasperation ... and there they were .. :eek:

The 1984, little french american, all wheel drive. station wagon ... that I wanted instead of a subaru I bought ... had finally reached Australian shores in about '94.

... but there in the sales yard was a "new" release item - that looked suspiciously like that little khaki buggy from when I was a kid ...

Ohhhh what the heck ?? ... at least it still has a big ol straight six, 4.0l donk in it ... so thats a start ... and all the new diesels are full of electronic junk anyway ...

So I had another sales conversation ... something like ....

Hoy you .... have this list of extras in the back and I'll collect it monday.

5yrs and about 140k fairly trouble free, all over Oz, miles later .... I moved onto XJs.

Not the best things Ive ever owned ... but Ive had a damned sight worse ...

I dont have "the jeep thing" coz a car is just a car to me ... Im more interested in other facets than the brand sticker on the hood.

... but for some strange reason ... I do get a little defensive of the things - when some clown says ....

It'll never go where I take my toyota .... :rolleyes:

:D


drongo
an idiot (derived from an ungainly Australian racehorse of the 1920's called Drongo, famous for coming last) :D

[4.3LXJ]

drongo
an idiot (derived from an ungainly Australian racehorse of the 1920's called Drongo, famous for coming last) :D

Yup, also a bird or old horse :D

I googled it too

[Brasscatz]

I have always been a Chevy guy... still am. I restored a 1980 Trans Am when I was 17, Built an '87 Chevy V10 (stolen), had another chevy truck, then bought a cavalier for work use. I was driving around 300 miles a day and the TA got about 5 mpg and the truck got about 8 mpg. Drove the Cavi (30+ mpg) for 5 years before I was brought on by AutoNation to pioneer a new Department. Didn't drive as much, and I had put many, many miles on the Cavi, so I figured it was time for a new car. I also missed my 4x4 Chevy and I knew that the 4.0 could run for 300k+ miles and I have always loved Jeeps... so after 3 months of searching, I finally found one. Every time I saw one that I liked, it was sold before I could get there. FINALLY, I called the 100th guy and he had it. I jumped in my wife's Jeep and raced out there. While we were looking at it, another couple showed up to look at it. I knew that if I didn't get it, they would. I even fixed the thing in the guy's driveway before I bought it. He had screwed with the fuses earlier but was looking at the diagram for under the hood. Blinkers didn't work, brake lights didn't work, etc. etc. Once fixed, I paid him right then!

I loved my TA, I loved my truck, but I only liked the cavalier for the gas mileage, etc. It was good transportation, and I did honestly like it. BUT I wanted another vehicle that I LOVED. I don't have any plans to sell the thing, even when I get a new car. I'm definitely hooked! So now as it sits, we have my XJ and my wife's Patriot. No Chevy's... for now. I plan on having another XJ to fully turn into a toy in the future.

[prerunner1982]

I have always been a Chevy guy.......... Built an '87 Chevy V10 (stolen).

True Chevy truck guy to know what a V10 is. I had an 82 Chevy C10 and a 87 GMC R15. Still have the C10 with a cracked frame... and the R15 was totaled in a t-bone accident.

As far as what got me into Jeeps.... My father purchased an 85 CJ7 around 1990. Helped him work on it, install a small lift, 33" tires, and cruise around with the top and doors off. I think it was the removable top and doors that really got me hooked.

I ended up with the XJ because after my GMC was totaled I needed a new ride and couldn't find a 81-87 Chevy/GMC Truck to save my life. I found what I thought was a nice XJ and always having a thing for Jeeps I bought it. Wish I knew then what I know now, but you can't change the past.
I would still really like to find me a nice CJ7 to restore with only mild mods as a daily driver. Have plans to build a Crewcab 81-87 (91) Chevy/GMC 4x4. Living in the country I need a truck and need the room for the family. Don't plan on getting rid of the XJ though..... wouldn't get much out of it at this point, so figure if nothing else I could find a CJ without the drivetrain and swap the XJ drivetrain into the CJ.

[wolfsxj]

I got a 89 4x4 chevy 1 ton because I was told I could get anywhere with it and it being a one ton it wouldnt brake eazy. WELL i took it down a few trails and broke it right off steering linkage got bent. Ever time I turned around if I took it offroad I broke it.

I realy wanted a 4x4 that I could make it down a few trails I realy wanted to go down and be able to hunt with. Well my Dad got a 89 cherokee all stock and we went out hunting with it and one of the trails was narly "broke the truck on it twice trying to get through" and my dad said lets go and it wasnt eazy with a spoter we made it. Then I took it to Pismo Beach and did awsome for a stock rig. I was sold I wanted a cherokee asap. I sold my car bought the chrokee and never looked back.

I took my new cherokee up that trail I broke my truck on before I did the lift and made it. After the lift I did it eazy and a few parts I had to bypass before and they were awsome and it was a cake walk.

Now I have been places I could never have gone without my jeep and I LOVE it. You pint it someplace and it goes and I dont brake stuff trying to do it.
I will always own a jeep tell the day I die

[denverd1]

Grew up on a couple hundred acres and we had an old late 70's CJ7 Renegade that I put a million miles on before I was 16. Started driving it sitting in my dads lap, looking out the door so I could see the mud grips turn with the wheel. It was his hunting toy at the time and when we moved to Texas from Louisiana it became one of the farm trucks. We moved the Warn winch to back and built a rack to hold a hay spike - thats when I really put in the windshield time moving round bales to the barn. In between loads, I'd always find time to drive it through a creek or muddy spot. One summer it caught on fire. I calmly grabbed the extinguisher and put it out (dry rotted or melted fuel line). Replaced the fuel line and drove it for another few years. We sold it years later for a couple thousand. The ink wasn't dry on that week's paper when the calls started coming in. Should've kept it....

Last few years I've been hunting quite a bit. 4 wheelers are the standard hunting vehicle around here. But you can spend 10K on one of those little boogers and it doesn't even have a windshield, much less a heater or somewhere to put your gear or hunting buddy. So the search began with Jeeps in general and moved to XJ's specifically. Then I found my 98 XJ last November.

[Mudderoy]

Here's the reader's digest version...

My wife and I have wanted a Wrangler from when we were young adults. In 1998 I stopped by a local Jeep dealership to look at a TJ. I found a black one with a hard top, standard trans, and 4.0l engine. Beautiful

After finding out what it would cost us, I went and got my wife. She loved it. While we were waiting in the show room we looked at this all red Jeep Cherokee. Red is our favorite color, and it was a Jeep and four wheel drive. I thought about the extra room that was in the XJ and the additional 2 doors. This would be good for our girls that were about 3 and 4 at the time.

So I suggested we get the XJ and we could always get a TJ later. Reluctantly my wife agreed and we test drove the red XJ that we were looking at literally on the show room floor.

So we're the only owner of the 1998 Jeep XJ that I drive daily, and have driven daily since 1998.

Now we have a 1999 XJ that my oldest daughter drives, and a 2003 Jeep TJ that my wife drives.

[Mountain Goat]

Thanks for all of the GREAT stories!

[Silverfoot]

My grandfather has lived on a farm since my father was in high school, and has owned at least one Jeep at least as long. When I was little he had a light blue XJ (not sure of the year, though I'm pretty sure mid- to late 80's). Before that, I know he had a Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer, and may have even owned one before that. He bought an I6 97 Grand Cherokee new, and had it for about 10 years before giving it to me, when he upgraded to V8 2003 (I think) Grand Cherokee. I always loved riding in it, both on the road and in the fields on the farm, and actually borrowed it to go to both junior and senior proms in high school. I've owned it for almost 5 years now and it's still going strong!