Phoniex; the rise of my daily driver

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

I label all my projects and I figured this would be a good name for this project since it was a fire damaged XJ that was left for dead in a salvage yard.

This project actually started with a roll over jeep that I was going to just reskin the roof till I found out it was twisted..so we are starting with a solid body thats a little crispy..

These pics are in no paticular order
This is the start of installing the wiring and componants from rolled over jeep

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/016-4.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/017-5.jpg

This is the engine bay from rolled over jeep
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/018-3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/019-5.jpg

[TheWeiss]

I'm excited to see the build!

[alwaysxj]

so what is the plan then swap every thing over to a good jeep then or what?

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Yes the plan is to swap the drive line and most of the interior out o f the rolled over jeep into the fire damaged jeep. I will be installing a 3"BDS lift springs with braided brake lines,the wj brake and steering upgrades,and tube arms I plan to fabricate.In the rear it will recieve an 8.8 out of an explorer and BDS lift springs. I havent decided on what locker I will run in the rear yet. It has a positrac already in it but not sure how well it will work. I will install a cowl hood from quadratec. The interior specs are still up in the air. I know Ill install an upgraded stero system,nothing riduclous just good quality sound. Seats will remain stock. im not sure if Ill install any body protection outside of some rocker gaurds/rock sliders. I want to built a mild jeep but one that will be some what capable in some lighter trails. I will also be running the 16x8 rubicon wheels and 265/75/16 tires. I havent picked them yet as I have been doing some looking around to find a good m/t. I have been thinking the mickey thompson MTZ's, the toyo open country m/t's,or the goodyears wrangler m/t's that were like the factory tires on the rubicons.
Thats the plan for right now..so we will see if it alls works out! Thanks for looking!

[alwaysxj]

Yes the plan is to swap the drive line and most of the interior out o f the rolled over jeep into the fire damaged jeep. I will be installing a 3"BDS lift springs with braided brake lines,the wj brake and steering upgrades,and tube arms I plan to fabricate.In the rear it will recieve an 8.8 out of an explorer and BDS lift springs. I havent decided on what locker I will run in the rear yet. It has a positrac already in it but not sure how well it will work. I will install a cowl hood from quadratec. The interior specs are still up in the air. I know Ill install an upgraded stero system,nothing riduclous just good quality sound. Seats will remain stock. im not sure if Ill install any body protection outside of some rocker gaurds/rock sliders. I want to built a mild jeep but one that will be some what capable in some lighter trails. I will also be running the 16x8 rubicon wheels and 265/75/16 tires. I havent picked them yet as I have been doing some looking around to find a good m/t. I have been thinking the mickey thompson MTZ's, the toyo open country m/t's,or the goodyears wrangler m/t's that were like the factory tires on the rubicons.
Thats the plan for right now..so we will see if it alls works out! Thanks for looking!

i think you will like the 8.8 it comes with disc's in the rear already. i had a 8.8 in on of my xjs it was a dd and i had a arb in it it worked great. remeber you can never have to many pic's we love pic's:camera:

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Always,
Yeah the one I picked up has the disc's i scored it for $75 from a guy who was moving..so you liked your arb. I saw they were kinda expensive but im sure they are worth it. Im going to get back on it tomarrow so I will try to post some progress!

[alwaysxj]

Always,
Yeah the one I picked up has the disc's i scored it for $75 from a guy who was moving..so you liked your arb. I saw they were kinda expensive but im sure they are worth it. Im going to get back on it tomarrow so I will try to post some progress!

yes i loved the ARB but they are alot of money but if you can swing it that is what i would do but i live in utah so driving in the snow with a locker sucks that is why the ARB is worth it to me.

[mizedog]

Not sure if you've considered these, but my siped BFG KM2s are working out well on my daily driver. The rubber is nice and soft so the sipes grip the snow and ice well. They are super quiet!

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Mizedog,

Thanks! I have seen the new design KM2's and was wondering how well they worked..Thank you. I will have to go see if they have them in 265/75/16.

[BlueXJ]

Lookin' for a progress report.

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

I have been in florida for 3 weeks visiting my brother. Im back now. I have made some good progress today. I have removed the complete dash from the roll over. With it I removed the steering column and front/rear seats. I didnt take pics of the removal but Ill snap some tomarrow. Nothing exciting yet..but needed to be done none the less.

Greg

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

I have a lotmore progress completed,Ill post pics tomarrow. Nothing exciting but we are assembling the interior, bed lining the fire wall on both sides. and installing the wiring harness..

O and by the way.. Has anyone ever tried to remove the T-40 bolts out of your doors..I broke a Snap-on socket,twisted a 1/4" snap-on wrench, as well as ruining 2 other cheapy sockets from the parts store and mucked up head of the last bolt in the door,all while trying to remove the door to change it out with a good one..ugh...I was so P!$$** earlier..I had to leave the shop..

on a funny note,my friend at the parts store couldnt figure out why I bought 4 T-40 sockets today..until i told her.

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/010-5.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket
I went ahead and bed lined the inside firwall,to insulate the fire damage and to help with noise.

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/015-8.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket
im going to pressure wash the engine,transmisson,and t-case. Ill detail the engine and install all new gaskets and seals. Transmisson may get rebuild,unsure at this point,and the T-case will have a slip yoke installed also.

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/016-6.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket
The factory insulator pad. pretty heavy for what looks to be a big sponge.

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/017-7.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

The wiring harness didnt seem so bad to remove. after you took out the engine and interior...

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/018-5.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket
Heater box with A/C, would be a pain in the arse to change the heater core after its installed..so I may just do it now..

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/019-7.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

this is where said door used to reside..I had to get the hot wrench out to get the last bolt out of the door..

[4.3LXJ]

:wow: This is truly a bare bones project now. It ought to be getting pretty light by now.

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

yeah it pretty stripped..well both of them are..kinda nuts for going through all this for a 99' cherokee but at least itll be all mine and hopefully last forever..ill post soem more pics
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/012-7.jpg

This is whats left inside the rolled over 99'
Still stripping the interior.

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Heres a comparison,first pic is the fire jeep,second will be rollover jeep

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/013-7.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/014-9.jpg

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Heres a little update.
I bed lined the fire wall up to the upper firewall joint.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/001-13.jpg

Heres with the harness in place
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/002-14.jpg

Heres the brake booster,master cylinder,proportioning valve, and brake lines installed.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/gtmotorsports/004-13.jpg

Slowly im making progress.

[TheWeiss]

Its looking good man!

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Thanks!
Im going to slow down for a few weeks and wait for some parts and do some work on other long term paying projects.

[Melissa]

I sure am enjoying following along, looking good, thanks for the pictures!!

[GT MOTORSPORTS]

Thanks Melissa. I know the pics arent to exciting but at least you can see how it all come apart and goes back together!!

Im to the point now where I have to decide on a few things like:

Do I go ahead and do the 98' durango steering box swap?

Swap in the 8.8(if I do I think Ill buy a f-150 housing and use the posi and disc brakes off of the explore rear end I have,I'm not real crazy about the idea of spacers)?

Buy new heater core(factory one was ok,may just flush it)

Then theres the stero,only because the carpet and dash are out. It has the factory bose(?) with the amp under the rear seat,but I would like to upgrade,not sure if its worth it. I dont get into the big subs and all that rattling *** crap you see in the big city. I just want to have a good clear stero like whats in my other rides.

I know for now im only going 3.5" lift and a 265/75/16 tire but we all know how things seem to eventually go bigger. I have 2 other beaters to get nuts with but who knows.

Greg

[Melissa]

Thanks Melissa. I know the pics arent to exciting but at least you can see how it all come apart and goes back together!!
Greg

Exactly, your teaching me how it comes apart and then how to put it all back to rights.

Your pictures are very interesting to me :thumbsup:

Thank you for thinking about it and taking the time to snap pictures

I learn better with pictures :)