Project Buford 2.0

Figured it was time to start a build thread here. Little backstory, I've built a total of 5 XJ'S in my life. It always seems like something happens and I have to get rid of one as soon as it's finished (getting wife a new vehicle, financial issues, new daughter, ect.) My last XJ was my favorite build. It was a 95 ex police package 4 door. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...d0fadc8b6c.jpg

Sadly the rust belt of West Virginia claimed my jeep. Everyone in our local club called it Buford T. Justice. The name stuck like glue. Fast forward a year. I do powdercoating work on the side and a friend needed a set of rims done. He asked if I was interested in trading the work for a 98 Cherokee Limited. I checked the jeep out and agreed. I had a total of $50 in the job! She ran and drove, but needed a lot of work. Most of my leftover parts have went into building this beast. Stay tuned for more details!


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Fifty bucks, ya stole it :D

Here she was when I first picked her up
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...385d69eb51.jpg
First thing that need fixed was a stripped out caliper bolt hole on the knuckle. With the help of a tap and helicoil, she was back on the road!
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...4370391147.jpg
Also added my roof rack from Buford
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...dc892223f6.jpg

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Next came the bulk of goodies!
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...9e0a5f2a8f.jpg
Front bumper from a friend
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...8bcecd2b71.jpg
Front fender armor I picked up at the Bantam Fest. Also installed my 4.5 inch lift and 31x10.50 MT Recaps.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...63d8fa82a1.jpg
10,000 pound winch with synthetic rope.

I wheeled all winter and into spring with this setup and worked out a few bugs. Overall, I was happy with the setup and still did not have $1000 in the entire project!

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Very nice... I'm officially jealous!

Now comes the not so fun part. A local wheeler in our club finished building his 5.9 360 swapped XJ and his 4.56 gears were too low on the street coupled with the v8 power and 5 speed. He offered to trade me his axles for my stock 3.55s which I happily agreed. One weekend and several beers layer I had 4.56s
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...8d9459a06d.jpg
With the new gears I picked up bigger tires, slightly used Yokohama Geolander MT's in 33x12.50x15 on a set of Mikey Thompsons
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...0cac5b4457.jpg
And here she was all finished up
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...922cac861b.jpg

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Unfortunately, the gears both front and rear were not setup properly and destroyed themselves first time I took it out! I was super bummed and didn't have the type of cash to fix it. Buford 2 set for a good 3 months before I got a game plan together
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...142fe1c95b.jpg

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But alas, all was not lost. I took a chance at a local junkyard and found a 29 Mercury Mountaineer with a perfect 8.8 rearend. It was disc brake, 4.10 gears, and had a LSD. I picked it up for $50! A little fab work and she fit under Buford like a glove! I had to sacrifice a little bit on the front axle. I searched everywhere for a 4.10 geared High Pinion 30. They are not to be found around here. I needed to get it back on the road ASAP with my dd blowing a headgasket (stupid Nissans). My cousin offered me a low milage Low Pinion 30 from a TJ. It also had a Lock Right already installed. I regretfully took him up on the deal to get back in the woods.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...e92bc416a1.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...bd907244fb.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...1bc95f930f.jpg
Also installed dome CAD brackets to help the ride and flex in the front
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...b9401414c0.jpg
Much better angle!
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...8e13497dcd.jpg

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I was so happy to have her back! Everything went as good as expected! http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...f2ec5f7bad.jpg
I then fabbed up a hitch tire carrier so I could ditch the roof rack. Our area of wheeling has too many low hanging obstacles that remove roof racks like soup can lids. This setup worked pretty well for the time I had invested.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...2a121a469a.jpg

Then we stepped up into the area of semi-big boy tires. A neighbor was selling a set of 35x12.50x15 Cooper Discoverer STT'S for dirt cheap. $150 bucks later, they were mine. A few hours later, I had them mounted up. With the 33" spare on the hitch hauler, I could barely see out of the back. The 35" left no room for visibility at all. So off came the hitch hauler. I cut and folded the front inner fender and rear fenders. I'm in the process of researching the rear quarter cut n fold. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...bf3ac2ea59.jpg

That pretty much brings you up to speed. Next upgrade will be rear shackle relocation brackets. Stay tuned for more and thank you for reading!

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Looks like a good progress for the build of Buford 2.0....

Has anyone successfully fit a 35 inside while retaining the rear seat?

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Maybe do a baja spare tire rack, something like this:

http://www.yotatech.com/attachments/...t-676a0140.jpg

Or something far cleaner looking, and a bit easier to throw your spare onto and get it back off of, instead of aligning all the lugs...

http://bajabumpers.com/wp-content/up...3/tirec023.jpg

Definitely running with the big dogs

Like the look of those. Could also mount my high lift and C02 tank on that. Thanks for the ideas!

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Ordered a new header today to replace my cracked one. It's nice having a dad that owns an exhaust shop lol.

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How many times do I wish I had access to one

Waiting on my 99+ intake manifold to get here from UPS. Once it arrives, going to powder coat it. Did my favorite mod so far, 98 ZJ seats. Wow those suckers are comfy! Only problem is they are power seats and mine were manual. I put them on my seat tracks, but have no way to recline them. Guess I'll have to look into wiring in the recline button. Few more odds and ends and it's wheeling time! Our club has a big ride planned next weekend at the Ivy Branch Trail of Hatfield and McCoy trails. Hopefully I make it!

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Wire those in, you won't be sorry. I have 8 way power leather and love it

On the way to work yesterday, I started smelling something burning. Pulled over and found this
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...1f900ae553.jpg
Pinion seal and bearing are toast. Hopefully it didn't mess anything else up, but with my luck I'll need a whole new axle.

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Got the new bearing and seal installed on the yoke. No more leaks. I am having a strange issue with my front lockright though. It is binding when turning left even in 2wd. Lots of feedback through the steering wheel. Never did this until recently. Did the "spin test" and the driver side is not unlocking at at all. Put new springs and pins in and still no go. I have a new hardened cross pin to try next. Any ideas?

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