My first XJ, Big Red

[xjtrailrider]

This is the one that sparked my passion for XJ's, I bought it in 03 and have been in love ever since.

This thing has gone from mild to wild and back to mild so i'll just throw some pics up and then at the end explain whats on it now. This is my 15 year old sons first car now.

It started life as a 96 4.0/AW4/NP231 and was a rental car in the Triad area of NC.

This is the first pic I can find of it, this is with 2" lift.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/jeepafterlift.jpg

My first time wheeling with it.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/trailheadatsleepyhollow.jpg

This pic was taken after installing the OME 3" lift and lockers. I put frame stiffeners on it as well and 4.10 gearing.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/96canyons.jpg

More to come!

[xjtrailrider]

Some "driveway poser" shots!

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/flex1.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/flex2.jpg

With the Detours Backbone, its starting to look a little more "BA" now!

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/backbone7.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/dirtyjeep.jpg

More to come!

[xjtrailrider]

Chassis stiffeners

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/stiffeners1.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/stiffeners2.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/stiffeners3.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/stiffeners4.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

Skid plates

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/bigred1.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/bigred16.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/bigred5.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

Home made sliders that had to be adapted to the stiffeners

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/slider11.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/slider14.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/slider2.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/slider7.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

Wheelin with Big Red

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/brjon1.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/brjon2.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/crozet.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

I used it for towing too!

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/jeepboatrear.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/jeepboatsideview.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

After swapping the axles and T-case out to put in my trail rig it now has;
D-30/D-35 3.55
NP242
4.0
AW4
JeepSpeed chassis stiffeners
Factory skids
C4x4 diff skids
Crager soft 8"s
Home built sliders
Custom home built bump stops
31x10.5-15 Firestone Destination A/T's
OME 3" lift

Here is how it sits now
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/P1010673.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

I swapped rear axles on Big Red today, for 3 reasons;

1) I had to put some 4* shims in to turn the pinion down some to compensate for the "single cardan" drive shaft

2) I was able to get the D-35 back that was under my dads XJ. I had given the axle to a co-worker 2 years ago and he never swapped the axle out for his and I thought it was long gone but he brought it by my house the other day and asked me if I wanted it back before he hauled it to the dump. I was more than pleased to have it back! Now my son will have part of his Granddad's Jeep on his. Luckily he had stored it inside and it was in great shape.

3) this axle has less mileage on it(135k vs 185k) and doesn't leak like the one that was in there did!

I still have to swap out the diff guard from the old axle and I'm also going to take the yoke, both shafts, spiders, and carrier out for spares and trash what is left.

The new axle is getting all new shoes, wheel cylinders, springs/hardware and some freshly turned drums tomorrow.


The shims
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/P1010809.jpg

The old axle
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/P1010806.jpg

My dad's old axle
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/P1010808.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

The new/old axle is in and all new rear brakes are on. The rear axle got;

new shoes
new wheel cylinders
new brake hardware
new fluid
turned the drums
The seals were good.

I have to rebuild the front axle now, it needs;

axle u-joints, I have some 760x joints for it
pinion seal, Advance gave me the wrong seal so i have to get another tomorrow
axle seals
possibly needs ball joints
The brakes are all new including the calipers/rotors/pads

I should have it on the road in a few days:thumb:

[rubican!]

so big red is your oldest sons now??

[xjtrailrider]

so big red is your oldest sons now??


Nope, he has a 00' Classic, this is my 15 year old's XJ

[xjtrailrider]

While waiting on my winch bumper to come in and the front axle is set-up and waiting on me to truss it, I decided to finish up "Big Red" for my son Josh. Josh will be driving in December.

All I had left was to get the front bumper painted. I had cut the front fenders on this XJ back when it was my trail rig so a stock 96' bumper wouldn't look good anymore. We didn't want to spend big money on a aftermarket bumper so I decided to try and put a 97+ front bumper and caps on a 96- XJ. I bought the bumper used for $10, I picked the caps and fairing up from Highland in Lynchburg for $70 and then got Magic City Ford to paint it all up to match the existing trim color.

I think it looks good!

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/P1020158.jpg

[WilliamAWebb]

looks great

[xjtrailrider]

Its official now, this Jeep now belongs to my 16 year old son. So if you see it running around, he had better be driving like he has some sense(and if he wants to keep his license he better). Its done other than a couple of little odds and ends. Drew (trail ready MJ) installed the remote start and keyless entry 2 weeks ago and it works great. He is really enjoying the full time feature of the 242 T-case since I never did shovel my driveway:D

[hadfield4wd]

I wish my first car was a nice as this.

[xjtrailrider]

Lets just hope that it stays his nice:rolleyes-1:

[xjtrailrider]

Well its sad to say but Big Red is almost ready to go to XJ heaven. I have about 4 more hours of work to do before I cut it up and haul it to the scrapyard. Here is her heart and soul coming out. I will re-use this engine at a later date either in another XJ for me or in my trail rig, Old Blue.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/1315170084.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

The end of Big Red. It goes to the recycler this week. RIP

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/1002111205.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

The glory days on 30's. I loved the look of this rig and how multi-purpose it was. I think I will build another one just like it, might even sell the Commander to finance it.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/big%20red/dirtyjeep.jpg