Lil 'Ole XJ

[hadfield4wd]

Well this is how it started several years ago. I bought it for $500 with 232k miles everything worked but the tape deck (I don’t own any tapes anyway). AC power windows, 5 speed AX-15, 3.73 gears open/open, D30, D35.



Wheeled it for 3 years that way. Then bought a Rock Krawler 4.5 lift and put it on.





Some parts I took off.

[hadfield4wd]

Ended up like this.





On 33’s

Did some trimming and made a front bumper.

[hadfield4wd]

Here you can see the rockers as well.





Did a bunch of wheeling still 3.73’s and open/open.

My dad built an awesome toolbox. I carry a spare everything.

[hadfield4wd]

Made a rear bumper and skid combo.

[hadfield4wd]

Put a locker in the rear at Crawfords at Tellico. Still do a bunch of wheeling.






I took off the rockers and have to build new ones.

I massed parts in the garage for the axle swap for 2 years. How it sits today.

255k miles
AX-15
NP231 with sye
Custom drive shafts

Front HPD44 with:
• 5.13
• Lockright
• Alloy USA shafts
• Yukon Super Joints
• Warn Premium Hubs
• Modified Ford Radius Arms

Rear 9”
• 5.13
• Spool
• Alloy USA Shafts

36” TSL Radials Bead balanced

Still using Rock Krawler 4.5 front springs on top of the Ford mounts. Gets about 6” – 7” of lift

Rear is a bastard Rock Krawler/S-10 pack using all the long and no overload and Deaver spring liner. All for good flex. 1.5 blocks to go in to level it out.

[hadfield4wd]

Flexes nice and level



Some clearance needed.

[hadfield4wd]

Well I had some bad axle wrap with my custom bastard leaves. Bent my perches.



Had wavy springs. I don’t think they are supposed to be wavy like this.



I bought a new set of BDS springs which I promptly took apart and inserted full length deaver spring liner so I didn’t want to ruin new springs. So I built a traction bar.

To get the dimensions right I had to cut a hole in the floor of the jeep.

[hadfield4wd]

Here is the bracket on the cross member.



I covered it with a bread pan. Yep a bread pan works great then I sprayed it with spray on bed liner. Can hardly see it.

[hadfield4wd]

Now for the axle side. I had a buddy make me a bracket because I needed it custom fit on the 9”. I also had to get a new muffler. I got the magnaflow you can see in these pics because of its size.

[hadfield4wd]

Here you can see it doesn’t hang below the axle so it won’t get caught on anything.



Helps protect the driveshaft.