Project Purple Dragon

[rubican!]

Well Tinker bell is pretty well straightened out now and i have this XJ that i jsut cant stand that drags its butt everywhere it goes with saggy springs. Well the other day i was rolling around danville of all places and there it was a 2000 xj with jk rubicon wheels and it looked pretty cool. So then i got to thinking well man i have these!!!!


So looks like half the battle is done. So now i need a 4.5 lift and a set of spider traxx wheel adapters and she is good as gold. And with so many people letting the jk 32' bfgs on rims go for so cheap ($300 for a set of 5 on rims) It seems like a really cool way to get an old XJ some new life.

Im on a super low budget and this is jsut for fun so help me out here. Its either going to be the Rough Country 4.5 or the Rustys 4.5. I have to spend $200 on the wheel spacers which are on back order but no biggie. I want to do the work myslef as well i want the experiance and the fun. So a more complete kit is where i need to go. Here is the dragon now!

[Big Red 95]

Looks like a good start. i use to have a 01 Xj. I miss that thing all the time. I have always loved that purple too. Can't wait to see it through the paces.

[RUparrothead]

I've always liked that purple too...I've had 2...

[FitchVA]

here are those pics i told you i'd post. i figured this would be a good place to *plop* them.

the wheels were the stock eccos with the stock tires on. the spacers are 1.5" wide. i never ran this setup - only took these pictures for mockups. they pushed my MOABs out a little too far for my taste.

rear POV w/out spacers:



rear POV w/ spacers:



front POV w/out spacers:



front POV w/ spacers:

[rubican!]

thanks for posting them up man. How do you guys feel about wheel spacers? wonder if it woul dbe better for me to jsut get some black steel wheels. They are around the same price as the spacers. I guess ill lose gas milage thoguh wont it? hmm.

[FitchVA]

IMO, wheel spacers - when used and maintained properly, are just fine to use. i'm using them on my rear 8.8 axle to bring it out to stockish width. you just have to make sure you keep the torqued.

i doubt your wheel choice would have an effect on gas mileage. your tire size will though, but not wheel choice.

[Big Red 95]

Those black steelies are heavey as he77. I had some massive problems with death wobble when i switch to the soft 8s. even though it is rotating mass it probably would effect the mileage but not enough to really notice. when you do go up on tire size you can notice a difference in mileage there.

[rubican!]

Well i thought i would chime in. Got the radiator, clutch fan, water pump and all new hoses put in the dragon and she runs so great now. temps are steady at 210 with the AC on full blast. And the heat actually works well now as well. I sprayed out the heater core and it was mud the hoses had baked brown stuff attached to them. Its a totally different jeep now. I have even noticed a MPG gain on the highway. My stock XJ nets 22 MPG now. It just awesome.

Unfortunately to pass inspection the passenger window has to roll up and down. So any ideas where i can pick up the whole package. I think the motor is good but the rest will need replaced. After i fix the window. This jeep will be 100%. No problems at all. I serviced and changed just about everything it. Only thing left is the suspension. Stay tuned!

ALSO: Ive had to change rads and water pumps in ford escorts, Mitsubishi's and all sorts of POS cars and never has it been so simple and dare i say fun to work on. I am a wrangler owner i have a JK but i have to say the XJ has to be the best ever made. For all around. Go figure jeep gets it right and cancels it. If they brought it back i would be first in line for a 2010

[rubican!]

double post oops

[xjtrailrider]

ALSO: Ive had to change rads and water pumps in ford escorts, Mitsubishi's and all sorts of POS cars and never has it been so simple and dare i say fun to work on. I am a wrangler owner i have a JK but i have to say the XJ has to be the best ever made. For all around. Go figure jeep gets it right and cancels it. If they brought it back i would be first in line for a 2010

I would buy a couple!! If Jeep wanted to really do it right they would give you lock-out hubs and a SYE from the factory, also all XJ's would have D-44's f/r and 4.10 gearing and it would be "The Perfect Jeep". Keep the AW4/NV3550 trannies and add the 241OR t-case for even more kudo's. Then they could go wild with a "Rubicon Cherokee" for a top of the line no holds barred factory wheeler.

As for your power window, go to the dealer and get raped for a new one, its the only way to fix it right. I bought one for the '00 and it was $225 and only takes 30 min. to put it in and its over with forever.