XJ mods
All mods are at your own risk. I dont mind cutting or hacking my XJ so if you dont feel the same way as I then I'd suggest you drink a few beers. But if you have any questions on how I did anything just email me and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks and enjoy!! |
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Custom Front Sway Bar Disconects
Here is what you will need to buy to modify your stock links:
2 Hitch Pins 7/64" X 2-1/4"
2 Hitch Pins 1/8" X 2-1/2"
2 Stainless Flat Washers .5" ID
2 Tine Pins .5" X 3"
2 Metric Wing Nuts 10mm - 1.50 pitch
Total cost at Lowes = Less than 9.00 dollars
Once you have all of the parts, either drive to a machine shop and remove your links there or remove them at home and take them there. If you have a good drill press and trust yourself to drill the 7/64" holes in the threaded area you can save the cost of having them drilled by doing it yourself. I drilled my holes 1/3-inch (5 threads down) from the top of the link. Make sure you have the threads filed so that the wing nuts are easy to spin on. Now It's time to assemble your links.
- First turn the wheels full lock to the left so you have room to work.
- Push one of the Tine Pins through the axle mount so that the flange is on the wheel side of the axle. There are five or six holes on the pin and if you want, you can have it cut down a little, but there is nothing that it will hit if you leave it three inches.
- Slide the link over the Tine Pin and pull the swaybar down onto the link.
- Slide the original and new washer over the Tine Pin and install one of the 1/8 by 2-1/2 Hitch pins in the hole. Mine lined up perfectly with very little play.
- Install the bushings and then put the wing nut on the link, but don't tighten it down yet.
- Turn the wheels full lock to the right.
- Put the link through the swaybar like the other side, but tighten the wing-nut down and install the 7/64 by 2-1/4 hitch pin through the hole you had drilled.
- Install the Tine Pin on the right side exactly like the left. If you are not on level ground, this may be difficult because the swaybar will not line up with the hole in the mount. Alternately, you can install one side, move the truck until it lines up and then install the other side.
- Once you get the right side pinned, turn the wheels back to the left and tighten down the wing nut and install the upper hitch pin.
I have found that 6 inch long, small bungee cords work well and cost $1.49 for 4 at Wal-Mart.
That's it, once you remove them a couple of times it becomes extremely easy and takes about a minute to do both sides. I use them all the time and the truck definitely has more tweak and I am able to go more places. Also, you might want to buy extra parts in case you lose some like I did one day.
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Custom Cup Holder
I got tired of spilling my drinks, since XJ's don't come with cup holders, I decided to make one. Since I build Helicopter parts out of aluminum thats what I decided to use. It basically mounts in the same way and spot the aftermarket one goes. It looks great and works just the same. I have not spilled one drink yet even going up steep hills. The cups sits in there deep. |
Rock lights
What I did was remove the factory fog lights from the front bumper and install them so I can see around the front tires on night runs. I used the factory wire harness and holes already under the air filter box and battery tray. It was pretty easy install and the fog lights up front didnt do anything in the first place. Nothing hits them and haven't had any rocks hit them in the 8 mths I've had them there. |
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Custom Hood Vents
I seen a few XJ's with this mod so I decided to do it. I counldn't find and vents that looked excellent so I bought some house vents from Home Depot. I removed the hood and marked where I wanted to install them. I cut out the holes and since my jeep is purple I painted the vents purple also. I then riveted the vents in place. They look pretty good and help keeps the heat out of the engine bay. Since I've installed them they have faded over time. Oh well, camo paint hides everything!!! |
Hood vents closeup
Here is a closeup of the rivets I used to install the vents. |
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Hockey pucks for bump stops
All I did was get some used hockey pucks and drilled a hole through two of them and then drilled a hole through the spring perch and installed a long enough bolt. It works great the tires stuff just enough not to rub. Plus the pucks are very hard material. |
Sideways pic of installed hockey pucks (bump stops)
Sorry for the sideways pic but you can get an idea of what I did. i will change this pic as soon as I can. |
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CB install
All I did here was mount the CB on the center console and mounted the mic next to the steering wheel. The antenna is magnetic (soon to be replaced) and mounts on the roof. |
Toys by Troy Alumi-flex Tie Rod
This thing is the **it. I have hit boulders and people have seen it flex and go right back to original shape (straight). Only put light scratches in it. Install was pretty easy and did my own alignment after I installed it. I will do a writeup later on self alignment. It is 1 1/4" thick. |
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CB external speaker
Since I could never hear the CB internal speaker I decided to buy an external one. I mounted it to the overhead console and now I hear everthing, LOUD AND CLEAR. LOL Notice were its at LOL My wife hates it because whenever she has to reach around and beat the kids (j/k) she hits her head on it. |
Extended Brake Lines (side view again)
Turn your head sideways and you can see all I did was straighten the existing ones and used a self tapping screw and redrilled the location. It works great and netting around 3". |
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Rear power outlet
All I did hear was install a cig lighter in the speaker bar in the rear of the XJ. I tapped into the light wires but will change them soon to run straight to the battery with an inline fuse. Much cleaner to do it that way. But until then this works just fine for me. I go tired of not having anything in the rear like newer SUV's. |
Steering Stabalizer
I ended up using Skyjacker because I was having problems with bumpsteer. Since I installed it, all went away. I know not a fix but just a cover up. Still feels better though. You can also see the Toys by Troy Alumi-flex tie rod. |
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