Help me pick a trail rig that isn't a jeep lol

[SurlyBurly]

G'Luck.

[Shinchu]

Guy said he will consider my offer and see what else he gets.
Soldit to somebody else without even allowing me a chance to counter. Dangit.

Then a heavily modified turn key, also clean. Asked him for interior pics. He sold it an hour later.

They keep slipping through my fingers!

[Shinchu]

The guy who said he would consider my offer relisted it yesterday. Said his buyer flaked.
I sent him a message and 20 hours later still no reply.
Wonder why his buyer flaked...

[durok]

Wishing ya the best of luck, my man - you'll find one if you persevere!

[SurlyBurly]

This your guy? https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/...295397390.html

You may or may not have seen

https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d...297025839.html

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/...296646975.html

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...298528608.html overpriced imo

I still say you should consider a ZJ Favorite I ever owned was a mildly built ZJ with a 318.

or if you really really like that straight six
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lg...291253151.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...283956291.html <- CHEAP

How do you feel about HEMIs?
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...293425146.html

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/...292555078.html

[ferp420]

i still think the ea82 is the way to go but hay xj it up if thats what you want

[Shinchu]

Surly yep that's the one.
Still no answer. Either his inbox got so flooded from craigslist it autofiltered to his spam folder, or he just doesn't care?

ZJ would be cool if I didn't have to swap to the np231. Just seems like a pain but if I can't get an xj in the next couple months then, maybe?

[Shinchu]

Well it's been a long busy week...
3 days ago I finally got an answer from the guy.
Picked it up and drove it home 40 miles with only 1 issue.


Rear main seal is leaking. Not a huge issue, pretty sure I can fix it over a weekend (not this one because easter).

So yeah, went againnst my own rule in thread title lol but I think it's perfect.
Gonna be upgrading this soon after the seal is fixed!

[ferp420]

be carefull pulling the trans theres some plastic clip/bracket thingie in there that likes to break and something to do with the hydrolic clutch needed fixing about every 6 months or so a Oring i think would dry up and leak clutch fluid its been almost 20 years since i worked on one of those i just remeber the same heeps over and over again for the same issue
i ended up drilling a hole in the bell housing so i could accsess the bolt that held it in and coud get to it though the dust sheild yay internet
took a 2 day job down to about 20 min also this was the 2wd manual not the 4wd trans it might be different its been a while

[SurlyBurly]

Congrats on finding a pretty clean rig. Every time I buy an XJ, and I've had four or five at this point, first thing I do is go through the coolant system and make sure everything is 100%. Maybe its just me but I've always found them to be so fragile and also critical to the lifespan of the Jeep. Have fun.

[ScaleLifeNewbie]

Awesome man, looks really good. I’m glad you went with an XJ! Lol.




_________________
79 F150 SCX10 ii
TRXWalker

[Shinchu]

Ferp I don't need to drop the trans for rear main.
But yes the coolant system... noticed a drip from front passenger side bumper. Coolant.
I hope its where the hose is, maybe seeping by stock clamp. I would tear it apart and check but I don't have any torx drivers yet haha dangit.
Drove it around town looking for smog shops for about 2 hours yesterday but every time I got to one, it was closed.
Gonna call ahead Monday and fi d out thier hours of operations since they all had covid signs or something over the hours on the door.
But the jeep held up just fine even with leaks. I watched Temps and pressure, everything was fine.
People aren't lying when they say the four oh is TUFF!

*oh and now I need to build a 1:10 version ;)
Maybe ssd trail king with rear leafs and a hardbody xj from injora.

** also also, I have a buddy who just got hired at FOX and he is a suspension guru. (I sold him my axial yeti last year) He's REALLY excited to help!

[Shinchu]

First vid in a series of many!
https://youtu.be/kvKv2x25yGk

[Maxxamillion]

I guess y'all are thinking dedicated trail rig. Trailer queen or flat tow.
Driving your rig there and turning off onto an unknown (or known) trail spontaneous is rewarding. Adventurous! (take Anza Borrego for instance)
Not an overland rig, but a more short use day or weekend 4x4. I like 'luxury prerunners' as the usually have bada$$ suspension. They usually are also large & wide more open desert use. And expensive.
I just built up my 'poor mans' luxury prerunner. Not bottom dollar, but a solid used vehicle, small V8, and reliability. Somebody got the weight wrong earlier... it comes in at 4900 lbs stock.
Full suspension package. 11.7" of travel all around (Total Chaos in my case). Go fast or go slow, its gaining a good reputation as a general use 4x4.

A Lexus GX470! ...Mentioned briefly here. A reliable Toyota in Lexus clothing lol. Not boring IMO.

Small V8 (smooth power, poor fuel mileage), traction control, center diff lock. Decent amenities within (admittedly aging in design but 100% operative in my vehicle at least).
Poor center console.
I overlook the weak areas, and enjoy the quiet luxury of the vehicle. Decent stock sound system (mine is not blown out), I have a BT module going in in a couple of days...
I found a solid rig, a 2004 non VVT with 130K miles - just got it in Jan '22. Its a cream puff and badazz at the same time.
MY trail rig I can drive there and back home. Within reason. I am not trying to make it a rock crawler or squeeze through tight trees. Basically take care of it.
This is my angle and of course not everyones idea of a trail rig.

[DirtMerchant]

Originally Posted by Maxxamillion

I guess y'all are thinking dedicated trail rig. Trailer queen or flat tow.
Driving your rig there and turning off onto an unknown (or known) trail spontaneous is rewarding. Adventurous! (take Anza Borrego for instance)
Not an overland rig, but a more short use day or weekend 4x4. I like 'luxury prerunners' as the usually have bada$$ suspension. They usually are also large & wide more open desert use. And expensive.
I just built up my 'poor mans' luxury prerunner. Not bottom dollar, but a solid used vehicle, small V8, and reliability. Somebody got the weight wrong earlier... it comes in at 4900 lbs stock.
Full suspension package. 11.7" of travel all around (Total Chaos in my case). Go fast or go slow, its gaining a good reputation as a general use 4x4.

A Lexus GX470! ...Mentioned briefly here. A reliable Toyota in Lexus clothing lol. Not boring IMO.

Small V8 (smooth power, poor fuel mileage), traction control, center diff lock. Decent amenities within (admittedly aging in design but 100% operative in my vehicle at least).
Poor center console.
I overlook the weak areas, and enjoy the quiet luxury of the vehicle. Decent stock sound system (mine is not blown out), I have a BT module going in in a couple of days...
I found a solid rig, a 2004 non VVT with 130K miles - just got it in Jan '22. Its a cream puff and badazz at the same time.
MY trail rig I can drive there and back home. Within reason. I am not trying to make it a rock crawler or squeeze through tight trees. Basically take care of it.
This is my angle and of course not everyones idea of a trail rig.

That suspension package is glorious!

[Maxxamillion]

Originally Posted by DirtMerchant

That suspension package is glorious!

Thanks! The faster it goes the better it works - takes bumps well. It goes slow well too.
I four wheel it fairly easy to keep it in nice shape.

[CM9000]

gotta say, im kinda jealous. my first ride was a 98 sport xj. red. it was bone stock with an auto. i had an itch to get a manual trans vehicle. so i found a 95 2 door neon with a 2.4 swap out of a stratus and a long tube header with borla exhaust. sold the xj and quickly bought the neon. learned stick pretty quick.

before i dumped the xj... i took it everywhere i could. had loads of fun on the trails and what not around me.

if i didnt drive 114 miles a day, id be driving a xj and not my fiesta st..

all you need now bud, is a 4 inch lift with some longarms in the front and some wheels and tires. might need a SYE kit.

go have fun in that xj!