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Having owned
and off-roaded a number of different Jeeps ranging from a
1980 Jeep CJ-7 with a monster 5.9ltr V8 engine through to
a Grand Cherokee I can confess to being hooked. OK, I weakened
a little and went for a Range Rover Vogue
4.6 Ltr V8 as
my daily driver but at over £40k there is no way I'm
taking it off-road. It's not that the RR can't hack it -
it's me. I just know I'll end up pushing it to the limit
- I always do!
My Project XJ had been 100% reliable
and proved to be more than capable off-road, in fact I'd go
so far as to say that it out performed most 4x4's without
braking into a sweat. However, no matter how good it
was, it just didn't have the same appeal as a traditional
open top Jeep - hence Project TJ.
Those that
know me will be aware that due to my disability
I have a number of special needs to cater for; firstly I
have to be able to get into it from a wheelchair. Ok, standard I can cope
with, but lifted that's a hole different ball game.
Secondly it would need to be an automatic with full hand
controls. So, all that said why did I go out and buy a
fully lift manual? Well I know that great Jeeps are
built not brought - but it never said who had to build
it! Just check out these specs and you'll see why this
had to be the one.
Current specs;
1998 Jeep TJ 4.0ltr Sport with 9500 miles on the clock,
complete with personalized
number plate N8 MUD.
-
2
1/2" Old Man Emu lift
-
1"
Body lift
-
Dana
44 rear axle
-
4.56
gears
-
15x8.5"
Centreline wheels
-
33x12.5"
BFG Mud terrains
-
Performance
disc's and pads
-
ARB
diff-locks - front & rear
-
ARB
on-board air tank system and tools
-
Skid
Row lower control arm protectors
-
Currie
Anti-rock sway bar
-
Currie
Motor Mounts
-
Twin
electric fans with water sensor cut off
-
Safari Snorkel &
K&N Filter
-
Warn
9500i winch
-
Tomkin
winch mount
-
Tomkin
steering guard
-
Tomkin
sump & tank protectors
-
Tomkin
front bumper
-
Tomkin
rear bumper with tyre, jerrycan & hi-lift
-
Custom
lifter
heavy duty side bars
-
Fire
& First Aid equipment
As you
can see no expense was spared in this build-up and the only
valid reason the owner gave for selling her was that he
wanted to do an 8" lift on one of the silver 60th anniversary
specials! What made the deal irresistible was that he
took my XJ in part payment. If you've ever tried to sell a heavily
off-roaded vehicle you'll know just what I mean.
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