Got another one! Project: PolarXJ

6DoF · 09-21-2021, 07:55 AM

Well, it took me a long time but i finally got my 2dr XJ! i've wanted a 2dr and have been half-a$sed looking for the right deal for 15 years, and this one even took me 2 years to get after making a deal on it. but here she is.

my buddy got it from a cop down the road from him who bought it new. no kids, always had the rear seat folded down. then my buddies dad was driving it and she over heated to the moon. at minimum the head gasket was torched. so i finally got my hands on it, and here we go!

6DoF · 09-21-2021, 07:58 AM

so last night i pulled her in to start work. i was being optimistic and had a new head gasket waiting. well she wasn't exactly flat when she came off, did a little more research, then went and started cleaning to look for cracks. not 30seconds in and after cleaning you can see the crack weeping oil. FAIL.

all the cylinders look perfect, no lip at the top, and the block is nice n flat still. so i'll either pick up a new head if i can get it quickly, or a used one from a local-ish guy. really hope to be driving this soon!

MBood82 · 09-21-2021, 10:17 AM

Minty clean!

jeepkid05 · 09-21-2021, 11:02 AM

Awesome. Looks clean. I miss every xj I owned.

Dennis · 09-21-2021, 11:15 AM

Looks awesome. Sucks about the heads, but should not be tough to find a decent replacement quick. What year?

6DoF · 09-21-2021, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Looks awesome. Sucks about the heads, but should not be tough to find a decent replacement quick. What year?

2000 ... and i've never actually looked at how many miles

i am picking up a used TUPY head tonight for $50 that might need some clean-up from sitting. but i have everything to wet sand the deck if needed, and everything to lap the valves back in. toss my springs and rockers on there if these are dry and make it run.

freerider15 · 09-23-2021, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6DoF

2000 ... and i've never actually looked at how many miles

i am picking up a used TUPY head tonight for $50 that might need some clean-up from sitting. but i have everything to wet sand the deck if needed, and everything to lap the valves back in. toss my springs and rockers on there if these are dry and make it run.

Just got done the other week putting a TUPY head on a flip Jeep.

Went ahead and pressure washed it (looks mighty clean), new head plug, valve seals, and lapped the valve seats. Not near as bad as I thought it might be (had never done anything but the plug before).

Looks like a nice clean ride...though not sure I'd buy another XJ these days still

Hoofmann · 09-21-2021, 02:45 PM

Any plans for this thing or just make it run and enjoy?

6DoF · 09-22-2021, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoofmann

Any plans for this thing or just make it run and enjoy?

the plan is to drive it and enjoy it, she's my new winter ride. however, i tend to enjoy things that aren't stock

nothing extra gets done until she proves to be a runner, and i've found/fixed all the other aging issues. we'll see, but i can't help from looking at parts!

needs:
-headliner pulled and re-glued
-door ding guards were pulled and the glue needs removed
-i'm sure there's more

will get:
-wireless android auto double din head unit
-big boy seat bracket mods (no way i'm buying the $$ brackets though)

Probable mods:
-3" lift
-simple black AL wheels and a 32" AT
-seat heaters
-new speakers

would like:
-JCR non-winch front bumper
-JCR non-swingout rear bumper

Cobound · 09-21-2021, 02:52 PM

Wow, super clean...super duper! Nice, congrats!!

Get a set of wheels on that puppy and she'll be a killer daily! I still have a huge soft spot for them...my daughter still drives one, and I'd grab another in a heartbeat for the right price and condition.

Enjoy!

xj_man_646 · 09-22-2021, 08:33 AM

Love it. I would love to find an XJ again.

Baby peez · 09-22-2021, 08:40 AM

might as well do the heat soak fix while you have it apart if it hasn't already been done yet

super clean

6DoF · 09-22-2021, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby peez

might as well do the heat soak fix while you have it apart if it hasn't already been done yet

super clean

i did make sure to save the insulation when i pulled it apart

Cobound · 09-22-2021, 11:55 PM

Seriously, hit up Sam with any XJ questions, or needs - he’s the XJ Whisperer

Looking forward to watching this one!

6DoF · 09-23-2021, 07:40 AM

i started thinking last night that i think i have 4.0 valve seals left over somewhere in my parts stash from prior work ... i really need to see if i do tonight.

worked for a few hours last night on this little dude. GIBBS and a red scotchbright, brass wire brush in a drill, and 600grit wet sanding with wd-40 and a nice heavy flat steel block. stopped last night with 8 valves left to lap before she's ready.

nblehm · 09-23-2021, 11:10 PM

I need to pull the head on the xj I have sitting at my work. Swapped short blocks because the one I got it with broke a rod and dropped a piston into the pan. Gambled and just reused the head and have a bad intake valve seat. Need to disassemble and figure out what I want to do. Only confirmed it with a vacuum waveform on my scope so far. The more I look at the jeep the more it needs so I am now dragging my feet, even though it takes me all of 30 mins to pull a head

6DoF · 09-24-2021, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nblehm

I need to pull the head on the xj I have sitting at my work. Swapped short blocks because the one I got it with broke a rod and dropped a piston into the pan. Gambled and just reused the head and have a bad intake valve seat. Need to disassemble and figure out what I want to do. Only confirmed it with a vacuum waveform on my scope so far. The more I look at the jeep the more it needs so I am now dragging my feet, even though it takes me all of 30 mins to pull a head

sounds like a basket case ... i'll give ya $20 + shipping

xj_man_646 · 09-24-2021, 10:36 AM

$25!

6DoF · 09-24-2021, 11:40 AM

nblehm · 09-24-2021, 10:09 PM

I got it for free so

09-21-2021, 07:55 AM	#1
6DoF AKA: jeepnski Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 16,842	Got another one! Project: PolarXJ Well, it took me a long time but i finally got my 2dr XJ! i've wanted a 2dr and have been half-a$sed looking for the right deal for 15 years, and this one even took me 2 years to get after making a deal on it. but here she is. my buddy got it from a cop down the road from him who bought it new. no kids, always had the rear seat folded down. then my buddies dad was driving it and she over heated to the moon. at minimum the head gasket was torched. so i finally got my hands on it, and here we go! __________________ ...................................___ .................. ________\|\|___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;\|/_(O)\______ /_(O)\|

09-21-2021, 07:58 AM	#2
6DoF AKA: jeepnski Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 16,842	so last night i pulled her in to start work. i was being optimistic and had a new head gasket waiting. well she wasn't exactly flat when she came off, did a little more research, then went and started cleaning to look for cracks. not 30seconds in and after cleaning you can see the crack weeping oil. FAIL. all the cylinders look perfect, no lip at the top, and the block is nice n flat still. so i'll either pick up a new head if i can get it quickly, or a used one from a local-ish guy. really hope to be driving this soon! __________________ ...................................___ .................. ________\|\|___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;\|/_(O)\______ /_(O)\|

09-21-2021, 02:52 PM	#10
Cobound - The Don - Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: MN Posts: 49,136	Wow, super clean...super duper! Nice, congrats!! Get a set of wheels on that puppy and she'll be a killer daily! I still have a huge soft spot for them...my daughter still drives one, and I'd grab another in a heartbeat for the right price and condition. Enjoy! __________________ To each his own. Not all those who wander are lost. The great irony - triggered snowflakes accusing triggered snowflakes of being triggered snowflakes

09-22-2021, 08:33 AM	#11
xj_man_646 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MN Posts: 27,689	Love it. I would love to find an XJ again. __________________ - James I like diesels

09-22-2021, 11:55 PM	#14
Cobound - The Don - Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: MN Posts: 49,136	Seriously, hit up Sam with any XJ questions, or needs - he’s the XJ Whisperer Looking forward to watching this one! __________________ To each his own. Not all those who wander are lost. The great irony - triggered snowflakes accusing triggered snowflakes of being triggered snowflakes

09-21-2021, 10:17 AM	#3
MBood82 Turd Ferguson Join Date: May 2004 Location: Almost Wisconsin Posts: 14,764	Minty clean!

09-21-2021, 11:02 AM	#4
jeepkid05 pee pee pants Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 16,378	Awesome. Looks clean. I miss every xj I owned.

09-21-2021, 11:15 AM	#5
Dennis Semper Fi ! Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 38,740	Looks awesome. Sucks about the heads, but should not be tough to find a decent replacement quick. What year?

09-21-2021, 02:45 PM	#8
Hoofmann AKA: Kebo Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7,795	Any plans for this thing or just make it run and enjoy?

09-23-2021, 07:40 AM	#15
6DoF AKA: jeepnski Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 16,842	i started thinking last night that i think i have 4.0 valve seals left over somewhere in my parts stash from prior work ... i really need to see if i do tonight. worked for a few hours last night on this little dude. GIBBS and a red scotchbright, brass wire brush in a drill, and 600grit wet sanding with wd-40 and a nice heavy flat steel block. stopped last night with 8 valves left to lap before she's ready. __________________ ...................................___ .................. ________\|\|___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;\|/_(O)\______ /_(O)\| Last edited by 6DoF; 09-23-2021 at 07:45 AM.

09-23-2021, 11:10 PM	#16
nblehm Needs moar dagger Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 26,773	I need to pull the head on the xj I have sitting at my work. Swapped short blocks because the one I got it with broke a rod and dropped a piston into the pan. Gambled and just reused the head and have a bad intake valve seat. Need to disassemble and figure out what I want to do. Only confirmed it with a vacuum waveform on my scope so far. The more I look at the jeep the more it needs so I am now dragging my feet, even though it takes me all of 30 mins to pull a head

09-24-2021, 10:36 AM	#18
xj_man_646 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MN Posts: 27,689	$25! __________________ - James I like diesels

09-24-2021, 11:40 AM	#19
6DoF AKA: jeepnski Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 16,842	__________________ ...................................___ .................. ________\|\|___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;\|/_(O)\______ /_(O)\|

09-24-2021, 10:09 PM	#20
nblehm Needs moar dagger Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 26,773	I got it for free so