Swank's XJ Cherokees

also maxxis really isnt an off brad they make atv/utv tires/trailer tires and a few styles of 4x4 tire.

also do you want A/T's or M/T's?

They also make a nice miata-friendly racing slick. I didn't use the term "off brand" properly.

I think A/Ts are probably the way to go, since street stuff and winter for the time being.

I like a chunky-looking A/T though, because i'm a redneck at heart.

look at the KANATI MUD HOGs sold at sams club/wal mart.

or buy anything and a tire groover and make your own M/T

Looks like the AT-771 Bravo is dirt cheap in sizes that AREN'T 235/75r15. So that's fun.

In reply to Swank Force One:

31's +

I'm trying to not hack this thing up. At least definitely not before the lift.

lol I am contemplating If I can get 37's to fit a M1008(chevy k30) without a lift. 35's fit with some trimming.

after looking at tire prices I think 35's will be my limit... $400+ a tire is a little much

In reply to Swank Force One:

I have those Nexen A/T's on my 99 Sierra in the E load flavor. I'm happy with them. Daily driving, towing, loaded, off road. I bought mine at Walmart online, shipped to the store.

I need stereo.

Ordered a pair of Sony XS-GS1720 to see if they'll fit in the doors. There's some depth concerns. If they fit, i'll actually put this pair in the back, then get the component version for the doors. Only worried about magnet clearing window, not tweeter clearing door panel, because with components, the tweet won't be mounted down there, i'll put it in the sail panel.

Trying to figure out what to do about sub/amp. I like the XJ Pod 8-10" box that goes in that stupid cubby in the back, but i'm not sure if i like it enough to pay $100 for it, though i do already have a spare 10" or three laying around.

Amp... Not looking to blow my ears out, so thinking about giving the Picaso Nano series a try. Cheap, small, and doesn't have to be stupid powerful. And i'd be able to throw it under the back seat.

I need input on headunit. I've got it narrowed down to three options right now i think. I will be adding SirisXM things to anything i buy.

Kenwood KDC-X996 Budget Brawler: www.ebay.com/itm/171544269338
Our old MSM had an older version of this headunit and i loved it. Cheapest option, already has the SiriusXM thingymabobber. ($30 value.) Unsure if it'll do full Pandora control with my Android devices. $150.

Pioneer DEH-X9600BHS: www.ebay.com/itm/261672182891
I've never really liked Pioneer headunits, but this looks good, and has all the features i want. I've also typically had low end Pioneer stuff, so i don't know if that's an accurate representation. ~$210 with SiriusXM hookup.

Kenwood KDC-X998: www.ebay.com/itm/111524724065
This is the current iteration of the Excelon decks i love. Does everything i want, possibly has the best EQ out of the options given. ~$230 with SiriusXM hookup.

Sony MEX-GS810BH: www.ebay.com/itm/291302328115
Sony's current high-end GS series stuff, which is said to pick up where the old ES Series left off. Isn't hideous looking, has all the features i need/want, and comes with a $50 gift certificate to the seller i'm buying speakers from anyways. Between the certificate i got from the 6.5" coaxs i already bought, and the $50 from this, that would be enough to cover the GS 6.5" components i have picked out. So... "Free" speakers. ~$230 effective out of pocket with SiriusXM hookup.

What do?

I've run many Pioneers over the years and liked them. Decent sound, good quality and all the features I want.

I'm adding another, will update post above. But i'm considering Sony again. I liked my old Sony headunits, and have been thoroughly impressed with the GS speakers.

www.ebay.com/itm/291302328115

Bobzilla wrote: I've run many Pioneers over the years and liked them. Decent sound, good quality and all the features I want.

Yeah i'm curious about them. I think i've always had crappy ones. I hate the one in the Miata right now. I find the menus obnoxiously hard to navigate and i've never really been impressed with the sound. But, i'm reasonably sure that my experiences have come from Wal-Mart spec bargain basement models.

Look at tge jvc offerings. Im shocked at how good they are for the price. Great eq.

Dusterbd13 wrote: Look at tge jvc offerings. Im shocked at how good they are for the price. Great eq.

I looked, but looks are kindof important to me. The only ones that i like the looks of don't have enough pre-outs. (The Sony i listed is treading the "looks line.") I need 3 sets (f/r/sub) and would prefer 4v or higher. They still seem to be stuck on iphone-only integration as well.

Alright so here's the plan.

I ordered a pair of Sony XS-GS1720 coaxials for $50 (with $25 gift card) to see if the mounting depth will work in the doors. If they fit, i'll get the Sony MEX-GS810BH headunit to score another $50 gift card.

Will then install the GS1720 coaxials in the rear, and order the Sony XS-GS1720S components to fit in the doors. For "Free" with the gift cards.

Total investment:
Headunit - $240
Rear speakers - $50
Front components - $75

Less $75 gift cards = $290.

Leaves some extra wiggle room for a halfway decent 5 channel amp and maybe one of those funky XJ Pod cubby sub boxes.

I procrastinated too long and Sonic sold out of the Sony components i wanted, making the $75 total gift cards a bit useless, which is what was pushing me over the edge on the Sony head unit.

SWMBO bought me the Kenwood KDC-X998 for christmas because she's awesome. I then found the Sony components on closeout elsewhere for $55.

Running total:
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X998 - $210
Sony XS-GS1720 coax (rear) - $50
Sony XS-GS1720 comps (front) $55

And i still have a $25 gift certificate that i'll probably put towards the Sirius box or a 5-channel amp.

I think i'm going to start tracking every dollar i sink into this thing, as well as gas mileage. Never really done that with a build, and it'd be interesting to see how much it really costs to build a mild-ish overland long hauler XJ.

In case anyone else is interested in the same stereo stuff for any reason:

KDC-X998 $210 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171567936724

Sony XS-GS1720S $55 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281442832749

Sony XS-GS1720 $45 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281434891419

Headunit is also available for $200 refurb on Ebay. $300 gets you a pretty awesome start.

Be afraid when you do that. Be very afraid.

Dusterbd13 wrote: Be afraid when you do that. Be very afraid.

Oh i'm aware... i added up the Escort about halfway through.... before i dumped about $4k worth of Haltech/Racepak/AEM management stuff into it. It hurt.

This one and the other Miata that will be my last "big" build for a long time, i'll add up line by line. Moreso for other people than myself. A reality check to counteract all the threads you see where "Just grab this motor for $300 from the junkyard, dump it in, and drive!" (I'm guilty of it sometimes, too.) It's never that simple or cheap.

But yeah... i need to figure out Google Docs i think. Would like to have a 3 page spreadsheet going. Purchase/Maintenance, Gas, and modifications.

Then just dump it in the first post.

In reply to Swank Force One:

When you get a final number, I'll be the shoulder you can cry on.

Spoolpigeon wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: When you get a final number, I'll be the shoulder you can cry on.

That's sweet of you!

Saw a former US Mail XJ today on the drive home. RHD (dashboard was on the right side, so it may not have been a cheap conversion). It was a little weird, especially with the huge mirror stalk on the passenger front corner to help the driver see.

It was dark and I was driving or I'd have tried to grab a pic.

That is all. Carry on.

There's a lot in MI with a bunch of beautiful black japanese market rhd XJs. Gold mesh wheels, wood grain interior. I want. Bad.

Well... cross your fingers.

Blue jeep started leaking coolant this week. It's all over the front of the motor. Radiator hoses and radiator are new, so i'm guessing this is probably the water pump.

I don't really have time to mess with it, so we're going to drop it off at a shop on Monday and have it taken care of. Cross your fingers that a few of you were right and that the old (probably original) 200k mile water pump was the root cause of the E36 M3ty heat in that truck.

Definitely water pump leaking. 2-3 drips a second.

Good news is that a water pump was a whopping $22.99 from Advance. Dropping it off this weekend since it's cold out and i don't feel like berkeleying with it. Should have it back Monday night. We will see if it has heat then.

Leak on blue Jeep is fixed, has a new water pump.

Heat still doesn't work. FML.