The "Jeep Jeep"
 

Well been on her for a bit and its time for a build thread. My "Jeep Jeep" is a 1999 Cherokee classic 4.0 AW4 HP30 8.25 with 208,000 miles on the clock and increasing daily. I purchased my jeep up in Burien from a rich couple with 176,000 miles with a stack of receipts from dealer for all the work done since it was out of warranty. They where asking $2500 for it and I got it for $1800. It has no oil leaks and has been most reliable rig I've owned yet.

This is the 3rd jeep I've owned, first was 89 xj sport stock height on 32x11.5s, second was 98 wrongler 4" lift on 32x11.5s. Now I would have preferred a green or white jeep but the only color I can afford is red. As all 3 jeeps I've owned where red.

Little about me, names John. Everyone calls me little John as I'm a short Irish prick. I've been working on cars my whole life, mostly Mopars. I'm a machinist at a company that builds some of the best waterjet machines around

Okay now here is a few pics since that is all you guys want to see anyways.

Here is earliest pic I have. It was stock when I got it but this pic has a 2" spacer/shackle lift and stock 235/75-15s on it

Welcome! Nice XJ

Next up was to get some mud tires on it. Got me a set of rubi take offs with a set of 245/75-16 (30.5x10.5/16). I gotta say if you are starting out these are some killer tires that are tough. And I went through 3 sets of these tires before selling them for my current km2s. They cleared the budget boost with minor trimming.

Next thing I got was some used 3.5" coils for $30 and whipped up a bastard pack. Rear sat a tad lower but I rocked it like that through many trails. Then I trimmed my fenders and raised my stock flares up 1.5"s.

Drove it for awhile then scored a set of jk shocks for $40 that only had 300 miles on em. I replaced every sensor on the motor after a few trips through some deep mud.

Next step was a set of shackle relocation brackets and bought a extra set of front doors off of MudderXJ for $150 I believe. It lifted back up about 1-1/4"s now my already too short jk shocks where even shorter so I built some 2.5" body side shock extetions for the rear. Now the rear drives so smooth and flexes so good I can easily max out a set of 12" travel shocks

Okay so about month and half ago a finally sold my mt/R's. I gotta say I was so nervous to get away from such a tough proven tire but my kms I got for cheap seem to be doing real good. I sold 6 of the Mtrs and 4 rubi rims for $300 and used a set of craigslist 16x8 w/4.25 backspace ions I got new in the box for $130 and throw on a set of craigslist km2's for $220. They are 285/75-16's. I then threw on some 1" spacers on top of my 3.5" coils. So I'm sitting 4.5 in the front and 4.75 in the rear. My front shocks don't give me much down travel now I gotta say. Jeep wheels great but shocks are in dire need of replacing. Next thing in purchased a spartan locker new for $255 off amazon and it was super easy to install and the Jeep Jeep just climbs up just about anything. So we are just about current on where jeep is now.

Here are a few pics from my last few trips to little naches.

Another good pic

One of my favorite pics

So far what I got for the jeep and modified/made currently

Unknown rail mount rack $(came with jeep)
Window vent shades (Ebay)$40
K/N air filter $50
16x8 4.25 bs (cl) ion rims $130
3.5" lift (cl) coil springs $30
1" coil spacer(Ebay) $20
JK (ebay) shocks $40
285/75-16 x5 (cl) BFG KM2's $220
Spartan locker (Amazon.com) $255
Front rugged ridge formed floor mats (Quadratrec.com) $60
1/4" thick black rubber mat for cargo are $Free
Shackle relocation kit and front doors (cherokeeForum find) to make half doors from $150
Bastard pack $Free
Raised stock flares and used heavy duty zip ties to hold on better $Free
Pioneer deck (WalFart) $109
2.5" Rear shock extensions $Free

This is right after I got wheels/tires out on but before the front 1" spacers

One of the things that really got me motivated was one day I realized the jeep I helped my mom get and fix was a bit bigger and nicer. She has a 1998 xj classic 5.5" lift with 33/12.5-15 KM1's. And I was still sitting on 3.5" lift and 30.5" tires.

Here is a side by side of that.

Nice looking jeep!

looks good.. i hope to put all the lift parts sitting in my garage on my cherokee to do the oregon trail