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2001 Cherokee patriot blue XJ. Nostalgic build
The story for me and jeeps began when I first got my license. My twin brother and I shared a black 2001 Cherokee, hence the nostalgia part of this build for me. It was our first vehicle, we built it as much as high school twins could, and made a bunch of memories in it. I was hooked. This was the ole girl. http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/...psh3kwwzpx.png When it was time to get my own Jeep, I got a 94 2 door 5 speed Cherokee. Found a ton of rot and sold it 2 weeks later for an 84 CJ7, that led to a 97 4cyl TJ, then a 2002 4.0 TJ, then a Nissan Titan, then a 2007 Rubicon unlimited, then a 2008 f250, then my 2006 Cummins, then my 2005 Silverado, which is 2wD, and let me to wanting something 4wD, which is where the 2001 Cherokee came into play. I bought the Jeep about a year and a half ago, and it sat like this. https://i1295.photobucket.com/albums...ps788zihxy.jpg so the Jeep sat for quite a while after this point. I started piecing together a lift buying one new part at a time. I ended up with 5.5” rubicon express springs front and rear, 2” spacer in the front (will eventually go RE 7.5” springs) 5.5” leafs with rubicon express shackles, BDS shocks, and all the miscellaneous smaller parts. Plan was to do CAVFAB longarms but I came across a rockkrawler 3 link on Facebook marketplace and picked them up for cheap, brand new in the box still. Picked up a warrior products rack that was for a 4 door wrangler while In the area as well. Found a set of 5 35 inch km2s on wheels with about 85% tread for $620. The steering I also found on Facebook marketplace for cheap, it’s a B lees hiem joint setup. Also found some rock sliders on Facebook. I did a hack and tap SYE with a stock front driveshaft also. Enough blabbing, here is the Jeep as of yesterday. With RE springs sitting higher than they’re listed at, I presume the Jeep is sitting st about 7.5-8”~~ https://i1295.photobucket.com/albums...psj8jfomkm.jpg https://i1295.photobucket.com/albums...psnexeujqe.jpg |
This rig is awesome. So awesome I recently purchased a very similar 2000 Patriot Blue XJ with 3.5" RE lift. Your's looks really nice, paint looks super minty.
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Looks good. Love the blue.
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Nice looking jeep! Love the blue!
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So I haven’t updated the Jeep “build” at all, but it’s undergone some big changes. I purchased axles for the Jeep for $300 that were already under a Cherokee, they were hacked in and needed to be refit and tabbed, but here was the axles when I got them. Front is a 79 Ford HPD44 and the rear is a sterling 10.5 from an 04 f250
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The PO of the axles kind of hacked them in so I brought them to a local off-road shop to have them fabbed up correctly, here was the day I picked it up.
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The tires that came with the axles were junk, wrong size wheels drilled to fit the back, basically a nightmare. So I purchased some black rock 17x9 steel wheels with 4.5” backspacing and got these tires for $202 a tire.... yes $202 a tire. 38x13.5r17 Patagonia milestar mud terrains. Bigger than I wanted but I couldn’t pass up the deal
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Cleaned up the front and rear axles, and got my rear wheels mounted because I’m still waiting on the fronts to come in.
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It’s a monster. Still a lot to do, I didn’t really plan on doing full widths but I couldn’t pass up the deal. Driveshafts are currently being shortened, waiting on front wheels, should be drivable by the weekend. Frame stiffeners will be next, and eventually gears and lockers. I don’t use the Jeep much, but I want it to be a clean, streetable full width Cherokee that’s not all cut apart. Be able to drive it to the beach and take it camping. Definitely didn’t need 3/4 / 1 ton axles, but again, the deal was too good to pass up, and besides, it looks Effin bada$$.
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Heck yeah man! What kind of gear ratios are in them?
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Originally Posted by thetastelingers
(Post 3564980)
Heck yeah man! What kind of gear ratios are in them?
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Originally Posted by Dylan2405
(Post 3565011)
Stock ford gears right now, 3.73s. Plan is to do a front locker and 5.38s. But I’ve been sinking a little bit more into the Jeep than I kind of planned (haven’t we all) so that might not be till fall. Just want it to be drivable for now. It’s definitely on the to do list though.
It'll be worth it though. You'll have a very capable machine that works well. |
Originally Posted by thetastelingers
(Post 3565056)
Oh yeah! I know ALL about putting more money in than I planned. LOL
It'll be worth it though. You'll have a very capable machine that works well. Yep, certainly more capable than I need but I find it hard keeping things practical. Just trying to finish up this unplanned phase. I’m probably the only guy on the forum rocking full widths with stock flares and bumper still.... LOL |
Wheels still aren’t here. Supposed to be in tomorrow, picking up the rear driveshaft tomorrow. Also ordered synergy swaybar relocation brackets for the front to raise them up and clear the steering. The heep quite literally looks like a big heep sitting in the driveway waiting to be done.
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Came home from work today, wheels didn’t show up. But got my rear driveshaft bolted in. Hopefully wheels come tomorrow. Nice little booty shot for the time being.
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