Swfljeep

Let me first off tell u about the cherokee. It's a 94 with over 250,000 miles. It pretty rough. Lots of rust from being up north. It stock str8 6 auto. Not sure which axles but I am guessing Dana 35? rear. The plan is to build it so I can drive it from ft Myers fl all the way into Canada and spend a full week off road. Then drive it back. So I need to build it with highway and offroad in mind. I will not trailer it. I have over 2 years to plan and build it. It will be tested in the mud park in my area. So it will have to handle water and large mud pits. I hope to use as many parts from junkyard before I buy something off shelf. I can weld and fab really well.


Ok some ideas I already have.
Suspension- 4 link rear and 3 link front. On airbags

Drive train- stock tranny and transfer with Dana 44 or ford 8.8 for rear and not sure about front

Engine- rebuild with performance parts and maybe a stroker kit. But I really want to do a homemade turbo. Did many years ago.

Tire wheel- steel bead locks with 31-35"

That's all I have so far. Please leave ideas and comments on what would work good.


I don't have a place on where I am wheeling in Canada but it would be on the eastern side

TN12valve

I would suggest not doing a stroker or turbo motor... They are too expensive and too much hassle for not having that great of power increases.

Lead Foot

Really? Care to elaborate please. You must be one of those 350 guys.

Some possibilities

Swfljeep

I really like turbos and can do a kit for cheap and the stroker I was thinking not that big 4.2-4.5

TN12valve

I just cant justify spending that kind of money on building a motor for a vehicle that really doesnt need the power increase... The stock 4.0 is more than enough to turn up to a 35'' tire in the woods and get you out of just about any situation.

I just think that the money could be better spent elsewhere.

And no, i am not a 350 guy at all... Im more of a keep it stock and cheap kinda guy LOL

Lead Foot

So like a mini stroker using a 232 crank? I think your choices with the strait 6 depending on bore are 4.0, 4.2, 4.6-5.0.... http://www.jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/stroker.html

Swfljeep

4.2 would be nice. Motor is one of the last things I am going to rebuild. Is it safe to build a motor with that many miles. I heard from a guy at a shop say that motors with lots of miles are better due to the heating and cooling makes the block stronger

TN12valve

I wouldnt say that... Esspecially if you are going the turbo route. Youll need to sleve the cylinders and what not if you want that thing to hold up to anykind of significant boost (10+ lbs.) Id recommend having the block milled and shaved before you do anything else.

Swfljeep

Yea the motor will be done right cause I work with 3 different machine shops for my job. So it will be done there and I will just mock up the turbo and build the motor. I am thinking of 7lbs of boost

Lead Foot

Stock internals and head gasket can handle 8 PSI. For the record, that's what the simulations posted above are running.

XJ-92

can not do it to a 4.0 block

TN12valve

Why is that?

I am only familliar with boosting Honda and Yota engines...

And Cummins of course

Swfljeep

This is what I am sort of looking for. I know he is on this forum. My jeep is the same color and 4drs

XJ-92

um because there are no sleeves in the 4.0 block. lets say you want to stroke it out to 4.7 and go to far, most engines you can just replace the sleeve and start over. the 4.0 block you can not replace the sleeve. you can bore it out to whatever floats you boat.

Swfljeep

What about for a front axle. I really like the 8.8 for the rear but is there a good front axle out there. Worried about snapping the axle if it stays stock