xjbuilder

so i just turned 15 and my parents friend hooked me up with a bone stock 89 cherokee. at first i didnt think it was that great but then i started looking into some of the stuff u can do to cherokees and here is what i came up with.
BUILD UP PARTS!!

1. 6.5in. suspinsion lift
2. 33in. tires
3. we have a chevy small block 350 that we are gonna drop in
4. dana 44 in the back and regeared (idk wat gears?)ideas?
5. new transfor case
6. new trany
7. slip yoke eliminator

any other ideas would be greatly appreciated

projectmayhem

What motor is in, because if it is a 4.0 I would go through and replace seals if needed but they are great motors over all, I wouldn't put a 350 in anything but a lake

xjbuilder

ya its the 4.0L straight six! it is a good motor but people keep telling me that if i want to turn big meats and bigger axles then i need to do an engine swap..is this correct or will just re-gearing it take care of those issues and wat gearing is good?

the only reason i say a 350 is because we have one that needs a re build and i need an auto shop project motor and so i was thinkin of why not just dropping it in and swapping it out...not a good idea?

cherokee4meplz

welcome to the board builder! XJ engine swaps are growing more popular, I think part of it is due to the trucks getting old, combined with the fact that you can get the same or better gas mileage out of a stronger motor. There's a guy with an LS1 in a red cherokee that I have been admiring.

That said, I want to do a stroker build at some point on mine, just to keep it jeep.

xjbuilder

well thank you i really cant wait to start on my build i want to have it good and going by the time i get my license but ya a stroker would be sick is it pretty much a drop in swap...wat else do u need to change?

2 more questions...does anyone know about shakles for the rear i am really confused..i keep heraring its super simple but idk if anyone knows how to build them id be more than willing to buy them off u!

and also wat vehicles are good donor vehicles that i can pretty much bolt on to my jeep for things like axles and such?

jeeptilldeath

well to answer your question you can find jeeps in junkyards to pull your stuff off of and then you may need to weld and such for mounts but if you pull off of a cherokee it should bolt up. but i should put this up cuz everyone else is thinking it.

xjbuilder

ok cool sounds good and u know wat i was thinkin the same thing but idk how to so wat do i need to do to get some on the thread?

jeeptilldeath

im still not sure how they get the words in between pics but if you go into the reply you can click on the paperclip and it puts the pics in as an attachment and if you look at my jeep build which is the gremlin that is what it will be like. it just put the pics under the words that you put in the form.

xjbuilder

ok cool thank you so here you go some pics of her shes not much but hey she was free!
Attachment 1940

Attachment 1941

Attachment 1942

Attachment 1943

Attachment 1944
the interior is a little dirty but there isnt any rust so thats a plus

xjbuilder

sorry the top couple pics didnt come up so here they are again

matejcekautoworks

keep it jeep, mainly cause if you put a fire breathing v8 in there you run the risk of twisting the unibody, plus it adds more weight, i would pull your 4.0 and use that as ur project.any one can build a chev 350, their the most common engine, other known as borring, cause just about everyone has one.

projectmayhem

what size tires you plan on puttin on it, and for what reason, trail, muddin, both, or daily drivin

matejcekautoworks

lol..............

cherokeemonster90

cut some and go with 35s

cherokeemonster90

i know this guy with a stoke 4.0 running 42" tires and gets up to highway speed no problem. my jeep is soon going to running 37" tires and im keeping the 4.0 in and with what i am doing i will be pushing as much as you 350. i will be pushing out about 350hp and 400ft/ibs i would stick with the 4.0 i do love those 350 motors dont get me wrong i have one in my rock crawler with 44s