This is my 96 2dr 2wd AW4 Chrysler 8.25 XJ. It's not the prettiest, but I Plan to make it into something extremely special.
--Intent
Lets start with my intentions, I want to make a street sleeper. I plan on rebuilding the engine into a stroker, then supercharging it. And lowering it akin to what Psuedosport has posted on NAXJA his "XJ-R" https://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1094822.
--History
The History of this vehicle is short. 3 owners including me. I acquired it in 2018 after the previous owner(a family friend) rolled it over into a ditch off a highway. He couldn't stand looking at what he did to it. And I at the time needed a car. So if I could get it road worthy it was mine for free. To be clear damage was minimal. no frame damage, large cosmetic damage to passenger side, and a broken windshield. Otherwise it was well maintained and has only 146k miles.
--Whats done
KYB Gas Adjust shocks all around (nothing special just "sportier" replacements)
K-Suspension Reman 4-port injectors
K-suspension Hood spacers
Powerstop Z23 calipers, rotors, and pads
K&N intake
Cat delete (Got it that way)
--What I have but haven't installed
Transgo Shift kit
Edelbrock Performer Head
Doug Thorley ceramic headers
Front suspension rebuild kit
Comp Cam
Mishimoto rad kit
Gasket kit
Harland Sharp roller rockers
AC delete pulley
AEM wideband
Autometer Cluster
Eaton M90 supercharger from SC Thunderbird
--What I know I need( What I don't know is later)
4.2 crank and rods
4.0 forged dished pistons
5x10 rims for lower profile tires
TJ stock height front coils (inch drop)
Caltracs system in the rear
Axle over leaf flip
Frame rail stiffening as much as possible
97+ intake manifold+ port and polish
Intercooler
Supercharger mount and charge pipe fabrication
Custom exhaust
Rear Disc conversion
Body work(passenger door, widebody kit?, Rollcage, fill roof rail mount holes, minor rust repair, lights, bumpers?)
--What I don't know
What EFI system to go with (AEM, Holley, ACES, Stock with HP tuner)
What ignition system( 97+ coil conversion, LS style COP, HEI, Wasted spark coil mod)
The spline count of my 8.25 (96 was a split between 27 and 29 spline) and then what differential
Trans controller for torque converter lockup control and sequential shifting
6speed cluster swap or digital dash with Standalone
Fuel system rework( AEM pump, relocate custom regulator to under hood or interior, Fasster rail?, relocate filters?, new return and send lines, tank/fuel cell?)
--The Future
I would be happy to answer any questions about what I've done or any parts I've found. I'll be doing lots of looking around here and further posts about the major questions I have. Updates will be scarce I don't have much time to work on my XJ and it is my daily driver so major work is hard to do. But I am building vacation time to do the major work.

 

This will be a fun build to follow. Looks like you have a solid plan to execute. Good on you for that. I'm also doing something that may be considered a little different than what most seem to do with their Cherokees; I'm returning mine back to mostly factory configuration.

Sure I'm doing a few things like adding a trans cooler, upgrading the headlight wiring, installed some Dynamat when I had the interior ripped out and a few other things. But I have removed most of the aftermarket stuff that came with it when I bought it: custom front bumper, LED headlights and fog lights, wrong front diff, and undoing some sketchy mechanical work.

Good luck and a side question: I am considering KYB's when I replace my shocks. Are you happy with them?

 

how did you do the axle over leaf conversion? I am looking to lower the rear end of my Jeep. Also, what are you doing to lower the front? I don't want to cut the springs because I am looking for something that is designed to be lower.