So I wanted to get some input as I go along. I bought this stock 96 Cherokee Country June of 2010. End of the year I bought 31's knowing I had to trim so I did. Last year this month I got RC 4.5 Xseries, Sadly short arm, but long arm is on the list! Had to swap out the old D35 cuz of bad gears. Found a XJ D44 with 4:10's, put it on and pulled off the front shaft. Finally this past month I found 4:10's for the front D30, got an Eaton locker, G2 axles, and of course a master install.... You can see the housing is bare now and thats where Im at. Obviously the 31's are gone and trying out some 35's, might go down to 33's. She is a daily driver (not at the moment), but will go out as much as gas prices allow me! lol. Will post pics as I get more done, especially since I will no be practicing welding!

 

Got these Yj bumpers so I can practice my welding. The one on the right is good length for the front. Make some brackets and winch plate and I'm done...right? Is the hitch receiver worth keeping in the front??

 

So I need my front diff back! If I dont install it soon I'm gonna rip my front end apart, lol. Pulled the gear box of hoping I could get that Durango box, but no luck. So I pulled the front bumper off to see what I need to do to make my "new"used bumper needs

 

Got my Durango gear box...won't put it on til I get the front bumper on. Still don't have my front diff back

 

So heres my shorten bracket, the weld looks better than the first.u

 

New gear box on the left. You can barely tell its larger.

 

Do now the bumper is much closer. With the stock brackets the bumper would have had a 4" gap under the headlights.

 

Opened up the dash. Fixed the hi/lo switch for ac. Clean up the guages, and set the switch for my Eaton locker, right next to the rear wiper switch.

 

Installed the locker switch and cleaned up my guages

 

Finally!! My locker and axles are in! Excited! Bought new hub assembly, mine were bad.

 

She is all back together! Ready for our run with church group.... Too excited

 

Good run at Johnson Valley! I need to practice more welding... My front bumper was ripped off! 0_0

 

I need Cherokees to represent! I still get hassled even with a Liberty in the group!0_°

 

So this is what happens when you dont know how to weld! It was my first try. Just keep practicing right

 

So I've been practicing welding. After I was properly schooled by my buddy, this is how it turned out. Now I feel comfortable making some bumper brackets that will work!