ABBA-ZABA

So I picked up a 1998 Cherokee about a month ago for $2000 from my Dad's coworker, it runs well and for the most part everything is in working order. The truck was named "Abba-Zabba" (white exterior, tan interior) and the name is staying but I prefer "Old Zab". It spent most of its life as a fire car in NC so there is some rust and Fire Dept logos, not to mention the grossly plugged siren holes in the roof.

Project "Old Zab" will take me though my senior year in high school and hopefully in a year or so I will be able to do the Rubicon trail as well as Fordyce Creek trail and have some laughs along the way.

I'm new to Jeeps and modding so any comments/suggestions are welcome or if you want to wheel I'm in the Tahoe area.

Specs:
4.0L Inline Six
NP231
AW4 Tranny
2 Door
Dana 30/Dana 35

Expected Big Mods:
4.5" Lift
Rear Dana 44 Swap (& possibly disc brake conversion)
35's (and supporting mods)
D30/D44 Locked
Custom Bumpers/Sliders
Custom Roll Cage

"New", 115000 miles on the clock

ABBA-ZABA

I'm not a fan of the stock rims w/spare look and I wanted something wider so I picked up some 15x8 Pro Comp Series 51 wheels from 4Wheel Parts. The tires were also completely bald so I got some Goodyear AT/R tires to wheel with so I could figure out what I like/want to change.

Wheeling with my Dad and a buddy:


The flares instantly came off and they're not going back on, also the check engine light went off when I hit a bump so I guess that's good.

ABBA-ZABA

I purchased a 4.5" RC short arm kit because it's cheap, I know the long arm is generally better but I'm on a budget. The install took a while because everything was so rusted and I was missing a few parts from RC, but their customer service is great. The biggest issue was the steering stabilizer but we pretty much completed everything with a torch, PB blaster, a ton of wrenches and a sledgehammer. Also, I wasn't really feeling the 2 door look before but I think it really works with the lift.

Hitting the Bernie lean with only the front on:


Putting the rear on...


The death wobble was really bad getting it to the mechanic to get it aligned but we made it without pissing too many people off.

Flex test (I also got some used 33" BFG AllTerrains, not rubbing at all):


Light wheeling today, a little worried about the weak Dana 35 but I went to PicknPull and J & W auto and picked up a D44, ZJ V8 Tie Rod & Drag Link among other things.