A couple months ago i sold my car and bought my 1997 jeep cherokee. I'm relitivily new to automotive work and this is my first jeep. I know it has a np231 transfercase, an 8.25 in the rear, its an auto with 186,000 miles.

Things i've done:
3" rough country lift
removed rear swaybar

Things to do:
TC drop(waiting to be installed)
install upgraded gauge cluster(waiting to be installed
roof rack
front and rear bumper
black steelies
Mud tires
hitch
transmission cooler?
install new speakers
find and install soundbar
replace interior door panels.

As you can tell i have a lot of plans for this jeep but i won't keep you waiting, here are the pics.


First day i took it out

With the 3" lift

 

Here are some pictures of my friend and myself installing the lift. the front took forever because the axle actually moved so much that we couldn't get the lower control arms to line up. Finally used some ratchet straps to move it where we needed it. The rear was a lot easier.

Old shocks were really bad.

tapping the screw out because it was stuck.

We had to use a spring compressor even though we dropped the axle to almost the floor.

My best buddy helping me out. would have been much more difficult without him

I didn't get any of the rear, it's difficult to takes pictures when your hands are covered with oil

 

Installed my Tc drop that helped with some noise and installed a soundbar. I'm going to try and buy speakers for the front and install my audio deck and have some tunes. No pics, i'll take some soon though.

 

nice looking jeep!

 

Looks good. I'd use some forever black on the flares and end-caps. Grab a ZJ tierod if you plan on wheeling. I forgot the stock ones were that thin. Good luck with it. When I got mine 2 years ago, a fellow Jeeper told me "you'll never be done building it." He's right so far.

 

Thanks!

 

I thinking about just taking the flares off soon and as soon as i can get a bumper made the end-caps are coming off too. Just need to find a welder.

 

Looks good.. wish I lived in a state that I could run without flares.... then again I just painted mine with Krylon Fusion black... so they aren't faded anymore... How does the lift handle/ride now that you took care of the vibe issues??

 

It handles a little better but i can still feel some vibes, i need to get an SYE. It also makes a weird popping sound when i'm moving in reverse and hit the brakes?

 

It looks like my steering box is leaking so i'm pretty sure i'm going to upgrade to a durango steering box.

 

So i've been inactive for quote some time and should have taken more pics. What i've done since i posted last:
TC drop
Steelies, and mud tires
removed fender flairs
Removed front bumper, welding up a new one
soundbar
hitch
upgraded the gauge cluster
Oh ya, and replaced the transmission, that was fun.



I'm in the process of building a roof rack, then i'm going to build a front bumper. Then i'll start on the rear bumper.

 

Looks good. You should check out the expedition portal forum if you haven't already. With your jeep and your location you can do some really cool exploration camping trips based out of your jeep. I used to be heavily into ultralight backpacking but there's nothing I love more than having it storm outside while I sleep in my suv warm and dry on a thick foam mattress. Plus when I wake up there's no wet gear to mess with. I guess you don't have that problem much in AZ though.

 

Definitely post up some more pics of your work. I bought my cherokee to do the exact same things you're using it for. Haul dogs, kayaks, camping gear...and my wife.