Big Red
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Big Red
Well, after many years and building three XJ's for my boys as they got older, I have finally gotten me one again. My first was a 1987 back in 2000. This one is a cherry 1997 with the armor package. Also has hand crank windows but power mirrors. Also has cruise control and a clean interior. Only 121,000 miles and purrs like a kiten. I alrready ordered a used factory roof rack. Soon will decide on either 3 or 4 1/2 " lift. Not sure yet. I have built both and my old 1987 was 4 1/2. But my sons 3" looks great and handles great with 31" tires. I am thinking of doing the 4 1/2" with 32s again. I'll let you know when I decide.
Stay tuned for the build.
Stay tuned for the build.
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Thanks man. I read through your build thread and yours looks great too. What lift do you think you are at with the different pieces put together.
I am on the fence about the 3 or 4 1/2 " lifts. I am also up in the air about going with 31s or 32s. Back in the day I had my 87 that had the 4 1/1" lift from rustys. I had 32 x 11.5 x 15 Goodyear MTRs. Worked great, but it was the 5 speed and I was always running in 4th because it would bog down like a dog. Also had the 4 banger too so that could have been a big part of it.
My second inline son has a 97 just like mine with the 4.0 that has 265 x 70 x 17s that runs out fine. Those are supposed to be just like a 32 so I am thinking should be fine with the 4.0 and an automatic with the 32s. What do you think? I need to get under the jeep to see what gear set it has, but it feels some where round 3.74.
I am on the fence about the 3 or 4 1/2 " lifts. I am also up in the air about going with 31s or 32s. Back in the day I had my 87 that had the 4 1/1" lift from rustys. I had 32 x 11.5 x 15 Goodyear MTRs. Worked great, but it was the 5 speed and I was always running in 4th because it would bog down like a dog. Also had the 4 banger too so that could have been a big part of it.
My second inline son has a 97 just like mine with the 4.0 that has 265 x 70 x 17s that runs out fine. Those are supposed to be just like a 32 so I am thinking should be fine with the 4.0 and an automatic with the 32s. What do you think? I need to get under the jeep to see what gear set it has, but it feels some where round 3.74.
#5
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Love you jeep, Red is a great color.
The auto tranny usually have axles with 3.55 gears. I also have a 5 spd. like your old XJ, but with the 4.0. I swapped in the axles from a XJ auto tranny (went from 3.07 gears to 3.55 gears), I believe on the road you will be fine with 32" tires. Off road you will do ok also, But I would rather have 4.10's and 32" tires, That would be best for the combo DD/4 wheeling. Since mine is basically for recreational purposes I am planning on going with 4.56 gears and either 32"s or 33"s when I up-grade in the future.
The auto tranny usually have axles with 3.55 gears. I also have a 5 spd. like your old XJ, but with the 4.0. I swapped in the axles from a XJ auto tranny (went from 3.07 gears to 3.55 gears), I believe on the road you will be fine with 32" tires. Off road you will do ok also, But I would rather have 4.10's and 32" tires, That would be best for the combo DD/4 wheeling. Since mine is basically for recreational purposes I am planning on going with 4.56 gears and either 32"s or 33"s when I up-grade in the future.
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Liter I6 PowerTech
Thanks man. I read through your build thread and yours looks great too. What lift do you think you are at with the different pieces put together.
I am on the fence about the 3 or 4 1/2 " lifts. I am also up in the air about going with 31s or 32s. Back in the day I had my 87 that had the 4 1/1" lift from rustys. I had 32 x 11.5 x 15 Goodyear MTRs. Worked great, but it was the 5 speed and I was always running in 4th because it would bog down like a dog. Also had the 4 banger too so that could have been a big part of it.
My second inline son has a 97 just like mine with the 4.0 that has 265 x 70 x 17s that runs out fine. Those are supposed to be just like a 32 so I am thinking should be fine with the 4.0 and an automatic with the 32s. What do you think? I need to get under the jeep to see what gear set it has, but it feels some where round 3.74.
I am on the fence about the 3 or 4 1/2 " lifts. I am also up in the air about going with 31s or 32s. Back in the day I had my 87 that had the 4 1/1" lift from rustys. I had 32 x 11.5 x 15 Goodyear MTRs. Worked great, but it was the 5 speed and I was always running in 4th because it would bog down like a dog. Also had the 4 banger too so that could have been a big part of it.
My second inline son has a 97 just like mine with the 4.0 that has 265 x 70 x 17s that runs out fine. Those are supposed to be just like a 32 so I am thinking should be fine with the 4.0 and an automatic with the 32s. What do you think? I need to get under the jeep to see what gear set it has, but it feels some where round 3.74.
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Love you jeep, Red is a great color.
The auto tranny usually have axles with 3.55 gears. I also have a 5 spd. like your old XJ, but with the 4.0. I swapped in the axles from a XJ auto tranny (went from 3.07 gears to 3.55 gears), I believe on the road you will be fine with 32" tires. Off road you will do ok also, But I would rather have 4.10's and 32" tires, That would be best for the combo DD/4 wheeling. Since mine is basically for recreational purposes I am planning on going with 4.56 gears and either 32"s or 33"s when I up-grade in the future.
The auto tranny usually have axles with 3.55 gears. I also have a 5 spd. like your old XJ, but with the 4.0. I swapped in the axles from a XJ auto tranny (went from 3.07 gears to 3.55 gears), I believe on the road you will be fine with 32" tires. Off road you will do ok also, But I would rather have 4.10's and 32" tires, That would be best for the combo DD/4 wheeling. Since mine is basically for recreational purposes I am planning on going with 4.56 gears and either 32"s or 33"s when I up-grade in the future.
I also found out that the reason the cruise was not working was the cable was disconnected. Took it apart and found it was froze up so I ordered a new one and I picked up the rear trim peice that covers the license plate mount because mine was all broke up. It will be nice to have a good looking one since thats the only real flaw in the appearance.
Next will be the rear axle bearings due to a little bearing noise on the drivers side. While I am in there I am going to go ahead a rebuild the axle with all new bearings on the outside and new R&P bearings as well.
That will be a fun Saturday...
I also got the used luggage rack that I am going to instal this Saturday. I will do a write up on installing that in a XJ that didnt originaly come with one. I will take some good pics too.
Thanks again...
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#12
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#13
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My head liner is on my to do list also. I have been looking for some custom headliner material but have not seen much that appeals to me yet.
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Headliner is in...
Well the headliner is in. I got it off flea bay for $35. It came in rolled up nice and has the 3/16 foam backing and feels nice to the touch. It was easy to apply with the glue I got from the parts house. ($20 a can !!!!) You can see a little imperfection but thats from the old backer board where I tore the old liner out incorectly. I should have skinned it and then used a bruch to remove the particles. But I just tore it all out leaving smal imperfectiosn in the backer that is noticible. But it looks much better and doesn't hang on my head.
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BigRed was also stumbling when cold started. So I decided since I did not know what the PO has done, that I should do a tune up and since the heater was not blowing hot and the temp was not going up like it should I would also flush the heater core and change the thermostat and the antifreeze.
This was what I found when doing the tune up. Did new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.
Then I got around to flushing the heater core and got this junky water out. A lot of debre came out and it took awhile, but after a bunch of pressure back and forth in both directions it finally came clean. The inlet side was completely stopped up when I tried it first.
I think the PO must have ran this one with plain old water for some time because it took me some time to flush the block. The thermostat was a 160* stat so after I put the 195* original stat back in it has ran perfect and the heater now blows hot as an overn.
This was what I found when doing the tune up. Did new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.
Then I got around to flushing the heater core and got this junky water out. A lot of debre came out and it took awhile, but after a bunch of pressure back and forth in both directions it finally came clean. The inlet side was completely stopped up when I tried it first.
I think the PO must have ran this one with plain old water for some time because it took me some time to flush the block. The thermostat was a 160* stat so after I put the 195* original stat back in it has ran perfect and the heater now blows hot as an overn.