Krakker's HERO-99
 

Got this for the girl to drive to college while we figure out what she wants to do with her 3/4 ton GMC. We traded off the family built YJ 1ton crawler for this 99 XJ to still keep a wheeler in the stable that could take us on trails and get us around town in style and stealth.
The Jeep started out in a build here 2yrs ago, and now it's back for some finishing touches and keeping it in progress.
On to some specs.
Mostly stock 4.0L, K&N, auto trans, 231 w/ SYE, D30 front with 4:56's and ARB, 8.25 rr w/ 4:56's and ARB. 32x11.5R15 Goodyear Kevlars' on black loft 8 style wheels.
Sporting some nice front and rear bumpers, tank skid, custom rockers welded in and a belly skid. Also running Solid diff covers, flat flares, adjustable upper & lower front control arms, HD track bar, steering linkage and swaybar disco's.


Plans for the future are hood vents, 136amp alt, disk brake rear conv., upgrade rotors N pads up front. (maybe calipers) full exhaust, 4 hole injectors and some 33x10.5 15 all terrains for daily driving duties.


Here's some winter wheeling shots we took for a lil shake down. It's got a couple issues, but I think it'll be OK for the long run.


EDIT: Original owners build thread; https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/my...l-blue-200075/

SWEET! That's what I'll be going for. I just bought my first XJ and will be working on her in the Spring. What size lift? and any trimming for the flat flares?

Looking forward to see what you do! How do you like the 4.56s with the 32s? I have the same exact wheels and tires and have a set of 4.56s waiting to be put in aswell.

Looks like a great rig.

Zone, 3.5" lift. There was trimming and rolling of the fenders before the flares were put on. I edited my first post and included the original build thread where the 1st builder did most of the suspension work and flares.


I also have the parts he acquired for future issues. New Rad, water pump, (w/ tube) thermostat housing and stat, fan clutch, new gator belt, injectors, etc.

They fit really good, I like the look but they are a wandering pair on the road. They 4:56's could use a taller tire I think for a DD rig. I think the narrower 33's will be good for all around use.


However:::: we put it in low, engaged the lockers, and barely touched the pedal and crawled a steep lil hill / berm, in wet snowy grass and had NO slippage from the wheels at all with the Kevlars. I was genuinely impressed, but still for a DD, they are a bit overkill.
My YJ had Hydro ram assist, and I miss the ease of that system.
A Super 30 axle set may be in the future.

Looks like a test project. You'll love the 101" wheel base compared to the YJ. I wouldn't call it a sleeper. Jrozar has a sleeper with 235s, skids, air lockers, relocation brackets, and just 2"s of lift. You'll be surprised how well it'll do. I have 33x10.50s and so far they have done great in the snow we just got. Dig right in.

I was suprised how large they were for a 32" because of such an aggressive tread, I was told the 4.56s would be better over 4.10s, plus I'd be safe going up in size. I had very minor trimming when I put them on (3.5" Rubicon Express) but I also did the V8 ZJ steering upgrade and a new steering stabilizer, but after a couple months my ball joints had enough and are toast.

Good to know. I was explaining the wheel base to my girl today when we both took a turn a the hill. She cried when the YJ trailered away, it was her dream rig. But, it's time for a new page, and I'm letting her drive this one more often for college.
The YJ was stretched 5" and low on 37's. it was a beast, but after a bad accident, I just couldn't wheel it like it should be. It found a good home to a fire fighter who had this XJ for a bit, dumped some money into it but saw my YJ up for sale. A little while later, we had a trade. So now he's got the extreme machine, and we've got something that makes sense for us. This is the Beast we just swap'd.

Got a complete Exhaust from (of all places) JET.com
Searched for good prices on components for the XJ, and ended up getting the Walker direct replacement CAT, SoundFX muffler, tail pipe and clamps for $157.06 TOTAL !!!!!! WOW.... and I'll get 50% of that back as well (company perk) It was my first purchase on there, so I did get 15% off right from the start, but I was surprised to see all they had on there for automotive.


Parts should be here by the weekend, so maybe we'll have some decent weather to work on it, and get the 4 hole injectors swapped out. (789's)


Anyway, if you are looking for replacement exhaust parts AND in need of a new CAT, JET.com has some pretty good prices. The Walker 15820 converter was listed at $92, and it only cost me $76. Not bad to replace the ol sucker.

Didn't have a real good place for the front license plate. Not all that often we'll need the front hitch receiver point, so,,,,,, out comes the welder, some plate steel and 2" tube. Couple of drilled holes later, Ta Da. License plate holder.
I'll let the paint setup over night and see how it looks in the morning. Must big enough to the plate on it, and I can take it out if needed.

Pics of the hitch "plate holder" installed. Super easy even you have someone else do the welding.

Got the injectors swapped today. Girl did the most of the work, I drew the straw to yank the fuel rail and the injectors out. (them's is some tuff lil Efers)
Ended up having to pull it twice which was pretty quick second time around. When we started it up, there was a leak from the #1 injector at the fuel rail. Some how we managed to booger up a seal from the corroded inner hat on the rail. We replaced it with the best of the ones we pulled out.
Fun job and she's happy with how it runs.
The old ones were pretty crappy, and the start up after resetting the ECM was WAY better than before.

Not a whole lot of "doin' the work" shots for today's update, but I did get some shots of the exhaust after it was finished.
The Walker pieces fit really good, but I might be changing the outlet length/angle. System was super easy to put together. We added a new O2 sensor while we were at it, and after we got everything up to temp, tightened down and situated, the Jeep sounds a whole lot better and runs great.
We started out with a sawzall, cutting out the muffler, then a 1" section that contained the O2 sensor (so we could unplug it and replace) then used the angle grinder to cut a couple slits in the converter pipe. after prying it apart and twisting, it came of without damage to the stock pipe from the header/manifold.


Due to the rear tank Skid, the last hanger spot was missing. We ended up getting a universal mounting kit $4, and drilling out one of the hanger pieces and mounted it using one of the tank skid bolts. modding the hanger was easy. just a step bit and cutting down the rubber/fiber mount material.

had to do some flexing to see if any of the components would hit the suspension. All Good..... front to back.
Nothing crazy, just a raised concrete pad behind the alley.