Making it into my own build!!!
06-23-2013, 11:20 PM
#1
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Making it into my own build!!!
I purchased AEV's Africana recently and decided to make a thread documenting the changes and additions I will be doing to make this Beautiful XJ more of my own! I'm new to working on vehicles other than some of the basics! I'm very open to any help and ideas with this build. My plan for this jeep is that it will be my small town daily driver, part time wheeler, and my hunting rig for the beautiful Arizona wilderness!!! I love this Forum and I have already learned so much, so thank you for that and lets get to it!
![](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/<a href="<a href=http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/CherokeeHunter/media/d9597af6-d738-41d7-b9f5-ce88b1b05a1e_zpsc6fc66a0.jpg.html" target=_blank>http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/CherokeeHunter/media/d9597af6-d738-41d7-b9f5-ce88b1b05a1e_zpsc6fc66a0.jpg.html"</a> target="_blank"><img src="<a href=http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a567/CherokeeHunter/d9597af6-d738-41d7-b9f5-ce88b1b05a1e_zpsc6fc66a0.jpg" target=_blank>http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a567/CherokeeHunter/d9597af6-d738-41d7-b9f5-ce88b1b05a1e_zpsc6fc66a0.jpg"</a> border="0" alt=" photo d9597af6-d738-41d7-b9f5-ce88b1b05a1e_zpsc6fc66a0.jpg"/></a>)
![](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/<a href="<a href=http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/CherokeeHunter/media/DSC00054_zpscfae59f9.jpg.html" target=_blank>http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/CherokeeHunter/media/DSC00054_zpscfae59f9.jpg.html"</a> target="_blank"><img src="<a href=http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a567/CherokeeHunter/DSC00054_zpscfae59f9.jpg" target=_blank>http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a567/CherokeeHunter/DSC00054_zpscfae59f9.jpg"</a> border="0" alt=" photo DSC00054_zpscfae59f9.jpg"/></a>)
06-24-2013, 01:01 AM
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Current specs. on my XJ
Factory Equipment: 1998 Cherokee Sport, PW, PL, PB, PS, AC, Command Trac 4wd, 4.0L, Automatic.....
Aftermarket Equipment: RE 5.5" Extreme Duty lift, Factory Dana 44 rear (MJ with the larger brakes), Dana 30 front, Air lockers and 4.11 gear ratio front and rear, ARB Air compressor, ARB front Bullbar, Warn XD 9000 winch, ARB Roof Rack, IPF 900MSR lights, Recaro front seats, reupholstered rear seat to match front seats, Webasto Electric Canvas sliding Roof, ORGS Super Nerf Rocker Gaurds, Currie Slip Yoke Eliminator, CV Driveshaft, Safari Snorkel's snorkel system, Tera Flex sway-bar quick discos, Tera flex Adjustable Trac Bar, Old Man Emu Extended Travel Shock Absorbers, AEV rear bumper with reciever, AEV 16" wheels, Tire Mount for roof rack, BFG 285-75R16 MT's, and Custom Soft Top!
The chopped top is constructed with a 2x4 .125 wall tubing fully gusseted and tied to the substructure, the C-pillars were widened 3" with 14ga steel to further reinforce the vehicle. It has a center high mount stop light integrated into the roll bar. It has a soft top, MJ tailgate, and custom rear quarters.
The only thing I have done thus far is replace the Tera Flex quick discos because they were touching the coils on the passenger side. I'm guessing that was because of the lift and they weren't quite long enough. So i put on some adjustable JKS quicker disonnects in place which fixed the problem and they no longer touch.
Ill put up a bunch of pictures and some shots of the JKS quicker discos shortly.
Aftermarket Equipment: RE 5.5" Extreme Duty lift, Factory Dana 44 rear (MJ with the larger brakes), Dana 30 front, Air lockers and 4.11 gear ratio front and rear, ARB Air compressor, ARB front Bullbar, Warn XD 9000 winch, ARB Roof Rack, IPF 900MSR lights, Recaro front seats, reupholstered rear seat to match front seats, Webasto Electric Canvas sliding Roof, ORGS Super Nerf Rocker Gaurds, Currie Slip Yoke Eliminator, CV Driveshaft, Safari Snorkel's snorkel system, Tera Flex sway-bar quick discos, Tera flex Adjustable Trac Bar, Old Man Emu Extended Travel Shock Absorbers, AEV rear bumper with reciever, AEV 16" wheels, Tire Mount for roof rack, BFG 285-75R16 MT's, and Custom Soft Top!
The chopped top is constructed with a 2x4 .125 wall tubing fully gusseted and tied to the substructure, the C-pillars were widened 3" with 14ga steel to further reinforce the vehicle. It has a center high mount stop light integrated into the roll bar. It has a soft top, MJ tailgate, and custom rear quarters.
The only thing I have done thus far is replace the Tera Flex quick discos because they were touching the coils on the passenger side. I'm guessing that was because of the lift and they weren't quite long enough. So i put on some adjustable JKS quicker disonnects in place which fixed the problem and they no longer touch.
Ill put up a bunch of pictures and some shots of the JKS quicker discos shortly.
06-24-2013, 01:33 AM
#6
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Future plans
List of things I would like to have done:
1. Rear bumper/tire carrier/the works
2. Security system and some type of custom lockable storage system
3. Tires and black wheels even though I like the AEV wheels that are on it already
4. Differential covers
5. Upgrade sound system a bit
6. Lots of lights
7. Put some switches in to activate everything
8. Upgrade the air compressor to one of the newer kinds that you can air tires up with
9. Possibly put some fender flares on not sure yet kinda like how it looks as of now
10. Seat attachment to hold rifles in while hunting/ maybe a custom bow holder
11. New Coils
12. Possibly a new adjustable trac bar
13. Tranny cooler
14. Matching custom M101a trailer that I would like to TRY and build myself
15. Gas skid plate and whatever else kind of skids they make for the XJ
16. Custom exhaust
17. And I need help with ideas for performance upgrades????
18. Anything else??? I guess we will find out as we go
Any ideas and suggestions welcome, I will be learning as I'm going so bare with me and my ignorance if possible. Thanks
1. Rear bumper/tire carrier/the works
2. Security system and some type of custom lockable storage system
3. Tires and black wheels even though I like the AEV wheels that are on it already
4. Differential covers
5. Upgrade sound system a bit
6. Lots of lights
7. Put some switches in to activate everything
8. Upgrade the air compressor to one of the newer kinds that you can air tires up with
9. Possibly put some fender flares on not sure yet kinda like how it looks as of now
10. Seat attachment to hold rifles in while hunting/ maybe a custom bow holder
11. New Coils
12. Possibly a new adjustable trac bar
13. Tranny cooler
14. Matching custom M101a trailer that I would like to TRY and build myself
15. Gas skid plate and whatever else kind of skids they make for the XJ
16. Custom exhaust
17. And I need help with ideas for performance upgrades????
18. Anything else??? I guess we will find out as we go
Any ideas and suggestions welcome, I will be learning as I'm going so bare with me and my ignorance if possible. Thanks
06-24-2013, 01:50 AM
#7
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
What tires should i Get?
I'm probably going to selll my BFG MT's and get some new ones. What do you guys think between
1. BFG KM2's
2. Goodyear Fierce Attitude M/T's (I really like the reviews on these, leaning towards these right now).
3. Nitto trail grappler M/T's
I live in AZ so there is lots of sand, rocks, and Mesquite trees< lol, so keep that in mind. I really like the looks of the KM2's on the XJ's but they all look really nice so I dunno....
1. BFG KM2's
2. Goodyear Fierce Attitude M/T's (I really like the reviews on these, leaning towards these right now).
3. Nitto trail grappler M/T's
I live in AZ so there is lots of sand, rocks, and Mesquite trees< lol, so keep that in mind. I really like the looks of the KM2's on the XJ's but they all look really nice so I dunno....
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06-25-2013, 12:38 AM
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Year: 1998
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Thanks man, I'm really lucky that it has a bunch of nice stuff already. It gives me a really big head start to start with something that was already put together so well by awesome people.
06-27-2013, 01:06 AM
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
New stuff!!!
Since there isn't hardly any aftermarket stuff in my small town I stopped at Desert Rat while I was visiting Tucson, AZ. I bought some lights, a new compressor to replace the one I have now, and a hose kit. I also got a pretty good deal on some TOYO OPEN COUNTRY AT2's!!!
06-27-2013, 02:37 AM
#13
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Year: 1998
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Engine: 4.0
Starting to paint things!
Painted some tow rings to go with the OME shocks and the Africana logo today. Wow it was HOT 
outside today. The temp. was in the high 100's!
outside today. The temp. was in the high 100's!
06-27-2013, 02:49 AM
#14
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
New tires....
These tires handle so well and have no sound at all. They also did super good in the sand and rocky dirt roads this evening when I went for a quick off road session! I think they look pretty cool too, not quite as good as the M/T's I was considering buying though. IMHO