Hi Guys,

So I've been on the cherokee forum for quite a while now, even though I only just turned 16 this April and will finally be getting my permit this Saturday. This is the story of my xj, and I think its going to end up being a long, slow build, as I'm only just finishing up my sophomore year in highschool.

So my mom and dad actually had two cherokees about 10 years ago; one black(a limited) and the other green(a sport), and we as the family loved both of them. Towing boats, going on trips, you name it, they supplied. After about four years my dad ended up selling his green cherokee, adopted my mom's black one, and then my mom got a grand cherokee. After years of my dad driving it, he has decided to pass it down to me as my first car, and I can't thank him enough. He too wants to see me build it up so that we can both use it for fishing, the snow, and some wheeling
So, here's some pics of it and its progression, from about 2010 to today of 2011: Forgive me if the pics don't show up, I'm new to this and will try again tomorrow



^Back in the winter of 2010, still has runners and all



^Grill



^Limited

 

Here's some more pics, not sure if it would allow me to post so many in the first one:

^Quickly found a love for torx bits (not) while taking the runners off-step one for the build

^My dad holding one of the runners; chrome and 30 pounds a piece

^10 years of dirt and road salt that gathered within one of the runners that decided to dump out all over the garage floor

^New stance, leafs actually rose up about a half inch although they are still a little saggy, but no worries

4.0 L I6, 140,000 miles


^The craw

^A wash without the bumper, it was taken off because tow hooks were going on

Just last weekend, my uncle came over and helped me install some c4x4 tow hooks and brackets on my front. Don't have a lot of pics, but it went pretty smoothly, no bolts broken


^Tools


^Bumper off

^Me working on the jeep, bumper going back on

^Another, wish I had pics of the brackets, very beefy

More stuff to come, will state my plans tomorrow after school

 

Nice job so far.

I'm glad to see your dad and uncle taking the time to help you out and show you things. I can't wait for my two boys to get to that stage in life so I can do the same for them.

Keep us posted on future developments and enjoy the time spent with your dad, I'm sure he's loving it.

 

Thanks Flowpro!
Well, I did find some pics of the plates, hooks, and other stuff like my hellas. Forgot to mention yesterday that along with the pair of hooks I got I also got a pair of hella 500 ff's that I will probably end up mounting this weekend. More pics will follow.

^Here are the c4x4 brackets and tow hooks, came with a bunch of grade 8 bolts. Install went pretty smooth until the bumper had to be put back on, lol.


^Here are the hella 500 ff's. Install will be this weekend.


^Here's the very first project I did, replacing the driver's door pin that kept it from opening too far and swinging shut. You can see the difference between the old snapped one on the right, and the new one on the left.

So, in the future I'm thinking of getting a roofrack, 30" tires on my stock rims with maybe an added 1.5" backspacer, and either a 2" bb spacer lift or a full-on rusty's 3" lift with new lca's. I just want to keep it as clean as possible. Maybe some new speakers too.

 

Well guys its been a while, had to finish up school and now I have constant swim team practices lol.

But I did get quite a few things done:


Finally got the tow hooks mounted and the bumper back on... came in black but I painted em orange


Here's another picture with the tow hooks


Had to soak the whole back wiper in wd 40 to get the seized spring to work again


Went to the Home Depot and got some engine degreaser as well as gunk for my hands. Both work considerably well. Ill get some picks up after I finish cleaning the engine


Hella mounting began! Holes drilled with a non-carbide-tipped drill. The bumper definitely felt like hardened steel to me lol

This week I mounted the Hellas. They look pretty damn cool if you ask me.


Also cleaned my steps and ended up painting over the rusty screws with orange. Sorry for a bad pic, it was dark in my garage lol

Well, I think I'm gonna end up finishing wiring the lights sooner or later this week. Planning on mounting a switch in the cab. Then I'm looking at a 2" bb lift from zone offroad

 

Well, its been a while... And I still haven't gotten those lights wired yet... Sooner or later lol. I did however put in a specter air intake and snapped a new pic. I'm finally done with swimming for the rest of the Summer so the build should speed up. More pics tomorrow morning (I promise)

Here she is at a swim club a few days ago

 

Keep up the good work man, things always come out best when they are done slow and steady.

 

Nice and clean. You plan on lifting? Were in NJ are you located?

 

Thanks guys! It means a lot. I'm thinking of getting a 2" spacer and AAL lift from Zone with a few of their higher-end options like their nitro shocks. Then hopefully some 30" BFG AT KO's with some spacers for my stock wheels, as soon as I convince my parents lol. My dad is leaning towards it so we wont sag as much when we tow our boat, so thats some leverage there haha. I'm in Bridgewater, so I'm not too close to the Pine Barrens or anything like that. Here's some pics of the intake I did, only cost me $40 . I'm thinking of making a heat shield out of the stock air box soon as well.









Also picked up an orbital buffer, some compound, and some polish

That's it so far! Its raining here today otherwise I would have taken it outside for pictures, Maybe tomorrow!

 

Dude your a skip away from me. I hang out in middlesex.but live in south.brunswick. If you need hands or help with anything hit me up.

 

Nice thread man! im lookin forward to seeing the changes in this thing!
I noticed we have the same wheels! I got a little paint happy with mine haha

 

Thanks Bandit! I'm thinking of eventually painting mine too when I get the lift!

MSJeep, Nice! In the beginning of every summer my team and I go to the Middlesex High school's long course pool to practice every morning lol. If I need anything I'll hit you up! I'm still looking around at lifts though, gotta convince my parents haha.


Heres some "poser" pictures from today, it was pretty nice out so i figured why not








More stuff to come!

 

If you were on a.week ago. I had 3.5rc full leafs for 80 bucks on craigslist. Didnt last a day on.there haha. But I still have my 4in skyjacker coils for sale though.

 

Dang, that's a good deal! I'm just working on my parents now to let me lift the thing, but I don't think I'll get any-wheres near a 4 inch lift :/

 

i had the same problem of trying to convince my parents haha finally got them to let me get a 3" lift so im going with a 3" RC AAL and 31's good luck on convincing your parents man its a whole separate project in itself haha