Jeep Cherokee Forum - Project " Better Not Get Stolen "

Hi all,

I decided to Finally start a build thread. This will be a slow work in progress, I am not really in a rush since the XJ is my hobby and I enjoy taking the time to work on it.

This XJ is a 1993 Country with 4.0 H.O. , AW4, NP231 combo, HP D30 up front and Chryco 8.25 out back with 3.55's for now.

I bought this XJ to replace my 91 Limited that was stolen in february '12. Thus I chose the name " Better Not Get Stolen " ( Well thought out name , I know haha)

So this is where I started bone stock

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The first thing I did was remove the super fugly running boards

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Then I ordered a RC 3" series 2 with long AAL ( lift will be replaced and kept for another future project later on )

Once the lift came I started putting it on

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I did a ton of pressure washing , cleaning and painting and I ended up with this.

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I didn't get any pics of the rear install but it went very good and easy. no bolts siezed or broke at all during the install which amazes me.

Even though I am from california the XJ came from washington 8 months before I bought it. It was an original Washington vehicle so I was planning on lots of rust and broken bolts but amazingly there is none.

So after the lift went on my Wife and my dad thought it would be funny to suprise me with a prank on easter.

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They taped a PEEPS logo over the JEEP logo. I got a laugh out of it.

I couldn't stand the gold and I had to fix the Dent in the front bumper so I grabbed my B.F.H and makita and cut off wheels and went to work.

This is how she sits as of today.

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The black is just spray on bedliner which I have always had good luck with, If it evers fades I just hit it up with another coat of bedliner or black paint and voila! good as new.

I have alot of future plans for it, I am building it into and Expedition XJ for me and my family. Here are my future plans.

JCR DIY front winch bumper and DIY rear bumper
Custom homemade sliders
custom skid plates
Long arms
8.8 Rear with IRO truss
Upgraded D30 or Possible D44
5.5" coils with ACOS for leveling adjustment
3.5" or 4.5" RE full leaf packs
Shackle relocator boxes ( should give a little lift anyone know how much?)
Extended shackles
Ultimate plan is to have a flexy leaf sprung rear at about 5.5 or 6"
33's possibly 35's
4.56 or 4.88 gears
Dual optima yellowtop setup in rear behind XJ cubby hole panel. ( i will build a custom mount and panel to replace it.

2000w/4000w Max Power inverter
Custom roofrack with Solar panels to help keep batteries charged
Custom wiring for inverter
Upgraded Alt
upgraded charging cables
ARB Fridge/Freezer

plus more to come I have to find the sheet with my build layout on it.

Now I am off to look for tires to mount on my D-windows that just showed up

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Thanks for taking the time to look through my build, Please give me any feedback or suggestions.

Matt