Project: Blue Heep
 

Decided it was time to start a work log and try and do my best to keep this up to date with what I have been doing.

I am from the great flat state of Nebraska which isn't the greatest when it comes to four wheeling but that is still no excuse for driving around in a stock Jeep.

On to the Jeep, its a 2000 Cherokee Sport that I picked up from the back row rejects section of a big dealership here. Wish I had some pictures of it b/c it was looking pretty sad and not well maintained. Jeep only had 78,000 miles on it when I picked it up and don't feel I paid to much at just under $3000. The Jeep already had alot of mixed lift components on it and had a nasty rake to it with the rear end sitting a solid 2-3 inches higher than the front all sitting on a set of worn out 31x10.50 BFG All Terrains.

As it sits now parts include...

4.5" coils
3/4" coil spacers
4.5-5" rear leaf packs not entirely sure
Fabtech lower control arms
Rusty's shocks
33x12.50 Cooper Discoverer STTs
Crager Soft 8s

On to some pictures....

After ordering some shocks from Rusty's here I am replacing the blown front shocks and non existent rear shocks.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...4_499008_n.jpg

That much lift and 31s looked pretty stupid so I found a smoking deal on a new set of 33x12.50 Cooper STTs for $700 at a local tire shop

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You can see the rake in this picture the best...

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It had a set of 1.5" lift shackles on it which was just to much so I sourced a set of stock shackles to lower the rear back down a bit and also when I put in the coil spacers to lift the front up a bit. Took it out for its maiden wheeling run at a local spot to test the flex.

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Cleaned up and sitting pretty

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4150341_n.jpg

Muddy

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs263...._6592763_n.jpg

Random snow wheeling pictures from winter...

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Oh and here is some damage

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which led to this bent LCA mount

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Axle is pushed back a good bit

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Had to do some more trimming on the front fender to keep it from eating my new tires

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Still sitting with the trashed lower control arm mount but luckily the Jeep is still 100% drive able with no driving issues which is hard to believe. Either way I just scored a HP Dana 30 for $50 locally that is being beefed up on the control arm mounts so I don't have a repeat of the last axle. Also in the process of having a Rear bumper w/ tire carrier built and should be done maybe next weekend.

Other things on the list include 4.56s and Aussies Front and Rear b/c after having a geared/locked Toyota wheeling on stock gears and open differentials is just no fun haha. Also need to do some kind of rocker protection to keep the rockers straight haha. That's all I've got for now, will post updates accordingly.

Great looking cherokee! great find too! i am subscribed!

also on the bracing. do something like this:

Its 4 per side. 8 total on the axle. I have bashed then alot on the AZ/NM rocks and they hold good! no issues.

Thanks for the tips, yeah I was planning on gusseting the mounts and possible boxing the front of the mount. I figured any form of lateral support would make them 10x stronger than factory. Can't wait to get the new axle in so I can head down to Tuttle Creek in Kansas.

Took the axle to my friends dad who builds competition buggy's and just let him strengthen it the best way he can. So we will see how it turns out after I get it back and should have some pictures of the new tire carrier he is building for me as well.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...2_487907_n.jpg

Now for when I put this new axle in I currently have the set of used and abused fabtech lower control arms but I am fairly certain the bushings are shot and not sure I could get new bushings. So I am torn whether or not I should spring for a set of new LCAs to tide me over until I get a set of IRO long arms...but not sure how long that will be from now. Any suggestions?

nice looking rig

thanks! It's been a fun project so far.

Go for a set of Rusty's LCA's... I am using the ones that came with the used lift I got until I can save up for the IRO LA upgrade and a few other suspension upgrades...

Looks great! Sucks about the mount, but atleast you're getting a new axle for it. :D

Yeah I just don't want to spend $150 when the LA upgrade is $600 haha but I am tired of hearing the bushings clunk around.

Yeah oh well for $50 I would rather have a HP over the LP anyways, I am more pissed off about having to pull the old one out rather than spending $50. :)

Yeah, I'd be pissed about that too lol

Yeah I can see where that part would suck ***... how much would new bushings cost for the LCA's?? I mean I am replacing my bushings for my springs before I install them, because one of them is a bit gapped out around the spacer..... and it isn't going to cost me that much...

Yeah that is what I would like to do and just replace the bushings but the arms don't look anything like the newer Fabtech lower control arms on their website so I am afraid I might be SOL on finding replacement bushings.

Not a very exciting update but picked up the steel plate/tube for the bumper which is being built now. Also got a free Dick Cepek 33x12.50 spare with around 75% tread.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...7_508517_n.jpg

dang this is all a great deal! and ur dad has a good friend!

Yeah it is definitely being built on a budget so any freebies are well accepted haha.