Well figured it's time to start a build thread on my station wagon.

So a year ago now I picked up this stock 200k mile 97 Cherokee Sport


& to fix running rough issue I picked up this new cylinder head


Swap out wheels for steel TJ's & flipped tire. Shoe Creek get together


The very next day after the shoe Creek run I got my Fat Bobs garage 2in budget boost in (2in coil spacer with 2.5in short aal)
stock

2in boost

IMG_20110125_215758.jpg?t=1341763668

Later that week I picked up some Ecco wheels from Tural(becoming a wheel *****)


Then picked up BFG All-Terran's






And then about 3 months later I wanted more, so I picked up V8 ZJ coils, & 1.5-2in lift shackle. Also picked up New front YJ shocks & new rear F150 shocks


Testing out some 31's for a week



Flexing on new setup




Had a bit a Vibration issue since the 2in lift. So it got was with more lift. Picked up a SYE on the way & me & Tural got to installing.

Decided to got with 30x9.50 Hankook R03 MT's



At this point I'm noticing negative effect from the ****ty dreaded XJ shackle angle issue limiting rear flex completly. So I decided to purchase shackle relocation kit


I noticed on my drive main leaf spring it was worn dangerously bad, had about about a .050 groove worn into it from the lower leaf.

My Next step was to pick up a nice set of low mileage(60k) XJ leaves from Duval & rebuild those using Iron rock offroad 2.5in Add A Leaf.
As you can see pictured I flip the last over load leaf. This aids in a bit softer ride & allows better flex while still maintaining the over leaf intended job of preventing axle wrap & excessive sagging during overloaded cabin weight/towing


With this new shackle setup & leaf setup, it ended up with a rake stance, nearly 1in taller in rear. So I went with some new Iron Rock Offroad coils.


Current stance


I needed a better cb antenna as the one I had was prone to being knock off by trees. So I picked up a 4' Firestik I got to work on a homemade mount



Next step was going for a wider stance.. I needed wheels. A trip to PnS proved promising. Found some Wagon wheels with a 3.5in backspacing in a 00 XJ


And I got to work on the new wheels, I wanted a desert tan look so I had the sand blasted then grabed some satin khaki paint





Picked up a ZJ pitman arm(1in drop) & 00 4.0 Intake from PnS



Intake swap





Picked up a D30 Detroit TruTrac & set of new 4.56 gears




Got the front gears installed finally


Picked up a new item. NP242 t-case, I plan to install this, so I can build me 231 doubler



My Headlights SUCK, and a wanted some driving lights. Well I had a spare 5000k digital HID kit laying around, so I picked a set of Blazer BAJA driving lights from Advance and modified them to work with the HIDs.
Also Figured while I was at it, I would do some bumper trimming when I install my lights.




Needed some front recovery points, and I really didnt like the hooks that hang below the bumper, So With the help of a friend we made d-ring recovery brackets to go through the front bumber.

rubberized undercoated them

 

Looks great! Very nice work!

 

Still On stock short arm I wanted a better ride both on and off road, and better front articulation, I called up Ironrock and ordered the critical path longarm, and some Daystar Bump stops



I also Purchased a set of JCR S2 sliders and I sprayed them with Duplicolor BedArmor


When to the local pick and save and picked on a ZJ t-case skid and V8 Tie Rod





Also installed a ZJ transmission cooler


With the new long arm, The Jeep could use longer brake lines and shocks.
So I picked up some shock extenders till I order my 8000's

And Bought some GM 1500 brake lines


Discovered my 97 has the old style door hinges, I did the doorless mod with some 98 ZJ connectors



With my new mods, i figured it was time for new bigger tires, so I sold the hankooks and bought some 32x11.50 Sigma Mud Claws



To keep my new tires from eating my fenders and flares, with the help of the Daystar bump stops I decided to do a fair amount of trimming.




My stock exhaust manifold was cracked & the leak was annoying, so I bought a header.


A couple poser pics



After a Trail run I realized my stock trackbar was binding when flexed, so I bought a IRO Double sheer to install


On the trail, I ended up breaking my Firestik internally.. Sux, So I bought a 4' Wilson Flex to replace it. So far I like it much more than the firestik, this thing is crazy flexible.


Also upgraded from my old Maxton CB, to a Cobra 29LX radio



Realize Id rather have all 4 wheels spining instead of just 3 so I bought a rear Spartan locker


Due to the run of extermly hot *** 100degree days. I decided to do so keep cool mods.
Starting with hood vents.




And Picked up a few other items to install this coming week from the pick n save
Taurus 3.8 Cooling fan, 136amp V8 alternator, and 93 ZJ door harnesses for my doorless mod(these are nicer than 96+ zj harness)

 

Some trail pics
Some at my buddies property










Here are pictures from Wheelin 4 Hope at Oakridge this year

 

Nice looking rig!

A buddy at work saw that last super flexy pic and thought it was a fail pic, had to explain how flex like that is pure win.

 

man that thing flexes, been debating doing my wheels desert khaki when i get them, seeing yours i think im going to

 

Sweet

 

great work!

 

Nice job man. Really love the build.

 

Dang man I wish I had your kind of funding hahah but nice jeep .

 

Actually I really don't have a "good" funding. I spend alot of time doing homebrew stuff, doing junkyard mods, and penny pinching for the rest of the stuff pricey stuff like gears, locker, longarm. Been building this up since January 2011, so I had time to save for part & tax return helped lol

I do have great people who have help me out, A good friend gave me the D30 Detroit TruTrac just to call it even on a $100 he owed me. Which IMO was mighty nice of him lol. My sliders my fiance got me those for my birthday. My SlipYoke eliminator, Tural hooked me up with that.

Thank you all for the comments

 

Lol I'm just on my iPod and scrolled through the pictures and it's like you go through 4 different lift set ups and 3 sets of tires and long arms and gears and I was like woah haha but I guess I was wrong. I'm currently doing the same thing. Putting together lift kits from Craigslist and stuff.

 

Did a few other odd and ends this week.

I Modified a PT Cruiser shift **** to the shifter, I love it, feels like my hurst in my mustang.


Made a cowl air intake. Helps with power loss from heat soak.


I bought this pretty cool kit from my work for $30(employee cost)





Picked up 2 sets of Volvo 2 speed fan relays(one for XJ, one for WJ)


I also installed my 130amp alternator.. It pegged out my 100amp meter at work

 

jeep looks great man love the way it looks and great job on your suspension setup it flexes real nice

 

Thanks