tmj91

Ok here goes nothing. I bought this jeep simply so I would not have to drive my 04 SRT-4 in the crappy PA winters. I didn't expect to actually fall in love and start modding this jeep. In fact I kind of used to be the guy that made fun of lifted, offroading types. But this jeep has opened my eyes. This isn't really a "build", just a running list of things ive done to my jeep in the 3 years ive owned her.

I bought this jeep off of the original owner. Its a 1988 Cherokee Laredo. 4.0 and AW4. It had a leaky gas tank, and some rust. I paid 600. it also had a big brush guard, a big red bug deflector, moon visor, and that weird rear spoiler. Those were taken off before I thought to take pics.




I didn't really like the paint fade, the color, or the rust. So I painted it.





I also HATED those rims that were on it. So I found some cheap newer ones and put on some meaty 235s




I drove it like this for the first winter, a few things here and there went bad or broke, but I live 30 seconds from a JY and my dad has been a Chrysler tech for about 25 years so, I kept her alive for cheap all winter. then in the spring I tried my first "Jeepin" experience:



I got stuck pretty well, it ripped my exhaust off and my back bumper. So I retired her for the spring. I fixed the exhaust and I figured I might as well upgrade the rear bumper slightly, and found a factory rear tire carrier on CL.

tmj91

Also as you can see from the last picture, over that spring, I tinted my taillights (stupid), I added a hi-lift jack on the roof racks, and since the jeep became my dad and i's hunting vehicle, I added some lights. 4 of them on a homemade gutter mounted bar, and 2 on the front bumper



Now this is where everything changes..... my first wheeling experience made me FALL IN LOVE. I had so much fun, and realized I got stuck because I sat to low. So I bought a RC 4.5 lift. But I didn't have time to put it on for a couple of months so I spent my time, scouring craigslist for some Soft 8s to put on the jeep. I found a set, and they had GOOD 31s All terrains on them for 100 bucks! I couldn't wait to put them on so I threw them on without a lift....



I drove it like that for about 3 weeks until we could get the lift installed. (not much rubbing at all). Then we FINALLY put the lift on


My dad thought the alignment could wait a week, until he had a free day to do it, welllll it ruined the tires. the insides were completely bald. So I bought some new 31 ats. I drove it like that for awhile and began wheelin more often

tmj91

After a while I realized that the rear end was SAGGING way to much, so I went the JY and got some S10 springs and did a little bastard pack to get it to sit even.
BEFORE:



AFTER:


I then went wheeling again, and I managed to hit a stump that was hidden by some tall grass. It snapped my tie rod in two. I managed to clamp it back together, limp it back to my friends house (about 3 miles away) and weld it back together to get it back to my house. (about 20 miles)


I figured since it broke, I might as well upgrade so I did the v8 ZJ swap, (and added some paint, just for fun)

tmj91

I forgot to mention I did the AC to OBA conversion as well, just don't have any pictures of that.

I then Wheeled it a lot more, beating things up, breaking small things here and there.



I then for some reason, decided to go doorless!! I also put on some waggy tails to get rid of my dumb tinted tails, and I don't like the big orange squares for turn signals on the Cherokee ones. (you can sort of see it in this pic)

tmj91

I THEN WASHED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT GOT PAINTED (doesn't look too bad being clean huh?)


Then the latest mod ive done. A Logans prerunner winch bumper and a 9000 lb winch! I love it!




PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE!
1) Cowl snorkel
2) 33s when my 31s wear out
3) Pull carpet, fix rust bedline inside
4) quick discos
5) control arm drop brackets
6) MAYBE some gears but that will be way in the future.