Project Khaos. A tale of a 00 XJ
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Project Khaos. A tale of a 00 XJ
Hey all, been here awhile and joined the forum way after the initial build, which was way back and was a 3" set of blocks and 3" coil spacers. Nicely tucked atop 31" MT's. No pics to show but that set up has been seen enough. From there, 2 yrs later the 31's were loking bleak and inadequate. A trip to the local tire shop led me to a set of new 33"s. All terrains, but 33's, the taller, wider tire excited me and told him to get them on, snow was in the forecast. The set up with the 33's and doorless. My wife loved it the most.
From there I was tranferred about an hour away, so it sat dormant and no mods for a while, a 50 mile commute kinda ate some fuel.
After looking around awhile I came across a set of 3.5" AAL to replace the blocks in the rear. Installing wasn't too hard but was my first time tearing a leaf pack apart. Big thanks to Kenny ( Project Meyham). He came up a few times and helped out alot. But the bottom load leaf(stock) was broke inhalf. Set it up in the vise and welded it back together. Still didnt last the trail carnage. Quick fix was roadworthy but not for the dirt. Breaking in the AAL all took place at Kennys place about 45 mins from me. Which is a great place. We made a bar and benches from raw logs, man made pond and a ton of trails and blazing more every day.
From there I was tranferred about an hour away, so it sat dormant and no mods for a while, a 50 mile commute kinda ate some fuel.
After looking around awhile I came across a set of 3.5" AAL to replace the blocks in the rear. Installing wasn't too hard but was my first time tearing a leaf pack apart. Big thanks to Kenny ( Project Meyham). He came up a few times and helped out alot. But the bottom load leaf(stock) was broke inhalf. Set it up in the vise and welded it back together. Still didnt last the trail carnage. Quick fix was roadworthy but not for the dirt. Breaking in the AAL all took place at Kennys place about 45 mins from me. Which is a great place. We made a bar and benches from raw logs, man made pond and a ton of trails and blazing more every day.
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Every trail and ride gone by equalled more and more scratches and dents on the rig. So...being factory black Flatblack had to be the new color. My wife chose OD Green for the accent peices and side panels.
My wife was onboard with this and hopped in head first. She loved sandind and taping but didnt want the responsibility if the paint got messed up. Either way, Great bonding experience.
My wife was onboard with this and hopped in head first. She loved sandind and taping but didnt want the responsibility if the paint got messed up. Either way, Great bonding experience.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
This is what happens at Kennys trails when attemping hillclimbs with semi-bald 33" AT's. Slid back down, and crunch. But we still had a blast.
Like I said, still a blast. Took a few bumps to get atop the stump but still made it either way. Kenny did the same but his MTR's have far more grip.
Like I said, still a blast. Took a few bumps to get atop the stump but still made it either way. Kenny did the same but his MTR's have far more grip.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Ran around with this set-up for a while. But got to looking around for a new set-up that didn't ride like a road wagon over potholes. Went full Rustys. 3.5" Full Pack, 4.5" HD Coils and added 1" spacer. The most difficult part was using the coil compressor on the new coils. Like I said, they were HD for the added weight of bumper and winch. Even with the 2' breaker bar, it took an eternity to compress them to a point where I could slide them in thier new home.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Got a full set of Rustys Shocks and Steering Box Brace. Going down the road one day, I heard a noise. It was the bolts holding the stearing gear box in place. So after putting new Grade 8 and snapping them as well, Kenny said I needed the brace for the 12.5" tires.
Got that all on and drove it out to the lake for a shake down run and to see how everything worked.
Got that all on and drove it out to the lake for a shake down run and to see how everything worked.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
This worked great for a while and the 33's were getting worse every day. They were retreads which were great new but as soon as that wears off, the longevity goes out the window. They go off balance and start to eat funny ways in funny places. A customer came in work and asked me if I was interested in a set of tires. He had a complete set of 35x15x15 TSL's, even a full size spare. Never mounted. All for $425. At $266 each new, I had to hAVE them. And so it was,I got'em. After a Little horsetrading, I got a set of 15x10 D-Window Steelies. So off to get the tires mounted on the wheels.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
A few older pics from a bigger snow we had. The guy in the YJ called last minute and wanted to snow wheel for the afternoon and evening. After not being able to leave the trail head without spinning all 4, I knew this was gonna be a long day. Him spinning not me. He had just got it and it had bald 31 AT's, 4 cylinders of fury and 5 speeds of slow. After half way making it up the 2nd trail and just stopping midway, uphill.............. and losing all momentum, I had to continue, not stopping and eat a gulley and stradle it the rest of the way up. he was blocking the trail and no one could get in or out without creating a bypass.
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
The two companions to ride with.
And love to wheel, even 2 months pregnant, my wife went to Winkrock. Then took the wheel on ours as I spotted someone up a harder section.
And love to wheel, even 2 months pregnant, my wife went to Winkrock. Then took the wheel on ours as I spotted someone up a harder section.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
After calling every tire shop in my county and asking if they mount and balance 35's..................... no one will touch them, especially after I tell them they are TSL's. So going home one day, I stop in Talbot, hole in the wall <-------------> That big literaly, and he said bring them down. So next morning I'm unloading 130lbs of tires. Get them mounted and back home and get the jack out.
After getting the front two tires on and being on the ground to check if the 15" tire is gonna contact the LCA's, a voice comes from behind the Jeep. " Are you f***ing serious!?" All I can see from my point of view is the front of a police cruiser. Thought the fun was over before it began. But it was one I knew and shot the bull with. He called it way overkill and begged to take it to the lake bottems as soon as shift ended.
After getting the front two tires on and being on the ground to check if the 15" tire is gonna contact the LCA's, a voice comes from behind the Jeep. " Are you f***ing serious!?" All I can see from my point of view is the front of a police cruiser. Thought the fun was over before it began. But it was one I knew and shot the bull with. He called it way overkill and begged to take it to the lake bottems as soon as shift ended.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
So theres no doubt that these stick out beyond the fenders, but awesome thing about TN. No law or bylaw on stuff like this. Got a bumper from Project Mayhem and welded a few light tabs on it. My son and I were off to Brimstone for a real shake down run. Flawless all day til we got in the rocks, broke the bolts that hold the bar pin on the lower shock mount on the front driver shock. Oreillys, Auto Zone, and Advanced had no idea what a bar pin was. And the Dodge dealer ordered one from KY that was gonna take 4 days and $50. Pull-A-Part, got in with the shock attached for $6. Couldnt press it out in the middle of the junk yard.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
After a 5 hour drive, I have arrived in Greenboro, North Carolina. Enrolled in GTCC in the Automotive Tech Program. I think I still got better MPG than my wifes Jeep I got her for Christmas. A 4.7 AWD Commander. But I'm here safely, all that matters. Doing Uwharrie this weekend. Want in, let me know. _ Jason
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Thanks. I'm not feeling the TSL's tho. They yell " Lets go boggin' bubba". LMAO. That and I hate they arent road friendly, they get ate up way to fast.....and 15" wide is crazy. But I did get a deal on them. Next set will be the new MTR's but I'm really digging the new Pitbull AT's. Nastiest AT Ive ever seen. Think theyre called Growlers
#15
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1997 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
haha 35x15s, couldn't of said how it looks any better then you, bubba.
Id love a set of pitbull's, but the price deffinitly gets ya. Let us know how it performs at Uwharrie!
Id love a set of pitbull's, but the price deffinitly gets ya. Let us know how it performs at Uwharrie!