Project Mercenary
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 672
Likes: 7
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So there's been a bit of a setback and the stiffeners/3link have moved down the list for at least 2 weeks 
In the mean time I am thinking the order of operations will be as follows. Making this list for myself to follow more than anything else.
Main steps to get this thing on the road in somewhat near it's final form:
1) Install SRBs
2) Install new leafs/coils
3) Install quarter armor/wire LED tail lights
4) Monstaline roof, sliders, and hopefully rear bumper if it arrives timely
5) Install flares - I figure there's no way they aren't here within 2 weeks
6) Weld on front/mid/rear stiffeners, extended sway bar mounts, c gussets, goferit insert
7) Install 3 link, new transmission mount, brown dogs, and front DS
8) Bolt on Sliders, bumpers, etc to get final ride height and measure for shocks/bumpstops
9) Install Bilstein or Fox shocks (undecided) and bumpstops
Random pieces/steps that I will try to throw in the mix where time permits:
*Mount compressor and wire the Rubi locker
*Install 8.8 ebrake
*S10 steering box
*Install DB battery tray, red top, cables from XJwonders, relay/fuse box
*wizardPC 6 switch panel and possibly ash tray switch panel
*Wire front/rear bumper cubes
*Wire on board winch control panel
*Rock lights
*Exhaust - leaning towards a Walker Quiet-flow SS muffler, Magnaflow high flow cat, Walker front pipe, and undecided on a header
*New Tstat, Flowkooler water pump, new aux fan, hood vents (maybe?)
*Fresh undercoating or chassis saver
*Full rack/light bar
*Currie steering
*Hutchinson rock monsters
*Wrap "wood" interior pieces
*WJ steering wheel
*Interior LED install
*Need new speakers
*Custom enclosure for the back
*A little birdie tells me Bartact should have XJ seat covers released very soon so I'll probly pick those up rather than new seats.
*CB radio
*KL emblems
*and one last piece that I've had planned, but will save til the end
There's a few small things/details I missed I'm sure, but that's the jest of it. List seems daunting, but going to tackle the little jobs during the week and knock the bigger stuff out on the weekends. Time to kick it in high gear. To anyone who likes to get their hands dirty, my fridge is always full.
In the mean time I am thinking the order of operations will be as follows. Making this list for myself to follow more than anything else.
Main steps to get this thing on the road in somewhat near it's final form:
1) Install SRBs
2) Install new leafs/coils
3) Install quarter armor/wire LED tail lights
4) Monstaline roof, sliders, and hopefully rear bumper if it arrives timely
5) Install flares - I figure there's no way they aren't here within 2 weeks
6) Weld on front/mid/rear stiffeners, extended sway bar mounts, c gussets, goferit insert
7) Install 3 link, new transmission mount, brown dogs, and front DS
8) Bolt on Sliders, bumpers, etc to get final ride height and measure for shocks/bumpstops
9) Install Bilstein or Fox shocks (undecided) and bumpstops
Random pieces/steps that I will try to throw in the mix where time permits:
*Mount compressor and wire the Rubi locker
*Install 8.8 ebrake
*S10 steering box
*Install DB battery tray, red top, cables from XJwonders, relay/fuse box
*wizardPC 6 switch panel and possibly ash tray switch panel
*Wire front/rear bumper cubes
*Wire on board winch control panel
*Rock lights
*Exhaust - leaning towards a Walker Quiet-flow SS muffler, Magnaflow high flow cat, Walker front pipe, and undecided on a header
*New Tstat, Flowkooler water pump, new aux fan, hood vents (maybe?)
*Fresh undercoating or chassis saver
*Full rack/light bar
*Currie steering
*Hutchinson rock monsters
*Wrap "wood" interior pieces
*WJ steering wheel
*Interior LED install
*Need new speakers
*Custom enclosure for the back
*A little birdie tells me Bartact should have XJ seat covers released very soon so I'll probly pick those up rather than new seats.
*CB radio
*KL emblems
*and one last piece that I've had planned, but will save til the end
There's a few small things/details I missed I'm sure, but that's the jest of it. List seems daunting, but going to tackle the little jobs during the week and knock the bigger stuff out on the weekends. Time to kick it in high gear. To anyone who likes to get their hands dirty, my fridge is always full.
Last edited by Jeepology; Jun 18, 2016 at 07:49 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 672
Likes: 7
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 672
Likes: 7
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
some more info/reading:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/s1...e-info-198766/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/s1...ng-box-212010/
Here is the one where they talk about the quick ratio version:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f307/9...-ratio-601802/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/s1...e-info-198766/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/s1...ng-box-212010/
Here is the one where they talk about the quick ratio version:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f307/9...-ratio-601802/
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I'm thinking about switching out my muffler to a walker myself. Mine is too loud currently. I would imagine mine would be louder than the one in this video because I have headers and a high flow cat. That or I'll go with a Borla or Dynomax Super turbo.
Looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you. It's looking a lot like my part pile.
Looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you. It's looking a lot like my part pile.
Last edited by indeepwithajeep; Jun 20, 2016 at 11:46 AM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
So there's been a bit of a setback and the stiffeners/3link have moved down the list for at least 2 weeks 
In the mean time I am thinking the order of operations will be as follows. Making this list for myself to follow more than anything else.
Main steps to get this thing on the road in somewhat near it's final form:
1) Install SRBs
2) Install new leafs/coils
3) Install quarter armor/wire LED tail lights
4) Monstaline roof, sliders, and hopefully rear bumper if it arrives timely
5) Install flares - I figure there's no way they aren't here within 2 weeks
6) Weld on front/mid/rear stiffeners, extended sway bar mounts, c gussets, goferit insert
7) Install 3 link, new transmission mount, brown dogs, and front DS
8) Bolt on Sliders, bumpers, etc to get final ride height and measure for shocks/bumpstops
9) Install Bilstein or Fox shocks (undecided) and bumpstops
In the mean time I am thinking the order of operations will be as follows. Making this list for myself to follow more than anything else.
Main steps to get this thing on the road in somewhat near it's final form:
1) Install SRBs
2) Install new leafs/coils
3) Install quarter armor/wire LED tail lights
4) Monstaline roof, sliders, and hopefully rear bumper if it arrives timely
5) Install flares - I figure there's no way they aren't here within 2 weeks
6) Weld on front/mid/rear stiffeners, extended sway bar mounts, c gussets, goferit insert
7) Install 3 link, new transmission mount, brown dogs, and front DS
8) Bolt on Sliders, bumpers, etc to get final ride height and measure for shocks/bumpstops
9) Install Bilstein or Fox shocks (undecided) and bumpstops
HD No Lift SRB's are awesome! At first things were still stiff, but then I brought the torque down on the upper shackle bolt to 80 ft.lbs. and its WAY better. It's almost weird getting used to cause I had gotten so used to it being stiff. I highly recommend finding someone with a plasma cutter. It'll make the install a cake walk. I didnt have one or access and it was time consuming cause space is tight.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Also, in regards to Exhaust... look into the Flowmaster Force II Cat Back. I think that's the route I'm gonna go. Keeps the standard 2.25" pipe, and just has a nice mild tone to it. There a videos on youtube of them. They don't have one with an XJ, but I listened to the wrangler (4.0L) one and it sounds nice.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 672
Likes: 7
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I'm thinking about switching out my muffler to a walker myself. Mine is too loud currently. I would imagine mine would be louder than the one in this video because I have headers and a high flow cat. That or I'll go with a Borla or Dynomax Super turbo.
Looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you. It's looking a lot like my part pile.
Looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you. It's looking a lot like my part pile.
Also, in regards to Exhaust... look into the Flowmaster Force II Cat Back. I think that's the route I'm gonna go. Keeps the standard 2.25" pipe, and just has a nice mild tone to it. There a videos on youtube of them. They don't have one with an XJ, but I listened to the wrangler (4.0L) one and it sounds nice.
This is the best but saddest thing I've heard! lol! I was looking forward to you getting that 3 link on. Either way, great list of parts and pretty damn similar to my list. Any chance you can do a write-up on the quarter arm/led install? More or less curious about the wiring cause I want to do this as well.
HD No Lift SRB's are awesome! At first things were still stiff, but then I brought the torque down on the upper shackle bolt to 80 ft.lbs. and its WAY better. It's almost weird getting used to cause I had gotten so used to it being stiff. I highly recommend finding someone with a plasma cutter. It'll make the install a cake walk. I didnt have one or access and it was time consuming cause space is tight.
HD No Lift SRB's are awesome! At first things were still stiff, but then I brought the torque down on the upper shackle bolt to 80 ft.lbs. and its WAY better. It's almost weird getting used to cause I had gotten so used to it being stiff. I highly recommend finding someone with a plasma cutter. It'll make the install a cake walk. I didnt have one or access and it was time consuming cause space is tight.
I'll keep that in mind about the SRBs. Thanks for the tips. Might actually tackle it tomorrow.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Just don't put a glass pack/cherry bomb that dumps before the axle....THAT is obnoxious! Not too bad at speed but in town...Xp
Last edited by rcguymike; Jun 20, 2016 at 04:54 PM.
Seasoned Member

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 58
From: DFW
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Though I did go wheeling this weekend and the WJ power steering pump is awesome! Much easier to steer and really was a great upgrade. Glad I did it.
Now to change the radiator in my truck, it started to leak on me as we were heading to the offroad park...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 672
Likes: 7
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I haven't done it yet.
Though I did go wheeling this weekend and the WJ power steering pump is awesome! Much easier to steer and really was a great upgrade. Glad I did it.
Now to change the radiator in my truck, it started to leak on me as we were heading to the offroad park...
Though I did go wheeling this weekend and the WJ power steering pump is awesome! Much easier to steer and really was a great upgrade. Glad I did it.
Now to change the radiator in my truck, it started to leak on me as we were heading to the offroad park...
RIP Radiator.







