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Transformation; My 96 XJ Build Continued

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Old May 3, 2011 | 06:09 PM
  #1  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
Default Transformation; My 96 XJ Build Continued

I bought my XJ back in September of 2010 stock with 66k on the odometer, no rust, and a little front end damage for $3000.


A month later, I installed a Zone Offroad 3 inch lift and a temporary set of used BF Goodrich 31s that were later replaced with a new set in November 2010.



I temporarily installed 6000k HIDs in H4 housings. I later retrofitted them with projectors out of a Daewoo Leganza that was in the junkyard for about $7.




I did the gauge cluster swap and then installed reverse glow gauges back in December 2010. They are white face during the day and glow at night.



Here's one of my most recent upgrades (April 2011). Rototech Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors, New OEM calipers painted red.





Jeep/Mopar Roof Rack, Home Made EMT Crossbars, Rain Gutter Mounts, Roof Mounted Full Size Spare, KC Hilites 57 Series Driving Lights







I need to take more pictures but basically this is what I have done to my Jeep in only a few months of owning it. Not to mention I'm a kid still in high school .



Here are some pictures of it taken in Winter 2011

Driveway snow pile flex


Driving on a frozen lake




Let me know what you think of my XJ. All comments are appreciated!

Last edited by 1996XJSport; May 4, 2011 at 08:21 PM.
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Old May 3, 2011 | 06:56 PM
  #2  
clockwise's Avatar
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From: McCall Idaho!
Year: 97
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
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whats the cutting and putting holes in the rotors do?
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Old May 3, 2011 | 07:55 PM
  #3  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
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Originally Posted by clockwise
whats the cutting and putting holes in the rotors do?
I didn't do it, I bought them like that.
The cross drilled and slotted rotors don't heat up as much as solid rotors, they dry out quicker after crossing water and work better than solid rotors when wet, they have less of a tendency to warp due to cooler running temps, and the cross drilled holes help the pad bite due it it grabbing tiny edges.
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Old May 3, 2011 | 08:16 PM
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FISHIES848's Avatar
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From: Aurora, Co
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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hey man i did a 3" lift on mine as well, and i get DEATH WOBBLE around 50 to 55. Do u also have this problem? I've been reading way to many variables and can't figuure out my problem.
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Old May 4, 2011 | 08:25 PM
  #5  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
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Originally Posted by FISHIES848
hey man i did a 3" lift on mine as well, and i get DEATH WOBBLE around 50 to 55. Do u also have this problem? I've been reading way to many variables and can't figuure out my problem.
Nah I don't have any issues with death wobble on my 96. My 92 has the death wobble issue but it's stock. Either your tires aren't weighted properly, your trac bar is shot, your trac bar bushings are shot, or the brackets your trac bar mounts to are separated from the unibody (worst case scenario).
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Old May 4, 2011 | 08:32 PM
  #6  
90cherokeeguy's Avatar
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From: jackson nj
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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how hard was the guage cluster swap i realy like it
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Old May 5, 2011 | 09:33 AM
  #7  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
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Originally Posted by 90cherokeeguy
how hard was the guage cluster swap i realy like it
Thanks man! On a scale of 1-10, ten being the hardest; I'd say the entire swap was about a 4. I got a gauge cluster out of another 96 at the junk yard (96s don't use speedo cables) and took the plastic cover off. Then you have to put the glow gauge faces over the existing gauge faces. To do that, you have to unscrew the two screws holdng each face on, place the overlay over the gauge face, and reinstall the screws. Then, you run all the wires to the gauge faces out of one of the light bulb holes in the back of the cluster. I unscrewed the ignition and ground on the tach and put the connections to the gauge faces there with eyelet crimps. By doing that, the cluster will light up whenever the Jeep is running. After its all done, put the cluster back together and swap it into your XJ. Everything should work except for your water temp and oil pressure gauges. In order to get them working, you need to spend $40 at autozone on new sending units. You need new sending units because the base XJs had dummy light sensors from the factory that do not measure anything. They are just a simple on/off circuit that comes on in emergencies. Swap the new sending units in, and you're done!
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Old May 5, 2011 | 09:53 AM
  #8  
ArmyGraham's Avatar
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From: Camp Casey South Korea
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Looking good so far, keep up the good work
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Old May 5, 2011 | 09:57 AM
  #9  
DaveAz's Avatar
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From: Arizona
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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Originally Posted by 1996XJSport
Thanks man! On a scale of 1-10, ten being the hardest; I'd say the entire swap was about a 4. I got a gauge cluster out of another 96 at the junk yard (96s don't use speedo cables) and took the plastic cover off. Then you have to put the glow gauge faces over the existing gauge faces. To do that, you have to unscrew the two screws holdng each face on, place the overlay over the gauge face, and reinstall the screws. Then, you run all the wires to the gauge faces out of one of the light bulb holes in the back of the cluster. I unscrewed the ignition and ground on the tach and put the connections to the gauge faces there with eyelet crimps. By doing that, the cluster will light up whenever the Jeep is running. After its all done, put the cluster back together and swap it into your XJ. Everything should work except for your water temp and oil pressure gauges. In order to get them working, you need to spend $40 at autozone on new sending units. You need new sending units because the base XJs had dummy light sensors from the factory that do not measure anything. They are just a simple on/off circuit that comes on in emergencies. Swap the new sending units in, and you're done!
Got a pic of 'em in the daylight? Link to where you can get that?
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Old May 5, 2011 | 09:58 AM
  #10  
1ABrian's Avatar
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From: New Hampshire
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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gauge cluster is crazy awsome Love it!
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Old May 5, 2011 | 01:02 PM
  #11  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
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Originally Posted by ArmyGraham
Looking good so far, keep up the good work
Thanks! I may be getting it painted black and swapping in the 97+ doors and header panel. I thought i'd modernize it a bit and give it a newer look
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Old May 5, 2011 | 01:04 PM
  #12  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
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Originally Posted by 1ABrian
gauge cluster is crazy awsome Love it!
Thanks! I think its one of the best interior mods i've done so far. Best part about the gauges is that you can change the colors and brightness with the flick of a switch!
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Old May 5, 2011 | 02:24 PM
  #13  
1996XJSport's Avatar
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From: West Bloomfield,MI
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L, CAI, Edelbrock Breather, Optima Yellowtop
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Originally Posted by DaveAz
Got a pic of 'em in the daylight? Link to where you can get that?
Here's a pic of the gauges during the day. I haven't had any time to swap the temp and pressure sensors but I will soon.




Here's the ebay link
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-...Q5fAccessories

Last edited by 1996XJSport; May 5, 2011 at 02:32 PM.
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