Umbrella Corporation XJ Cherokee Build (Picture Heavy)
 

Hey everyone! My name is William, and with the help of my wife and brother, we built an Umbrella Corporation themed Cherokee XJ.

Some of you may find the finished product dorky, hopefully most find it fun, but please keep in mind that we built this to draw attention to the type of detail and design work we can do, to help promote our Vinyl and Graphic Design business.

The vehicle was just recently finished, and just returned from a trip at Bikini Bottoms off-road park in West TN.

Vehicle information:

This vehicle already has a bit of internet fame. This vehicle originally started out as the Rough Country Jeep Cherokee XJ Budget Build, one of the highest, or highest, viewed videos on the Rough Country TV Youtube channel. It has over 100,000 views combined.

RC Did a GREAT job building this vehicle. Starting as a completely stock vehicle, they turned it into a great looking ride. It features the complete 4.5" X-Series kit, front bumper, winch, light bar, Bushwacker fender flares, RC quick disconnects, stainless break lines, 33"x12.50" tires on black 15" steel wheels, etc.

RC Builds Videos Here:
(Build Episode 1)
(Build Episode 2)

Once we picked it up, we came to an agreement on Umbrella Corporation being the theme of the vehicle, and started laying out our plans to additional upgrades and design work.

Starting with the next thread, I will be posting all the photos of the build, and I will name the products and random bits of information about the process.

-William & Family

(To Moderators: I'm intentionally trying to leave Out direct information that would lead to thinking we are only using this as an advertising post. I started this build Months ago, and have an extensive build on another website, but it was not related to Cherokee's at all, and we wanted to reach an audience directly related to the vehicle we've built. The other thread can be found on TheRPF)

welcome! Really funny to see you on here, because just last night I was looking at your build on another forum when I was searching for the 1 piece ipex headlights youre running! post up some more pics bro!

This is how we received the vehicle:

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/XJ%20Build%201.jpg

We immediately started buying parts.

The following pictures show some of the parts and modifications:

IPex Motoring headlights
Germany Spec tail lights
Blacked out marker Lights
Blacked out front grille
Blacked out Headlight Buckets
Blacked out rear bumper

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%202.JPG

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%203.JPG

We equipped the interior with a pet barrier protector unit. This simulated a rear cage, and gave us a place to clip on additions such as walkie talkies, first aid kits, etc.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%204.JPG

We also equipped the vehicle with Tuff Truck step bars. This was so that at certain events, people could stand on the side of the vehicle. Think parades, etc. It also provided some support in getting the vehicle. I personally rarely use them as the driver, but passengers enjoy them quite a bit. They also (I know this directly..whoops) acted as a pretty good rocker guard haha. I had to pivot the XJ around a tree on the step bar during a trail run, and it worked quite well hah.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%205.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%206.jpg

Thanks for being the first to comment on this build! If you have any questions about the IPex headlights, just ask. We were required to 'modify' the factory grille bucket housing for them to fit snugly.

edited, nice build

This is where we start to jump around a bit. Some of the parts we ordered when we first started making modifications took 2-3 weeks to arrive. Although once received, they were all worth the wait.

Here is our designing the original XJ Matte Black decal kit. We have since added kits for basically every Jeep model. You can check these out on our website.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%207.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%208.jpg

Here you can see we jumped from testing to fitment. With this truck being a theme build, our panels have some extra 'flare' to them haha. We reversed military stencil from the panels to spell UBCS 129136.

The number has a direct influence. The 'fleet' number I generated is a combination of my daughter and sons birth days.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%209.jpg

Designing the outer two-layered decals.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2010.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2010.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2012.jpg

We're pretty happy with the fitment on the final product. It definitely 'blacked-out' the hood. I'd love to see this kit on a white or silver colored XJ, it'd contrast pretty awesome. Our modifications only helped continue to 'black-out' the vehicle.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2013.jpg

This picture is to reflect the blacked out rear bumper and CB Antenna brackets I designed and had built. It also shows the Germany Spec taillights installed.

(If ANY CherokeeForum members want to purchase a hood decal kit, whether from eBay or directly by contacting us, we will GLADLY give you a $5.00 discount. We are trying to build eBay feedback, but more importantly, we're looking for people who can send us pictures after they install the decals to help our gallery haha.)

Please message us though, I am trying to Avoid this thread turning into anything more than a build for everyone to enjoy.

I also would like to know where you ordered the headlights. Website perhaps? Lol

Great looking XJ! We have blacked out the grille and buckets since these photos. I should have some of those up shortly.

We purchased ours about 6 months ago honestly. It was one of the last of the black they had available at the time. I'm not sure if they're having issues with enough sales to keep them or if they're just behind in having any black ones in stock honestly.

We honestly ordered ours thru eBay, but as said above, it was a few months back which is how I was able to get my hands on a black set. At the time, they didn't even have real pictures of the lights installed, they were all photoshopped, so they may have been having issues with generating the sales they hoped for.

Hopefully they're just behind on stock and will have black ones available again soon.

The headlight buckets that bolt around the headlight DOES come unattached. You could take that off and paint them black and put it back together, but the inner part of the light would still have the chrome style.

Here we jump to the roof-rack install. We purchased this locally (kind of) from Craigslist, and it bolted together great!

It is the safari brand roof rack. It came with the 6 smaller lights already attached, as well as the two main ones that face the front, and all wiring. Seller was a great guy, a fellow XJ owner who was in the process of stripping his totaled XJ (Drunk Driver) to build a new one. I believe he is also in the process of setting up an off-road shop in the Nashville, TN area.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2014.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2015.jpg

Followed by a picture of the XJ taken by a fancy camera of how it sat at this point of the build.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2016.jpg

Up next - basic interior upgrades!

Here are a couple pictures of some basic, Necessary interior upgrades haha. We have plans for a few more items down the road, but for now, we started out pretty well.

We removed the factory radio unit and replaced it with a dash kit, harness, and new Kenwood unit.

We also chose to purchase the Smitty Built Tactical Seat Covers! These things are Sweet! Very handy to have access to all those pockets and compartments, but they definitely upgrade the interior to look aggressive like the exterior.

We also chose to run a Black Face model Cobra 29 Digital Classic. Cobra has a name for itself. We ran a dual antenna 4' fiberglass kit with black whips.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2017.JPG

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2018.JPG

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2019.JPG

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2020.JPG

Additional exterior updates, and the vinyl work will be posted later tonight or tomorrow! I hope people enjoy what has been posted so far. Feel free to comment. We appreciate input.

Will & Family

These next pictures show the blacked out grille and headlight buckets and the installation of the GOBI ladder and smitty built universal jerry can holder and can. The GOBI ladder, as informed when purchased, took right at 3 weeks to receive. These are built-to-order. It's a Very nicely designed and finished product. From the coating to the welding and the design of the brackets, it went together in about 30 minutes.

The jerry can was a simple drill and bolt install, but we reinforced it slightly to help with the weight if we decide to fill up the jerry can for a long trail ride. The jerry can itself came from eBay, it was a Made in USA company here in the states.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2021.JPG

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2022.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2023.jpg

At this point, for the time being, we were finished with most of the exterior modifications besides the vinyl.

Pictures of that process start next!

We started the vinyl process by making basic templates to black out more of the vehicle. In a way that almost simulated body panel armor, we laid vinyl from the body line down to the rocker from front fender to the rear quarters.

(We will be making a vinyl for this that is already designed to fit around the factory flares)

We also wrapped the rocker on the doors down, and used Duplicolor undercoating spray to the the very lower door rocker area and the gap small gap between the rear doors and quarter panel. The flares covered this, but we wanted to make sure it matched.

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2024.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2026.jpg

http://autovynamics.com/SHORT_BUILD/xj%20build%2027.jpg

Here in a bit I will post the pictures of the finished theme vinyl as well as a few pictures from tackling the zip line trail at Bikini Bottoms Offroad Park in West TN. We went for the Lenny Cooper concert/weekend events at the park and had a great time.

Where does one get the tail lights you have ?

At the time, they were purchased from an eBay distributor in Germany. They're considered German or European Spec tail lights. They have legal DOT stamping and came with orange tinted bulbs to replaced standard clear bulbs for the black turn signal section hah.

They took about 2-3 weeks to arrive but I was very satisfied with the quality. They were a direct fitment, no issues, swap out - swap in.