I agree with half of you. lol I dont see a reason to sell a 2 wheel drive and buy a 4 wheel drive when you can just make it. I have a buddy with a 96 2 wheel drive and I hooked him up with alot of parts to make it 4x4. I think 2 wheel drive XJs are cool and would take one any day. Way better gas less problem due to no t case or front diff. but to the OP lift it as high as you want and drive it where you want. Just for kicks put a "HUMMER RECOVERY 2X4 VEHICLE" on it. lol

 

The only bad thing about my 2X4 is that now I want a 4X4, doesn't mean I want to get rid of the 2X4. Been looking at every 4X XJ I see, would love to find a 1200-1500 XJ.

 

2 wheel drive.



converted.

 

You should do a write up on the conversion, parts, electrical (if any), necessary steps, etc.

 

Well i dont have ALL the pictures i would want to do a write up. So i believe it would be pretty basic.

Started by pulling a transfer case from a junkyard (hard to tell the milage on the tcase due to having a 97-01 cherokee with the digital odo).

With the transfer case pulled and on a bench at home, i bought the SYE kit and installed it myself. With no prior expierence with tcase work, is was amazingly straight forward and it gives you a full list of tools needed.

Next was a transmission. I called local junkyards that pull parts for you. I work at pepboys and can get used parts through them for myself. I found a used 4wd transmission from a 99 cherokee for $400 with a 1 year warranty (parts/labor).

After that i went to my local trans guy and we lifted it up and removed the old trans, installed the new with the trans case and i towed it down to the driveline shop that i bought my SYE kit from and had a driveshaft build.

With a fully functional jeep again, i went to the junkyard and purchased a front axle, front driveshaft, 4wd linkage/shifter (the linkage is the same from the 1st gen body style so i pulled brackets from a 93 XJ)

The front axle bolted right in with absolutely no problems. Before i installed it, i cleaned it, put new brakes on it and drained the dif and cleaned it and filled her back up. I also put the front driveshaft in with no problems whatso ever.

The shifting lever went in smoothly. removing the center console and pulled back the carpet, the shifting lever drops right in.

Then took the jeep back to the trans shop and had help installing and adjusting the linkage for the tcase.

Everything has worked for the past year from when it was installed. Very VERY straight forward and simple.

as for electrical, i didnt want to go through the hassle of pulling the dash and instrument cluster to figure out the wiring to have the 4wd light pop up so i left that alone.

Easy enough? any questions by all means shoot me a PM.

 

Bought mine and a week later got stuck at the beach parking, the next day I bought a 4x4 parts jeep and swapped it out. Best thing I ever did!

 

Definitely might bve worth bringing along a come-along some chains or straps and a shovel. I used to trailride my 2 wheeldrive silverado and had alot of fun. The only issues i had was when the front would start leaving the trail in deep mud. I'd climb out the window, get the tools out of the back, let my girl drive, while i hooked up the comealong to a tree or a stake, and start ratcheting.

Yes, I know, some guys will say, get a winch. For as often as i would use it, versus the chances of it getinng stolen, rusting in Michigan winters, or broken, isn't worth it. Comealongs works just fine.

Good-luck. Have fun.

 

Somewhat agree. Granted i NEVER have to deal with rust/winters... a bit bigger of a problem for me is theft here in good old vegas. Id love to get a winch but id hate to have 500+ bucks stolen

 

I know this is an old thread but does anyone else have a 2wd xj?

 

I HAD a 2wd but after getting stuck at teh beach with the tide coming in, and getting strapped out by an Isuzu AMIGO........

I swapped it for 4wd. jNice to know if I get stuck in 2wd theres 2 more options 4 and Lo, not "crap I'm stuck!"

 

I bought an 2WD cherokee new back in '87 I loved it untill I got stuck on an black ice road with a 2% grade with angry people behind me in their fwd cars beeping at me to get the 'f' out of the way. I was so embarassed.......... Sold it asap.

 

The first 2wd Jeep I ever encountered was a '71 CJ5 with a blown up front drive shaft. I didn't believe Jeep had ever consciously made a 2wd other than the crappy Commanche before last year. Now, I find they made a 2wd Cherokee.

Why? It runs counter to everything I know about Jeeps. Why in the world would they do this?

You guys have put up a couple of pics of AWESOME looking Jeeps in this thread, but they're 2wd, and lift kit, big tires and all, you won't get halfway as deep into the woods as I will with my 100% stock Jeep.

I just don't get it. What's the point? Not dissing your rides...I just can't understand why Jeep ever did this?

 

yeah my 2wd is in such good shape but i hate that its not 4wd do i think im selling it when i get money in april

 

This is probably a tad off the thread topic but...Since i do no off-roading and winter is over..If I converted my 4WD to 2WD would I gain anything as far as highway MPG?

 

It woudn't be worth it.