Joe Dirt

Hi everyone. Obviously I'm new to the forum. I've been on Wrangler Forum for years and I'm going to build a Cherokee for my son, who is deployed overseas with the Army for the next year. I hope some of you folks on Cherokee Forum can give me some great ideas, so he can have his dream Jeep when he gets back.

I don't want anything too extreme because he's only 18 and has only been driving for a year. I'm thinking about 32" tires and 4" lift. What are some of the best Cherokee years/options?

Joe Dirt

Here's a picture of my boy. What parent wouldn't be proud?

EvilBlackXJ

Hey Joe!

Dare2BSquare from WF here.

Welcome to the XJ side!!!!!

I really like my 99. See my sig for specs.

Joe Dirt

Thanks for the welcome Evil Black. You've got a nice rig. I'm used to my TJ so I've got a lot to learn. Does the unibody build on the XJ cause any problems. I've heard you can get some type of frame bracing to fix unibody body warping... school me up.

EvilBlackXJ

Well, you certainly can't do a body lift!!! Usually when installing hitches, new bumpers, ect you need to use nut strips or a homemade equalivent to spread out the stresses along the uniframe. Other than that, unless you get one that's rusted badly (don't go there) you should be fine. Others will chime in, I'm sure, I'm still on the learning curve on going from a yj to a xj.

jonnyb78

there are some companies that make frame stffeners but depending on how crazy the wheeling is i wouldnt start there. what are your thoughts for lift and tires?

Joe Dirt

He wants black steel 5 spokes with 32"-33" mt's. I'm a Wrangler guy, so I'm not sure how much lift it will need to clear that size. I figure about 4" should do it? I have Rockhard4x4 bumbers and tire carrier on my Wrangler and love them, so I figure I'll check out what they have for a Cherokee. He wants a roof rack too (don't know what type).

tampaviking

I wouldn't let him off the hook in helping you build it. It'll give him something to look forward to.

Joe Dirt

Johnnyb78
That is a great write up on your build. I hope you don't mind if I steal some ideas from your XJ. It looks great.

Joe Dirt

Anyone have a 4.5" Rusty's lift? What kind of quality is it? He also wants an Olympic Top Hat Roof Rack.

djlarroc

Joe Dirt, welcome! For xj bumpers look to jcroffroad.com They have some really cool stuff. I have a rear bumper from them. A++

4" should be good for 32s, if you don't flex that hard.

XJ?2010

Rustys shipping is bad I would look at Rubicon express or Rough country. You can fit 33's with a 4.5" lift it just requires a little fender trimming. If you dont want to go that route go with 32's.

When looking for a 4.5" lift for an XJ you need the following
-Coils
-LCA's
-UCA's (not required but recomended)
-Longer front shocks
-Front trac bar
-Longer sway bar endlinks (go with disconnects there worth it)
-Longer front brake lines or straiten the hard lines (Do some searching and you will find how to do this)
-Leaf spings
-Longer rear shocks
-Maybe an SYE or T-case drop depending on your vibes.
-Longer rear brake line

I would stay in the 1997-1999 range when looking for an XJ, cause you get the new body style and interior along with a high pinion dana 30 (00' and 01 have low pinion) you also dont have deal with the coil on plug that the 00' and 01' have. Oh and get one with a 8.25 rear end they are much stonger than the dana 35.

The top hat is also a great rack so A+ there.

Hope this helps hit us up with any other questions you have. And tell your son to keep up the good work. We all thank him.

rjxj

Welcome Joe.
I agree, don't let him off easy, have him help you build it.
No greater then a father and son doing something they like together.
My boys are a bit younger then yours, but they both helped on the XJ, and both are helping on the FSJ.

GunshowfoshoW

i have the 4.5 inch rubicon express with 31s and fox shock. i love the combo. but i could easily fit 32's and with a little bit o trimming i could go 33s

djlarroc

x2!

Forgot to add, get at least at 92+. I believe that is when the front axle became a one piece and got rid of the crappy vacuum lines for 4WD. 94+ is better because after that year, they also went to bigger and stronger u-joints. I would agree 97-99 is the best years. The 4doors are also stiffer than the 2 doors, but IMO the 2 doors are just damn sexy.