Looking for some advice before I go down the wrong path with my new XJ build. I purchased a 1996 XJ 4.0 HO 101K miles for 1000 dollars. (sweet deal) and have been saving since. So basically. If you could spend 2K on a Cherokee. what would you get?!

I live near the rubicon so I would like to be able to go atleast a little ways in but the xj will mostly be used for exploring , camping, and a lot of snow runs in the winter.

Ive owned several xjs that were sky skrapers and am now looking just to ride nice on the road and be able to articulate a bit when needed.

SOO that being said. whats the best way to invest this money?

 

3" old man emu HD lift
SYE
good upper and lower adjustable control arms (RK, RE, BDS, etc)
aussie lockers front and rear
4.56 gears and 33s
sliders
bumpers

thatll be about $2k

 

Piece together your own lift, with all new springs and shocks, new upper and lower control arms, and new track bar. Ditch the rear sway bar. Either ditch the front too, or get quick disconnects. Go 3" at the most imo, and throw some 33's under it. Regear it, I'd go with 4.56 or 4.88, and lock both axles. If you have the D35 rear, swap it for something better, either an 8.25 or 8.8. And you'll need recovery points. If you haven't spent your whole budget yet, get a front bumper and a winch too.
Whatever is left (assuming you haven't bought overly expensive parts), put towards some armor, or recovery gear, or whatever else you may want. Should be pretty easy to build an awesome Jeep for $2000, I've still got less than that in mine, including the cost of the Jeep itself.

 

Where? Cause I need to move there lol.

Personally I'd do a Rubicon express 3.5" lift, qp armor, sliders and some 32s. If there was anything left I'd get an Aussie for the front and start saving again...

 

no input here but I'm really interested to see where this goes... I too will be investing into my jeep a little and am in the same mind frame...

btw, you got a KILLER DEAL on that jeep !!!!!!

 

I'm running 33x10.50 BFG KM2's with 3.5" Re coil and leafs , Re adjustable Trackbar Upper and Lower Teraflex Adjustable control arms , extended steel brake lines, Bilstein 510O shocks. Jcr Gastank Skid , Rigidco Sliders , Rigidco Winchbumper , xrc8 winch, rear spartan locker

I have 900 in my suspension , 800 in tires , 800 in Armor. 300 in rear locker

I will be regearing and locking the front In a few months

 

It has 3.55 gears, 8.25 in rear. the only thing I noticed is that it came with a dana 30 off of a vacuum Cherokee. Not a big deal as I know how to convert it with a drill and a bolt. but I also have a dana 30 off another 96 that I bought just in case. I am thinking the same as In a small lift with quality parts that aren't gona ride like %$#! ill probably go with 31 or 32 inch tires. What shocks would be the best to pick up for the money? im also thinking about eliminating the front bar pins as those were always clacking around with my old XJ that had a 6.5 RC lift. and lastly, anyone else out there using drop brackets? ive heard good things

 

If you're 16 save your money and use it for college.

 

Buzz kill

 

honestly if the XJ is in really good shape and you plan on keeping it for a while, do ALL the maintenance you can... change every fluid and filter. then get stiffeners welded on front to rear, then cage it.

then start the rest of the mods.

 

for 31s, hit the junkyard:
v8 zj front coils, wj lower front control arms, s10 leaf for rear

 

I'd say it really depends on how your XJ is running right now. I'd agree to catch up on any and all maintenance that you possibly need (fluids, filters, tune up, etc). But if everything is running strong, no serious leaks, no out-of-the-ordinary noises, then put that into suspension, steering, tires and axles.

Serious Offroad sells a VERY complete lift for just over $2,000. That's what I would do

 

 

Sadly all mine when I was 16 went to the jeep, 18 now and gonna be paying for my own college in the spring all my money still goes mostly to the jeep haha

 

I agree - do all of the maintenance you can on it then use what's left over on parts. Look for used parts, it'll save you some dough.