Thread: 2000 Jeep Cherokee XJ Build up.

Meh, why not, I figured I'd start one of these threads since it seems the popular thing to do


I bought this beast bone stock in Jan. 2008 and it was all down hill from there. Bought it originally to crawl with, but just couldn't get away from the go fast stuff. I ended up with a pretty good dual purpose Jeep that does both decently.

The week I bought it! I hooked up with a local chapter of NAXJA (jeep XJ club) and started wheelin' even stock.









After that, I snagged a little 3" lift, that actually flexed out really well, and some 30" BFG's, and wheeled the shit out of it.












Then I bought some wheel's off a member here, cleaned them up, and it worked bitchin' until I ripped my front flares off because of flexing it out. Took 'em off, then started trimming my fenders!












Next up was some Glassworks 4.5" flare fenders, Followed by tube bumpers, and rock rails.







Buddy dave helping fold the rear quarters in preparation for the rear bumper!












Then it was time for more lift!!!! Went with an ACOS Pro with a 2" air bump up front, Deaver pack in the rear, with 12" Fox 2.0 adjustable resi's up front and 10" in the rear. 33x10.50x15 BFG's as well. So I invited some friends over to help with the lift










Then I got some Soltek LaPaz Halogen's for the front, to fill up that bumper, those things are AWESOME.








After that, I decided it was time to set up the suepension properly, adjust my bumps, and install some frame stiffeners!






First time welding!!!










This is how it's turned out so far And I must say, I'm pretty impressed with how it handles!














Stay tuned, more coming soon!

Bitching thread my negro!
When did you put the frame stiffeners on? you should have brought it over, we would have tig welded em for ya.
We also need to get started on designing your steering. I plan on doing the same thing to mine as well with the over OTK on a heim

Originally Posted by FlexJ

Bitching thread my negro!
When did you put the frame stiffeners on? you should have brought it over, we would have tig welded em for ya.
We also need to get started on designing your steering. I plan on doing the same thing to mine as well with the over OTK on a heim

Frame stiffeners went on a while ago, my first time welding, it was meh, then we ran outta gas and I had to use flux. That was a fucking nightmare. I've got more stiffeners that need to go on though, when can I bring it?

Originally Posted by crazyjim

Frame stiffeners went on a while ago, my first time welding, it was meh, then we ran outta gas and I had to use flux. That was a fucking nightmare. I've got more stiffeners that need to go on though, when can I bring it?

I'll talk to chris but we should do it saturday or sunday for sure!! Btw when is the meet?!?

Originally Posted by FlexJ

I'll talk to chris but we should do it saturday or sunday for sure!! Btw when is the meet?!?

Sounds good, sunday would work best probably. Going to yucaipa saturday evening. Sonic M&G is this sunday at 7!

Very nice truck, I like how you put it together. You ever roll 4 deep?

nice little Jeep, good work.

You mean 4 passengers? Every once in a while, but never on the hard go fast stuff, suspension is tuned for 2 passengers lol.

I should be getting all of my front suspension ish on the 25th so We will definitely have to go on an adventure

My buddy on NAXJA was telling me you were debating between the Full Traction or Rubicon Express long arm kit. He just put the Full Traction long arm Kit on his Jeep and it works almost as good as my 2000 Ranger.

I vote Full Traction, because the Rubicon is a radius arm style setup which messes with the steering geometry throughout the wheel travel.

Mike

Originally Posted by only1mikey

My buddy on NAXJA was telling me you were debating between the Full Traction or Rubicon Express long arm kit. He just put the Full Traction long arm Kit on his Jeep and it works almost as good as my 2000 Ranger.

I vote Full Traction, because the Rubicon is a radius arm style setup which messes with the steering geometry throughout the wheel travel.

Mike

I have to disagree on the RE kit messing with the steering, we just put the 5.5 long arm kit on my brothers jeep and it has no issues with geometry.

Originally Posted by FlexJ

I should be getting all of my front suspension ish on the 25th so We will definitely have to go on an adventure

Fo sho!

Originally Posted by only1mikey

My buddy on NAXJA was telling me you were debating between the Full Traction or Rubicon Express long arm kit. He just put the Full Traction long arm Kit on his Jeep and it works almost as good as my 2000 Ranger.

I vote Full Traction, because the Rubicon is a radius arm style setup which messes with the steering geometry throughout the wheel travel.

Mike

I've never debated between the two lol, I've always been a fanboy of the FT kit, because it's a true 4 link, and when I go long arm, it will be what I run. Hands down the best setup out there for what I do.

Originally Posted by FlexJ

I have to disagree on the RE kit messing with the steering, we just put the 5.5 long arm kit on my brothers jeep and it has no issues with geometry.

And I'm gonna have to disagree with YOU kyle. No offense, RE makes awesome shit, but geometrically a radius arm setup will change caster at droop, and at stuff, which for a rear isn't a big deal, but for steering wheels, it's important. You'll get bump steer more with the RE kit vs. the Full Traction kit, which is a true 4 link, and retains the stock caster angle throughout travel. Don't get me wrong, the RE y-link does fine in the go fast stuff, but the FT 4 link will give you just that much better of performance.

Originally Posted by FlexJ

I have to disagree on the RE kit messing with the steering, we just put the 5.5 long arm kit on my brothers jeep and it has no issues with geometry.

Think about it like this. if you set your caster correctly at ride height, it's going to get way positive when the axle bumps out. Now when the axle is fully drooped out, the caster will become negative (BIG NO NO).

Now with a stock jeep it's utilizes a four link with a track bar (which is to keep the axle cycling in plane with the steering). The links keep the caster correct through it's travel can also affect things like drive shaft plunge, etc.

Mike

Originally Posted by crazyjim

Fo sho!



I've never debated between the two lol, I've always been a fanboy of the FT kit, because it's a true 4 link, and when I go long arm, it will be what I run. Hands down the best setup out there for what I do.



And I'm gonna have to disagree with YOU kyle. No offense, RE makes awesome shit, but geometrically a radius arm setup will change caster at droop, and at stuff, which for a rear isn't a big deal, but for steering wheels, it's important. You'll get bump steer more with the RE kit vs. the Full Traction kit, which is a true 4 link, and retains the stock caster angle throughout travel. Don't get me wrong, the RE y-link does fine in the go fast stuff, but the FT 4 link will give you just that much better of performance.

Well I guess I should have stated that the jeep was built purely for trails, no go fast in this thing.
But I know when I am wrong and I do stand corrected

Originally Posted by only1mikey

Think about it like this. if you set your caster correctly at ride height, it's going to get way positive when the axle bumps out. Now when the axle is fully drooped out, the caster will become negative (BIG NO NO).

Now with a stock jeep it's utilizes a four link with a track bar (which is to keep the axle cycling in plane with the steering). The links keep the caster correct through it's travel can also affect things like drive shaft plunge, etc.

Mike

That makes alot of sense. I understand now

Nice jeep, I used to run the centerline telstar wheels. Loved them, super strong and light. Nice jeep, you should try and come to Henderson on December 5th for the season finale. SHould be a good time, we only race from 10am to 2pm then the tts come after us.

BTW the RE kit, was that on a cherokee or wrangler? The wrangler kits work well, the cherokees, not so much...

Well, being someone who RUNS the RE long arm kit. I would have to say I have had NO problems with bump steer or anything and run my jeep hard.

Truck looks good jim, You get better (nicer) replies over here (vs NAXJA) because these guys actually like to go fast. haha

I do have to say, the hook up on the 3" lift, the install of ALL the lifts, the setup of the airbumps and all.....whoever was involved in that it cool as hell.

Originally Posted by Bryan_D

Nice jeep, I used to run the centerline telstar wheels. Loved them, super strong and light. Nice jeep, you should try and come to Henderson on December 5th for the season finale. SHould be a good time, we only race from 10am to 2pm then the tts come after us.

BTW the RE kit, was that on a cherokee or wrangler? The wrangler kits work well, the cherokees, not so much...

Ya I'm definitely lovin' the wheels. They're SUPER light weight and haven't bent yet!

Originally Posted by silverslk

Well, being someone who RUNS the RE long arm kit. I would have to say I have had NO problems with bump steer or anything and run my jeep hard.

Truck looks good jim, You get better (nicer) replies over here (vs NAXJA) because these guys actually like to go fast. haha

I do have to say, the hook up on the 3" lift, the install of ALL the lifts, the setup of the airbumps and all.....whoever was involved in that it cool as hell.

Haha, hell yea he was, some dude named Andy from OC! :P

But yea, I can attest to this, Andy has pounded his Jeep through some hard shit and handles fine!

And yea, NAXJA is a bunch of crawlers, what can I say.

Quick clip of me going small off a little lip hahaha. Seemed to handle it well, jumped smaller this time than I did in the above pictures.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_9TROm2tTg"]YouTube - Small Jeepspeed Jump[/ame]

do your shocks mount in the factory postion in the back?

Originally Posted by XJRunner

do your shocks mount in the factory postion in the back?

Yessir.

So, I got the TMR frame plates installed tonight, took us forever because we sat around drinking most of the time hahaha.

Turned out pretty decently I'd say, it's still at my buddies house on stands and disassembled, so we can finish up step 3 of 3 tomorrow. Then finally paint. Anyway, here are some pictures of the process...


Getting her all cleaned up and prepped for welding.



Then we mocked up the plates, and bent them accordingly since the frame isn't exactly strait!




Tacked and ready to weld



Lee doin' his thang!



Both sides done!!!






And then we had a visitor






Anywho, it went smoothly, stay tuned tomorrow for the final chapter of the my frame stiffening saga.

SO behold, the final step of my frame stiffening process. I'd have to say, with the TNT stiffeners, TMR plates, and T&J stiffeners... I shouldn't have any problems at all with frame tweakage


Anyway, as you read yesterday, we finished up the TMR frame plates, and got started on the T&J stiffeners today. The T&J tubes connect the leaf spring box to the LCA mount, then weld to the frame in various places. Due to having 3/16" thicker material everywhere, we did quite a bit of grinding, bending, and tweaking to get them fitted right, but didn't have much of a problem once we got rolling.





To start, this bolt hanging down had to be ground down, because it was interfering with the brace that needed to bolt to the spring box.




This section of frame also had to be ground smooth, to at least the diameter of the tube bolting to it.




If you notice here, the tube bends up and gives you a section to weld to the frame up front, right above where it bolts to the LCA bolt.






Once we got it all bolted up, we cleaned the frame rails off and welded on the 4" plates from the tube to the frame.






Once everything was welded on and finished up, it was time to prep and paint!!!

Damn Jim, Looks better then lily kingston....Well I cant really say that, But ya they look good.

Looking good! Now you need to put those frame stiffeners to work, see how they hold up!

Originally Posted by XJ_kittie

Looking good! Now you need to put those frame stiffeners to work, see how they hold up!

Already did the other night haha, caught a rock at about 60 and bent a knuckle. Toed WAY out when I got home.

Also, almost flipped on this hill, no bueno!!!

I can't delete this.

do you have a link to the frame stiffeners?

i have a 2000 XJ, 4.5 lift w/ 32" km2's. im building d44's for it now, and just stumbled accross a wrecked durango with a 5.7 hemi... ya see where im goin with this right.

How the Jeep looks right now:



'




Test fitting the T&J cage

Still working on the cage, but got some new play things for her

cute girl.







oops i mean shocks lol




looking badass man,pics of cage?

more pics of the girl...................

Originally Posted by CVP PRERUNNERS

cute girl.







oops i mean shocks lol




looking badass man,pics of cage?

Haha thanks, just sold the shocks actually, going to go with brand new bilsteins... Also, cage still isn't finished, waiting on material and free time, here's the most recent pictures of the cage:

Originally Posted by simon5ay5

more pics of the girl...................

Haha pfffft.

dam u............


my buddy is wanting me to build his jeep up for him and i think he was thinkin something similar to yours so will probably asking lots of questions

I like the sandal right underneath the weld, just my style!

Great build thread cant wait to see it done

Looking good Jim! Looking forward to seeing the next phase!

Originally Posted by simon5ay5

dam u............


my buddy is wanting me to build his jeep up for him and i think he was thinkin something similar to yours so will probably asking lots of questions

No worries, although there are probably better people to ask, I'm just some newb learning as I go haha.

Originally Posted by Travisfab

I like the sandal right underneath the weld, just my style!

Osha approved

Originally Posted by SocalRanger

Great build thread cant wait to see it done

Thanks man, I know Jeeps are kinda the red headed step child around here but I like it Should be finished up in the next two months or so.

Originally Posted by skullver

Looking good Jim! Looking forward to seeing the next phase!

Word, I gotta figure out how I'm gonna get that axle in there! Thanks again btw for that.

The head surface looks a little ruff. Bitchin Jeep though.

Not done yet? C'mon jim lol. Looks good, keep it up!