FIRST PLACE
chris87xj
Hey y’all, this is my XJ and I’m in love.
I’ve been working on her for about four years now and things have gotten a lot easier since I joined JF. It’s been a labor of love with a lot of trial and error something along the lines of build it, break it, rebuild it better, but lately she’s become pretty reliable and enjoyable. Wheelin’ stories abound, we could talk about it for hours, but I’ll have to say the best damage done on a trail was when I flipped her upside down at Redbird SRA. The exocage paid off there and the xj sustained no significant damage, however my buds never miss a chance to remind me of it when the opportunity arises. My pride as a technical wheeler may never be the same haha.
Here are the specs and modifications I can think of right now. I’m sure there’s more but this covers the most of it. I hope you enjoy. - Chris
1987 Jeep Cherokee 2-door XJ
Rubicon Express 5.5” long arm suspension with extra leaf
Dana 44 front axle with Detroit Locker and Warn lockouts
Dana 60 rear axle with Detroit Locker
4.88 gears
Skyjacker differential guards
Rubicon fixed yoke kit and CV driveshaft
Hi-steer knuckles with 1 1/8” tie rods and track bars
4 wheel disc brakes
Braided stainless lines
Olympic front winch bumper
Tomken rear bumper and swing out tire carrier with Hi-lift jack
Milemarker 9,000 lb hydraulic winch
100’ 3/8” Amsteel Blue synthetic rope
Custom tubular rocker protection
Custom built exterior roll cage made of 1.5” x .125 4130 chromoly tubing
Transfer case and gas tank skids
Custom chromoly roof basket and light bar
Four top mount Hella 500W driving lamps, two front mount Hella fogs, and two rear floods
Hard mounted Quick Air 2 compressor
Outback storage box with sliding, locking drawers
New interior including headliner, Husky Liner floor mats, tinted windows, extra 12V power ports
CB Radio; Pioneer Stereo with XM satellite radio, CD, MP3, and custom rear speakers
Full coverage undercoating
5 BFG MT’s and aluminum wheels, 35 x 12.5 x 15
Rusty's flex flares
Rebuilt 3.4 L V6 and Hughes 700 R4 transmission with overdrive from 1994 Camaro donor
M.O.R.E. bombproof motor mounts
New radiator, power steering pump, alternator, AC compressor, starter
electric radiator fan with kill switch for water crossings
B&W tranny cooler w/ temp controlled fan
SunPro tach and tranny temp gauge
Optima yellowtop battery
BUSS auxiliary power distribution panel
SECOND PLACE
bmyohn
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4x4
88,000 miles
ENGINE
4.6L Golen Stroker
63mm TB
Banks Torque Tube Header
Airflow Snorkel
Optima Red Top
New Radiator
B&M Tranny Cooler
Tranny Fluid Temp Gauge
Flowmaster 40
Cat Delete
AA HD SYE and DS
ZJ Prop. Valve
C-ROK Steering Brace
BODY
Trimmed front fenders
Cut and fold rear fenders
Doorless Mod
Bedlined rockers/fenders
Lebaron Hood Vents
Hidden Hitch Class III - with D-ring recovery
Candied Tailights
SUSPENSION
6.5" Rock Krawler Coils
3.5" Full RE Packs
1.5" TnT Customs Shackles
1" Ubolt Eliminators
TnT Customs Y-Link Kit
TnT Customs Builder Trac Bar System
TnT Customs OTK Steering
RE Twin Tube Shocks
TnT Customs Frame Stiffiners
RE 22" SS Brakelines
AXLES
Front -
1995 XJ HP D30
TnT Customs Truss with raised trac bar and UCA mounts
4.88 Yukon
Aussie Locker
ARB Front Diff
Rear-
1997 Ford Explorer 8.8"
Ubolt Eliminators
Raised Shock Mounts
Welded Tubes
Yukon 4.88 R&P
M.O.R.E DS mounting adapter
Ford Racing Disc Brakes
Riddler Ford 8.8" Diff Cover
INTERIOR
Sony Xplod Stereo
Alpine 6.5" speakers
sound bar from older XJ mounted in headliner behind driver seat
Herculined Floors
Switches for lighting
Tranny fluid gauge
TIRES AND WHEELS
35/12.50/15 Maxxis Bighorns
Cragar Soft 8 15x8 with 4" BS
ARMOR
AJs Custom Winch Bumper
AJs Super Square Rails - 3/16"
TnT Customs Belly Pan
JKS Miniskids
Riddler Ford 8.8" Diff. Cover
ARB Front Diff Cover
C-ROK Inner Reinforcment Plate-steering box
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THIRD PLACE
Leftlanetruckin
1998 Cherokee
Wheels/Tires/Axles:
JK Rubicon Dana 44 Front and Rear.
16" steelies.
37" SSR's.
Suspension & Steering:
6.5" Rusty's coils, RE Monotube shocks, Clayton long arms, custom extended bumpstops.
4" Alcan leafs, RE boomerang shackles, shackle relocation kit, RE Monotube shocks, Poly bushings, custom extended bumpstops.
Chevy 1 ton tie rod ends, DOM tubing, custom DOM trac bar with Johnny joints.
AGR hydro assist is in the mail!
Motor etc:
4.0/AW4/sye'd 231. Klune V 4:1 that I have already is going in this summer.
Misc:
Full Rusty's skid plates from the motor to under the fuel tank.
Front "frame" fully plated from the bumper to the coil mounts.
3/16" Frame stiffeners.
ARB switches for lockers.
ARB front bumper with 10k Smittybuilt winch and T Max wirelss controller. 100' 3/8" synthetic line.
Custom rear bumper getting made when I get time.
Bushwhacker cut out fender flares.
AJ's super rock rails.
Cobra 29 CB with firestik antenna.
Pioneer mp3 playing head unit, amp, sub.
We bought it in Maryland, drove 900 miles each way to get it. It was 50% done, with every suspension joint loose, bad springs, shocks and so on. After a LOT of work, it is a pleasure to drive. The wife and kids mainly drive it while I am out of town working, they seem to prefer it over the Range Rover we also have!
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Congratulations to chris87xj, our 2009 Cherokee of the Year
