[muddeprived]

This is the build up of my 2001 Cherokee Sport.

4.0
Aw4
8.25/30
np231
3.55

When i first bought it a year ago:

The first modifcation i did was change the air filter. I think it needed it, don't ya?

After spending about $100 changing all the fluids, I HAD to do something about the rear being too low. I stuck some RC add a leaves in the rear:
(note: this is after saying i would go with RE long arms and nothing else)

Much Better...for now:

Of course with my luck and jeeps, i got vibes so a couple BIG NUTS and it I had that temporarily taken care of:

 

[muddeprived]

Of course being a member of all these cherokee forums and having being bitten by the bug years ago, i couldn't stop.

Out came the wallet and home came OME 2" lift.

Betttaaaa!

of course we all know what happens next. BIG MEATS. Well not that BIG, but 31" is big on a cherokee.

They rubbed ALL over the place. I installed two 1" spacers up front to get some clearance but they still rubbed so i had to put it in surgery.

They don't rub much at all now.

 

[muddeprived]

Now i was back to square one. Front was higher than the rear. Had to fix that $52 later and a couple hours of labor did the trick:

BEFORE:

AFTER

 

[muddeprived]

Now that i was closer to the sun, i needed to protect my belly and vital organs down there. I learned from wheeling my ex TJ for four years and what kind of abuse it takes under there so this time around I was preparing for it.

Front Skid:

Transfer Case Skid:

Oil Pan Skid:

No Fear

Next up and i will post picture here when i get it:

 

[muddeprived]

I took a break from skidding up the rig and decided to cut some holes in my hood just for the hell of it.

It may help with underhood temperatures. Should be neat in the wintertime

 

[muddeprived]

So far that's it. I did add a Hitch but that's no biggie. I am currently planning on swapping out my old man emu coils and spacers for some skyjacker 3" coils. The OME's aren't taking the added weight from the skids too well.

 

[Belto]

dude,, your building the under side of a tank... also,, I really like you xj..

 

[Kyle]

Very nice build there mudd, keep us updated:cheers:

 

[muddeprived]

dude,, your building the under side of a tank... also,, I really like you xj..

Thanks. My goal is to avoid all the crap i had to endure with the TJ and be able to wheel without worrying. I had a log get caught up in the skid plate and it seized my front driveshaft. Then i had a large stick go up behind the transfer case and break off the throttle cable bracket. That was ugly. My gas tank stock skid looked like mt.everest inverted. I also bent my draglink hitting a log that was mysteriously in front of me. I didn't see it, i swear.

Who says rocks are rough?

 

[Jeepers Creepers]

I love the vents and tires.

 

[muddeprived]

I love the vents and tires.

Thanks. :hi:

 

[whowey]

Looks good...

Hopefully you don't wheel in deep mud too often. That factory front skid will really load up with sticky mud and hold it in there.

 

[BlueXJ]

Very impressive mudd. Do you have water problems with those vents from West Marine (that is where I have seen them)? I would worry about water pouring onto the coil packs!

 

[nick_n_ii]

That thing is looking killer, can never be protected to much..

 

[JandDGreens]

Liking your rig

I love the black color of your rig, It will be not only great off the trail, but I am sure you are turning heads everywhere you go!!!!!!

 

[PolarXJ]

Sweet! What did the vents come out of, I like how they look.

 

[muddeprived]

I forgot about this thread. I'm gonna have to update it now.

The vents were from westmarine.com. They are boat vents lol.

 

[MaybeSomeday]

How have those Rough Country shackles been treating you? Been wanting to ditch my stock shackles for a while now

 

[muddeprived]

I'm not running them anymore. I upgraded to RC's 4.5" long arm kit and use stock shackles with relocation brackets. But they never gave me problems when I did have em on.

 

[muddeprived]

Shortly after the vents, I added Detours backbone and a winch.

The roller came off and I used a Hawse instead. I didn't like how far out the roller was.

I wanted to improve the ride so I slapped on some drop brackets: