rch10007

I think I am going to search around and look for an unmolested XJ with the 4.0 and auto trans and then sell mine.

The truck I have would make a great DD for someone and I've learned that it's always better to start with what you want instead of wasting time and money making tons of changes...before I even start doing the other mods.

Hell, maybe I can even work out a swap with someone that has an auto and wants a manual. My truck gets 19mpg, is bone stock and probably would make a great "teens" first truck.

Anyways, I think I will continue to bring maintenance up to date on this XJ but keep my eyes peeled for an auto to start my project.

BTW, I am not against hacking the fenders. I'd rather buy or make some fiberglass ones instead though. Clean OEM XJ fenders seem to be a rare commodity! lol

PurpleToxin505

Haha mine were clean.



Notch customs makes some nice oem looking flares

rch10007

Those notch custom flares look badass! ...and OEM!

rch10007

Just wanted to add this somewhere so I have a copy of it:

Equipment Listing

Vehicle Description 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT UTILITY 4-DR

Monotone Paint

124 Amp Alternator

500 Amp Maintenance Free Battery

Power Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes

Reclining Front Seats

Rear Fold w/Removable Cushion Seat

Traveling Inboard Seat Belt Buckle

Next Generation Front Air Bags**

Carpets - Floor and Cargo Area

Cargo Compartment Carpet

Cargo Tie Down Loops

Plastic Liftgate Trim Panel

Passenger Assist Handles

Lift Gate Assist Handle

Full Length Floor Console

Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System

Dana M30/181MM Front Axle

Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle

Tinted Windshield Glass

Front Door Tinted Glass

Rear Window Defroster

Rear View Day/Night Mirror

Deluxe Insulation Group
STANDARD EQUIPMENT

100 MPH Primary Speedometer

Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers

Dual Note Electric Horns

12V Auxiliary Power Outlet

RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - CH

RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - JE

RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - 4

RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - JEEP

EXTERIOR COMPONENT COLOR

Headlamps On Warning Chimes

Halogen Headlamps

CHMSL Lamp

Front Bumper Guards

Black Windshield Moldings

Rear Qtr Solid Window Insert

Belt Moldings

Body Color Drip Trough Molding

Black Door Handles

EVAP Control System

20 Gallon Fuel Tank

Forest Green Pearl Coat

Power Steering

Normal Duty Suspension

Front Stabilizer Bar

Rear Stabilizer Bar

Compact Spare Tire

Inside Mounted Spare Tire

Upgraded OBD-II Connectors

Tethered Fuel Filler Cap

Build To U.S. Mkt. Specifications

GVW Rating - 4900#

U.S. Dealer Retail

Zone 64-Memphis

U.S. Specifications Label

Tennessee Ship to State Code

Tennessee Sold to State Code


Prem Cloth Hi-Back Bucket Seats

Camel

Light Group

Sport Decor Group

Power Equipment Group

Smoker's Group

4.0L Engine(ERH)/5Sp Man Trans(DDQ)

High Back Bucket Seats

Highline Door Trim Panel

Front & Rear Floor Mats

Spare Tire Cover

Overhead Console

Front & Rear Ash Trays

All Manual Transmissions

5-Speed Manual Transmission

3.07 Rear Axle Ratio

All Engines

4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine

Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass

Deep Tint Sunscreen Liftgate Glass

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors

Power Mirrors, Fold-Away

All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors

Remote Keyless Entry

Air Conditioning

Instrument Cluster w/Tach

Instrument Panel Black Bezel

Rear Window Wiper/Washer

Cigar Lighter

Power Windows

Power Locks

RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - BADGE - SP

RADIANT SILVER MET. C/C - 4.0L

BLACK - MOLDING - BODYSIDE

Shift Indicator Warning Lamp

Courtesy Lamps

Underhood Lamp

Headlamp Off Time Delay

Black Front Bumper End Caps

Body Color Front Bumper

Black Rear Bumper End Caps

Body Color Rear Bumper

Front License Plate Bracket

Body Color Headlamp Bezels

Body Color Grille

Body Color License Plate Brow

Roof Rack

Federal Emissions

Forest Green Pearl Coat

All Radio Equipped Vehicles

AM/FM Cassette Compact Disc Radio

6 Speakers

Fixed Long Mast Antenna

Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel

Tilt Steering Column

P225/75R15 Wrangler RT/S AT Tires

Goodyear Brand Tires

15X7.0 Full-Face Steel Wheels

All Steel Wheels

Manuf Statement of Origin

8 Additional Gallons of Gas

Spring - Left Front

Spring - Left Rear

Spring - Right Front

Spring - Right Rear

Customer Preferred Package 2TJ

Customer Preferred Package 25J

Customer Preferred Discount

Sold Vehicle

Status D to D1 Less 100%

rch10007

Does "Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle" mean I don't have the D35?

phletch

Yes it does. You have the Chrysler 8.25.

rch10007

This is why I love the Internet - so I can build up the 8.25 AND the D30 with lockers and roll around on 35's just fine then, right? No need to worry about the 8.8...

PurpleToxin505

Should be good up to 35s, might break a shaft now and again. but what could you expect when locked and spinning 35s

rch10007

I updated my list in the first post and added some prices that I think may be reasonable.

Thoughts?

PurpleToxin505

~$500 - notch custom fender flares (painted to match)
~$1800 - long arm kit (So far, I like the Rusty's 6.5")If your gonna spend that much go for a better company
~$50-100 - longer brake lines (how long, stainless or rubber? any OEM work?)Mine were free, rear off a 90s dakota, cant remember what I pulled the fronts off of
~$500 - new gears - 4.10's (manufacturer?)Go bigger than 4.10 for 35s, something like 4.88
~$1000 - air lockers (try to find used ARB)Ever thought about E lockers?
~$0-500 - air compressor w/tank (small electric compressor w/tank - scuba tank)If you go with E lockers no need for a compressor. And to air up tires you can get a nitrogen tank
~$1000 - 35" tires (duratracs)God I love my duratracs
~$450 - 16" MB Wheels Chaos 5 wheelsWhy 16s?
~$100-150 - sway bar - disconnects or other solutionHonestly take 2 mins to remove when you get to the trail
~$300-500 - front/rear bumper with hooks and a receiver for a removable winch
~$100-300 - roof rack to hold a few lights and the spare (or is the rear bumper a better location?)
~$200-500 - drive shaft and yoke?? (prob wait on this to see if it's necessary)most likely will be, and even if not, it wont hurt

Total = !#*$%!!!

rch10007

Do you have 35" Duratracs on stock 15" wheels? I could only find them to fit a 16" wheel in that size.

I've run ARB's in the past and I know they hold up - that's why I like that option, plus the added benefit of an air tank for tools and or airing up tires.

Honestly, the 4.10's are an "upgrade" for what is necessary to keep the gearing ratio's close to stock. I'd really only need a 3.73 for the 35's but I figure the 4.10's will be enough extra rpm's to handle 65-70mph highway speeds. IMHO, 4.88's are way overkill for me. Maybe if I was offroad 99% of the time, but for mixed driving, 4.10's are a good way to go.

Purple, I really appreciate your opinion. Thanks for replying. TBH with you though, I found the part about the sway bar disconects and drive shaft funny. You don't think the $100 links are worth it, but spend $500 on a DS just because it won't hurt, lol. No offense to you, just kinda funny when you think about it.

no rdplz

~$500 - notch custom fender flares (painted to match) - If that's the style you want save a few hundred bucks and just do 4 rear TJ flares all around. Take your time and prep them properly and you can make them look really nice. They'll stand up to a decent amount of abuse as well (this is from experience).
~$1800 - long arm kit (So far, I like the Rusty's 6.5") - SeriousOffroad's 5.5" LA setup. Full kit that includes literally EVERYTHING you need and MUCH better quality parts than Rusty's. (trust me on Rusty's stuff, I've had it and the only thing I still have of theirs are the leaf packs). here's the link.
~$50-100 - longer brake lines (how long, stainless or rubber? any OEM work?) - included in the Serious package.
~$500 - new gears - 4.10's (manufacturer?) - go with Yukon for good quality. I'd go 4.56's personally.
~$1000 - air lockers (try to find used ARB) - used saves money but it's always a good idea to rebuild them depending on usage by the PO.
~$0-500 - air compressor w/tank (small electric compressor w/tank - scuba tank) - Good idea, but if you're willing to lose AC, you could do an OBA set up using the stock compressor.
~$1000 - 35" tires (duratracs) - Very good all-around tire.
~$450 - 16" MB Wheels Chaos 5 wheels - Not my taste, but that's me.
~$100-150 - sway bar - disconnects or other solution - included in the Serious kit
~$300-500 - front/rear bumper with hooks and a receiver for a removable winch - if you can make them yourself and keep them simple $500 is more than enough for both.
~$100-300 - roof rack to hold a few lights and the spare (or is the rear bumper a better location?) - $100 or less to make your own roof rack and put the tire on the rear bumper. Keeps your COG lower and easier to get to if need be.
~$200-500 - drive shaft and yoke?? (prob wait on this to see if it's necessary) - included in the Serious Kit.

Battle

I'm just happy you're keeping your AX-15. If you swap it, I'll find you and shake my fist at you.

Rusty's isn't a bad company at all but for long arms, Clayton pretty much has it for awesomeness.

4:10s will be okay with a stick as you can make the most of the power band but you'll kick yourself if you went with 3.73s. There's a member on here with 38s, 4:10 D30/8.25 combo (factory stuff) and an NV3550. He dailys it and I've seen it in action with my own two eyes. In low range, it can do some serious work. Freedgr he's handle.

PurpleToxin505

Refer to this for gearing.

With all the added weight youll want the extra torque lower gears wil give you.
And no I'm running 31s, if i went to 35s Id run a much more agressive tire like mtr's or a TSL.
And I dont see the point in buying swaybar discos, most iv'e seen, are still a ***** to get off after the first trip or two. the SYE wouldn't hurt because itll stop you from pulling your DS off the yoke. Most the time I dont even run a sway bar, Just lately because it seems like A holes are tryin to hit me more often.

rch10007

Thanks all for the replies! I'm going to look into serious offroad.

PT - that chart is very misleading. I appreciate that you are helping me but that chart does not account for final drive ratios. You have tire size vs. gear ratio AT a given RPM given a certain drive ratio which is not specified for that chart. It is not accurate for stock 28" tires with a 3.07 that isn't even on that chart. In fact, it says I should be using a 3.73 right now and that is just not true. I would have extremely high rpms at cruising speed and my fuel mileage would go to ****. There are many better calculators out there that will show what gears to select given an increase in tire size. Again, I sincerely appreciate the help but the chart you show is not accurate for our XJ's.