1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport (XJ)
The Jeep was originally bought to be a tow vehicle for my Eclipse. Unfortunately the Eclipse never ran again (when I owned it), and the Cherokee became my daily driver.
Of course true to form, I couldn’t leave the Jeep stock, and after a year it began to grow upward. First with a few spacers and larger tires, then taller springs and even bigger tires, then even taller springs… you get the idea. Today it stands as a competent off-roading vehicle (and it’s a stylish Home Depot runner too).
Stock Specs
- Horsepower
- 210
- Displacement
- 4.0L
Modifications
Currently I’ve stuffed a 4.5″ lift front and back under the Cherokee. In the summer of 2006 I installed a long arm kit and 34″ off-road tires. The fenders were trimmed a couple summers ago, and a set of Bushwacker fender flares were added to help smooth the lines.
Future Plans
I am in the progress of major electrical work to install lighting as well as an air compressor. This consists of new 0GA components running to a new fuse block and new wiring to the components. Part of this consists of a new overhead console (originally from an early 90′s Caravan) which has been modified to hold a CB and switches.
The next big jump will be an axle swap, where I’ll replace the Chrysler rear-end with a Ford axle with new gearing and lockers (of some fashion) for the front and back. I’m leaning towards an auto-locker for the rear, and an ARB air-locker for the front.
Since the rear seat is pretty useless at this point, I plan on removing the seat and building an integrated toolbox in its place.
Maybe one day the Cherokee will either an internal roll cage, or an external exoskeleton.