XJ: 2001 Cherokee Longarm

[Kizzo]

So this is going to be the official build thread for my recently purchased 2001 cherokee xj.



Some of you might know me for having a Red TJ on long arms, 35's etc.


Well now having 2 small kids, the tj was just getting alittle tight on the inside with all the gear you have to carry, and we are wanting to be able to get to more jeep events as a family.
So the tj had to go and in came the xj. Our second one. We also have a 98 xj which is the wifes daily driver. Once the tj sold I had my budget for modding the new xj.
Ok enough babble.
Onto the build.
The xj already has an Ironman 2" lift in it with foam cell shocks. I dont like this kit. It rattles my teeth, its that harsh a ride. Everything but the rear leaves will be going. I will use some of the rear leaves with the new lift.

OK. What is happening with this xj?
What is going on this xj?

XJ Anti rock swaybar. (a must have after having one on the TJ)
4" Ironrock critical path longarm kit
Ford 8.8 rear diff with truss, 4.56 gears, and Auburn Ected locker
Front diff gets Spartan luch box locker and 4.56 gears
Probably home made rock sliders
Bushwacker flat flares
Rear bumper and tyre carrier
15x8 3.75 bs wheels
and undecided about tyre size (33 or 35") depends on how money goes.
Wanting to get Goodyear mtr/k's, but this also depends on how the budget looks.
Now onto the progress and pics

[Kizzo]

What I have done so far.
Picked up a cheap 8.8 off ebay for $200. Diff is out of a 99 Ford explorer. 31 spline axles and disk brakes. The yanks love using these diffs. But they are narrower than the dana 35 by about 1.5".
But once new wheels and tyres are mounted its very hard to even notice.





Diff will get completely stripped and recieve new rotors, calipers and pads. Can reuse the hard lines and even the soft lines seem good.

[Kizzo]

Rear bar turned up. Postie lady was glad I was home.



Got stuck straight into putting it on.



The bar sits so close to the rear door that the number plate light assembly had to come off. But I guess I was going to have to move the plate anyway.



Manufacturer says this bar can handle up to a 38" tyre. Good to know. Pivot point on this bar does not use bearing either. Just a metal post and a sleeve that is greased and slid over the top. Seems to work ok though.

Bar on and finished. Good solid bar. And no rattling or movement with the 31" tyre.

[Kizzo]

Forgot to mention that when I took the plastic bumper ends off there are mounts to hold them on. They are just rivoted on. So I drilled these out, took mounts off. Filled holes and sprayed the area with Bed liner that you can buy from super cheap in a can. I will continue the bed liner the whole length of the side eventually.

[Kizzo]

Got some work done on the Ford 8.8 today. Stripped off the brake lines, calipers and rotors. Drained the oil. Man this thing is heavy.
Started cutting the old mounts off.





And with the Kit coming from Ironrock Offroad, it will eventually look like this.

[RenegadeDom]

going to be an epic build, look forward to seeing it out on the trails soon mate!!!

[xjrob]

Hi Kizzo,

What brand rear bar is that?