I Plan on Buying a 95'-98' Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (Probably Automatic) and I'm wondering what setup works the best and what parts should I get. I plan on spending $3,500 on the Cherokee after i get it and I don't know what I should look at when buying one, transmission wise, engine wise and all that stuff... I plan on Lifting it around 6" for sure and giving it nice off road tires and rim, probably 33's and I estimate that will cost me around $1,300-1,600 if I use the lift kit I found for 600$, I don't know if its any good, here is the link http://roughcountry.com/jeep_xj_6x.html I'm really worried about the trans and plan on getting automatic because most of the forums I go to say its drivers preference and there are slight disadvantages and advantages for both. What should I look at that might cost me big bucks later on and what should i replace if I get a 6" lift kit or even a 4" lift kit, what would i need for it to be reliable. I heard the IL6 is a very tough motor but some of the Xj's on tv get new engines put in them so I'm wondering if the motor is strong enough. Also what would be recommended for armor wise, I plan on getting a grille guard and a skid plate for the engine but I don't know. I am not really sure what I need to put the lift kit on necessarily but I work for a salvage business that takes apart antique tractors and there is welders and such... I really don't want to take it anywhere special to get this installed... and would a 700$ roll cage be advised because I hear jeeps are prone to flipping, sorry for it being so long I just needed some advice and your truck looked awesome.

- Ray from Michigan  

Well what exactly do you plan to use it for.  Daily Driver, mud toy, rock crawler, etc.  3500 bucks won't get ya very far with all the aftermarket parts ya want to add.  

If you're looking to turn this into a daily driver/weekend wheeler type of rig, then I think the 3500 will go far enough.  What I would do, a 4.5" lift, 33" mud terrains and some minor fender trimming.  If there isn't a transfer case skid on it, get one.  Also a gas tank skid.  I decent front and rear bumper that both have some type of recovery point, and you're wheeling.  Don't worry about lockers and such, wheel it for a while and get used to it in the dirt.  You'll be surprised at where you find yourself able to go.  

Nobody ever mentions the gear ratios in those things. Cherokees of that era came with 3.07 axle ratios with a 5 speed which is anemic gearing even with stock tires. Throw on some 33's and it is going to be a slug in upper gears and require a lot of clutch action at lower speeds. Automatic's came with 3.54's but had a taller OD gear too. XJ is a nice platform but to build one without regearing it (especially manual tranny version) is foolish and will hinder potential a lot while added more strain to drive line and potentially shortening its useful life. People think they are making their ride HD with lifts, tires and skid plates but they are actually making them more LD and they will have less usable power if they do not regear them properly.  

hmmmm. lets see here...

1300 for 4.88 gears installed in the front and rear diffs, not including the new carriers...

1500 for the new m/t tires and wheels with 4.5" backspacing to fit the 33x12.5's

oooops.... not enough money left for the lift and installation to fit the tires to the properly geared axles...  

If your are luck enough to have a Chrysler 8.25 in rear (which is stronger than a stock D35 too) there is no carrier break to worry about. But, if you are one of them that thinks will I do not need the gears because tires and looks are more important that I guess you want to talk the talk but not walk the walk too.  

Like I said 3,500 bucks won't get ya very far. LOL  

My 90 XJ came stock with 3.55's.  When I swapped in the HP44 and 9", I kept the stock Ford 3.50 gears (mainly because I'm incredibly cheap).  Running these gears, auto trans, 231 t-case and 33" TSL's I ran 'er from Northern MN to Moab, wheeled for a week, and drove it home averaging 18 mpg the whole way.  The key for me on the highway was acting as though overdrive didn't exist which kept the rpm's in the ~2k sweet spot.  I wheeled Hells Revenge, Moab Rim, Metal Masher and other trails as well while I was there.  I'd say that qualifies as "walking the walk" with stock gears and 33's.  Are stock gears ideal?  Absolutely not.  Ideally with 33's I'd like 4.56's.  BUT, I honestly woudn't put gears on the must-have-don't-even-try-wheeling-without-it list.  For the record, I have about 3K into my Jeep, including purchase.  It ain't pretty, but it gets me where I like to go.  Just gotta be patient and sniff out the deals!  

Why is it that everyone seems to think that you have to be turning 2000 RPM or less cruising for OD to work and get best MPG. I have had 5000 lbs plus trucks in years past that cruised at 2500 to 2700 RPM and got 16 MPG while weighing a ton more and feeding a bigger engine and that step right out quickly with throttle without a down shift. TO me OD is not OD but rather another gear and I gear my 4x4's so it is a fully usable gear tail wind or head wind, A/C or not, hills or not. To me that is what a true 4x4 with proper gearing is all about.  

Why is it that everyone seems to think that you have to be turning 2000 RPM or less cruising for OD to work and get best MPG.

Well, I don't know about everybody, but for me it's simple.  I ran down the highway in OD for about 100 miles, refilled and checked my mpg.  Was getting about 12.  Decided to try no OD and see what happened.  Next fuel stop, mpg's went up to about 18.  All depends on the engine, the rig it's in, and how ya drive, but on average an XJ equipped with a 4.0 "likes" to run around 2k.  

gump:
Why is it that everyone seems to think that you have to be turning 2000 RPM or less cruising for OD to work and get best MPG.

Well, I don't know about everybody, but for me it's simple.  I ran down the highway in OD for about 100 miles, refilled and checked my mpg.  Was getting about 12.  Decided to try no OD and see what happened.  Next fuel stop, mpg's went up to about 18.  All depends on the engine, the rig it's in, and how ya drive, but on average an XJ equipped with a 4.0 "likes" to run around 2k.

You do realize that this just proves my point that you need deeper gears with big tires to effectively use ALL tranny ratios.  

If you buy a cherokee with an auto and 3.55 ratio it will work.Lower ratio is ideal but not a must.Lets face it its a cherokee they dont get mileage. I run 33x12.50 and mine goes anywhere its asked.I would love to swap gears but its not in the budget. And as far as armor what do you plan on doing I have been on some wild trails and dont plan on a cage.Take your time and build what you want the way you want it  

I agree that gears are not a must. I run 34's on stock 3.55's and do fine on and off road. You could save some money and build your own bumpers and skids, like I did, since you said you work at a scrap yard.
My advise would be to look for a cherokee with a 4.0, for available power, and a chrysler 8.25 rear axle, or swap in an axle from a ford explorer. Anothr cheap upgrade could be to swap in front axle shafts from a Grand Cherokee with ABS, they have larger u-joints.
What ever you do, do it how you want, and use it for what you build it for, OFF ROAD. lol  

To suggest that 3.55 gears with 34's as fine shows what low standards you place on performance and also how you like to talk the talk but not walk the walk. You will have about 20% LESS power/tractive effort transferred to ground with same drive shaft torque as with stock tire sizes and no air cleaner or exhaust is going to fix this though some would suggest it can. It will be quite gutless at times but maybe you do not know any better. I see such wannbe 4x4 with big tires and stock gears on the time. You can wax them with a family sedan on street. It is fun to watch them wind them out in what usable gears they have to try to get them moving quickly.  

I see such wannbe 4x4 with big tires and stock gears on the time. You can wax them with a family sedan on street.

I guess I have to ask, Who really cares about the street performance?


you like to talk the talk but not walk the walk.

Yeah, you're probably right.  I guess not spending a ton of money, getting in my decidedly un-pretty Jeep and wheeling everywhere my peers do, all the while getting somewhat respectable mileage and having a great time makes my rig a "wannabe 4x4" because I didn't re-gear and take down the neighbor's Volvo in a street race. Come on now, you being serious or is this just internet tom-foolery??  Sorry I didn't intend on jacking this thread but sometimes I can't keep my e-mouth shut.