4X4 builds

Sorry Welshy..... not for sale :)

Sounds like it is time to start doing some research....Pirate4x4.com is an excellent place to start, the wealth of knowledge on that site is crazy. They have forums for every brand out there, look for the Jeep Cherokee section and read up on some build threads. I think Rough Country makes a bolt on lift for your rig that is very reasonably priced and a set of 33s or 35s would get you a lot more places. Before spending money on bumpers and winches.....get a locker for the rear.....again this will open up so much more that you can do. I have seen some pretty sweet Grand Cherokees built up so there must be a ton of info out there to do it.
When it comes to sliders I dont know how this is done since there is no frame on those Grand Cherokees I believe (unibodies).

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/83-jeep-cherokee/ Link to the Cherokee forum

Are you thinking of jumping brands??

It will also depend on your mechanical abilities and access to tools and help. Island4x4.com is your best bet for local used parts. Toyotas have great aftermarket support from Trailgear in Vancouver from North Shore Offroad, I am not familiar with Jeep aftermarket stuff but I know there is a ton of it out there. I think North Shore can get basically anything you can find on other sites.....give them a call and see.

Heres a couple for sale
http://www.usednanaimo.com/classified-ad/1999-Jeep-Cherokee_21726731

http://www.usednanaimo.com/classified-ad/1998-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee_21776566

You will be able to build something pretty decent with a budget like that......again do your research !!!
Really figure out what you want and the limitations of each, having 4 doors really narrows things down......the jeep stuff already comes with a solid axle which is a bonus, however I am pretty sure they are weak (Dana 30 or 35), but can they be built to be strong or can you swap in another type of axle, more heavy duty ???? I am not real familiar with Jeep stuff as I have always been a Toy guy.....just what I started with and stayed with.

Going to a 4Runner you would have to do the solid axle swap.....is this something you are prepared to jump into.....it is not insanely hard but does take some effort and tools.

Cant say it enough.... Research research research.......I read forums and builds for 2-3hours a night for 3-4 months at least to get ideas, get a feel for what would be best and what others have done to be strong. I have a huge folder of bookmarked pages of information I have found over time, I alway find myself going back and reading some more.

I agree with Fatty 100%, when it comes to buying an off road vehicle do as much research as possible. I myself went with the 2 door XJ for a couple different reasons, but mainly because of all the parts options. There are so many different bolt on parts from other manufacturers plus I already have some knowledge when it comes to jeeps.
If you're going to buy something that already has a lift make sure the lift was done properly so you're not going back and redoing someones work. I got lucky when I purchased my Jeep as some come stock with the Chrysler 8.25 29 spline truetrack rear end and this one had it. Pretty easy to tell which rear end is in a jeep just be looking at the cover.

From my experience my Jeep has been awesome... but for some I've wanted an XJ for years. Kind of my dream 4x4 for some reason. I've had an absolute blast in this Jeep since I got it and to say the least it's constantly surprised me with it's capability.
With a set of tires, a few inches of lift and some adjustable Rough Country control arms it's taken me almost everywhere I want to go.
I spent about $800 buying my Jeep and have sunk about 4k into it since I've owned it. For 4 - 5k you can have a lot of fun...
But on the other hand, I have to give props to Yota's as well... seen some pretty capable 4-runners that have really impressed me.
Good luck on the search and when you pick up something new, we'll hit the trails again!

What kind of axles come in the fronts of these?? I really dont know much about Jeeps.....did the Cherokees ever come with frames or were they all unibody??

Can the 8.25 be swapped in easy if the XJ didnt come with it originally ??? There seems to be these axles showing up on Island4x4 from time to time.

I'm still learning about mine to be honest... up until I got this thing a year ago I was always into cars so the Jeep scene is kind of new to me.
It's a Dana 30 in the front of these - been warned about the diffs being a weak point with XJ's... but if one has plans to modify or change them out it will no longer be a problem anyway. So far - knock on wood, mine seems fine and I have put it through a fair amount of abuse.
All XJ's are unibodies.

If it's yellow, round and puts a funny look on your face when you lick it... it's definitely a lemon.

The only thing I can recommend that a few of my friends found out the hard way was holes in the floor etc. It seems common that the floor inside the rear gate likes to develop holes. Makes sure it's still solid. Water leaks are something that seem to be so super common on these (hence looking for rot) ...
Check for noisy & growling differentials etc...engine noise, contaminated fluids - all the regular stuff you would look at with any vehicle.
Also if it's lifted, as Larry mentioned, check to make sure it's done right so you don't have to go back and re-do the job.

As a rule of thumb for me, the first thing I do is pop the hood and see if engine is warm......I want to start an engine from cold and check the fluids when cold (before things get all stirred up)....see if there is any oil being burned on startup (sign of bad valve seals) also you can usually hear if valve train is noisy, maybe weak oil pump, ticking from bottom end before oil pressure builds.....also to just see how it turns over from cold, does it start right up ??

I am alway weary of a warm engine when going to look at a vehicle (are they trying to hide something).....if it is warm give it a good look over, take some pics with your phone and ask to come back and start it up when its stone cold. Doesnt hurt to go home, ponder it and ask some questions or research a bit and then look at it again as you may notice things you didnt see the first time.

One thing I can chime in with is that many of these 4l's have extended crank times from cold. It almost scared me off due to it cranking 10 or so times before firing up, but even according to AllDataPro, there is a TSB relating to this that states it's normal operation during cold start up due to timing / firing order etc and there's no fix for it.... not that it's ever caused me problems - I just get the odd look when ppl think it's not going to start, but sure enough it goes every time. Just something to keep in mind...

For sure. It started as a little grey grandpa jeep with sagged springs... doesn't even look like the same jeep.
I'll post a few this evening

If you need tires go to Cedar Tire......best prices and best service in town....hands down.....I got my Goodyear Kevlar MT/Rs for less than what the Goodyear dealer (Fountain Tire) quoted and they had a mail in rebate offer too.

A couple before and after pictures. It's come a long way and it's still got a long way to go.

Dont forget it has a bulldozer blade for a front bumper.....wonder what the idea was there???? It is always a tough call to get something that has been built already...when you build it yourself, you know what has been done and if done right.

Are you looking to keep what you have for a daily driver and then get a wheeling rig?? An exo on a DD would be a heat score for the cops, dont want to be getting inspection notices every other week.

I believe spring plates and U-bolts are the only other thing required to swap...If your picking up one of these from the JY just grab them from the donor.

I think you're looking in the right direction with your vehicle choice. I have to say that as much as I love my tracker I always find myself needing more room. Wheeling with my friend in his Cherokee (Bondo on this forum) always makes me see how handy having that extra room is. And take his build for example if your looking into something you can find cheap parts, mods for etc. He built his jeep to where it is now for probably only about $1000 and lots of his own sweat.
Im a fan of an exo on a cherokee too, looks mean when done right.

Take a screw driver to the under belly look for rust, if you can put your screw driver threw it you dont want the rig! Unibodys are the shits when they rust. Flex really really good till you split the fire wall, swamp it out ect ect. My buddy had rust holes and every time he went through a mud/ water hole his trunk hatch would be full of water, this is lifted with tires.
You can upgrade the axles to ones from a tj with larger u joints, good for 35" tires. find a dana 44 or chrysler 8.25 4.0l auto with tow package and 3.55 gears should be a 44.

I never saw a zj wheeled hard without some electrical gremlins. I avoid them like the plague, only thing is they make good donors for engines ect. and they are susseptible to rust once again.

One trick i know is if you are having trouble with the zj and the alarm unit, take a pcm out of an xj of simmilar year and engine without an alarm cut the data wires from your vtss and install you xj pcm done no more alarm

Doing a build on a 83 F250 with a buddy and was wondering if anybody had a front dana 60 solid axle and a set of 40" or bigger tires for 16 inch rims preferably. I could also use a C6 trans that'll marry to a 6.4L 390 big block fe motor.

Looking for a rear tub assembly for my '87 SAMI . I could live with the inner wheel wells and the rear quarters if that's all you have. This is now the hold up for getting project near completion. Any leads??