Product Details
High-Performance Jeep Cherokee XJ Builder's Guide 1984-2001 (S-A Design)

High-Performance Jeep Cherokee XJ Builder's Guide 1984-2001 (S-A Design)
By Eric Zappe

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Product Description

Ready to turn your Jeep Cherokee XJ into a trail-worthy machine? Why not? With two available 4-wheel-drive systems, solid axles front and rear, and a torquey 4.0-liter straight 6, the Cherokee is a very capable machine, especially when it's modified the right way. This book isn't about cutting apart your Cherokee to build an over-the-top, off-road-only rock crawler (though you can take it there), and it isn't about building a jacked-up, chrome-covered show rig either. This book is about building a useful, capable Cherokee for mountains, the mud, the desert, the street, and everywhere in between. With the modifications explained on these pages, your Cherokee can take you and yours just about everywhere you want to go - and get you back safely. Author Eric Zappe explains how to upgrade your Cherokee's suspension, axles, differentials, engine, transfer case, wheels and tires, skid plates, and more, using aftermarket and salvage yard upgrades. Zappe even has special sections covering basic driving and recovery techniques, and a number of built-up Jeeps to give you ideas for your own Cherokee. Also included is a detailed account of a group of XJs making a run through the famous Rubicon trail.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #25194 in Books
  • Published on: 2006-06-14
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 144 pages

Features

Editorial Reviews

Review

4 Wheel & Off-Road, March 2008

"Filled with good tech, real-world examples of complete XJ builds, and helpful tidbits about your Jeep, the Jeep Cherokee XJ Builder's Guide is a great addition for the flex-box enthusiast." --4 Wheel & Off Road

4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine, July 2006



"If you plan on building an XJ, this is the book you need to have in your back pocket."

--4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility

Review

4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine, July 2006



"If you plan on building an XJ, this is the book you need to have in your back pocket."

Customer Reviews

Want to customize your XJ? Read this first.5
Other reviews have already said it better. But this really is the must-buy guide for anyone interested in customizing a Jeep Cherokee XJ. Even if you are experienced with off-road customizations, you'll likely learn a thing or two from this book. The guide is broken down into several different sections each dedicated to a different system and what you might consider upgrading there. Sections include suspension, wheels and tires, steering and brakes, axles and gearing, transfer case, engine and transmission, body upgrades, and skid plates and recovery.

The book continues by highlighting several featured Cherokees and describing the various parts and upgrades that went into them, all with detailed color photos. I've already got several new ideas for my own XJ after reading this builder's guide, and have discovered several cost saving alternatives to my original customizing plan. Basically, this book paid for itself.

This guide is worth every penny. Buy it.

More than I expected!5
If you have a mid-sized Jeep Cherokee, you NEED this book, especially if you plan to drive it off-road or plan to modify it! The book is layed out in a logical order and is surprisingly thorough! The pictures are very detailed and there are more of them than I expected. Where Eric got some of the things he has pictured here, I do not know. I'd go so far as to say that if you have a question about any modification or what mods would be appropriate for your driving style, this book will likely have what you need to know before you start. EVEN which models, by year of production, may be appropriate for what you want to do. I was impressed also by the technical things, what to avoid, how to repair, pro's and cons of many mods, manufacturer recommendations, and tips for the install of the components that may otherwise be overlooked by the manufacturer's directions.

Overall, I'm impressed with my copy and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is even curious about these tough little vehicles.

P.S.
No, I'm not done with mine, and NO, you can't borrow it.
You need one for yourself! This Amazon deal is the best I've seen for this book. Buy one today!

Jeep Cherokee XJ Classic5
This is THE book to get for your Jeep Cherokee XJ. It's well written and extremely thorough. The project descriptions are carefully researched, and the book is crammed with color photos to make things as clear as possible. This isn't some fluff piece or magazine reprint, it's the single best resource of Jeep XJ data available. With this book and with average tools and average ability, you can do pretty much any of the modifications listed in the comfort of your garage or driveway, and there are tons of mods to do! If you want to improve your Jeep XJ, from mild to wild, start here.