PEAK PUTTERS

I know you all have seen the pic I posted of my Cherokee chopped, so here is the story:

It all began two weeks ago when I had the gumption to swap my cracked windshield (the replacement has been sitting around here for around 2 years or so...). I cut the old one out, with this handy tool from Harbor Freight:



Then I scraped the old sealant off to prep for the new stuff:


About the time I got the flange prepped, I remembered the case of Kirkland "Energy Shot" sitting in the office. I decided it was going to be a long day, so I cracked one open...

Then things really started happening. I had all these ideas that have been going through my head over the last several months suddenly decide to become a reality, and this happened:


Then, it led to this:



So here is the deal:
There are several things I have wanted to change about my 'wheeler. First, I wanted to somehow reduce the weight so I could get several years of good life out of the drivetrain (which is where I have dumped my money). This Cherokee originally came to me for free, so I wasnt too concerned about modifying it. I originally began to look for a good flatty body I could use, but all the ones that had decent bodies were going for quite a chunk of change. So I decided I would just modify what I had to get closer to my goals, which are:
-10" shorter wheelbase. There are places I wheel that the long wheelbase seems to limit me.
-Lighter weight. There is a ton of "stuff" in my Cherokee I dont need. I am stripping everything out that is not "needed".
-More rigidity. I am building a mild cage for better protection and to solidify the flexy body. I want to get a lot of years from this rig.
-Rear suspension redesign. I want to go lighter and more tune-able. Fox 2.0 air shocks are currently on the menu for the rear, along with a new/redesigned 3-link. I have quite a bit of revalving experience, and look forward to the Fox units.
-Due to the massive weight loss in the rear, I will be moving the battery behind the passenger seat and several other items toward the rear. I have already shifted the engine and transmission back about an inch, and the front suspension forward over an inch.
-The front suspension mods will be held off until later. They will include shifting the front suspension forward even more (which will require some front fender-well mods), and installing Fox 2.5 air shocks.
-For the rollover protection, I will be using 1.5"/ .120" hrew and integrating it into the existing body for even more strength. It will be fairly hidden, so the rig will actually look very "stock" (I am totally NOT a fan of exo-cages).
-I will be using the skin from the old rear doors to blend the back of the rig with the front doors, so it will look similar to a Bronco II (as Tim put it).
-The rig will be completely coated in Monsta-Liner when finished.

that's going to be so cool.

Prepping for reattachment. I am using some scrap flat stock recycled from a defective RV refrigerator and rosette-welding it under the seam on both sides. I'll then weld down the center of the two halves.




Oh, I forgot to add: I would like to find an extra set of front doors so I can make some half-doors also.

Cool.

What's the wheelbase at? It's kinda hard to judge, looks shorter than a wrangler now. If it's a full 10" sounds like it puts you between a CJ-5 and TJ.

You order the monstaliner chips?

Wheelbase should be nearly identical to a TJ/YJ when done, but I am shooting for a ~2500 pound weight.

I ordered two gallons of Monstaliner and three different color dies (white, light gray, and charcoal gray).

Wrench wrote:Wheelbase should be nearly identical to a TJ/YJ when done, but I am shooting for a ~2500 pound weight.

I ordered two gallons of Monstaliner and three different color dies (white, light gray, and charcoal gray).

Could be the first Cherokee to run the Little Rattlesnake...well, legally anyway.

The halves become whole again:





Junkyard parts to start suspension parts fabrication. These are from a ~2003 Chevy Trailblazer:

Paul, instead of patching in the body with the rear doors, why not just cut them down and let them open?

Out with the old, in with the new:


A little fender tuck for corner clearance:

I like the fender tuck.

come on man. . .get some more of that Costco energy stuff and get us some pics already. . .

After two years of resting in pieces, she is alive again! Heart transplant, bigger and better. She will now hit 80+.



Sorry, no progress on the Heep.

edit error

Any plans of dirt biking agAin?

Paul, looks like full body armor would be needed to take that thing out.

79chevy39.5's wrote:Any plans of dirt biking agAin?

Yes, after my other projects are completed. It really boils down to what kind of deal I can find.

If money were no object, I would get one of those new KTM 2-strokes wth e-start.

Danny wrote:Paul, looks like full body armor would be needed to take that thing out.

Yep. The crash protection on the bike and on my leather suit appear to have matching scars. I have had a little fun on this thing out at the Kart track at Horn Rapids a time or two...

Kuel....would love to see you put it through it's paces.\

.

This is very motivating. ....love the idea on the rear of the cage.

What size tube? 1.5"?

OldGreen wrote:What size tube? 1.5"?

1.5" diameter, 0.120" wall, HREW

excellent. . .

Notes on intended progression:
-body unit being beefed up to be much stronger and integrating roll-over protection built into the existing body unit. Basically, remaining a unit-body, just being beefed up a lot.
-wheel wells being opened to clear 36" Iroks easily.
-waggy Dana 44's front/rear, select-able lockers, 5.13 gears.
-going to contact Jims Customs @ 509-521-3513 to have a custom soft-top made for the back. He does vinyl/upholstery work here in the Tri Cities.
-Seeking a 6.2l LS/6l90E for power. I already have a 1990 GM driver-drop manual-shift NP241 from a 700r4 setup that will mate to the 6l90e

Snowmobile.....