Any help appreciated !!!!

[98conversion]

Hey guys and/or Gals Ive got a 98 Jeep Cherokee (2wd) that Im wanting to convert into a 4wd. I thought about buying a totalled zj and just stripping off the parts I need! Can anyone tell me of the troubles I may run into or if theres an easier way to do this? All help is appreciated Im wanting to do this over the winter mos. so I can be wheeling this spring. Once again Thanx

 

[upnover]

Very doable, but a lot of work. Easiest thing would be to sell your 2wd and buy a 4wd. But to do the swap everything would be easier if you bought smae year, same engine donor, and swapped it over.

 

[family xj]

I agree with buying a new one. You can get it for about the same price and then spend that money on lift, under armor and that kind of stuff.

 

[RenegadeStang]

Also, you wouldn't be able to do the conversion with parts from a ZJ. They have different transmissions, as well as (I think) different transfer cases. Also, I'm sure neither of the driveshafts are the same length.

 

[Chris_M]

I'll disagree with the last 3 posts. A 4wd conversion on a xj/zj is easy as hell. The 2wd axle uses the same mounts, brakelines tracbar etc. Swap axles, swap trans/tcase, swap center console, done. To me, it's no harder than installing a lift kit, and putting in a new clutch or auto trans at the same time. Only issue I see with you plans would be the Zj may have a slightly diff shifter config for the tcase. And you'd still need a xj console for a 4wd


Install a decent 3.5-4.5" lift kit while you're doing this

 

[4x4fever]

buy a 4wd cherokee, theres no advantage to all that swapping compared to what a stock xj has except you will getting 4wd. if you are gonna start swapping parts put a 44 or 60 under the front and an atlas tcase that would be worth the trouble.

usually people would swap out the 30 up front for beef. correct me if im wrong anyone but doesnt an xj have a HP 30 and a ZJ is low pinion that alone would sway me towards just buying a 4wd XJ if im actually correct

 

[BRUISER]

I'll disagree with the last 3 posts. A 4wd conversion on a xj/zj is easy as hell. The 2wd axle uses the same mounts, brakelines tracbar etc. Swap axles, swap trans/tcase, swap center console, done. To me, it's no harder than installing a lift kit, and putting in a new clutch or auto trans at the same time. Only issue I see with you plans would be the Zj may have a slightly diff shifter config for the tcase. And you'd still need a xj console for a 4wd
Install a decent 3.5-4.5" lift kit while you're doing this

I agree.. i was going to do this and was talked out of it about 5 years ago.. man wish I had not listen to all those web wheelers.. after doing all the work I have done to my '98 wish I would have gone from 2wd to 4wd on my old XJ

 

[98conversion]

Hey sorry guys I told you I had a 98 Cherokee. I left out the Grand and the fact that it has the 5.2L and that its paiid off lol. Thats why Im hoping to just keep it and do the swap. I plan on doing a 4" lift with( I hope) 33" mt's. Im not a hardcore wheeler but I do like to leave the asphalt on occaision so Im thinking stock parts will do w locker in the rear. Any body have a line on a rolled or demolished zj??

 

[Chris_M]

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/

 

[Spence]

Im thinking stock parts will do w locker in the rear

i say ditch the rear locker, especially if you have a dana 35, and lock the new(to you) dana 30, i have mine locked with an open rear and am really glad i chose to do it first, unnoticable on the street, and i think i do better offroad with a front locker rather than a rear, especially climbing