Small Cherokee Improvements.

[REDxj5150]

Ever since the end of summer i've focused on the cherokee. I've really been neglecting it for a long time now. Things have really started to go wrong with it, and I just recently set out to make it right. Today I started doing a few major things. well what I would consider major for the cherokee. I leveled the rearend today. ever since I got it the leaf springs had a different number of leaves in them. the passenger side had this gigantic add a leaf in it. Today I started this project by putting an add a leaf in the driver side, I got these leafs from my commando since i used xj springs in the rear. It's almost level, but tomorrow I'm going to take that ugly spring out, and put in the matching leaf to the one i put in today. I wish i knew if rubicon express had some sort of warranty on these because the arch in the passenger side is kinda kinky. I'll see how it turns out tomorrow and decide what to do with it. Also I noticed that lockers are taking a dive in price lately. So i'm putting some effort into making some money for one. That's after I get some tires though.

[REDxj5150]

Pulled the oddball leaf out today, and put the matching full traction add a leaf in. All is square and true now. For once in the 2 years of owning it the darn thing is level. I've been really researching the hell out of cherokee stuff lately. Everything from transfer case improvements, frame plating, long arms, cages. I think commando season is over for a while... Looks like it's cherokee season.

Do you guys think it's possible to shoe horn a ford NP 205 into it?

[Goatman]

A doubler I assume? The rear driveline is plenty long enough to do it. Might have to massage the floor board a little, but that's doable.

[REDxj5150]

well I know of these 231 doublers, but would I really need that much gear? The 205 is just a standard 1:1 and 2:1 ratio. What I don't know is the 231 ratio? for some reason the number 2.76:1 keeps coming to mind, but I don't know. a doubler wasn't really what I was after. Just a stronger gear driven case. I've seen D300 flips done on cherokees, but why flip when ford 205s are already set up for left hand drop. I'm sure that spline count is probably wrong and would take some crazy adapters, but I like the idea. It will probably just stay an idea though.

I had a question for you though. Do you have any late model cherokee seats you're willing to part with?

[TheBigDogg]

[color=#40FF00]D&D machine makes doubler set ups that work in the cherokee for $499 + $25 shipping. if you have a NP231 and you use the another 231 your low low would be 7.2-1 (crazy low)but you still have your stock gear ratio as an option, here is a link from Pirate on how they do it:[/color]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=696803

[color=#40FF00]If you read through the thread you will find other options you can use [/color]

[REDxj5150]

I can see where this is necessary for manual transmissions, but automatics just don't need so much gear. I think around 3:1 is just fine for an auto.

[VICTORG93307]

[quote="Goatman"]A doubler I assume? The rear driveline is plenty long enough to do it. Might have to massage the floor board a little, but that's doable.[/quote]



Richard are we still talking about the Jeep? Driveline, and massagaing?

[REDxj5150]

massage it with a sledge hammer.

[TheBigDogg]

[quote="REDxj5150"]massage it with a sledge hammer.[/quote]
what i have seen with doublers in XJ's is cutting part of the floor but tera flex 4:1 conversion is like $1100 and no massaging needed

[Desert Dog]

[quote="REDxj5150"]I can see where this is necessary for manual transmissions, but automatics just don't need so much gear. I think around 3:1 is just fine for an auto.[/quote]
Depends on what type of wheeling you want to do. For Freeway Ridge and Nightmare Gulch, 2-3:1 is perfect. But add big tires, a low horsepower engine, and a place like Johnson Valley and that gear ratio is woefully inadequate.

Outside of an Atlas 4, doublers are the chit; Basically get to keep your 1:1 for high speed dune/trail running, get to keep the 2.7:1 for general off-road use, and get that awesome 7.4:1 for the nasty rocks - plus you get 2-LO!

[quote="REDxj5150"]Also I noticed that lockers are taking a dive in price lately. So i'm putting some effort into making some money for one. That's after I get some tires though.[/quote]
I would definitely do this first. I wouldn't even mess with the TC until this is done. Only one locker? Both axles?

[REDxj5150]

one locker would be sufficient. I'm kind of wondering if switching my C8.25 to one of those early cherokee D44s is worth it. The C clip thing really bugs me about the 8.25. Even though I have alloy shafts and its already geared. it's just still a bit bothersome to me.

[TheBigDogg]

[quote="REDxj5150"]one locker would be sufficient. I'm kind of wondering if switching my C8.25 to one of those early cherokee D44s is worth it. The C clip thing really bugs me about the 8.25. Even though I have alloy shafts and its already geared. it's just still a bit bothersome to me.[/quote]
The C clips are only a problem if you break something, as long as you carry a large zip lock bag and silicone with you you would be alright, going to the early Dana 44 like you said, regearing axels and then the locker I have a 81/4 and I have done a little wheeling and I just have a limited slip in it, I have an ARB up front that handles the rocks pretty darn good, so far I haven't had to be pulled up or winched up or over anything, I would suggest the front.


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[TheBigDogg]

[quote="desert dog"]Outside of an Atlas 4, doublers are the chit; Basically get to keep your 1:1 for high speed dune/trail running, get to keep the 2.7:1 for general off-road use, and get that awesome 7.4:1 for the nasty rocks - plus you get 2-LO![/quote]

[color=#00FF00]I know if I had a JK or a 2003-2006 TJ and it had an the 42RLE Automatic tranny, I would look into Advanced Adapter's Rubi Crawler, it's almost like a doubler well I guess it is, it takes the back part of the tranny where it is nothing but empty space, here is more info:[/color]

http://advanceadapters.com/product/4341 ... awler.html

[Desert Dog]

[quote="TheBigDogg"]I know if I had a JK or a 2003-2006 TJ and it had an the 42RLE Automatic tranny, I would look into Advanced Adapter's Rubi Crawler, it's almost like a doubler well I guess it is, it takes the back part of the tranny where it is nothing but empty space[/quote]
Richard is installing mine this month . I got sick of waiting for the Atlas-4 redesign, and don't want to be the guinea pig after they do it. So I'm doing the Rubicrawler now and maybe an Atlas-2 down the road - so I can have my gears and front-digs too!


[quote="REDxj5150"]one locker would be sufficient. I'm kind of wondering if switching my C8.25 to one of those early cherokee D44s is worth it. The C clip thing really bugs me about the 8.25.[/quote]
Front lockers are what you need in the rocks, rear lockers are great for climbing steep loose terrain. An Aussie or lock-right in the front shouldn't cost much. Harry does pretty damn good with only his front locked.

[REDxj5150]

Well, tires are in my very near future for sure. That was what was truly keeping me off of the tires at richard's shop. usually when it come to crawling I am strangely able to do a lot of stuff that people don't really think I can hack it on. Back when Jim owned Harry's jeep I'd follow him anywhere, and I wouldn't miss a beat.

Yesterday I picked up a major exhaust leak though. Gonna see what's on ebay for that mess...

I can see where a front locker has it's advantages, and some pretty major disadvantages. For me the disadvantages really outweigh the advantages. As for the D44. I have fairly good source for used gear sets, and I also did my own gears in the front D44 in my commando, so I have the experience with them. Really my only main cost would be getting one, and there's a pretty good write up on NAXJA floating around right now about taking ford exploder rear disks off and using them on the 44. however I also realize that the d35 rear disk set up from a zj is a DIrect bolt in for the 8.25. Infact I believe that's the set up in harry's jeep.

[Goatman]

[quote="REDxj5150"]well I know of these 231 doublers, but would I really need that much gear? The 205 is just a standard 1:1 and 2:1 ratio. What I don't know is the 231 ratio? for some reason the number 2.76:1 keeps coming to mind, but I don't know. a doubler wasn't really what I was after. Just a stronger gear driven case. I've seen D300 flips done on cherokees, but why flip when ford 205s are already set up for left hand drop. I'm sure that spline count is probably wrong and would take some crazy adapters, but I like the idea. It will probably just stay an idea though.

I had a question for you though. Do you have any late model cherokee seats you're willing to part with?[/quote]

The 231 ratio is 2.72 to 1. There really aren't any strength issues with the 231 t-case. The only thing is the output shaft, which you can upgrade to 32 spline with a HD SYE. But stock tailshafts only break on big ledges with stupid bouncing, and I've wheeled with plenty of guys with stock tailshafts and hard wheeling with no breakage. With a 32 spline output shaft that case is hard to break.

You wouldn't like a 2 to 1 ratio, the 2.72 is barely adequate if you want to do serious wheeling with 35" tires. For trail running the 2.72 is just fine, and will work on the rocks, but with 35's and serious technical crawling you'd be happier with something lower.

I have some late model seats.

[TheBigDogg]

[quote="Goatman"][quote="REDxj5150"]well I know of these 231 doublers, but would I really need that much gear? The 205 is just a standard 1:1 and 2:1 ratio. What I don't know is the 231 ratio? for some reason the number 2.76:1 keeps coming to mind, but I don't know. a doubler wasn't really what I was after. Just a stronger gear driven case. I've seen D300 flips done on cherokees, but why flip when ford 205s are already set up for left hand drop. I'm sure that spline count is probably wrong and would take some crazy adapters, but I like the idea. It will probably just stay an idea though.

I had a question for you though. Do you have any late model cherokee seats you're willing to part with?[/quote]

The 231 ratio is 2.72 to 1. There really aren't any strength issues with the 231 t-case. The only thing is the output shaft, which you can upgrade to 32 spline with a HD SYE. But stock tailshafts only break on big ledges with stupid bouncing, and I've wheeled with plenty of guys with stock tailshafts and hard wheeling with no breakage. With a 32 spline output shaft that case is hard to break.

You wouldn't like a 2 to 1 ratio, the 2.72 is barely adequate if you want to do serious wheeling with 35" tires. For trail running the 2.72 is just fine, and will work on the rocks, but with 35's and serious technical crawling you'd be happier with something lower.

I have some late model seats.[/quote]
Send me some pics of the seats


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[REDxj5150]

those are my seats sucka...