1983 Jeep Cherokee street fighter project

[ghinmi]

The last autocross of the year had also been pushed back due to weather but they finally got a chance to sneak it in. So one day after running 10s on street tires at US131 Motorsports park, I'm back there in the morning to autocross through the pits.

Rainy drive there.


Good variety of vehicles showed up.



Still fairly damp but at least it wasn't raining when the course was hot.





My co-driver Jordan got 18th and I got 23rd out of 75 cars. This course was pretty nice to the big, wide Jeep and the shock adjustments definitely gained us some. I'm learning with every lap, can't wait to do more next year.



And another rainy drive home.

[ghinmi]

One of the Furrin Group members got a bunch of photos from the US131 autocross. Pretty neat to see.

[rustomatic]

It's super-cool to see this cruck (trar?) getting used and abused. If the world were based solely on potential, you'd have to earn (read: buy) a certificate to hang out at cars-n-coffee events, but only after graduating from first, second, third, fourth, fifth grade (etc., ad nauseum). You are doing it right, dude!

[SSLance]

Fantastic pics!! Love watching this thing get beat on like a rented mule...

[ghinmi]

After that last drag day and autocross of last year, the clutch was just about done. Not unexpected since it was pretty rough looking when I got it used. Replaced with a new stock Hellcat clutch.

Dust just from unbolting the bellhousing.


Flywheel still looks the same as when I installed it used.


You can see the thickness difference between the old and new disc.


Major difference in preload between old and new.

[ghinmi]

Had a small winter project. Finally got my hands on a Majorette 1:64 Cherokee from Bulgaria ebay. Lowered, wheel swap, painted, added weight. I have a hot wheels drag strip with full timing system, it's one of my quicker modified cars.

[ghinmi]

Winter updates to the Jeep were all electrical. Added a driveshaft speed sensor, electronic boost control, and a line lock. I mounted the switches in an old torched piston from my nitrous days.

Left switch is line lock arm, left button is line lock enable.
Right switch is launch control. If the switch is enabled, vehicle speed below 1 mph, and clutch in, the launch rev limiter is set, boost builder enabled, and line lock set. When either of those three conditions are broken, rev limiter releases, boost vs time starts, and line lock releases.
Right button is rolling antilag.




Excuse the mess.

[ghinmi]

Went to the first test and tune of the year at US131 at the beginning of April. Quite a learning curve with the new launch strategy. Previously I was leaving at 6300 rpm with no boost and rolling the clutch out. Now I'm leaving at lower rpm on a 2 step on boost and ramping in boost down track. Still have to work on it but did get it to 1.5x sixty and 10.50 @ 133. Pretty pleased for the first time out. The tire is much happier than before.











Had to call it quits early because it developed a brake shake. Yep, drilled rotors that came with the front end kit failed.

[ghinmi]

Was invited back to be on display during the Autocraft Custom Collision open house. Showed up a little early to swap out the radiator that had sprung an un-fixable leak. That removable front clip sure is convenient.

[ghinmi]

Made a trip to Chicago and on the way back stopped at US12 Speed and Custom for some quick dyno pulls. Just made two at slightly different boost levels and called it good. 720 whp and 840 ft-lbs. Way more than expected.



Night before. Good camping spot.


Without a doubt, my favorite car (truck) at US12.








Strapped down.








And my cruising buddy Eric.