1983 Jeep Cherokee street fighter project

[ghinmi]

Unconventional vehicle, I know. I have a soft spot for full size Jeeps, have been drag racing 4 door Wagoneers for years. This project was originally intended to be a drag car but I changed plans midway through and it's going to be more of a streetfighter build.

Clearly they did not build a 2wd Cherokee, so the body is now on a '71 C10 chassis. I went through various iterations of AMC engines but have finally decided on a 5.7 hemi and TR6060 trans.

Here is a quickie rendering of how I want it to look like, although color and wheels/tires can change.

[ghinmi]

Here's the donor body as purchased. Very clean and rust-free and a wide trac already. The factory fender flares will be great.

[ghinmi]

And the chassis, from a 1971 C10 long bed. I started with a long bed because of the longer rear overhang. It's actually better than it looks, it had been left outside after the body was removed and surface rusted. No major pitting or structural rust.





Cut 15" out of the middle to bring it down to 110" wheelbase. The factory Jeep wheelbase was 109" but the front wheels weren't centered in the openings.

[ghinmi]

Body ready to be liberated from the 4x4 stuff.



And it's free!



The 4x4 frame (ironically converted to 2wd and used on another project).



First trial fit on the C10 chassis.



Fits pretty well, body needs a little clearancing to sit correctly on the frame.



But it's TALL. For now.

[ghinmi]

The floor needed clearancing in one spot on each side.





Frame lines up just right in the back, like it was made for it.



Example of body mounts that I made.

[ghinmi]

Body back off the frame again.





Sandblasted and painted.





Plated trailing arms

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Rolling chassis.









Body back on and ride height (at the time) set. It will be much lower and obviously a different wheel/tire combo.

[ghinmi]

And off to the chassis shop for the roll cage. It's a full chrome moly 8.50 cage (remember, it was going to be a drag car).

[ghinmi]

Got some fiberglass parts and made a lift off style front end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX3RpiTf1N8






And a shot of the engine plan (at the time). AMC 401 based engine with an 83mm turbo. It's now all in my '77 4 door Wagoneer.



After the engine/turbo got donated to my Wagoneer, I threw this one in there for the time being. 712 hp all motor 401 stroker (454").

[ghinmi]

Around this point is when plans changed from drag racing to autoX and street fun. No more spooled Ford 8.8, bought a floater 9".







Converted the rear to coilovers and made adjustable panhard bar mounts.