I'm hoping to be doing the same with an XJ i'm picking up soon. but 60's front and back unless I can find a 70 rear. I'll be using this and a couple other full width builds i've found as reference. What would you have done different if you did it again? I was afraid to ask that to the people over at pirate haha
I would have built a cage. My new motto is: if you can afford/ justify and axle swap to handle heavy wheeling and big tires, you can't afford not to protect yourself and your investment with a cage.
It really depends on what type of wheeling you do specifically, but for me, I would have added a cage before anything else... even before the axle swap.
Doubler: gearing options are much more useful in a dual purpose rig than just middle low gears or stupid low 4:1 gear sets.
Approach angle: I would have set the coil buckets on top of the axle tubes to pull the front axle forward another 3-4 inches forward.
Departure angle: I would have pushed the rear axle back another 3-4" with the combination of scooting the fuel tank back and long leaf spring pads with relocated center pin holes.
More skid plates: specifically over the transmission and oil pan.
Winch: sunk into the grill or relocated front crossmember.
I would have built the whole thing to handle more uptravel and higher speeds with better shocks and either airbumps or prothanes.
But these are all things I learned from building rigs and I wouldn't know them without building something like this Cherokee first.
Too many people try to bite off more than they should on their first build or second or any build:
My Signature line on Pirate4x4 is,
"Fabbing and Wheeling is about having fun, if not, you're doing it wrong."
Sit down and write up a build goal plan and stick too it (with some fluidity) with a budget.:read:
Don't get caught up in bling parts or thinking that one way is the only way to accomplish your goal. :bs:
And don't be like some of these guys and sit behind the computer and never build.:badpc: It takes hard work and ACTION! :repair:
But seriously cage first. I've competed and wheeled enough to see too many rigs destroyed and people nearly hurt to ignore that.:gee:
Good luck and have fun!