Rally XJ - Team Hazard Rally

I wasn't exactly sure where to put this, so if a mod has a better suggestion, feel free to move the thread.

There was a thread for my old rally truck (http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1032293), so I figured I might as well start a thread for the new XJ. It's a 1994 2 door, 4.0, 5 speed, 2wd Cherokee.

It will be used for stage rally, racing mostly with Rally America (rally-america.com). It's being prepped for Group 5, which is a 2wd class with engine displacement over 3L.

It came into my life like this:



Found it in PA for $1000! The is the most rust free XJ I've ever seen on craigslist in the northeast. Drove it 6 hours home, and then it sat until the winter died down (no room to work IN the garage).

Stripped the interior, and installed an FIA roll cage:



New 4wd springs and Bilstein 5100s front and rear:



Some Rally Dakar style mudflaps



A shot of the interior with the seats and belts installed:




Painted the outside this weekend:




Still have some work to finish with wiring and such. We have 2 weeks until our next event, which is the Susquahanook Trail Performance Rally (stpr.org), in Wellsboro, PA, June 3-4. It's a big step up in power from the 2.5 that was in the MJ, so I hope we are a little bit more competitive this season. So if you find yourself in the neighborhood of a rally event, you should really come check it out! There is just something about going 100mph down logging roads that makes nascar drivers look like girls


http://www.TeamHazardRally.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Hazard-Rally/101096979356

Looks like a lot of fun. What kind of rubber you put on this thing?

I have a bunch of Michelin gravel tires like these. They are made of a hard compound to withstand the beating, as well has VERY thick sidewalls - so thick that they say it's faster to keep running on a flat for up to 5 miles instead of stopping to change it.

Those look like fun. Id bet they are loud as heck on pavement...

I need me some Corbeaus. What gears and diff are you using? I'm on my 4th personal 5-speed 2dr 2wd, a Green 96, but my 3rd, a Gray Metallic 94, was my favorite. I think a 242TC and stroker combo in a stripped 2dr would do well in a rally.

It's stock, so D35 with 3.07s. We welded it for now, but after we run an event or two, we can reassess the gear choices. The comanche had a ford 8.8 with 3.73s and was a good match for the 2.5L.

Put some vinyl on this weekend:

Looking gr8.

It needs orange wheels!

Did you bend up the cage yourself? We are at that point with our XJ-R and we don't know how far to go with the cage. Right now we are budget class racing so we can have a 4 point bolt in cage with no hit to the budget or go all out on a weld in multi point cage to tie in the unibody rails and have it counted towards our budget.

When are you going to be racing back in the north east?

The wheels are getting blasted and powder coated as we speak

Our next event is at STPR in Wellsboro, PA June 3-4. Now all we have to do is replace head gasket this week and hope it didn't damage anything else...

As for the cage question - I had a friend bend and notch it, and my codriver did all the welding. It's not a light cage by any stretch. I think we used close to 100 feet of tube, some 1.75 X .095 DOM and some 1.5 X .095 DOM, so it more than makes up for anything we removed from stripping it. If you are on a track, and aren't exceeding 100mph (too often at least), I'd be hesitant to spend the money and take the budget/weight penalty for it.

Unfortunately, a bit of bad luck today...

http://rally-america.com/events/2011/STPR/gallery/video/182

Well, you looked good doing it. Hope it's not too horrific underneath.

ouch! hopefuly the bump towers up front are still straight. if not you have a lot of bracing to do once you straighten them back out or they'll just fold in again. damage report?

While everyone is physically ok, my pride took a bit of a hit.

Here are some pics of the damage: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150207333719357.335535.101096979356

It's repairable, but not in time for the next event. Anyone want to help me figure out how to 3 link the rear AND lower it a little without moving the gas tank?

new lower mounts on the axle side, plated for strength, and a set of tubular lowers and new shocks and you're ready to roll not as bad as I was thinking from that hit though. Looks like you drive like me nice man!

'Might want to consider starting with a TJ Wrangler rear axle if you want to link it. The TJ axle will already have link mounts and spring pads.

I'd really rather not link it. I'd just like to find some springs that work better, without raising it at all. Looks like I'll have to have a set made.

Am I crazy for thinking about getting the 4" lift Deaver springs and running the spring under the axle to try to get a more stockish height?

Somewhere down the line I want to go spring under with a stiffer spring pack and lower it 1.5-2" from where it's at. I've read all good with the deavers.

sureshot007 said:

Am I crazy for thinking about getting the 4" lift Deaver springs and running the spring under the axle to try to get a more stockish height?

Click to expand...

Nope, that's what we did with the XJ-R for the $2000 Challenge. We didn't have fancy Deaver springs, just two stock leaf packs, but we also took the opportunity to install a Ford 8.8. Spring under might help with axle wrap a bit when you get hard on the throttle. You will lose a bit of ground clearance since the leaves will be under the axle.