Ok guys, I've been looking around online, but have a question. I want to convert my wifes 2WD '98 Cherokee, but couldn't I just find a donar in a wrecking yard and just pirate all the parts from it to swap it over? After looking over a few, it looks like it will be a pretty straight forward bolt in...

Well I just did this on a buddys truck, list of needs to do it.

Front Dana 30,HP or LP, we used a LP cause we had it layin around after my TJ swaps.

Front Drive shaft, if its an LP, you may need to lengthen it to accomodate any kind of lift. HP the stock Xj shaft will fit fine.

NP231 and adaptor plate to the AW4 (assuming its an auto).

4x4 rear drivline, will be shorter due to the adding of the 231.

231 Shift linkage.

4x4 Console.

Sawzall for opening the trannie pan.

About 5 hours of free time and a case of beer, I prefer Fosters.

If your in UT or close my partner and I have a donor XJ with everything you need.

god..... think about it dude, a 4wd cherokee wouldnt make a GREAT donor vehicle at all, or nowhere near perfect for it.... :flipoff2:

god..... think about it dude, a 4wd cherokee wouldnt make a GREAT donor vehicle at all, or nowhere near perfect for it.... :flipoff2:

Ok Ok , your right its not the "perfect" donor, but its a hell of a good start, now sure a EB with e 44/9 combo would be nicer, or a 60/60 combo to be damn near perfect, or......... (pause for personal drool time at mogs)

Gunrunner - it will all come down to what you want/know how/can afford as too how to do a 4x2 swap. The list I put up for you is the easiest (IMO) bolt and go swap.

well yeah, but i was just thinking along the line sof what would fit exactly an require least fab etc, an plus it sound slike this will be a DD jeep

Well I just did this on a buddys truck, list of needs to do it.

Front Dana 30,HP or LP, we used a LP cause we had it layin around after my TJ swaps.

Front Drive shaft, if its an LP, you may need to lengthen it to accomodate any kind of lift. HP the stock Xj shaft will fit fine.

NP231 and adaptor plate to the AW4 (assuming its an auto).

4x4 rear drivline, will be shorter due to the adding of the 231.

231 Shift linkage.

4x4 Console.

Sawzall for opening the trannie pan.

About 5 hours of free time and a case of beer, I prefer Fosters.

If your in UT or close my partner and I have a donor XJ with everything you need.


BULLSHIT....my 17 year old son can make up better tech than you did.

Having done a search for the guy would have been more accurate than your BS post. :rolleyes: :shaking:

BULLSHIT....my 17 year old son can make up better tech than you did.

Having done a search for the guy would have been more accurate than your BS post. :rolleyes: :shaking:

what the hell are you talking about?

BULLSHIT....my 17 year old son can make up better tech than you did.

Having done a search for the guy would have been more accurate than your BS post. :rolleyes: :shaking:
seriously what the fawk? sure, it was a breif outline but a correct one none the less. I did it to my brothers XJ quite a few years back.

I could only find a few street pics of his on my CPU, but post up if you have any specific Q's...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=166171

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=166172

Wondering why you are wanting to do this? Want 4 wheel drive for the snow? Light wheeling? Reason Im asking is if I were doing it I would swap some larger axles in it now, while you have everything apart. It would deff. add to the cost and wouldnt make it a "bolt in" but if its going to be used offroad a lot, it might be easier to do it now. Just my opinion.

im interested in this adaptor plate for the tranny.

never heard of it, wouldnt your driveline be super long if you added an adaptor to the already long 2wd aw4?

I thought you had to change the output shaft on the tranny?

Thanks for the input guys...I'll keep my eyes open...this will be a summer project (once the kids are out of school...its my wifes jeep)...Mainly I want to convert it and run slightly bigger tires with more aggressive tread...nothing wild, just something that will help keep us from getting stuck when we take off on some of our fishing trips...

Oh yeah...and the reason I asked about a donar vehicle...a short while back, I found a '97 in a local pick ur part that was complete, minus the engine...and my wifes is a '98...and the donar was a 4.0/Auto, same as her '98....

BULLSHIT....my 17 year old son can make up better tech than you did.

Having done a search for the guy would have been more accurate than your BS post. :rolleyes: :shaking:

I've helped on two of them and he was summarizing, but dead on.

Maybe you should let your 17 yr old post instead of you.

In my opinion, the only good reason to swap a 2wd to a 4wd is if you are planning on going to larger axles, better t-case, etc. anyway and have no need for the stock stuff anyway.

Fact of the matter is that unless you already have everything lying around and too much time on your hands, you are money ahead to just sell the 2wd and buy a 4wd. Quick www.kbb.com check shows ~$600 difference between 2wd and 4wd 1998 XJ's.

Again, this is just my opinion.

Thanks,
Jay

I thought you had to change the output shaft on the tranny?

I believe you are right. I sold a front dana30, and a RE suspension system. and some 33's off my grand cherokee to a guy who goes by VonZipper on this board who had a 2wd grand ZJ that he converted to 4wd. only took him a couple of days to put it together. thats the advantage to using stock stuff. he wanted it to be a daily driver, yet still mildly trail worthy. and I believe he had to change the output shaft which wasnt that big of a deal concidering that he bought the jeep needing the tranny rebuild anyway.

Vonzipper is a nice guy, pm him questions about his conversion. Im sure he would be happy to reply about the project.

I did the conversion on my 2wd ZJ a few years back. I swapped stock axles under it, and a 242. And less than a year and a half later, I swapped in a 44 and 8.8. It really isn't worth swapping all the stock shit in unless the parts are free. It is smart though if you're looking to build the XJ, you can actually save a little bit since you won't have to throw out all the stock 4wd stuff. At least upgrade the axles when you do it...

I did the conversion on my 2wd ZJ a few years back. I swapped stock axles under it, and a 242. And less than a year and a half later, I swapped in a 44 and 8.8. It really isn't worth swapping all the stock shit in unless the parts are free. It is smart though if you're looking to build the XJ, you can actually save a little bit since you won't have to throw out all the stock 4wd stuff. At least upgrade the axles when you do it...

Same thing here, picked up the axles for cheap, wound up spending more in spare parts before I put bigger axles in. Put a set of waggy axles under it, convert the front to leafs at the same time. This will be the most cost effective way to do this.

Do not forget to grab all of the transfer case shifter brackets when you find a doner vehicle.

Don't bother transfering 4wd xj parts into yours because they still need some much needed upgrades. I think you would be much better off. The stock front driveshaft is shit because when you install much lower diff gears, it spins 50% faster than stock with the larger tires which causes vibes. The t-case needs upgrading with the slip yoke and rear shaft. The stock t-case linkage sucks. Go with an atlas right off the bat if it is in the budget. You'll want new suspension parts anyway so might as well buy a lift kit regardless. If your plan is to make a moderate offroading truck, just buy all new shit because when the junkyard stuff needs rebuilding you'll kick yourself in the ass.

he said nothing wild...

i wouldnt call an atlas nothing wild.

i mean if he has to buy a t-case like a 231 to convert his truck and then have to put a sye in it, save the money and buy an atlas. when he gets done putting in the 231 he'll see the shift linkage is shit and the low range is decent. I wish someone told me save the money before hand and make a good investment and get an atlas

Don't bother transfering 4wd xj parts into yours because they still need some much needed upgrades. I think you would be much better off. The stock front driveshaft is shit because when you install much lower diff gears, it spins 50% faster than stock with the larger tires which causes vibes. The t-case needs upgrading with the slip yoke and rear shaft. The stock t-case linkage sucks. Go with an atlas right off the bat if it is in the budget. You'll want new suspension parts anyway so might as well buy a lift kit regardless. If your plan is to make a moderate offroading truck, just buy all new shit because when the junkyard stuff needs rebuilding you'll kick yourself in the ass.

I understand what you guys are saying about changing stock junk out while your making the big transformation. but it then goes from being a weekend project, to a couple of week long project. If your wanting to build a wheel-proof rig, and wanting to change out all this to make it trail perfect you would be money ahead building something that isnt UNIBODY. where do you draw the line? Id keep it simple, or build something with a frame. I build up my grand, and wheeled and rolled it until it was like wheeling a wet cardboard box. now Ive parted it out and Im building a wrangler.

The swap was super easy, the only advise I could offer is to do your homework, There are tons of parts out there for these things so consider what kind of wheeling your going to do, I went with the D30 because i knew it would hold up for what i wanted and if it breaks i'll get another. I have a HP44 that i was going to install but chose to save it for a more offroad only vehicle.

The only sticky part will be the transmission, PM me when you get ready and i'll hook you up with the right setup.

Other than that it took me maybe 1 day to complete, and few little odds and ends, Now in the process of installing a 8.8, another easy swap

James, the locker is killer, saved my butt a few times so far....lol, thanks again for all the help

The swap was super easy, the only advise I could offer is to do your homework, There are tons of parts out there for these things so consider what kind of wheeling your going to do, I went with the D30 because i knew it would hold up for what i wanted and if it breaks i'll get another. I have a HP44 that i was going to install but chose to save it for a more offroad only vehicle.

The only sticky part will be the transmission, PM me when you get ready and i'll hook you up with the right setup.

Other than that it took me maybe 1 day to complete, and few little odds and ends, Now in the process of installing a 8.8, another easy swap

James, the locker is killer, saved my butt a few times so far....lol, thanks again for all the help

good deal. and good Idea going with the 8.8. d35's are just trouble. take care.

Thanks for the input guys...I am very mechanicly inclined...hell, with a cutting tourch and a welder, I can probably make just about anything fit...lol...main problem for me is learning all the terminology...I'm new to the Jeep thing...lol

If you want to learn the terms, your at the right place.