Clean "Orvis" Cherokee, getting cut

lake_v2 · Jul 25, 2015

Hello all,

So I sadly sold my Koh Yj about a year ago and have been dying to get back out on the trails.

Lucked out this week on Craiglist. Bought a 95 Grand Cherokee Orvis edition for 650bones. Did have to drive 2hrs each way and trailer in back but well worth it.

Previous owner thought it had blown head gasket(s). All it needed was a water pump.... :haha:

Plans:

Swap 249tcase for 242/231
lockrite in the dana 30
build bumpers, sliders, and possibly hybrid cage
2" spacer lift(a ton of fender cutting/mods)
33" el cheapo used tires

Goal is cheap, effective, and enjoy most if not all trails. Looking forward to Moab and Rubicon trips with it next summer.

pics coming shortly, should start the cutting in a couple weeks. :awesomework:

lake_v2 · Jul 25, 2015

So straight and clean could only find one tiny dent on it....

I'll fix that.

KarlVP · Jul 25, 2015

Interested in this. I've got a grand I want to make into a family wheeler. :awesomework:

zukkev · Jul 25, 2015

I wish my wife would let me buy a new rig for her....She's got a 98 G.C. I wouldn't mind building into a D.D./Hunting/ light wheeling rig...Following...

greenie · Jul 25, 2015

ive considered doin another one on the cheap like that.
you might want a lil more lift for moab if your gonna weigh it down with tube.?
The 95s are great. saw the cat off, build your own pvc intake..:beer:

lake_v2 · Jul 25, 2015

Going to do the chopping at my brothers will borrow the 33" tires off his daughters baby bronco for mock up.

Trying to keep the tube weight to a minimum, learned that lesson on the yj. Had made the flat belly and boatsides out of 1/4" and barely made weight at koh it went across the tech scales at 4398lbs, 2lbs under limit for cage tube diameter.

lake_v2 · Jul 26, 2015

Got the water pump swapped out this morning, test ran it no more overheating.

Discovered catalytic converter bad, got that and muffler cut out waiting on thunderstorm to pass to install new stuff.

JayH · Jul 27, 2015

Throw on some 4" backspaced wheels and you can fit 33's with very little cutting.

lake_v2 · Aug 8, 2015

Got the fronts cut and inner areas beat in with a sledge.

Put a 33" on one side and left the stock 235/75r15 on the other measured clearances around tire. Marked all spots on inner fender that needed massaging and got to work.

Pics to follow.

lake_v2 · Aug 8, 2015

lake_v2 · Aug 8, 2015

lake_v2 · Aug 8, 2015

lake_v2 · Aug 8, 2015

greenie · Aug 9, 2015

lookin good
i just noticed its a v8, not sure my previous comment applies.

lake_v2 · Aug 10, 2015

Started on the rear today, cut and folded the doors, cut and folded fenders, next is finish welding and replacing the rockers

lake_v2 · Aug 10, 2015

Doors start cuts

lake_v2 · Aug 10, 2015

Cut and fold on body

lake_v2 · Aug 10, 2015

Can see rocker and difference in clearance

lake_v2 · Aug 10, 2015

May pull off 33" tires with no lift, going to order 33x9.5r15 super swamped sx's and mount to stock rims....have to keep the Orvis green rims.

The mockup tire/rim is a 33x12.5r15 tsl all the cutting has been measured against it.

The sx's will be taller than the tsl but the less width should help clear away bar in front and inner fender in rear.

Main reasons for keeping stock springs is cheap, they ride nice and its cheap....

:haha: