1989 Jeep Cherokee - Phoenix Rising

When the time came to drop the drivetrain back in, the brothers ordered a 4.0L straight-six crate engine from Mopar Performance, bolted it to an AW4 tranny that had been rebuilt by Mogi, and capped that off with an NP 241 T-case equipped with a Currie tailshaft conversion kit. With a ported throttle body from Turbo City and a header and exhaust setup from Positive Performance Headers, the stock I-6 has no trouble breathing. Rounding off the underhood additions are a new power steering box, pump, and reservoir from Howe Performance.

The final touch to the XJ's exterior came with a set of JeepSpeed fiberglass fenders. According to Mike, these bolt-on pieces provide an additional 2 inches of wheel travel to avoid any kind of rubbing while trail riding or racing.

Turning to the interior, Mike and Tom left the Cherokee stripped down to reduce weight as much as possible. What you'll find up front are two Beard racing seats with five-point harnesses from Crow Enterprizes, an Art Carr gate shifter, and a set of Auto Meter gauges that provide readings for oil pressure, water temp, tranny temp, and voltage. Directly behind the seats is a 32-gallon JAZ fuel cell. Relocating the gas tank to the cab not only lightened the rearend considerably but also created a lot of extra clearance. Attached to the crossmember on the rollcage is a tranny cooler and fan, which came direct from Mopar. These are both fed cool air by a '64 Hemi hoodscoop that Mike and Tom fastened to the roof. And at the very back is enough room for two spare tires and a dual-battery setup.

Truck manufacturers like to talk about multipurpose vehicles, but none of them hold a candle to this Cherokee. From desert racing to trail riding to rockcrawling, it's a capable rig. About the only thing it's not good for anymore is getting groceries. Sounds just right.