High-Performance Jeep Cherokee Xj Builder's Guide 1984-2001

Excellent info, shows you the knock on effects of each mod and how to over come that.

Wie Erwartet

Sehr schöne Bilder in sehr extremen Situationen aufgenommen zeigen deutlich, was so ein bestes Auto alle kann! Für Jeep Fans sehr empfehlenswert

Livre agréable à lire et qui couvre bien l'ensemble des modifications qui peuvent être faites sur ce véhicule. J'aurai cependant aimé qu'il soit parfois plus précis. Étant novice en modifications de 4x4 j'aurai souhaité avoir plus d'informations afin de savoir quel type de modification, à son niveau dans les différents degrés possibles, apporte quelles améliorations concrètes sur le terrain. D'autre part le livre n'est pas particulièrement technique et il faudra compléter sa lecture avec d'autres ouvrages plus spécialisés comme le Haynes ou la Revue Technique Automobile.Malgré cela, ce livre reste une très bonne base et sera très utile pour qui cherche à améliorer les capacités tout-terrain de son Cherokee.

I recieved this yesterday and I've already read it from cover to cover and how I wish I bought this first before purchasing the repair manual. I have nothing against the other automotive store bought manual but they just don't really cover much about the year model of my Cherokee which is a 2001. The funny thing was that that was mentioned in this book. The service manual is good for general maintenance but doesn't covet much of the new improvements on the 2000-'01 model.With that said, lets get to this book! :-) I've frequented a lot of Cherokee forums and even though they are very helpful in finding answers to your questions it is hard to sort out the right answers because you are depending on a lot of other people's oppinions. In this book you will find your answers on FAQs without having to sort through a lot of forum threads or answers/opinions. You will find info on wheel/tire sizes, gearings, lifts, etc with charts and even mathematical equations you will need to make the right decisions for yourself...don't worry tho..the equations isn't rocket sciense and wont blow your head off ;-).Overall, this helped me out so much more in a day of reading compared to months of searching through forums, but this still won't replace the experience a person will get from forums when it comes to fabrications, looking for ideas, etc. I think this is a must have for anyone with a Cherokee that have or will be building it up.

One of the, if not the, most informative book available on the XJ subject! Dedicated specifically to the XJ platform.I would have to say it is a must read for anyone thinking of performing any modifications to their XJ, whether they will accomplish them themselves or have them done by a professional.This book was written to inform, rather than sell something. The book is mostly unbiased as to which manufacture has the best parts which, to me, is a good thing. However, if he feels, through much experience, that one part will work better for a specific application, he conveys that in a manner that is unassuming. The author also doesn't put any type of attitude across that if you don't have an 6+" lift on your XJ you are nothing. (Which seems to be prevalent in the XJ/ZJ/WJ community.)After reading this book I'm glad to know that most of my modification decisions have been good ones.I already have his next publication on pre-order! And I can't wait!

Overall I think Eric presents an excellent compilation of information for the XJ owner, and I'm glad that I purchased the book. I feel that the book is well organized and easy to reference, and I appreciate the spec sheets on the vehicles that he profiles. My only disappointment (and reason for holding back one star) is that all of the photos in the book are B&W rather than color. Previous reviews mention color photos, as does Eric's description on his website. My book is printed in the USA, and the photos are clear, but I'm a sucker for great color photos as much as the next guy, and was really looking forward to 140+ pages of XJ porn. Still a good book though, and a refreshing change from spending hours on the Jeep and XJ forums trying to research subjects that Eric lays out nicely in his book.

If you have a mid-sized Jeep Cherokee, you NEED this book, especially if you plan to drive it off-road or plan to modify it! The book is layed out in a logical order and is surprisingly thorough! The pictures are very detailed and there are more of them than I expected. Where Eric got some of the things he has pictured here, I do not know. I'd go so far as to say that if you have a question about any modification or what mods would be appropriate for your driving style, this book will likely have what you need to know before you start. EVEN which models, by year of production, may be appropriate for what you want to do. I was impressed also by the technical things, what to avoid, how to repair, pro's and cons of many mods, manufacturer recommendations, and tips for the install of the components that may otherwise be overlooked by the manufacturer's directions.Overall, I'm impressed with my copy and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is even curious about these tough little vehicles.P.S.No, I'm not done with mine, and NO, you can't borrow it.You need one for yourself! This Amazon deal is the best I've seen for this book. Buy one today!

Other reviews have already said it better. But this really is the must-buy guide for anyone interested in customizing a Jeep Cherokee XJ. Even if you are experienced with off-road customizations, you'll likely learn a thing or two from this book. The guide is broken down into several different sections each dedicated to a different system and what you might consider upgrading there. Sections include suspension, wheels and tires, steering and brakes, axles and gearing, transfer case, engine and transmission, body upgrades, and skid plates and recovery.The book continues by highlighting several featured Cherokees and describing the various parts and upgrades that went into them, all with detailed color photos. I've already got several new ideas for my own XJ after reading this builder's guide, and have discovered several cost saving alternatives to my original customizing plan. Basically, this book paid for itself.This guide is worth every penny. Buy it.

I'll come right out and admit it, I was a Toyota guy before I bought my Cherokee.Now that we've got that off my chest, on to the book... Where to start, this is a valuable resource for anyone like me who has never really dealt with Jeeps (except to give them a tug out of the mud) and I learned a lot even from a first quick read. The tire size/lift charts alone helped save me a couple hundred bucks due to being able to plan my lift and tire purchases to get the right stuff.That being said, I agree with Wayman's comments that the author could have added a great deal more information on engine performance and a junkyard interchange would have been amazing, even if it only listed common Jeep to Jeep swaps like the KJ liberty to XJ rear brake swap or which Grand Cherokee alternator works best.If you are new to modding Jeeps and/or want a paper book to help plan your build, this is indispensable and highly recommended. If you already know most of the Jeeper secrets, then feel free to give it a pass as you may not learn much.

In one night of reading this book you can get more info on modifying your Cherokee than you could in months of reading online forums and webpages. This book is a great source of information on all kinds of XJ modifications and their pros and cons. For a beginning off-roader, it's a great resource to get a general understanding of the Cherokee and its features, as well as lots of specific information (including some step-by-step instuctions) on stock and modified parts.A must have for anyone who is starting modifications on their XJ. Lots of pictures, advice, walkthroughs, and vehicle profiles. Some of the topics covered include suspension upgrades, wheels and tires, steering and brake mods, axles, gears, and lockers, driveline mods, engine and transmission upgrades, body basics, and skid plates and recovery devices, as well as lots of good info on stock Cherokees.Highly recommended.

Older vehicles are always a problem when it comes to finding information and parts. Add to that the difficulty new owners sometimes have making good decisions about modifications (like lifts, for example), and you can readily see the need for a book like the one written by Eric Zappe and produced by CarTech(R).This book will certainly not replace a repair manual - you'll want one of those, maybe even the factory manual - but this book will discuss options and show you alternatives, things the repair manuals are not good at. Others have said it before me: if you own a 1984 - 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ, then you need to own this book.

I think this is a very challenging book for the author to write. A lot of it comes from his personal experience as well as that of his friends in the reno area. The interesting thing about the XJ is that manufacturers continue to make new parts for it even though the last one rolled off in 2001. The book covers A to Z on anything you'd want to know to modify your XJ. It leaves out a few things like CB radios but i felt it was good.I wish there was more emphasis on the suspension. In the end i think that's the most concentrated portion. He should talk about Limit Straps, Hockey Pucks, Bump Stops etc. Also he glosses over long arm suspension. I guess i was hoping for more a comparison of radius arms vs. 3 link vs. 4 link etc. This in a sense is a buyers guide but also a builders guide in one, or that's how i expect it to be.I follow a lot of the forums online and I do intensive searching to find answers. A lot of stuff in this book wasn't too new to me, but it was structured very well and saves you a lot of time if you don't want to go surfing the web constantly. I'd recommend this to all XJ owners. The pictures are also excellent.I considered the Kindle version but it would not work well considering the intensive use of pictures to explain modifications.

Really neat! Great Info, and lots of pictures. Has several different full build sheets, info for never seen a dirt road brand new jeep owners or experienced trail hardened rock hoppers. Someone already said " Whether your checking your tire pressure or installing a six inch lift and trim your flares to fit 40's you want THIS book in your back pocket, not any of those other stock factory common knowledge books.

If you are looking for a book that tells you how to do things, then you will have to keep looking. This book is about the why's and what upgrades you'll want or need as it relates to off-roading.That was exactly what I was looking for when I ordered the book. Advice about engine choices, suspension lifts, and is my current axle enough for what I want to do. All of the questions I had about building my XJ were answered. Eric has even answered the questions I didn't realized I should have asked. (Such as, Do I want to upgrade to disk brakes? uh.. yes)

Good reference book