So, with my current interest in Rallycross lately, I have been looking for potential cars that I would like to use for Rallycross. Only problem is, I have no money. So, I decided that since it seems that you can Rallycross just about everything, I am going to use the Cherokee. It's beat up, it's got 191k on the odo, but it runs and drives great. If I sell it, I'm not going to get much out of it and I won't have enough to get another vehicle.
Even though I'm going to be moving soon, I'm going to be working on it when I can. First off are the brake lines. The line from the proportioning valve to the rear axle has bit the dust. I actually do need to fix this before I move, because I'm not going to waste someone else's time with their truck and trailer to move this.
I hope to keep you guys up to date with my progress. 
Make sure to check with the organisers of the events you plan to run it in. Some frown more heavily than others on SUVs and taller vehicles.
That said, I've seen Cherokees do quite well at various rallycross events. You might look up WAM on dirtyimpreza, I think he has a Cherokee setup primarily for rallycross.
cghstang wrote:
Make sure to check with the organisers of the events you plan to run it in. Some frown more heavily than others on SUVs and taller vehicles.
That said, I've seen Cherokees do quite well at various rallycross events. You might look up WAM on dirtyimpreza, I think he has a Cherokee setup primarily for rallycross.
This. To my knowledge a Cherokee wouldn't be able to run at our events at Summit Point. Only "low" pickup trucks at car-height (e.g. Mighty Max).....
irish44j wrote:
cghstang wrote:
Make sure to check with the organisers of the events you plan to run it in. Some frown more heavily than others on SUVs and taller vehicles.
That said, I've seen Cherokees do quite well at various rallycross events. You might look up WAM on dirtyimpreza, I think he has a Cherokee setup primarily for rallycross.
This. To my knowledge a Cherokee wouldn't be able to run at our events at Summit Point. Only "low" pickup trucks at car-height (e.g. Mighty Max).....
There was a Cherokee running last time I ran there, which was 2011 IIRC.
jgrewe
New Reader
4/7/13 8:41 p.m.
I have a teaser for you! More pics later
Nothing wrong with a Jeep rallycrosser. I bet you could get enough out of that to get an older smaller rallycross capable car. Got my dirt track Cavalier for $400. Just had to have a track that would let me run it. 
Is it a certain height that can not be surpassed?
Would lowering springs appease the powers that be?
I was thinking the Burban would be a decent Autocrosser the other day. Someone alluded to that fact here and even posted a video.
Found it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhsHogEyy-c
ProDarwin wrote:
irish44j wrote:
cghstang wrote:
Make sure to check with the organisers of the events you plan to run it in. Some frown more heavily than others on SUVs and taller vehicles.
That said, I've seen Cherokees do quite well at various rallycross events. You might look up WAM on dirtyimpreza, I think he has a Cherokee setup primarily for rallycross.
This. To my knowledge a Cherokee wouldn't be able to run at our events at Summit Point. Only "low" pickup trucks at car-height (e.g. Mighty Max).....
There was a Cherokee running last time I ran there, which was 2011 IIRC.
Interesing...I inquired last year for a friend of mine and was told that only "compact pickups" and no SUVs....
I think if you're running small wheels/tires and not lifted, it would probably be ok....but perhaps not on stock-height tires.
In reply to nicksta43:
That's a WJ Grand Cherokee which has a much higher center of gravity than the XJ Cherokee. The WJ is also about 6 inches taller than the XJ, I'm not surprised it almost tipped.
wow, that is one small/tight rallycross course!
I spent some of the day looking for others that run Cherokees at Rallycross. I did find some videos.
http://youtu.be/Q2hD-1jTZII
http://youtu.be/FMlMyv3HA9w
http://youtu.be/FRScWhENtx8
jgrewe wrote:
I have a teaser for you! More pics later
How bad was the rust that you had to replace the D-pillar?
Edit: And I see that there's half of the tailgate...
Did you read the rules at all? It's explicit that the roof structure may not be altered in any way. You're not even allowed to remove a sunroof frame.
On a guaranteed-to-roll truck, I'd freak.
bluej
Dork
4/8/13 7:02 a.m.
Hmm, timely thread. Looking forward to updates.
My roommate ran his commanche a few times and will be running his XJ later next month.
jgrewe
New Reader
4/8/13 12:03 p.m.
Knurled wrote:
jgrewe wrote:
I have a teaser for you! More pics later
How bad was the rust that you had to replace the D-pillar?
Edit: And I see that there's half of the tailgate...
Did you read the rules at all? It's explicit that the roof structure may not be altered in any way. You're not even allowed to remove a sunroof frame.
On a guaranteed-to-roll truck, I'd freak.
No rules with that build. Just thought an XJ fan would like to see it. The guy wanted a convertible. I was half way done with it before a realized it's a 2WD version. All that work for a mall crawler!
I just got it back in my shop from his painter. Time to figure out how the top will work now.
Forewarned you will blow u-joints in the front axle on tight rallyX courses, best advice is just run 2wd. Also, is this auto or manual transmission?
In reply to fidelity101:
I was wondering about that. I figured I'd do better in 2WD than in 4WD anyways for the fact that Cherokees have a tendancy of pulling hard with the front wheels in 4WD while on the gas. Plus your turning radius is shortened in 4WD as well.
In reply to SyntheticBlinkerFluid:
Yeah lots of hard left and right hand turns at full lock, it pushes and understeers and then blows the front u-joints apart. Wheelin/off-roading tends to do the same thing on those jeeps.
cool rob! definitely looking forward to seeing some updates/pics with this thing. ive been having the rallycross itch lately too...
In reply to WilberM3:
Thanks Dave! I was gonna give you a call a some point because I had some questions about your old XJ from College.
