Jeep Cherokee XJ 1984-2001: Advanced Performance Modifications (Performance How-to)

Eric, thanks for the outstanding book sir! "Already got 2 copies as I wasnt home long enough to get the one copy I ordered to the house before I left, so had another one sent to me here in Afghanstan" Everything in here is top notch info and is truly going to help me take my Jeep to the next level. "You know that lever right below your Jeep" Thanks again for using my picture as well. Very cool to say ive got my Jeep in a book.To all: This is a great book I cant say more about it, I really enjoyed reading Erics last book and still like to go back to it from time to time for things. This book is top notch hardcore tech for XJ's as well as other offroad rigs. This is an outstanding book for anyone wanting to upgrade there Jeeps, and shows you how to do it right the first time instead of having to learn as you go, make mistakes, and hurt your pocket book. As many of us have over the years.

What a fantastic book! I am a pretty experienced fabricator and I'm pretty happy with my abilities. My Cherokee is also pretty far along as far as customizations go, so I almost didn't pick up this book for all those reasons. I thought I wouldn't get anything out of it. Well, when I decided to build a stroker motor, and saw that there is a section in the book dedicated to that, I decided to pick up a copy. WOW! I am SOOOO glad I did!! This book is so well done, so informative, so entertaining! It was immediately clear to me that this book would have a place, within arms-reach, in my garage for many years to come and I am sure that I will learn a lot, and get a lot of enjoyment out of it during that time. I can't recommend this book highly enough!!

Very informative, great illustrations. Highly recommend.

Very great book on "advanced" XJ building. If you're a beginner, I recommend getting the author's first book on XJ's. Starting the first chapter on a very basic intro to welding was a great idea. Including Jeep stroker build was right up my alley. Details in all the chapters is just enough to give an experienced builder ideas and pointers. I thought it was awesome he including Sterlings and a JK D44 as swap options and talked a lot on D60's. Also, thought it was great that he didn't go into the ever popular 8.8 swap and it allows the reader to consider other differentials instead. No complaints at all on the suspension chapter.

I now have BOTH of Eric Zappe's books, and this one is some of his best work yet.If you own a Jeep Cherokee, this is a MUST HAVE addition for your library.The first book is full of TONS of information for the first time XJ builder,This next book takes things to another level altogether.If your planing on more than just a mild build, or are starting to get into more serious modifications to your XJ,This is a book that NEEDS to be on your work bench.

Lots of good info in the book but not much more was learned than what I got perusing jeep forums. Wish there was more but it is nice to have it all in one place. Don't regret the purchase but it was a little pricey for what it is...more of a magazine than a book, but with a book price.

I thought this was "advanced". Possibly if you are a beginner or a millennial it may seem that way. I picked it up online having never saw it before, and thought I might get a few new ideas. Wrong. As a seasoned technician of nearly 30 years with a degree in Automotive Technology, there are a few "interesting" repair techniques I could swear I saw some pros doing quite differently, the axle narrowing techniques for example, are quite unique to my experience. Most advanced repair manuals I've ever used contain more detailed information, nothing in the book was really new or something we hadn't done before. The depth of understanding of the author and the subject is immediately apparent by how the "chapters" are organized more like a traditional book rather than useful instructions (There's a reason technical information is published in technical format across an array of technical subject matter) and skim over the specifics of some of the more important points, and the author tries to come across more knowledgeable in the subject than he actually is. The book is more a collection of information other authors and pioneers wrote and has been available in print and now online for decades. The book is also full of technical "holes" as there are some areas of the XJ that are not addressed at all in the book - persay the transmission? A little scoop on some improvements to this division and the transfer case are important when making a stroker mod, which again, the author tries to baffle us with stroker math and BS, but hardly begins to exhibit any mastery of the subject. If anything he needs to write an apology letter to Dino S. and send him a royalty check. The author also regurgitates a lot of captain obvious welding information, but fails utterly in explaining the unique construction of the Cherokee and how to weld on it. It's brought up but a total fail due to lack of understanding of the subject. If that isn't blatantly obvious to you after reading the first chapter, then you shouldn't be welding on your Cherokee and possibly take some classes first, you are not only putting yourself and occupants in danger, you are a risk to everyone on the road.On the other hand, a guy like Eric writing a book like this is the best most wanna-be "mechanics" and "wheelers" in 2015 will ever get. Most persons with knowledge in these subjects will not write down their tricks or tips, or really share with you what we used and how we make our modifications. It's pretty easy to pick out the ones who "worked on it themselves". I can walk the talk I talk too, and possibly you have even paid me to do work for you. Mine is taller than you can buy stock lift kits for, and it also still goes down the highway 75+..... If you can't make any lifted Cherokee do that, you don't understand how suspensions and steering work and put it together ALL wrong.. Seriously. That was the whole initial concept and design preface of the XJ - you can wheel it, drive it home, and drive it to work. The author has no knowledge of this, or any of the basic concepts that pertain to the systems we are modifying to get these results.There are a lot of Johnny-come-Latelys to the XJ party. This is just a guidebook for them to get in over their heads.

It's a great reference for the newbie (me) and a convenient collection of information for the experienced.

There was a lot more than expected with this ebook. I've looked through most of it and I've already found a few things I didn't know about the XJ. I'll make good use of this.

I liked the book, helped me with some upgrades.

great book for serious xj builders , with these mods your Cherokee will take you anywhere and back . if you are into fairy greenlaning a standard xj is more than capable .

A very good book. Very informative in respect of Jeep modifications.