High-Performance Jeep Cherokee Xj Builder's Guide 1984-2001 Paperback – May 11, 2006

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.

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.

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!

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.

This was a gift for my husband. His dream is to build the perfect utility XJ for his needs. He loves this guide.

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!