Diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Solid axle swap atlas transfer case 37" Tires

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Description

The Nitro Grand Cherokee is kind of a crazy rig. What started life as a grocery getter rig with short travel IFS front suspension, little tires and mostly soccer mom status has been transformed over the years into the rig you see here. Of course, it did have one special aspect, it's a factory 3.0L diesel model giving it better performance and fuel economy than most of these Jeeps sold in the US.

Initially we needed the Jeep as a development rig. We knew we were going to do a4.10 gear package for the 2005-10 Grand Cherokeeand the easiest way to have access to a tester was to buy one. Our silver 2008 arrived at the shop in early 2010 and the first build began. The prototype gears were installed and the transmission controller was custom tuned by AEV to tweak the software for the ratio change and keep the trans shifting properly.King Coilovers,Rock Krawler liftkit,Synergy Sway Bar Links, Synergy Limit Strapsand newRCV front axlescombined withRadflo 2.5" Remote Reservoir Shocks, Custom Zoneadjustablerear control arms,Zone Sway Bar Links, and TJM Coils in the rear gave the Jeep much better offroad capability and some room for bigger tires as well. Needing more traction we swapped the rear axle (this one had Quadradrive2 which limited locker options) for a standard WK 8.25″ rear end equipped with anARB Air locker. AnARB bumperwas added up front along with aWarn winch, some aftermarket rock sliders and a set of skid plates. Hutchinson beadlocks andToyo M/T 285/75/17 tires rounded build and the Jeep was ready for some trails to go with the daily commute.

ThenUltimate Adventure (UA)called. If you are unfamiliar with this event it happens yearly and is put on by Petersons 4 Wheel and Offroad Magazine. Basically you live in and out of your truck for a week driving from trail to trail each day and typically covering over a 1000 miles on the road with 4-5 hardcore 4wd trails along the way. It's a marathon of suffering with bad food, repairing rigs in remote locations and not a lot of sleep along the way. If you go be prepared for the worst and build your 4×4 as well as possible as this is a test of both man and machine at the highest level for recreational offroading. Six weeks before UA we decided the Grand would be the vehicle of choice for the event, but it would need a bunch of mods to handle what would be coming it's way. Most urgent was the suspension and front axle components as the goal was to fit37″ Nitto tiresand add enough strength to keep everything together for the week of wheeling. With such a short timeline we sent the Jeep off toBuild It Offroadin Naches Washington for a one off solid axle swap cutting the IFS from under the front end swapping a Jeep JK Rubicon Dana 44 front axle withNitro sleeves, gears and shaftsand gussetscombined with a second ARB Air Locker. Build It then engineered and assembled a custom linked front suspension complete with a JK steering box and HD steering links, King Coil Overs and Currie Anti Rock sway bar. The rear was then lifted higher using 6″ coils from Jeepin by Al.

Even with a lot more lift the wheelwells on this Jeep were just too small to clear the 37's and major body mods were required. Cutting and radiusing the fenders front and rear, shortening the "returns" on the bullbar to keep it out of the tires and building a custom rear bumper was followed by painting everything body color to make it look right. Hydraulic bump stops were added at the same time all around to smooth things out at speed.

After UA the Jeep kept evolving, we found the rock sliders we were using just weren't up to the task and would bent up into the body damaging the doors on big hits. We custom designed and integrated a new set welding them directly to the unibody after adding considerable gusseting to keep them intact. We were also having trouble with a worn T-case howling badly so an 3.0 ratio Atlas 2 was sourced and installed under the Jeep along with newReel Driveshafts. The complexity of the Jeep meant the factory t-case actuator had to remain bolted above the crossmember and plugged in to keep the computers happy and the transmission from going into limp mode. We're still looking for a software fix for this issue, but for now it all works as it should.

Overall this rig works extremely well and offers amazing comfort in the leather clad interior for long road days and trails alike. It's been to Ultimate Adventure, Moab several times forEaster Jeep Safariand run the Rubicon twice as well as been on display at theSEMA show. We suspect it's the most highly modified WK Grand Cherokee in existence and certainly attracts attention everywhere it goes. Different, comfortable and capable.