Wanted to share some more of my build. Hope this might help someone?
I was blessed to find my rust free (Texas) Jeep Cherokee. The OP. did a great job on the engine swap. I also was glad to find an XJ with manual transmission, as I still enjoy the control over my rig and going through the gears! The XJ had stock size tires and wheels, and stock 3.07 gears. It was dive able but under powered. The XJ also came with off road front and rear bumpers, with a winch up front. The rack on top already was a nice touch too. In the before picture, you see what looks like a snorkel? That is my exhaust pipe! Up out of the way, so you don't start a fire going through dry grass and the like.
Now for some of the upgrades I have done and had done. I bought some nice Black leather seats out of a 99' Grand Cherokee. Also, a Ford 8.8 rear axle with disk brakes, out of a 96' Ford Explorer. I paid $350. for these parts. The next day I took and installed the Leather seats. What a big difference in looks and comfort! I had some trucks that I had been saving to build up some day. Sold them and used the money for some more upgrades to the XJ. A local shop in Wenatchee, WA. did some great work for me. They (the shop) took the Ford 8.8 rear axle and rebuilt it with new 4.10 gears, Yukon chromoly 4340 axle shaft with the c-clip illuminator kit, and an Ox air locker differential,new forged spicer yoke, to hook up the drive shaft, like new JK Jeep shocks, new brake lines, brake rotors, pads and more. Then the shop moved to the front axle and did more upgrades. 4.10 gears, Yukon chromoly 4340 axles shafts with spicer circle clip u-joints, Ox air locker, gusseted the inner Cs on the front also. The shop did other miscellaneous work too, but that is most of it. Was not cheap! $6200. I put prices in this just to let others know what they could be looking at in cost for a build such as this! Not to brag!!
Now I need to finish running air lines, hook up the air compressor, install a new winch, CB, fog lights and more. Always more to keep doing. Jeep; just, empty, every, pocket!
After having all the upgrades done, got ready to drive my XJ home and the clutch slave and master cylinder went out! Had to borrow a trailer from my friend and haul it home the next day. Now have to wait for payday to fix my Jeep even to drive and try all the upgrades out! Benz.