the new Xof Cheshire Cat

kastrato · Post by **kastrato** » Mon May 12, 2014 6:33 am

Xof ,
Where is the full report from the new cat after the sand test?
I saw the car is looks the part ..
How is it drives then?

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Tue May 13, 2014 10:00 am

so, to please George, the report of the first trip: just perfect!!!

I'm very please with the clearance, i only touched the front bumper once, by going into a ditch which i decide not to avoid... Bumper folded and went back to position (wasabi witnessed), and suspension went flexing nicely....
Got myself in a small corridor, same, power + quadradrive get me out...
and so much power when you are side slopping! Where a v6 would start to koff, or when you would need to go in 4L, the v8 just get a gear down and let's continue climbing or slopping!!!! real fun!

Yes, this is the same feeling maybe in a SWB patrol... but definitely not for the overprice!

so, the only downside is that the car does not need anything else and all my wish list is just optional!!!

but still...

anyway, the conclusion of it is that it gave me the pleasure i had lost with the TJ due to the lack of confort and the "easy" handling... Maybe you need to change car sometime in the desert not to get bored (which you cannot do with your wife

)

a few pics...

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scotchyl · Post by **scotchyl** » Tue May 13, 2014 11:29 am

Same reason I sold my jk. Not bored but got too comfortable driving it.

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DinoStroker · Post by **DinoStroker** » Tue May 13, 2014 12:10 pm

Xof wrote:Maybe you need to change car sometime in the desert not to get bored (which you cannot do with your wife )

Who says you can't swap wives?

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Tue May 13, 2014 12:35 pm

DinoStroker wrote:
Xof wrote:Maybe you need to change car sometime in the desert not to get bored (which you cannot do with your wife )
Who says you can't swap wives?

my wife...

kastrato · Post by **kastrato** » Tue May 13, 2014 3:25 pm

Xof wrote:
DinoStroker wrote:
Xof wrote:Maybe you need to change car sometime in the desert not to get bored (which you cannot do with your wife )
Who says you can't swap wives?
my wife...

Lol

You pleased me, alright,
I agree with the statement of changing cars is necessary, I don't understand why every time I'm changing wrangler I'm buying another one...

To the car now...
All modifications are always optional...!!
But we convince ourselves that are necessary....
I'm glad that the car fulfill your expectation! The v8 is a good thing to have in all cases!
Start considering a front bumper as your next thing in your to do list

How is the difference between long wheel base with sort wheel base? That is the biggest change I believe other than the engine..

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Tue May 13, 2014 4:48 pm

obviously, LWB is not as easy for cresting or for crawling... but somehow, the WJ is good. A few specs to compare:

Whell base / Length in mm
WJ: 2690 / 4605
TJ: 2370 / 4130
Disco2 : 2540 / 4704
WK: 2780 / 4750
Patrol LWB: 2970 / 5080 (!!!)
JKU: 2950 / 4750

so it's actually one of the shortest! and very light too

the problem is more the fron clearance... where i would not break at the bottom of the dune, i'm so far very cautious...
more specs to compare with regards to clearance:

Approach (front) / departure (rear) / break over (crest) / bottom clearance in degres and cm, before lift kit
WJ: 36.7 / 28.6 / 22.6 / 23.1
JKU: 44.4 / 50.5 / 20.8 / 26.6
WK: 34.1 / 27.1 / 20.6 / 20.3
new cherokee trailhawk: 29.9 / 32.3 / 22.9 / 22.8

and my WJ after the lift kit 2.5" = 6.3cm + bigger tires 1.2cm = 7.5cm lift > 44.68 / 35.87 / 25.68 / 30.66
so front clearance is now better than a JK stock (good surprise), rear clearance is far from even the JKU, but the Cheshire cat slides on its petrol tank, protected by a factory skid plate and bumper does not protrude, breakover is quite good, as is the clearance...

i should survive! and when you see what Abu Al3bed is doing with his own WJ on the same setting, really no worry...

kastrato · Post by **kastrato** » Tue May 13, 2014 9:03 pm

Nice to hear!
So maybe bumper front and some good skid plates in key spots..
You need to take me for a ride to feel the difference ...

scotchyl · Post by **scotchyl** » Tue May 13, 2014 9:33 pm

Come join us Friday xof.

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DinoStroker · Post by **DinoStroker** » Tue May 13, 2014 9:47 pm

kastrato wrote:All modifications are always optional...!!

If only that could also apply to wives and girlfriends!

richard moss · Post by **richard moss** » Sat May 17, 2014 3:04 pm

I had a 2001 WJ V8 and have to say that it didn't really suit me for off road use. The extra weight over the XJ and ZJ made me feel like I was fighting the Jeep, not working with it. I felt that the front crossmember under the AC condensor was a bit vulnerable, too (actually it WAS vulnerable because it stuck out too low and was easy to ben d). The guy I sold it to loves it, though, so maybe it was me that was the problem!

The power was nice, and as mine as a Limited, it was a great on-road family vehicle.

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:28 pm

I spent money on 4WD website for unnecessary therefore mandatory items

:

MagnumFORCE Stage-2 PRO 5R Intake System - Part # AFE51-10162
TFX Performance Kat-Back System - Part # PSP86-2842
3 Circuit Auxiliary Fuse Block - Part # PWP70203
Speed Grille Inserts - Part # S/S950-77981
and a few goodies...

total of the order: 800 USD + 200 USD shipment...

quite impatient to install the CAI and the Catback! vroum vroum!!!

wish list update:
- CAI on the way
- CAT BACK on the way
- Led light bar on the front bumper : need to design brackets
- stickers
- flag mount + flag --> done
- aerial mount --> done
- front speakers
- find a scrap original hitch receiver bar
- front bumper / skid plate cancelled

Need to be fixed:
- RHS brake light does not work and kills all other light on the rear right hand side... --> done, found full rear led lights for 500AED both
- there is kind of a sound which is not normal

--> coming from the pinion bearing an carrier. Qadra drive wear common problem not critical.

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:54 am

Order was completed yesterday in 4WD... they are shipping it today

it will arrive just in time for the season.

regarding the humming sound coming from the pinion bearing and carrier. The diagnosis was correct, and got it repaired by WM... Cheap parts, but a lot of hours to set the gear box at the end. And i could have gone serious in the long run.

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:52 am

4WD order received...

new grill installed, front wind deflector installed...cosmetic, nice.

AFE air intake installed. Super result... nice sound, more responsive... the V8 is breathing...

the exhaust is in the car boot and i'm bringing it to WM for installation.

BUT! i totally lost the underpowered AC... fan is not working anymore... WM will diagnose and give quotation. Hope it's just a fuse. or it will be cost me an arm...

oh, and a few death wobble...

to do update:
- CAI --> done
- CAT BACK under installation
- Led light bar on the front bumper : need to design brackets
- complete Marshal radio installation, install additional fuse box
- stickers
- front speakers
- find a scrap original hitch receiver bar

DesertDawg · Post by **DesertDawg** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:34 am

Radiator fan or fan inside?

Dave