XJ Installation Page 2
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The Jeep Cherokee "XJs" are also great platforms for offroad use. They are comfortable enough to be driven daily, yet rugged enough to warrant the Atlas.
The majority of the information in this section is based on a 1998 XJ. The XJ was equipped with a 4.0L 6 cylinder and a AW4 transmission.
The XJ model is very similar to the ZJ installation. Since the Cherokee is uni-body in design, the suspension had to be adjustable allowing us to dial in our pinion angles. This is crucial to obtain correct driveshaft angles when installing an Atlas transfer case. The XJ model Cherokee has a rear leaf spring & front coil design suspension system. If a lift kit is used on an XJ, make sure that you are able to shim the axle to obtain proper driveshaft angles. Any driveline vibration (due to improper driveline angles) will be very noticeable because of this uni-body construction.
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Shift Indicator Switch
The Atlas is designed to work with both the vacuum actuated front axles and the stock dash board indicator lights. Since these features were designed into the Atlas based around the YJ & TJ Jeep vehicles, installing the Atlas into the XJ presented a few problems in this area.
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XJ sensor will need a .090" washer for proper spacing
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Many of the early XJs used a vacuum operated front differential. The stock vacuum control switch, located on your stock transfer case, can be reused on the Atlas. Your vehicle will operate as it did stock. On later model XJs, the front axle was redesigned and the vacuum controls were removed. These vehicles should have an indicator light similar to the TJs. The front axle is always engaged, in which the indicator switch is nothing more than a dash light. Note: The .090" washer is installed with the indictor plug on the Atlas shifter housing.
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Crossmember & Body Modifications
The installation of an Atlas requires little or no body or crossmember modifications. The installation that we performed actually improved driveline angles, crossmember clearance, and ground clearance. The photos that follow illustrate the Atlas with a shallower than stock rotation. On some XJs, a full crossmember/skid pan was used. If this is the case with your vehicle, you may have some of the same modifications as shown in the TJ section.
Most of the XJ installations that we have done have been preformed using a Atlas 2 speed cases. When installing the Atlas 4 speed in an XJ, the atlas will be located further back and will require floor board mods and custom cross member mods to properly complete installation.
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Shifter Installation
If your XJ does not have a center console, universal shifter P/N 303000L is recommended. XJs with a center console should use P/N 303007L.
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Rear view of the AW4 automatic.
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The photo (above) shows the rotation we used to obtain the proper shifter clearance.
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The stock output shaft protrudes .500" past the stock adapter housing. To achieve the proper spline engagement on the Atlas, a 1" spacer is required (Part No. AS-0404).
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