Jeep Cherokee Aeromods

[SuperTrooper]

My next move would be an attempt at extending (lowering) the front air dam. Push the air around the sides instead of under. I googled by butt off trying to find an aftermarket air dam for the Cherokee and got nowhere. Years ago J.C.Whiteny used to sell universal front spoilers, but no longer.

An alternative would be to lower the whole vehicle.

[FastPlastic]

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Sweet Block I did something similar with clear plastic, but plexi works good too.

Is it just me or does the ZJ have the only good cooling system? I've never seen the needle get to the 210 degree mark. It usually hangs around between 180-190.

One thing that gets annoying is when you take it to autozone or something to get something and the guys ask why theres plastic over your grille. Then you say to heat the engine faster (less time in open loop) and create less drag. Then they ask whether or not you need a new thermostat and if yours is faulty OH!:

Maybe try using plexy over the headlight slots, they seem to be mini-parachutes Removed the roof racks yet? (if there is any)

So far with just the three blocks the temp has been rock solid at 190. Can't say I've heard the electric fan kick in either.

Covering the headlight slots isn't a bad idea. Just not sure how I would do it and make it look nice. I'm all about stealthy aero mods.

It does have the small stock roof rack. Which I have thought about taking off. But I don't really have a place to put it when it's off. I'd like to keep it for when I sell it eventually. If I leave it on is there an optimal location for the cross beams? Is there a low pressure zone towards the middle because of the flat roof?

[TheDon]

I like the plexi glass idea. It would pop into my grill with no mods to the grill chrome. Where to buy a good sheet of it? I presume its of thin kind

[adrive7]

Originally Posted by FastPlastic

It does have the small stock roof rack. Which I have thought about taking off. But I don't really have a place to put it when it's off. I'd like to keep it for when I sell it eventually. If I leave it on is there an optimal location for the cross beams? Is there a low pressure zone towards the middle because of the flat roof?

If you don't want to take it off, you could cover it with plastic to smooth out the airflow over it.

[jeremy128]

I wonder how much a kammback would help?

[Daox]

Just a general note, but its usually best to start with the front of the vehicle and work your way back aerodynamically. On such a dirty underside, the air is probably already sped up quite a bit at that point which will negate the benefit of this mod. It is a good mod non-the-less, but just an FYI.

[SuperTrooper]

Originally Posted by FastPlastic

So far with just the three blocks the temp has been rock solid at 190. Can't say I've heard the electric fan kick in either.

Covering the headlight slots isn't a bad idea. Just not sure how I would do it and make it look nice. I'm all about stealthy aero mods.

It does have the small stock roof rack. Which I have thought about taking off. But I don't really have a place to put it when it's off. I'd like to keep it for when I sell it eventually. If I leave it on is there an optimal location for the cross beams? Is there a low pressure zone towards the middle because of the flat roof?

Can you remove just the cross beams?

Are the fender flares easily removable? Those babies stick out like big air scoops. The early Cherokees didn't have them.

[DifferentPointofView]

Can you remove just the cross beams?

If it's anything like the ZJ, then yes, you can remove the cross beams and leave the long ones (what are they called again?) on there. but that requires removing the whole rack, in which once you've done this, you might as well leave it all off.

I have mine in my brothers bedroom I've got a thread on doing some of this stuff, but the problem is it's all for zj's.

I know that the ZJ has a small lip that pushes air down towards the pavement. don't know how far it pushes it.

The problem with putting an air dam on one of these is there is no longer an approach angle, and you end up scraping up everything with it.

With lowering it, I don't know where you'd get a lowering kit for a Jeep, or what Jeep owner would have the heart to lower it. But if you can find a lowering kit, for the price of the springs/shocks etc. you might as well find and buy a geo or beater civic to roll around in. There'd be better returns anyway.

A belly pan wouldn't be such a bad Idea, I've thought about it a few times, it'd keep stuff from getting as badly gouged on a big rock, and I finally found a nearby (17 miles) sign shop I could buy coroplast from. Might just give it a try

[FastPlastic]

Originally Posted by TheDon

I like the plexi glass idea. It would pop into my grill with no mods to the grill chrome. Where to buy a good sheet of it? I presume its of thin kind

I just used a piece from a broken picture frame. So it is pretty thin, which makes it easy to curve around bends. If you want to be lazy you could just pick up a picture frame from Wal-mart $10. Otherwise if you have a local hobby store (Hobby Lobby around here). I've seen the same size sheet for about $6. Another reason I choose to do it this way, be it harder because you have 5-7 slots to fill. I can always pop one or two out if I start having heat problems.

[DifferentPointofView]

Do you have other pics of the XJ? I'd like to see what we're working with here.