Eric Zappe

Just finished this book, and as far as modding manuals go, this is one of the best I have seen. Eric Zappe shows his knowledge and expertise in the field of custom modifications with excellent advice and detailed instruction from welding to custom roll cage construction. The book includes excellent, detailed instructions and concise photographs of the procedures covered, as well as looks into modifications by other Cherokee enthusiasts. If you are a novice mechanic just looking to build a show more rock climbing, mud boggin’ Jeep, this book is not for you. But for serious builders and off road fans, this is a must for any tool bench. I highly recommend Jeep Cherokee XJ 1984-2001 :Advanced Performance Modifications by Eric Zappe. It ranks highly with any performance how-to manual on the market today. show less

Well-Designed with Numerous Color Illustrations

The first thing I noticed about this guide was the clarity of the photographs and other illustrations. For example, on page 68, there is a discussion on brake hoses. Figure 15 suggests a modification (of the bracket) that will make your job easier. The author courteously shows the reader this trick. Similarly, page 35 shows details and advantages of a "four-link suspension." There are tons of other photographs just like these.

As another example show more of the details, I note the chart on page 46 entitle, "Backspacing Guidelines." The chart covers the backspacing recommendations for different tire sizes.

Someone has spent a TON of time preparing this book and integrating in the illustrations. The quality of editing is obvious at a casual glance. I especially like the "Specs" section and glossary of terms at the rear of the book.

All in all, a very well designed, professional book. Highly Recommend!

Sample book for impartial review courtesy of the LibraryThing. show less

It isn't always easy to write a car manual well but this one is. This book beats out other car books with the number and quality of pictures.

This book is full of specific information on various performance upgrades for your Cherokee. It is very well-illustrated with color photos. Whether you’re doing a complete rebuild or upgrading a specific system, there are plenty of great ideas here.