The owner of this 1979 Jeep Cherokee wanted something different. So they sent it to Vigilante in Johnson City, Texas for a ground-up restoration with more power and improved handling.
In the engine bay Vigilante installed a fifth-generation 550 ci Viper V10 built by Prefix Corp capable of 825 hp. The motor features a Callies billet crankshaft, Callies H-beam forged rods, Mahle custom forged pistons, Comp Extreme camshaft, and CNC ported heads.
The drivetrain tasked with transferring the V10’s power starts with a McLeod RXT clutch and TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission. Behind that is an Atlas II transfer case turning a Currie Dana 44 front axle and Currie Dana 60 rear axle.
The powertrain is supported by Vigilante’s strengthened chassis. It uses a 4-link suspension in front and rear with Fox Racing 2.0 remote reservoir coilovers. Baer six-piston brakes on each corner help control the Cherokee’s power.
Vigilante stripped the body to bare metal. After many hours of prep it was covered in a two-tone white/blue paint. The exterior also received retractable power steps, custom emblems, and 17×9-inch slotted wheels.
Source: Vigilante 4×4