Rudy Wetzel, the creative force behind Rudy’s Adventure and Design on YouTube, has taken on one of his boldest projects yet — transforming a stock 1998 Jeep Cherokee XJ into a King of the Hammers 4600 Stock Class race car… but do it at the venue weeks before the race.

Shop ADS Race Shocks here.

The build stays true to class rules, keeping the stock cab and suspension design, but Rudy pushed performance to the limit with ADS shocks (14” front, 12” rear), Fab 9-inch axles with Super Duty outers, and 5.29 gears paired with a spool and Grizzly Locker. He kept the trusted 4.0-liter inline-six and AW4 transmission, adding only reliability mods like a slip-yoke eliminator and cooling upgrades.

Safety and durability are top priorities, with Simpson racing seats, harnesses, window nets, and a custom cage all fabricated on-site. The Jeep rolls on 35-inch Firestone Destination MT2s mounted to Raceline beadlocks, ready to tackle the punishing mix of rocks and desert terrain that defines King of the Hammers.

The video shows the rig entering final assembly, Rudy’s team is tightening bolts, finishing wiring, and preparing to pre-run the course. Supported by sponsors like Holley Performance and ADS Suspension, Rudy’s desert-built Cherokee isn’t just a race car — it’s a testament to creativity, perseverance, and the DIY spirit that fuels the off-road community. Check out the accompanying video for a more in-depth look at this build.

Shop all of Holley’s Jeep Cherokee XJ parts and components here.