Ten years from now, the Jeep Grand Cherokee will be recognized as the vehicle that proved mainstream America was ready for diesel. Diesel Power magazine has been itching to get our hands on the new 3.0L Jeep since word of its existence first leaked out two years ago. Thanks to the enormous efforts of Steve Houtman, Jeep Performance and Dodge Off-Road Program Manager, and Steve Lingeman, Product Marketing Manager for the Grand Cherokee and Commander platforms, that day has finally come.
Over the next 18 months, we'll be working with the aftermarket to develop products for the 3.0L Mercedes diesel-powered Grand Cherokee to enhance its already-impressive performance. Our plan is to evolve the Grand Cherokee into a high-performance diesel SUV that is equally capable on- and off-road. We'll also use this opportunity to lay the groundwork for new V-6 diesel performance parts.
Our buildup begins this month with a trip to Detroit, Michigan. We flew in to pick up our new '08 Red Rock Crystal Pearl Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited from Brighton Chrysler Dodge Jeep. General Manager Michael Ryckman and his staff prepped the Jeep to be sent over to our good friends at Diversified Creations in Brighton, Michigan.
Diversified Creations is a family-run, full-service performance shop that does everything from basic modifications to complete vehicle buildups. Mike, Brad, and Deb Copeland have helped us with dozens of projects over the years, and we knew our Jeep would be in great hands. Lead technician Jeremy Salewsky hoisted our Jeep (which had just 16 miles on the odometer) up on a lift and dedicated himself to the project until it was done. Here's what we've built so far.
The Superlift 4-inch suspension lift kit that we ordered to raise the Jeep adds ride height by repositioning the lower control arms with a new crossmember. The factory coilover shocks and springs are reused for a smooth ride, but the kit provides new upper shock mounts and taller steering knuckles. | 
With the Superlift kit, the stock upper control arms (A) stay in the factory location. The kit included taller cast iron steering knuckles (B) that replace the factory aluminum knuckles (C). The new Superlift knuckles also feature a raised steering arm location (D) on the knuckle to keep the rack-and-pinion steering geometry correct. In this photo, you can see how much taller the Superlift knuckle is than the factory piece that Diversified Creations' Ryan Bonner is holding. | 
After Salewsky lowered the control arms and front differential, he went to work clearancing this factory crossmember (arrow) to make room for the front driveshaft. The Superlift kit included a paper template that showed him how much material to remove. |
To raise the rear suspension, Salewsky bolted on Superlift's upper link mounts on the axle (A) and installed Superlift's new springs (B) and track bar relocation bracket (C). | 
Salewsky also relocated the lower rear link arms with Superlift's new brackets (A), added Superlift's latest bump stop extension (B) and new sway bar links (C), and bolted on the optional Superlift SSR remote reservoir monotube shocks (D). | 
With the suspension completed, Diversified's staff moved on to adding the body armor. 4xGuard's Rear Guard HC skid plate (below) was bolted underneath the factory trailer hitch to protect the rear bumper and muffler. |