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View Full Version : Fiancee's DD Project ZJ



gunthagunth
10-06-2007, 07:38 PM
Been working on the project for a couple years now. It has made some quick progress due to many used parts at good prices. It all started with my girlfriend getting a 97 grand cherokee 4.0 with a 242. She hated it when comparing it to her old cherokee. I told her that I will work on something to make it more fun. Well then it started. I looked into ebay for some cheap lifts and found all of the jeep forums. I settled on a 3.5" complete tuff country lift (big mistake). I picked up some 31" BFG KO's and outlaw II wheels. I got it on a very snowy day and decided I would freeze my bum off in the garage to get it done. 6 hours later and a alignment and I was on the road ripping thru the snow. Eventually it made it on some trails.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2304000-2304999/2304076_7_full.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/2304076_3_full.jpg
http://www.jeepforum.com/gallery/files//6/1/9/1/6/DSCF0227bbb.JPG
I was surfing NEOW and saw TeamFX selling his bumpers and winch. I was quick to decide that those would be needed. Met up with him and took them home to clean them up. A bit of grinding and sandblasting and they were looking pretty nice.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/2304076_32_full.jpg
I picked up some 33x12.5 Baja Claws and found that they were a bit too big. I added some spacers and they still didnt fit.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2304000-2304999/2304076_20_full.jpg
I picked up some addco antisways, jks discos, jks tracbars, and all upper and lower jks control arms. I adjusted the arms out 3/4 over stock and at 5.25" I was able to fit the 33's without any trimming.
http://www.jeepforum.com/gallery/files//6/1/9/1/6/DSCF0629.JPG
Then I came up with a Hambek customs carbon fiber hood from Joe Martins' totalled zj. I was pumped at how nice it looked but I now have something to worry about damaging on the trail. Picked up some JKS/ORGS sliders, rustys steering, and kevins offroad crossmember/skid.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF0709.jpg
I did some trimming and herculined the bumpers. Also ordered 4.5" rubicon express coils, rubicon extended brakelines, and bilstein 5125 shocks.
http://www.jeepforum.com/gallery/files//6/1/9/1/6/DSCF0773.JPG
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF0847.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF0853.jpg
I put a lockrite in my D30 and also added some lawn edging to the fenders to keep the state troopers off my ass.
http://www.jeepforum.com/gallery/files//6/1/9/1/6/DSCF1019.JPG
Sold my 33's and picked up some 35" BFG all terrians
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF1296.jpg
I had to try and pass inspection after that. Didnt go over so well. Turns out the guy I sold the 33's to had someone to help me out.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0134.jpg
I got some claytons up front along with currie steering, claytons drop pitman arm, and custom tracbar with drop bracket.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0142.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0141.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0140.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0143.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0144.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF1360.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF1359.jpg
I bought a 5.9L smacked up in the front off ebay. I will be doing a 5.9L swap in the next few weeks. I also obtained a sterling 10.25" with 4.10 gears and I am working on a D60 front to match. I will be swapping in the D44a out of the 5.9L and stripping the brackets off the old axles to setup on the 1tons. Once the brackets are setup on the one tons I will be screwing back down to claytons for the rear install. Then it will be a 97zj, 6.25", claytons, D60/14.25, 5.9L, and rebuild tranny. Should be pretty fun on the trails and hopefully the breaks that will occur will not be very expensive. Looking to keep it a daily driver for as long as possible.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/DSCF0946.jpg

canadian_driver
10-06-2007, 08:10 PM
so is it yours or hers?

gunthagunth
10-06-2007, 08:17 PM
Its hers. My work tho:D.

gunthagunth
10-06-2007, 08:19 PM
This is mine.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0162.jpg

Derek33
10-06-2007, 10:39 PM
such an amazing zj.

once i get my steering squared away and look into some sway bars i can hopefully afford some long arms, for the front at least.

how did you attach the lawn edging to the fenders? i've been followed a few times and im sure the cops were just waiting to bag me for my tires sticking out.

ELLLLLIOTTTTT
10-07-2007, 01:02 AM
Nice rig, I've seen your name all over the boards, never once thought that it wasn't yours. Your fiancee must be doing something right ( :D ) to get all of that nice shiat on her ZJ.

corrupt143
10-07-2007, 01:31 AM
Very nice! Who wheels it more, you or her?

tywilson88
10-07-2007, 01:47 AM
im going to get that steering system soon. how do you like it?

gunthagunth
10-07-2007, 05:49 AM
I wheel it more. She likes taking it out. Just afraid to get use out of the locker :D. The currie steering is great. The dropped steering tops it off tho. Clayton came into the room and was like come over here. He looked at me and said he noticed my steering and the angles of the TRE's were scary. I told him yeah its rustys. Then he went running around the shop like a madman waiving parts in my face one after another. All I wanted to know was how much :smt002. It really was the best setup I could imagine to keep things closer to daily driver setup with the turdy up front.

Thanks for the good words

gunthagunth
10-07-2007, 05:52 AM
such an amazing zj.

once i get my steering squared away and look into some sway bars i can hopefully afford some long arms, for the front at least.

how did you attach the lawn edging to the fenders? i've been followed a few times and im sure the cops were just waiting to bag me for my tires sticking out.
I trimmed the lawn edging to my width by cutting off the rounded section. This allowed more flexibility to keep it around the fender curves. Then I just predrilled holes and ran 5/16 head black self tappers in.

gunthagunth
10-21-2007, 04:53 PM
5.9L is out. Really fun pulling engine, tranny, and tcase all at once. Even more fun when your buddy says hold on one second theres a hose still connected, he pulls the hose off and gas dumps into his eyes, then he turns his head and it dumps into his ear. Apparently it hurts like hell getting it in your ear. Rolled the new axles in. D60 Kingpin out of a 89 F350 and a 10.25" out of a 95 F350. Both freebies.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0233.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0234.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/gunthagunth/M01A0236.jpg

canadian_driver
10-21-2007, 05:35 PM
why you pulling the motor?

gunthagunth
10-21-2007, 05:38 PM
I bought a 5.9L parts car to pull the drivetrain and swap into my zj

DreamsOfMoab
10-22-2007, 02:49 AM
Why didn't you just go with a rear 60 or 14ff?

redline61
10-22-2007, 04:36 AM
For free, who could complain. Especially for the D60 you lucky bastard. I am determined that I will find one for a good deal sooner or later.

gunthagunth
10-22-2007, 08:16 AM
This axle will be plenty strong for anything I can throw at it and I believe it is stronger than a rear 60 unless I retubed another front HP60. The shafts are friggin huge. Disc brake swap and the thing should be blingin. I guess I should say that I didnt get the front axle for free. My buddys friend called him and his daughters tracbar went in her cherokee. I gave him the one out of the parts 5.9 because the sticker was still on it from being brand new. That night I took the torches and cut the axle out of his truck after he gave them to me in trade. :D