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View Full Version : If I'd known then, What I know now.



jeeperanthony
12-14-2007, 10:46 PM
I guess its time to show my ZJ

Let me start with the basics
98 ZJ, 281,000miles, VERY tired engine, Junk transmission, junk T-Case(to be swapped for an AW4 ans 231) 4.5" springs, 2" spacers, +1" up front from the WJ axle(with a true trac/trac-loc)

I built this about a year ago, and 95% of what Ive learned about building suspensions has been learned only in the past few months, so yes, I know my setup is crappy, but it is working for mr for now, and as soon as i get some money, i will be rebuilding the majority of it.

preliminary axle truss and x-member
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/1-18001.jpg

(more) complete X-member
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/1-18035.jpg

Mocked up
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/1-18043.jpg

Then i decided to try chevy TREs for front swaybar links, but could not make them work.(still havent come up with anything good)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/SwayBar-Scramble-Marchoutting010.jpg

then i went out, and broke the welds on the trac bar, so did this to get home. (very slowly i might add)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/Carnage002.jpg

And recently my dad came across a WJ axle for FREE, so i put it in.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/Axle007.jpg

I never really stop to getpics in mid fab, but i can get more if requested.

Future plans:
8.8 swap(using the writeup here)
AW4 and 231 swap
either take the spacers out or run 35s
4.5,6, or 7 stroker
4.56s probably

LILL ZJ
12-15-2007, 01:33 AM
well other than you mounting your lca's under your crossmember, it looks pretty good

redline61
12-15-2007, 01:43 AM
Did you score the brkes for free as well? Lucky bastard:)

TrojanMan
12-15-2007, 01:47 AM
looks good. keep in mind you're going to have to redo the crossmember when you swap for an aw4... the tranny mount is flipped 90*

IndyZJ
12-15-2007, 03:06 AM
I'm guessing you get a little bumpsteer?

Hurricane 4x4
12-15-2007, 12:36 PM
yeah you might want to redo that trackbar mount

also just curious as to why you wanted a wj front axle.. isn't it wider than your rear axle now? Also it uses cv's.. they are stronger on the wj but still i think the u-joints are more desirable

jeeperanthony
12-15-2007, 04:31 PM
with 280,000 miles, i thought the effort for the WJ axle would be fine.

no.. brakes werent free, got a good price though

yes, my bumpsteer is TERRIBLE(and my dad blames the sway-bar, and it not being aligned :shake:

as for the CVs, i only run light trails and mud(all i can find around here)
and it looks good w/ the WJ front, but thats opinion

THANK YOU for the tip about the X-Member, will save lots of headaches later.

and as for the crossmember, Im going to build one closer to clayton style so every time i take the x-member down, it doesnt shift back
something like one of these
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/IMG_1422Medium.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/crossmember2.jpg

and thanks for the warmer welcome than pirate:D

SuicideTireZJ
12-15-2007, 05:21 PM
and thanks for the warmer welcome than pirate:D

Did we forget? Well then: Eat shit, noob. Welcome to MC. :flipoff2:

ajmorell
12-15-2007, 05:59 PM
IndyZJ hinted at it, but the reason you are getting so much bumpsteer is because your track bar and drag link aren't even close to parallel.

TrojanMan
12-15-2007, 06:36 PM
I didn't even notice the join date.

I hope you burn in hell for all of eternity.

SuicideTireZJ
12-15-2007, 06:58 PM
God we're getting soft.

jeeperanthony
12-15-2007, 07:15 PM
fixed the bumpsteer
just moved the trac bar down. I would have pouned the bends out like a pirate member suggested, but i want to put the DL on top, and if I pounded out the bend, it would havebecome too long.

BLK97ZJ
12-15-2007, 07:23 PM
WTF:rolleyes: What did you take the steering off of? And then why did u use it for sway bar end links?

BLK97ZJ
12-15-2007, 07:28 PM
fixed the bumpsteer
just moved the trac bar down. I would have pouned the bends out like a pirate member suggested, but i want to put the DL on top, and if I pounded out the bend, it would havebecome too long.

Move the mounting holes for the track bar (axle side) down a bit it will make the steering and the TB closer to parallel. Making it straighter has nothing to do with being parallel its just for clearance.

jeeperanthony
12-15-2007, 08:05 PM
I did that, pirate thought it wouldnt be long enough

The sway bar end links were from some chevy(my dad works in a dealership) it was all I had, so i figured id try it

jeeperanthony
02-24-2008, 12:17 AM
Update!
Finally doin something on it again, well, kinda
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/LSZJ/100_3170.jpg
:smt055
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/LSZJ/100_3178.jpg
once again, dad scored HUGE.

some guy got a Vette in 98, put an aftermarket intake on it, got water in the motor, bent a valve, and his insurance covered it. Since it was the 2nd year the motor was out, there was no core, and they sent a brand new LS for the guy. My dad and his boss were goin back and forth about who's it was, and my dad swapped a 454 for the rights to this aluminum chunk. After years of sitting, he finally got sick of seeing it sit and said i could have it if i really wanted to swap it....I REALLY did.:D

napajeep
02-24-2008, 01:12 AM
That looks more like a bent rod than a bent valve...

jeeperanthony
02-24-2008, 10:34 AM
duh lol
i was really tired when i as typing that lol

jeeperanthony
04-19-2008, 10:07 PM
Well, polished up some 5.3 Truck manifolds (lost pics though) and Ive had a winch and lights on, just never posted pictures.
Christmas Day
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3125.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3128.jpg

Few days later
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3139.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3141.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3142.jpg


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3143.jpg

Spent Spring Break fixing the bumper mounts!(Good thing i did too)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3234.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3244.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3241.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/Anthony_L/Jeeps/100_3246.jpg
(there is a third hole on each side)
and hit the 285 mark on the way home from camping

Currently Im waiting on my money tree to grow:D so i can commence the swap.