Biggoofy's 96 ZJ build! ** HP44 and 9" swap **

[BigClay]

I had my antena in the exact same spot for a while, then I riped it off at URE one day rubbing a tree a little too close. Just don't forget it is there!

[Arsonist_Bob]

ya, you might have better luck putting it off to the back of the tail light

[squashman702]

ya, you might have better luck putting it off to the back of the tail light

Won't be able to open or close the hatch.

[WJJEEPIN]

Won't be able to open or close the hatch.

how bout u put it on the hatch...

[Arsonist_Bob]

Won't be able to open or close the hatch.

oh lol, forgot the lift gates open a bit differently on the zjs than the dubs

[SirFuego]

how bout u put it on the hatch...

Now there's an idea. I did that with mine and it worked well. Only issue that it was a PITA to feed the coax through the wiring grommet. Then again, if I knew how to splice coax then like I do now, it would have been a LOT easier...

[biggoofy]

I might look into it if I wind up ripping it off but until then this should work.

[UTChavok]

I might look into it if I wind up ripping it off but until then this should work.

Ive had mine there since Ive owned my jeep and havent had a problem. Not saying that it wont happen but just remember its there.

[biggoofy]

Well Im now beginning to have death wobble issues and I had none prior to the steering install Im sure its due to the allignment and old worn out bushings on everything else but me and (Chris) Jeeptech01 looked it over and gave everything a good tightening but I still have the issue its not speed related just after a good bump or series of small bumps

[it usually runs fine]

Please don't take offense to this, but that steering looks like hammered shit, No way would I have that bolted to my rig. Send It back and buy the Rugged Ridge kit or the JCR. I have the RR and I love it. Jcr is a lil high for what it is IMO. I hate to rag on something I know you spent good money on, but It looks like it wasn't designed worth a flip. IMO

[biggoofy]

No offense taken man but sending it back is not an option for me as I no longer have the stock parts to put on since I had no were to keep them. I know of a lot of people run this with no issue but it is for 3-8"s and im on 2 so i know that is causing an issue so i have one more month till I lift and get it truely alliegned (sp) so hopefully with everything new I wont have any issues

[Jeeptech01]

Im hoping it works out for you. Sorry I didnt have more time to help mess with it. I think some of it is bumpsteer from the dl and tb not being in paralell since you are at a low lif height. But honestly like I said the other day, Im not a fan of the design. I think it overcomplicates a simple system with alot of variables. I think when the time comes I'll flip the inverted y on my rig. All other designs seem to have an inherent dead spot that requires bandaids.

[biggoofy]

Yeah I kinda agree but Ill live with it until I go 1 ton and get new steering again. Thanks again for the extra hand yesterday maybe we can tinker a tad more on monday

[biggoofy]

Well I went wheeling today with LOJ and overall it was a great trip I think I may need a new trans mount but if thats all I broke I'll call it a good trip now for the pics well some of them haha






and now the fun pics and yes the driver walked away with only a scratch. that hill is much steeper than it looks and is very slick due to a recent rain he lost traction and got sideways and rolled once


me pulling plugs to check for oil prior to starting it up

[Jeeptech01]

Looks like a good time. I dont think I've been to that trail before. Sucks about the TJ. Did everybody go up that hill or did some bypass it? Was he an experienced wheeler?

X2 on the hill being steeper than it looks. I have taken plenty of pics of hills that make me pucker only to be disappointed to see them when I get home. Fl wheelin at its finest.

[biggoofy]

it was the ocala B pit and yes he was experienced and I choose the bypass an so did another rig

the roll on vid
http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/v...t=MOV07278.mp4

a view down the hill


Well I dont have a pic of my ZJ doing this but this gives you the idea and my longer wheelbase allowed me to get up it with little issue I had to pull this tj down and out with the zj

[biggoofy]

Ok well did some wrenching today found out that I bent my IRO skid brackets even further on this past trip so I went ahead and swapped in the new ones they had sent me for free IRO is a great company that truely stands behind their products

[biggoofy]

Well I got started on the drivers side of the boat side adventure tonight mainly just rough cuts gonna bust out the plasma in the AM and get to the harder areas then modify and reweld the A and C pillars

[biggoofy]

Well got a ton done today all the brackets are welded in and the 2x4 is mocked in need to mark it and cut it in the am then start on the 2x2 kickers.

[biggoofy]

Ok well after my break today I made a large amount of progress on the jeep. I have everything but a small out of sheet metal i had to pull back to weld in the brackets welded in then i have to make 2 end caps and phase 2 of this is done. I will be ordering the TNT stiffeners before I do the 1x1 tie ins and then skin the bottom to make these actual boat sides.

now for the pics
Drivers side all welded and ready to be burned in


my buddy Warren aka Wwildman on the forum


Burned in



test flex to look for deflection and to make sure they held lol



here is one of my welds not to bad I dont think seeing as before this project I had never welded before.

[biggoofy]

All done for this weekend and until I order some uniframe stiffeners so I can make the uniframe tie ins from the sliders and plate them in.

[it usually runs fine]

Those welds will hold. Looks good man.

[biggoofy]

Thanks man!

[Wwildman]

I still think they are too heavy .lol

[biggoofy]

LOL They are just slightly over built haha