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Not going to Moab sooner!!! Actually the whole build up and learn to wheel on a BB and 31's was a great learning experiance as was picking up the 4.5" grinder and finally a welder.
Oh yea, I do regret trying to climb the ledge coming back from GBR that kind of bent my sliders. Of course it wasn't the ZJ, just banging the ledge w/two passengers and all my spares w/o enough ground clearance.
My biggest regret is not shaving more weight from the beginning. My GVWR has gotten out of hand....it's like 100,000# now. I'm going to be rebuilding the entire Jeep this winter.
Buying and using anything from Rusty's Off Road is the worst decision I have made with my jeep. I have trashed 4 of the 12 joints that they told me they have not had a single problem with, I have split the trackbar bracket in half, the gas tank skid I ordered I had to cut a giant corner out of and the transfer case skid plate I bought I had to take a rosebud on the torch and heat it and hammer the piss out of it. Thanks to Rusty's crap my fab skills get better after each wheeling trip. So I guess I owe them a thanks!
Buiding a D44 for the front. Granted, I had the 1979 F250 anyway. I sold it for about half what I had in it.
Other than that, basically just building this thing. When it's all said and done, one good roll will trash the rig. I have dumped a ton of money in the hydro steer, 1 ton axles, tires and wheels, but half way through this build I realized that one good "oh, shit" momment could land this rig in the crusher. Being that the body and frame are almost the same thing, all it takes is to take a hard roll off a mountain and your looking at a heap of scrap metal. This is why I stopped buying parts grand cherokee specific for it years ago. I invested all my money into things that can be swapped on another rig. So, when that momment happens, and notice I said when, I can pull off my investment pieces and shed a tear or two for my WJ, but still have my big ticket items to put on the next rig.
Don't get me wrong I love my WJ and every time I look at it, I get a chubby. It just looks tough and mean, but still carries the GC look. You just can't run one tons and over 40" rubber and expect it to last forever. You will keep pushing until you find the wheels in the air.
i dont have many regrets. Starting on a ZJ gave me a great foundation for learning how to build strength through design instead of just throwing heavy plate at things. the ZJ unibody doesn't benefit from trying to weld 1/2" plate to it.
a few mistakes i've made are not building a suspension set-up at full bump. then on my first test drive down the street punching my link mount into the bottom of the oil pan nearly ruining a moderatly built 350 with less than 30 minutes of idle time on it.
not running bump stops because i didn't think i had room......always make room.
building headers that don't allow the sparke plugs to be removed.
and building motor mounts with poly bushings to close to the exhaust pipes.
Building my front bumper I was looking at the 94 ZJ pic. They have lights straight across the front while the 96 has an uneven profile. I should have made it at the max height then cut away and fill where necessary. Would have been much easier... and look better.
Last edited by ZJ TINS; 06-03-2016 at 03:46 PM.
Biggest regret was not spending my money wisely. If I had done so I could have had my old Zj and my mr2. It was the worst thing selling it to my brother. I see it everyday and it makes me a little sad everytime something gets changed on it. That's life I suppose.
Not buying a Grinder sooner and cutting stuff that was getting in the way of my tires!
Mine bar none was a billet grille installed when she was a pavement pounder.
Second was crossover steering on my Soild 60, wtf was I thinking with 42" tires lol
Third was not going to coil overs sooner.
Buying a Harbor freight grinder instead of a real tool (which I now have). I good one cuts the grinding time in half compared to a HF.
I agree with this, but the damn thing won't die. It's scary as hell to use for a cutoff wheel because of how poorly designed the switch is. Plus I didn't realize how much the thing vibrated compared to a brand name grinder.
I now really only use mine with flap disks. I bought a Ryobi to replace the HF one, but after I had it for a while and finally needed to use a cutoff wheel -- I realized they intentionally designed the arbor to not accept cutoff wheels. The Ryobi was very nice for grinding. I finally picked up a Dewalt on sale at a local hardware store and it's amazing how much nicer and smoother it is to use. Sure I probably spent more money on grinders that a "regular" person probably should, but I do use all three -- it's kinda nice not have to swap out a cutoff wheel, grinding disk, and flap disk with I'm cutting/fitting/prepping metal.
Last edited by SirFuego; 03-14-2013 at 01:26 PM.
I agree. I have a VERY old 4"Makita I really like. It is harder and harder to find wheels for it and it takes 2 wrenches. Not the modern button stop. The second is a HF that i have to use a wrench and vice grips on since the fragile button broke. It is weak and heats up quick. And the other is a 7" Rockwell that is awesome for quick metal removal. It is unwealdy for small stuff, but when I need It I feel like Tim Allen.
I thought I was so smart when I took the zj upper tierod adjuster sleeve and mated it to the wagoneer steering instead of having to ream out the pitman arm. Honestly, it worked awesome and I was all proud of myself. Bought the zj drop pitman arm and tracbar drop bracket, all that jazz. Have had no problems with steering, other than my turning radius SUCKS. Got under there today thinking I could just take out the steering stops and make it somewhat better. No dice. Now had I known the wagoneer pitman arm has a lot more 'throw' before I had bought the zj drop pitman I would have bought an FSJ wagoneer pitman instead! For less money, even. And had my stock turning radius retained in the process...DAMNIT!
So anyone swapping in a front waggy 44, don't do like I did. I am sad now. The good news is I read somewhere that the drop pitman for a fsj wagoneer is the same as a 70's f150 pitman arm. I will find one tomorrow and find out for myself
Last edited by redneckrollercoaster; 03-16-2013 at 09:27 PM.
I regret buying the el cheapo(Zone)short arm lift that ripped the rear track bar bracket off my D44a. Should have bought a longarm kit! My 5.9 has spent too much time sitting in the parking lot.
That's exactly what happened, polished the paint off the rear springs and made the rear inside of the tires whitewalls. Live and learn.
My biggest regret is waiting so long to buy a plasma torch.
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