ZJ or not to ZJ

"Bruno Martini" (brunomartini) 09/24/2013 at 15:33 • Filed to: JEEP, HOT ROD.

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I have to admit, I have been having evil thoughts about building a ZJ to my tastes the last few months. Part of me says I could build something nice with it. I love the body style, and I love the brute force drvetrain that comes in these. Simple, and very modifiable.

Now To be honest I'm not into off-roading as in going rock crawling. Not my cup of tea, although I could be persuaded.

Now for some of my rambling. I have been off-road a few times and done a bit of snow driving in all manner of car/truck rwd/fwd/4wd/awd vehicles. Most recently I took a european fiesta that looked like it came out of a rock crusher on terrain that makes the Baja envy it. However that was not what I would like. I felt like I was driving in one hole and coming out the other like a mole and not a vehicle.

My Ideas for a ZJ go two ways. One is to build a reliable daily driver that can both haul ass and not be afraid of the fluff. Im not talking big mud tires here. Just something that is midly upgraded at the surface with the stock 4L AMC I6 massaged a bit and a 8.8inch ford axle out of a truck or mustang. Upgraded transfer case as well as front axles. NO LIFT. Basicaly stock looking with slightly wider tires and some tasteful wheels. Reinforced in all weak ares as well coupled with some good shocks that return the vehicle more to a car handling scenario than a truck.

Something like this, but the tread closer to street than mud.

Now the second option is recreating a SRT inspired ZJ.

Chassis - The main centerpiece would be slightly lowered suspension, wide tires. Possibly a 6 speed manual trans with a divorced transfer case. The rear axle would have to be a mustang 8.8 with 3.73 gears, matching gears in the front.Watts link in the rear as well as coilover springs shocks.

Engine - I'm a bit distraught. Being the vehicle was made in the 90's turbo v6 trucks were doing the same times as a vette on wet ground. So this would have to be a 6 cylinder. Now the engine can either be the original straight 6 worked over to produce about 450hp with possibly a low mounted turbocharger and a water to air intercooler and some methanol injection. Or a procharger/rotax maybe? with said intercooler, however also mounted low on the engine as not to be the centerpiece.

Interior - Go junkyard shopping for some of the best interior components from the 90's chryslers and get a set of new leather from Catskins.

Second option would give me basically a brand new jeep Grand Cherokee srt6.

I pipe dream just like most jalops. So now its time. What are your thoughts on this? And has anyone seen a hotrodded to good taste zj yet?

Who needs sway bars anyway > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 15:42

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I am a XJ guy through and through, but if your going to get a ZJ and not off road that much or at all, your best bet is to find a 5.9l ZJ Grand Cherokee, keep it stock and clean and go from there. They are wicked sharp, have a great motor , will last a while and it shouldn't be to hard to find one in good shape because most of the guys with the 5.9 took care of them pretty well. They were the original SRT8 Cherokee.

Then again, if I was going to build a ZJ ( I'm Not) It would look like this:

505Turbeaux > Who needs sway bars anyway 09/24/2013 at 15:44

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agreed, go find a Tsi and build out from there

marvthegrate > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 15:44

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I went the other way with my beloved ZJ. I had the Up Country suspension and ran a slightly larger tire. Never had any problems with it in Moab and it went on countless trips to paintball games around Utah. Loved the Jeep, but eventually Death Wobble and gas prices were it's downfall.

I like the idea of the SRTification of a ZJ. There's power to be had out of the 318, if you start with the V8, I am sure.

Bruno Martini > Who needs sway bars anyway 09/24/2013 at 15:49

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I like the looks of the ZJ 5.9L. Not a fan of the magnum 5.9L and even lesser fan of the magnum 5.2L.

J. Walter Weatherman > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 15:51

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If you have to ask, big man, you can't afford it.

Milky > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 15:51

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Previous ZJ owner here to say don't.

While I certainly enjoyed solid axles and offroading. It can't compare IMO to the Cherokee. I previously had a 1992 cherokee that was great and never broke. In the 3 years I had my '98 ZJ I had to fix/replace: numerous sensors, the engine, transmission, transfer case (twice), fron axle diff, and I'm sure some other things I can't think of right now. But thats EVERYTHING in the drivetrian!! Least favorite vehicle I have owned.

Edit: Just got this from facebook, I captioned it "New sexy helps out old shitty".

MonkeePuzzle > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 15:53

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I REALLY liked my ZJ, it was rear ended :(

BUT! I do have a little ZJ in my EK (civic) now :D

hedbutter > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 16:07

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Every time "who needs sway bars anyways" makes a post about his XJ (which is awesome!), I really want to buy another one. Showing pictures of ZJs isn't helping at all

Who needs sway bars anyway > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 16:13

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Well in that case:

4.0 check, 4wd check, wood paneling check, awesome wheels check why they stopped making this slice of automotive perfection is beyond my thought capabilities.

Boxer_4 > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 16:41

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Only if it ends up looking like this.

Who needs sway bars anyway > hedbutter 09/24/2013 at 17:00

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Thank you!! that is what I am here for. To remind everyone that while the Miata is almost always the answer, the XJ is ALWAYS the answer. Get one...

AW46M3 > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 17:11

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XJ or no J. I've had 4 over the years, the only issue I ever had with any of them was 1 oil pressure sensor went bad. All had the wonderful 4.0L I6.

JEM > MonkeePuzzle 09/24/2013 at 17:40

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Wait, you took the overhead console out of a Jeep and put it in a Civic!?

That is wonderfully Jalop!

JEM > Bruno Martini 09/24/2013 at 17:42

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I say go for it!!

Oh, and if you're thinking about a boosted straight six.... these people make a turbo-ready, punched out (4.6) version of the classic 4.0L:

http://www.golenengineservice.com/engines/jeep/4…

MonkeePuzzle > JEM 09/24/2013 at 20:01

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I did :)

I mean how could I not, it fit so perfectly!

it doesnt have the "computer" for direction and temp and such, and just shows the time now.

The 4 lights are perfectly positioned for each person, my kids loev having their own light.

hedbutter > Who needs sway bars anyway 09/25/2013 at 08:08

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Not yet, it will happen.. I had 2000 with JCR front and rear bumpers and skid plates (no lift, as I was going to upgrade all of the suspension/steering at once, and what i was doing at that time wasn't needed). Unfortunately, it was beginning to nickel and dime me, and I needed something more reliable to get me to work and back so i sold it. I do keep an eye on them though incase one pops up that i could use as a replacement

J. Walter Weatherman > AW46M3 09/25/2013 at 15:33

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False. FJ is also an acceptable "J".