Grand Cherokee ZJ Builds (Share you pictures)

[OceanOneH]

I recently started building my Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 1998, but have had difficulty finding parts for it. I was wondering If anybody else has their ZJ set up for an overland adventure? I'd like to see how people build theirs.

** I'll upload some of my rig in the next few days.

 

[Little Foot]

Mine’s more of an adventure rig. Not quite overland, not quite crawler. What parts are you looking for? Bummed I didn’t get the matching front bumper to this rear before they stopped making it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OceanOneH]

That's a nice looking ZJ! the gorund clearance on it, too. I like the rear bumper on it, too. It looks like it doesn't weigh as others I've seen.

I believe mine is in between two worlds, too. Not full overland, not just for fun, just tried to make it look good. I recently had a trip to the car wash and the water pressure was too much for the door trim panels. I am now missing my passenger side rear door exterior trim.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Plenty of ZJ parts out there, check out Clayton's, Iron Rock, Kevin's Off Road (he's retiring, but may some stuff left), and Iron Man.

The biggest weak point on a ZJ IMO is the factory upper control arm mounts. With heaver tires and axles they are prone to tearing off the unibody, especially if it's already been weakened by rust. This is fixed by going to long arms, which is expensive, but also gives a much better on and off road ride on a lifted ZJ. Some people will lift ZJ's 4"+ and stick with short arms, but I personally wouldn't do it. If you plan on heavy use, I would reinforce the unibody before it's too late. Mine has been wheeled for close to 20 years and is held together with bailing wire and duct tape.

 

[Smileyshaun]

I really miss mine some days , I went with the3” rubicon express super flex kit and some fender trimming to stuff in a set of 33x10.50 . It rode and drove great but if I had to do it again I would have gone with the super ride kit . The super flex kit works extremely well but having metal joints on both ends of the arms transmitted a ton of noise into the cabin

 

[Little Foot]

That's a nice looking ZJ! the gorund clearance on it, too. I like the rear bumper on it, too. It looks like it doesn't weigh as others I've seen.

Thanks! Yours looks great. I’m blanking on the company that made my bumper but it is the prerunner style bumper and it weighs significantly less than most of the boxed bumpers which was one of the main reasons I went for it. Love the roof rack but just can’t get myself to go there yet as I’ve rarely needed one and I hate listening to them on the freeway haha but it would be nice to have somewhere to put more gear sometimes that isn’t inside the cabin.

I agree about the long arms though. I’ve driven ZJs with short arms and although it’s not bad, having long arms completely changes the dynamic of the vehicle. I’ve got the 4.5” rubicon express long arms and it rides super smooth and handles better than you would think with that much height added.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BigDaveZJ]

I think Proto-Fab is the manufacturer on that bumper, not sure they're making them anymore either.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Here's a couple pics of mine. Many different iterations over the years, but Clayton's long arms, 4.5" RE coils, 4.56's, 35's, locked in the rear.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Little Foot]

I think Proto-Fab is the manufacturer on that bumper, not sure they're making them anymore either.

Yes! Proto-Fab! They don’t make any ZJ stuff anymore, last time I checked it was all classic Bronco stuff

Looks good. I really need to regear one day. Clayton is a 4 or 3 link in the rear?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Regearing made a big difference for me. It was tolerable on 33's with 3.73's and bolt on mods to my V8, but with the 35's it really needed the gears. Ditched my Dana 35 a long time ago (15+ years) too for an 8.8. Yours should have the 44A so you've at least got a halfway decent axle for a mild build already.

The Clayton's set up is a triangulated 4 link in the rear. I've been running it for 13 years now I think? My current ZJ's unibody is pretty beat, but I have a 5.9 that I'll be swapping everything over to here soon, and will definitely be keeping the Clayton's.

 

[Little Foot]

Yah I have 33s right now and it’s tolerable, as you say. Been running the RE lift since 2011 I think but started in 32s and moved up to 33s a couple years later. Dana44a is a decent axle I don’t mind it, so I’ll probably just gear it one day unless I find some cheap axles to swap in and I feel like doing some fab work.

I was also thinking of getting a 5.9 and swapping everything over but the RE crossmember is welded to the frame in the rear. Either way I’m thinking of changing the rear over to the Iron Rock Off-road with the truss over the rear axle. I’ve broken/tweaked, reworded, replaced the track bar bracket too many times haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rnArmy]

98 ZJ 4.0, auto. Iron Rock (IRO) 3.5" lift, 31" tires on factory rims, A real Dana 44 (NOT a 44A) rear, Dana 30 front with 4.10 gears and True Tracks front and rear. RC winch mount with a Superwinch 9500lb winch.

The 4.0 seemed to have plenty of power. You don't really need a V-8 (in my opinion).

 

[jpat30]

Nice looking rig you have there. I do love well built grands, I had until recently a WJ... As previously mentioned, try IRO and Kevins. And I see you from your plates, you are a Texan, what part? I am down in the Beaumont area myself.

 

[nick_n_ii]

Thanks! Yours looks great. I’m blanking on the company that made my bumper but it is the prerunner style bumper and it weighs significantly less than most of the boxed bumpers which was one of the main reasons I went for it. Love the roof rack but just can’t get myself to go there yet as I’ve rarely needed one and I hate listening to them on the freeway haha but it would be nice to have somewhere to put more gear sometimes that isn’t inside the cabin.

I agree about the long arms though. I’ve driven ZJs with short arms and although it’s not bad, having long arms completely changes the dynamic of the vehicle. I’ve got the 4.5” rubicon express long arms and it rides super smooth and handles better than you would think with that much height added.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Proto Fab is who built that rear bumper. I almost bought the same years ago with my first ZJ... (07-08ish)

 

[slomatt]

I sold my ZJ a long time ago, but still miss it sometimes. It wasn't the most reliable truck on the planet, but it was great on the trail.The fenders were heavily cut to allow 33x12.5x15s to fit with only ~3" of lift which kept the center of gravity low. Build details can be found here.

Most of the drivetrain should hold up to 33" tires pretty well, but if the front driveshaft has a CV joint then it can break if heavily shock loaded. After I fragged mine I replaced it with a new driveshaft with a 1310 u-joint, and also upgraded the front axles to chromoly ones with 760x joints. The viscous coupler in the NP249 transfer cases tends to fail leaving the center differential "locked", which is not the worst thing when offroad.