My 1998 5.9L ZJ Build

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Sep 10, 2013 | 10:25 AM
  #1  
Originally I bought this with the plans to keep it stock. Here's when I bought it, outside of Gettysburg, PA 12/3/12:


At "Ringing Rocks" in Upper Black Eddy, PA:


Sank it in the NJ Pine Barrens in Wharton State Park 2/19/13:




Trans sucked in water. Removed it, put in a new trans & t-case WITH a vent tube 3/24/13:








My buddy Facebooked me asking if I wanted to install a lift on my ZJ. This is his MJ btw:


We verified 1" lift would be fine, so that was the plan. I went over to his garage and we started work on the lift 9/8/13:




Stock front springs, "new" springs:


Front finished:


Fab work:


Rear finished:


Lift kit finished (New tires on the way this week, need new shocks and rear adjustable track bar as well). What was supposed to be a 1" lift and only an hour or two of work, ended up as a 4.5" lift and 10 hours of work:


I'll post photos once I get the tires installed.
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Sep 10, 2013 | 10:51 AM
  #2  
What tires are you going with?

Sorry if I missed that part... :/
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Sep 10, 2013 | 11:30 AM
  #3  
Quote: What tires are you going with?

Sorry if I missed that part... :/
We did some test fitting. I can fit 35's with minor trimming, but I don't want to go that big. I'll be running some 32" BFG Rugged Terrain tires for a bit. Once it becomes mainly a trail vehicle I'll run some 33" mud tires, most likely Mickey Thompson MTZ's.
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Sep 10, 2013 | 12:06 PM
  #4  
That is a very clean ZJ!! Looks good. You going to put those 32's on your current wheels?
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Sep 10, 2013 | 12:35 PM
  #5  
Quote: That is a very clean ZJ!! Looks good. You going to put those 32's on your current wheels?
Yep! If I recall correctly the ones I'm getting are 31.8x9.5x16", so basically a 32x9.50". Will keep my stock wheels and run wheel spacers if I need to down the road.
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Sep 10, 2013 | 07:49 PM
  #6  
Nice zj man subed to this cant wait to see how it goes
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Sep 10, 2013 | 08:50 PM
  #7  
Quote: Nice zj man subed to this cant wait to see how it goes
Thanks man!

BTW: hahahah... your sig quote... watch this vid of me sinking my ZJ:
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Sep 11, 2013 | 08:20 AM
  #8  
Should have hit it with more speed.
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Sep 11, 2013 | 09:46 AM
  #9  
Quote: Should have hit it with more speed.
It's always a tough call in the Pines. The problem is if you go too fast you could hit a hole that sinks your Jeep up and over the top of the hood. Or put enough water into the fan blades to break them (I've seen it happen a few times). But, if you go slow what happened above could happen. But, you may also be able to back out of trouble if it starts getting too deep. It's just a special situation there. I tell myself all the time that I won't wheel there again. And time and time again I go back. It's just fun wheeling in the middle of nowhere with random streams and cranberry bogs throughout. I think that's what keeps drawing me back.

I prefer rocks though. At least with rocks when you break you break. It's not usually something that slowly eats away like mud in your alternator or starter
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Sep 15, 2013 | 01:38 AM
  #10  
I love to see ZJs on this forum, makes me feel like I fit I'm not alone. What headlights are those?
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Sep 17, 2013 | 10:11 AM
  #11  
Quote: I love to see ZJs on this forum, makes me feel like I fit I'm not alone. What headlights are those?
Haha, it is nice to see other ZJ's.

I built 'em myself. Here's the thread: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/bi...photos-158197/
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Oct 15, 2013 | 01:25 PM
  #12  
Couple shots in a torrential rain storm last week. My Mickey Thompson MTZ's will be here Friday of this week or early next week!



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Oct 15, 2013 | 02:07 PM
  #13  
Looks good.
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Oct 15, 2013 | 04:23 PM
  #14  
Sub'd. So jealous of the 5.9...
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Oct 19, 2013 | 08:14 PM
  #15  
Thanks guys!

Latest updates: 4.5"/4.75" lift, 32x10.10x16" Mickey Thompson MTZ's, Tomken Rocker Guards, FourXDoctor Diff Guard:











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