My 97 ZJ Limited build
 

So I recently purchased a 97 ZJ that is great shape that has a 3in. spring spacer lift installed. I drove it about an hour home after buying it and knew the first thing that had to be done was replacing the rear shocks. I got a set of Skyjacker Nitro 8000's, quick and easy install on them. Ride is 100% better, no bouncy bounce when I hit a bump anymore :)

Next thing I noticed was that the axles were shifted to one side, in opposite directions. Thought about for a few minutes then realized that the PO had not completed the lift by doing the track bars also. So online I went searching for adjustable track bars. First Pic is the double shear front adjustable track bar. Second pic is the rear adjustable bar :)

Now it will be getting them installed and adjusted right.....

Well it was late last night when I started my post so I figured I would update a little bit on my plans. I am not going to wild with this build because it is my DD.

First thing after the adjustable track bars go in will be adjustable upper and lower control arms front and rear. Depending on cost I might also put in 5" coils replacing the stock coils and the spacers.

I would like to be able to some light wheeling with this rig. So I believe 5" should be good amount of lift.

I will add pics of it later when I get a chance to take some.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...905fc92f99.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...ab0195c5c9.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fd5b7a3dc8.jpg

Finally another zj build, can't wait to see how it turns out. Sub'd

Nice looking rig you have there. Hoping mine will look like that lol.
One thing I need to figure out is how to put some hooks up front on it.

Thanks i like it, not too bad for being built out of junkyard parts. It started off completely stock. Yeah I haven't figured that one out yet either as soon as I do it will be posted on my build thread. any pics of your rig man?

Inside the front bumper there are some slots, factory hooks can be bolted in here(or after market hooks for that matter) but its pretty easy to do. Nice looking ZJ btw

Ok so I finally got a chance to take some pics of it.:icon_cool:
This what she looks like currently the only that I have added since I bought it was the bug deflector and rear shocks. Yes I know I need better tires..... lol

So the girlfriend got home and I was able to unload all the new pieces I bought yesterday. Got a pretty good deal i think for what I got. All 8 adjustable control arms in real good shape( needs some lube on the pivot joints). A 242 t-case with both front and rear shafts. The one question I have is whether the output shaft on 42re is the same as the output shaft on a 44re. Have not investigated that much atm but will be looking into it.

Hell yeah

Since you have the 42re I'm gonna guess you have the 5.2, so the input shaft on the 242 is gonna be a bit shorter than the 249. As long as they are both from 96-98 models you should be able to swap the input shaft from the 249 to the 242. If the 242 is pre 96 the gear cut is different and won't work. You should get rid of the chrome center caps man

No mine has the 44re in it which came with the 5.2L. The donor jeep had the 42re, but I'm still going to have to change the input shaft anyway is what you are saying.

Yes you will have to swap the input shafts, once you get the 249 off the jeep you will notice the difference in length right away. I have a thread saved I'll post it on here for you as soon as I find it that has all the info on this swap you will need man.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/t...-np242-685644/

This should have everything you need to know man hope it helps

Yeah I have done an input shaft swap once already. Kicking myself in the ass for not keeping the t-case I did it on, but it was swapped for a 46rh trans. I would've had to still change the input shaft anyway for the 44re lol.

Check the chart on JF.. your 242 is from a ZJ? That'd be a .840" 23 spline input gear.. what year was it from?

If in fact you do have a combination of early and late gear cuts and differing input depths you have another option. You can use the 249 front case half/input and the back half of the 242.

Did you grab the shifter and bezel from the donor?