Project: Zombie Response Jeep
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Project: Zombie Response Jeep
Hello everyone. I am new here to cherokeeforum.com as a member but have been browsing numerous Jeep forums over the years. I am on my 2nd XJ now and figured its's about time to sign up. I've been a member on ls1tech.com since 2006 so if any of you are Jeep and LS1 lovers add me over there @ 1998Z28LOADED.
My goals with this rig are to make an expedition style Jeep. I'm not looking to go big or build a rock crawler. My off roading consists of driving around on fields, farms, or mild trails through the woods. I want the Jeep to be practical. I want to be able to DD it and/or take it on the interstate if need be.
I wanted to put together a simple little build thread of my "Zombie Apocolypse Jeep". I work at a used car lot and have been waiting on a solid, rust free XJ for a while now. We finally took this little XJ in on trade last month. Rust free underneath, no major issues with the exception of needing a u-joint. Here she is:
I picked this one up @ 196,000 miles for about $1,200. Quite the deal in my book. My goal with this project is to make a fun Jeep, something that I can get dirty and modify without having to worry about screwing anything up.
My goals with this rig are to make an expedition style Jeep. I'm not looking to go big or build a rock crawler. My off roading consists of driving around on fields, farms, or mild trails through the woods. I want the Jeep to be practical. I want to be able to DD it and/or take it on the interstate if need be.
I wanted to put together a simple little build thread of my "Zombie Apocolypse Jeep". I work at a used car lot and have been waiting on a solid, rust free XJ for a while now. We finally took this little XJ in on trade last month. Rust free underneath, no major issues with the exception of needing a u-joint. Here she is:
I picked this one up @ 196,000 miles for about $1,200. Quite the deal in my book. My goal with this project is to make a fun Jeep, something that I can get dirty and modify without having to worry about screwing anything up.
Last edited by ZombieResponseJeep; 08-21-2012 at 10:35 AM.
#2
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
First thing's first, I hate those wheels. I put a few coats of black wheel paint on them. I also removed those fantastic purple "Sport" stickers.
Last edited by ZombieResponseJeep; 07-24-2012 at 02:00 PM.
#3
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Next on the list was getting rid of the two-tone grey trim and fender flares. I picked up a couple cans of spray on bedliner at AutoZone and sprayed the trim, flares, and bumpers. I would say it turned out ok, not as rough or thick as I would like.
#4
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I don't take myself real serious, I wanted to make this Jeep fun. I love the idea of building a Jeep to survive a Zombie Apocolypse. It would be cool to be able to get around in a "crap-hits-the-fan" situation. I have a ton of ideas for this theme but budget and time brings on some limitations. I figure the first step is getting a permit:
#5
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I looked around for a red body color grille, to no avail. Too pricey for what I'm wanting to do. I went to Wal*Mart and grabbed a couple cans of plastic fusion paint and some clear. Not exact match but darn close. I also ordered some cheapy vent-visors from ebay, not bad for $30. They are flexable and mount closer to the glass than the name brand visors. I figure it's actually a better buy for trail riding. Notice my Zombie Hunter puppy seeking shade underneath.
Last edited by ZombieResponseJeep; 07-24-2012 at 01:42 PM.
Trending Topics
#8
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
A couple weeks ago I went ahead and bought 4 new ball joints and the u-joint I needed. I had some wobble at 55 mph. The front tires are worn funny and are out-of-round. I waited to put them on because I had lift kit plans.
I picked up a Rough Country 3" lift from a vendor.
I picked up a Rough Country 3" lift from a vendor.
#9
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Last weeked was Christmas in July. I found a guy with 31x10.50's looking to trade down to stock wheels (Yes, dreams do come true). I traded my stockers + a Ford brush guard + $40 for his steel d-window wheels and 31's. The tires are 3 different brands and at about 40-50% life left but a deal is a deal.
Since I got tires I figured it was a good time to start the suspension work. Ball joints are a **** beeeeotch but I got them done with many curse words, a bit of blood, and a large amount of sweat. Took me a few hours a night for almost a week to get ball joints, u-joint, and front lift done. Here's a pic of how she sat last night while I cleaned up the grease and gear oil mess in the garage:
Since I got tires I figured it was a good time to start the suspension work. Ball joints are a **** beeeeotch but I got them done with many curse words, a bit of blood, and a large amount of sweat. Took me a few hours a night for almost a week to get ball joints, u-joint, and front lift done. Here's a pic of how she sat last night while I cleaned up the grease and gear oil mess in the garage:
#11
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: East Haven, Ct
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Nice deals on the wheels/tires and the XJ man, looking good.
Mines actually the same theme but a ZJ, about the same shade of red though.
Those lame chrome things were from the PO, gross.
I have these zombie stickers though:
Mines actually the same theme but a ZJ, about the same shade of red though.
Those lame chrome things were from the PO, gross.
I have these zombie stickers though:
#14
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: O'fallon, MO
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
#15
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: East Haven, Ct
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0