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ZJ Build
I never planned on posting in this section but over the last few years I have been doing small projects here and there and thought I would post what I have done up to this point. The jeep is primarily used as a family off roader so I cannot go too extreme, although I seem to be creeping in that direction. The wife likes her A/C and other comforts while I like to plow rocks with the Dana 30 and see how much trouble I can get into!
My immediate future plans are to swap out my rear axle for an 8.8 (currently sitting in the garage), to make some half doors (donor doors sitting at the side of my garage), and install a high steer kit. Eventually, once my 33's wear down I plan to upgrade to 35's. In that process I need to do something with my D30 to make it stronger (currently stock except the Tru Track and gearing), and increase the lift at least another inch or two. I am sure there will be other projects along the way in addition to those. Here are links to some of my previous projects: Front tube bumper https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/sq...bumper-247649/ Sway bar holder https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/sw...holder-247211/ Farm jack alternative build (not that popular of an idea, but is an interesting concept to me at least) https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/fa...-build-247113/ DYI roof rack https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/an...f-rack-229415/ Gopro hood camera https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/ho...camera-247434/ Inside roof grab handles https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/in...andles-247387/ Quarter panel armor https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/re...-armor-245848/ Half doors https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/another-half-door-project-zj-251836/ |
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...124e96abbc.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d435d4b10f.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...eb50a24828.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...cc93ccf9eb.jpg i wanted to beef up my D30 control arms so i ground off the stock axle mounts and installed a control arm lowering kit along with Artec axle mounts. it was a ton of work to get the lowering kit to fit into the buckets. I do a lot of rock crawling where i am at so I don't know if they will hang me up much but should provide a better ride and a stronger mount than stock. the angled supports should also help me when sliding over rocks. I have a 6" lift and noticed that the LCA's were driving into the unibody and starting to deform it which is why I elected to go with the lowering kit. welding .25" steel to a unibody has some challenges as the unibody is realitivly thin and on my first attempt i burned a hole through the thin metal. to make the weld i first passed over the unibody on lower heat setting and built up the weld. then i used a higher heat setting to join the first weld to the thicker steel. |
Looks like they will work! for sure heavy duty from stock!
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finished my 8.8 swap (for the most part) and thought i would share photos. its not that difficult of a task but is rather tedious. this is my first axle swap. The Artec kit made it easier although i did have to reset the truss because my pinion angle was not quite right but it was only lightly tacked on so not too much work there. i also set the LCAs up higher and raised the shock mounts. the zj brakes+ lines less the 3 way connection from the body to the two brake lines was transferred over from the d35. i then spent an hour at the local autozone going through their wall of brake lines and adapters until i stumbled upon the correct one (of course it was one of the last boxes). also, even though i used a yoke rather than the adapter plate i think i will still need to shorten the drive line as i only have .3" of exposed shaft as it sits. in case anyone needs the brake line info it was the duralast brand p/n 70032.
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picked up a Teraflex high steer kit used from a local shop. it was pulled from a TJ Dana 30. I go to install the knuckle and guess what? the Cs on a ZJ are smaller than on a TJ. so i ordered an Iron rock over the knuckle kit. should be here next week. something else to note, since the knuckle was off i changed out the ball joints. Autozone sold me an upper joint for a TJ but their data base says it fits a ZJ. we went through a couple of brands until we fount the correct part.
if anyone has a TJ and would like a high steer kit let me know. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...0872bc9cc3.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...6b05d1c6de.jpg |
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