Hi Everyone-

My name is Jim Wingard and I live in Aiken, SC. I have been a Jeep owner since 1996 when I bought my 2WD Cherokee SE and I love it. That was 265,554 miles ago, in addition to being an ever faithful vehicle it has survived 2 years of my 18 year old son's driving and has resumed it's place as my every day driver. I love this vehicle every bit as much as I love my 2006 Commander, (and yes it does have the HEMI). Sometimes my hardest decision of the day is just deciding on which car to drive!

Anyhow, "Hi" to all, I do have a curiosity question however ... Now that the kids are grown I'm looking for a project car and I'm interested in everyone’s opinion re: which Jeep would be the best candidate to rebuild/build up ... An XJ or a ZJ? What are the advantages/disadvantages of choosing one over the other?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Jim

 

i am seriously contemplateing moving back down

 

Welcome from Chicago!!! I used to live down in NC for some time, not exactly SC, but close enuff down 220 or 85...

I'd pick the XJ...
(I'm gonna get nailed on this one but...)
Grands are for soccer moms and sissies...

 

Welcome from W.V.

 

Welcome to CF from VA.

 

Welcome from TEXAS. I pass through Aiken frequently (couple times a year) on my way to see my grandkids. Nice pl;ace.

As to your build up I would choose the XJ because they have more aftermarket support. This equates to more selection for parts. If you are a good fabricator then you can easily build most of the stuff you may need to do your build.

 

I had a choice between the two when I was needing a new ride, and I bought my xj, because they are a simple platform to work on. I didn't want leather, or climate control or a lot of other problems waiting to go wrong. If you have the time and knowledge, you can make anything, even a chevette, into a capable offroad vehicle. It is just going to come down to what you like best overall. Kevin's offroad has many aftermarket parts for zjs, but they are pricey. Might give you some ideas though of what a zj trail rig can look like. It just comes down to what you like the best. As for me, I went with the XJ and have never looked back. This is my second and I would buy another one if I needed to. But I would buy the zj for my wife!

 

Thanx for the warm welcome.

I have to admit I'm leaning towards the XJ. I want a 4wd, but, I also want a smooth ride. I hope to be making many trips to Beech Mtn., NC (about 4 - 5 hrs away) in the winter, so I need something that will provide a nice Hi-way ride for my wife and I, yet allow me to go off road every once in awhile. I'm not really a mudder or a fabricator, so I'm just looking for a reliable and comfortable ride that won't be afraid to get dirty every once and awhile.

I've read some posts about putting GC seats in the XJ. Does anyone have an opinion on doing that? Any advice on a good suspension upgrade, tires, etc.? What else could I do to insure a comfortable ride?

 

I have read many reviews about the Old Man Emu suspensions. Many say they are the most comfortable, even better than stock! The problem is that they are only a 2" (if I remember right) but most report it giving more like 3" of lift. If you want to go higher, you are probably going to have to sacrifice ride quality. Adjustable shocks may help too. Maybe somebody with adjustable shocks can chime in with their opinion on those.

 

Welcome to CF from COS!!

I'd suggest starting a thread in the chat section for this, as it sees a lot more traffic, and your questions will be answered by more folks. HTH!!

 

Welcome to CF from the wonderful snowy state of Washington!!!

Wow what rig to choose for a project? That is a tuff one. It really boils down to what you want in a project rig. The great thing about the XJ is it is a very capable simple rig to keep going and the after market for them is awesome. The possibilities for building them is only limited by the owners imagination. Now the ZJs are way more comfy right out of the factory and they come stock with V-8s. They also have a little more room inside. This should help a little but, the decision has to be yours. Bottom line is I love my little XJ...well, it's not so little anymore. I will always recommend you to get an XJ.