Newbie: Project Sick of IFS

[96JGCL]

Well, not my first post here, but figured Id start posting up pics of my ongoing project.

Names Mike, I live in Attica NY (30 min west of Buffalo). I originally started wheeling a 1988 GMC Jimmy Gypsy, Brought that thing back from the grave. Including swapping out a blown motor and redoing practically everything on it from balljoints to interior work.







It was my baby and I loved it too death, except for the part of it eating balljoints, CV shafts and steering components every 3k. I needed a newer vehicle to drive, so i sold this to a member of my local 4x4 club and picked up my 2006 F150.

Well this summer, I got bitten by the wheeling bug bad, and not wanting to deal with IFS again, I figured id pick up something like my jimmy, but with a solid front axle.

Thus I picked up a well worn 1996 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 /Auto/ NP247 for 300.00 off of a freind who just wanted to get rid of it. Floors are still solid, but the doors, hatch and bumpers were rotten. Now, im the type of guy who likes to restore stuff and make it look newish. but i also like to give it that personal touch. Thats why i chose the color i did after swapping out 4 doors, a hatch, both front fenders (all rotten) . On to the pics!

A week after i got it (you can see the rust, bottoms of doors had huge holes in them.)



notice the hood

I trimmed all the fenders..


And while i had the front fenders off for painting, i cleaned out all the rust and undercoated it.



Notice the rot? (Trail ready )



Now how it sits today, a month and a half after getting it. The bottom half has been herculined.

New hatch


New doors







Other side


And the Grille. I have yet to mount it becuaseevrry single tab for the header panel is broken off. so if anyone has a good headlight assembly with all the tabs, LMK.


Still working on it. I got all the broken interior pieces replaced. next ill start working on a HP 30 / 8.8 combo and a 4in rough country lift. more pics too come soon ish, as cash permits . Im trying to figure out something to do with the rockers, as they're pretty thin / rotten already. maybe just cut them out and weld in some 3x3 angle iron? Dunno still kicking around some ideas.

And yes i know i have to seal up the floor

[Brad S]

Holy rust!

Wow, looks like you have put some time into it - you have plans for the rockers?

Pics of the belly of that beast would be awesome!!

[dp96zj]

Wowza that's a lot of rust. It makes me love living in the south, not to mention it's just too damn cold anywhere else.

Great looking restoration. I like seeing these builds where the time put into the rig is more than the money put in. Keep it up!

[SirFuego]

Very nice! I would head to M&M U pull it or some junkyard close to Attica. They are swarming with ZJs. hdstn from WNYOffroad got a gas tank and tcase skid for like $10 from there.

[96JGCL]

Very nice! I would head to M&M U pull it

thats were i got three doors, hatch, and complete center console all for like 100 bucks. Its awesome


As for the rockers, i have no idea. I was contemplating just cutting them out and replacing them with some 3x3 or 4x4 angle iron, or some 2X4 box channel.

Dunno yet, well cross that bridge when i get there .

As for the belly of the beast, its crusty, but Chrysler's wonderful plastic undercoating has kept it hole free. so its not that bad, ill brush it off and undercoat it this winter too keep it from getting any worse.

This is primarily a 4x4 meet / offroad toy, so everything will be done with cost saving in mind.
(IE: Homemade PVC snorkel etc.). But its not gonna look like a hacked up pile of shit either

[BigClay]

Wow, nice progress in a month and a half!

[FortCollinsZJ]

I like the black lisense plate pocket. IDK why, just looks good.

Good job so far, keep it up.

[96JGCL]

I like the black lisense plate pocket. IDK why, just looks good.

Good job so far, keep it up.

thanks, figured id break it up a bit instead of making it all Matte Olive.

Small update. Picking up a HP30 on Monday. It needs some cleaning up and a rebuild. But plans include a fresh rebuild with 4.56 gears and MAYBE an OX locker

The suspension is toast on this thing. Im 99% sure the control arm bushings are shot.this thing has 270K on it. not to mention the rear axle has a leak and was run dry for some time, and the springs are rusted too shit and sagging. What i have planned is too get the HP30 done, get an 8.8 with a Detroit for out back. Get the RC 4 in lift, and replace everything in one shot.

Plans are to run 33" tires

[96JGCL]

went out to the garage today and got some more work done. Cleaned up the knuckles and chiseled all the rust off, than gave em a nice coat of Rustoleum semi-gloss black.

Crusty crusty CRUSTY (We live in the salt belt :-p)




Painted nice and clean (i know its not POR-15 or chassis black, but honestly i cant justify spending 100.00 on paint thats gonna get run through the mud)





Axle cleaned up and brushed (very crusty, yeesh i really am beginning to hate salt)



First coat (next coat is tomorrow)





got the diff cover painted the same color as the jeep body..


so far its all comin together nicely. Hoping to have the front geared by Dec and have this thing on the road by the summer.

So so far, Ive bought the HP 30 for 50.00, i got a complete 1992 8.8 w/drums for free, and i bought a can of paint for 10.00.

I think im ahead of the game

[SleepCrawler]

Lookin great.. I love to see other builders use the budget build idea.. keep up the great work

[96JGCL]

UPDATE!



Making some decent progress on the pig, managed too pull much of the dash, as im going too tackle my missing vacuum line that's fucking up my mode door. Also managed too pull the rear axle apart, install new bearings and seals, clean it out, and fill it with fresh oil, along with replacing all the rear control arms and hardware.

Managed too grab the following today

JKS front sway bar disconnects

Cobra 18WX STII (very nice radio IMHO)

Fire Stick swivel door mount for antennas

four foot firestick antenna

cables

all for $100.00 off of a guy who just sold his xj.

And i managed too grab a water pump and serpentine belt from autobone seeing as mines starting too piss fluid like a drunk on mardi gras.

All thats pretty much left is too finish putting the front axle together, swap that and the control arms out, flush the trans along with adding a cooler, and budget boost, and shell be ready!

[96JGCL]

well, managed too grab a nice set of Upcountry springs off a guy near me whose parting a 1997 orvis, along with the external tranny cooler.

Got the roof rack and the lights on, along with mounting the Cb antenna and and the Cb. I also managed too change out the water pump (Freaking cake IMHO) and install the Hayden E fan I picked up.

Ill post up pics tomorrow.

[96JGCL]

And onto the pics.



Got the roof rack mounted, and the lights run. YES i know theyre not PIAA or HELLA's, but ya know what? They were in the garage, they work and they were free.



Seeing as the glovebox release was broken, and i have a center console too hold important stuff on runs anyways, i opted too remove it entirely and mount the CB in its place. fits nice


Hayden/Imperial electric fan setup i got from advance auto. i opted too run both the lights and the fan off separate relays / switches. While i do have the controller from my old setup, i much rather have the peace of mind knowing the fan is definitely "ON"


And finally, the switch location, thought it was a nice touch, and i figured id get orange too match the gauge cluster needles

I also went thru the thread and cleaned up all the HUGE pics, hopefully itll load faster for you guys and wont be so fuckin big!

[ZJ TINS]

FYI for the future if you dont POR-15 then the next best seems to be Hammerite. I still clean the rust off first but a couple coats go a long way to keep rust from comming back. About $7 a rattle can at Lowes.

[Jeeptech01]

I like the green but I think I would have removed the handles pinstripe locks etc for a cleaner look. Is the green rattle can or primer single stage or what. Where to get?

[96JGCL]

I like the green but I think I would have removed the handles pinstripe locks etc for a cleaner look. Is the green rattle can or primer single stage or what. Where to get?

Krylon satin Italian Olive

Just scuff real good and spray. multiple coats and it holds up great.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a

[Jeeptech01]

Thanks. Lookin good.

[Poser 5.9]

Nice truck, I like the idea of a budget build too. I'm not bragging I'm just saying, it sure is nice here in Fla. to not have to worry about all that rust. The only time you see anything even close to that is a car that spent it's days in the Keys or somewhere else on the coast. Anyway your working with what you've got and making a pretty cool little wheeler by the looks of it. Keep the pic's coming.

[96JGCL]

Another small update,

Went too m&m u stole it today cuz i was bored and wanted too look around.

Came home with some amazingly clean hood louvers off a dodge 600es turbo. Gonna install them because anyone that owns one of these knows they like too run HOT and any added cooling is a good thing.



Also managed too grab an airbox (tube style) off of a 1999 ford windstar. Its sealed, the perfect length and size for my upcoming homemade snorkel project on the jeep, seeing as i have no air box.

[96JGCL]

Got quite a bit done on the heep today..

Changed tranny mount (toast)

dropped tranny pan, changed the seal (both gross and shot)

Changed tranny filter

Changed tranny cooler lines

Installed an external tranny cooler.

and the biggie.. INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION PAN DRAIN PLUG

Replaced with clean new ATF+4. Tranny shifts so firm now its fuckin awesome. Still gotta adjust the bands but thats gonna be cake. getting very close too being done, ordering the budget boost and shocks within the next week or two

[96JGCL]

been quite a while since an update, but Ive managed too get a ton done.

Rebuilt entire new HP dana 30 and swapped it in.

New control arms in front (oem)

and i managed too pick up a set of crager d-windows with 4 32x11.5 bfgoodrich AT's in damn nice shape for 250.00

onto the pics.








Track bar is being replaced as soon as i order new adjustable ones. Than all thats left is front brakes a set of shocks and a stabilizerand some small misc. stuff and itll be ready

[96JGCL]

Snorkels done. SHABLAM




Shocks coming in tomorrow

[it usually runs fine]

I don't give a shit about your snorkel pics dude.....Snorkel TESTING pics on the other hand I CAN get into to

[96JGCL]

I don't give a shit about your snorkel pics dude.....Snorkel TESTING pics on the other hand I CAN get into to

As soon as its on the road I'll put up pics

[Jrgunn5150]

Nice work man, I total dig the theme.