FNG 94 ZJ Build

[Ramsport59]

Yes I'm the FNG....So Like every other post Stated.....Eat Shit.....

A month or so ago I picked up this '94 Grand Cherokee Limited. Its loaded with a ton of options. Nice Rig. It has a 2" Budget Boost and Skyjacker Shocks. 30x9.50 BFG's, Which will end up on the wifes TJ.
Here's Pics from when I brought it home.


Then I started to Trim the Fenders....

Trimmed the Rear, Filled the hole with Great Stuff Foam, then a Layer of RTV Sealant to keep the water out.

Once I finshed the Trimming, I painted the Cladding and Bumpers with Herculiner....
Then Like I said earlier, The Rims/Tires went to the Wifes TJ

Then heres mine, F to R Swap with 1.5" Spacers, Front 4" Rockcrawler Springs from a TJ. It already had JKS Adjustable TrackBars and Skyjacker Shocks. Over all I ended up with about 5" of Lift, 5" Rear and 4.5" Front.
And a set of Used 33x12.50 TSL Radials on Black Steelies...


Got Bored and Needed a Winch Mount....


Still need to weld the Winch Tray to the C Channel....

And Tweak the Passenger Side Bumper

In the Next Month or So I'll have a Finshed Steel Bumper. Then Maybe Start on Control Arms.
As of right now, With the Cost of the Jeep And Registering it, I have $1900 in it.

Whatca Yall Think?
Thanks for the comments!
Rick

[canadian_driver]

nice winch mount, good to see something new

[rstrucks]

Thats a great way to spend $1900. Looks good, and nice job on the fender trim - clean lookin'. Post more pics of the fender trim job if you can.

[grandmaster]

Lookin good, keep up the build.

[OverkillZJ]

Winch mount is kickass, I love to see something rare. But eat shit anyway!

[dirty]

Eat shit you homo...welcome to MC..nice work on the fenders.

[xtremzj]

good work bitch

[Ramsport59]

So I robbed a set of Front Disconnects of Robyn's Jeep...She dont need them anymore!






Rick

[Ramsport59]

Long Time No Update.....

Built a Set of Long Arms myself, Turned out pretty good for my first time doing long arms.
Modified Crossmember

Side Veiw, total of 6 bolts holding to the "frame" on each side. Adjustable t-case drop as needed...

Working on the arms them selfs.

[Ramsport59]

Wheeled it most of the summer until I ran into a "too much lift on short arms" deal in the rear. Ended up ditching the Rear Coils all together and I'm working on Leaf Springs. Started out building them with a bastard YJ pack....

I sleeved the frame rail with 2x3 box which will also serve as my bumper mount. used 6x3 box to make a adjustable shackle box, and built my own shackles.


Using YJ packs and the front LCA mount it pushed the axle back a few inchs.





I loaded it up and took it over to my welders to get some mounts weld and other things...After we got it all done, flexxed it up on the trailer and twisted the main leaf spring. YJ springs are a bit soft for a ZJ.

So today I went with a mid 80's Dodge 1/2 ton rear spring. I'm cutting off the front lower mount and building a new set to center the axle in the wheel well.

Hopefully I'll make my next ride in the middle of October.



Thanks,
Rick

[Ramsport59]

I made my Trip to Rausch Creek...



Dodge Leaf Springs worked well....

Now its in the Garage for a Back Half Chop and a HPD44 and a Dana 60 Rear.




Rick

[Gb02WJ]

That back half chop looks great!

[Ramsport59]

Thanks man, no where near done yet....still need to build a cage etc....

Rick

[dp96zj]

It looks good! Do you have any more angles (pics) of it?

[Ramsport59]

No not yet, My Small 14x20 Garage doesnt let me get any better pics. Once I get all the nessacitys(sp?) hooked up like steering and brakes I'll back it out for a photo op.

Rick

[slim616]

Was looking real good till you did those rear springs lol JK

On you rear chop I noticed you have the tube welded right into the sheet metal and I'm guessing that the other half goes to the floor or the gate. You may want to keep an eye for it ripping away from the body as the whole body flexes when you go over stuff. Especial since you don't have any other cross bracing except for your stock xmember. I had real bad body flex till I installed my cage. Also you'll realize how flimsy that roof is above your head as you bounce over rocks. I took my jeep out one time with the back cut before I installed the rear half of the cage. It helped a lot with the body flex and gave me a little piece of mind in case I flopped it.

[Ramsport59]

I built a frame if you want to call it that of 1.5" angle and ran it around the Window Frame area behind the seats, I'll call it that since I plan on a soft rear window. Anyway, They I ran the same angle along the old quarter window bottom to build a solid place to run the angle bar. I've just hit a dead spot on how I want to finsh it.
I want a open air feeling but I also want a safe ride while wheelin'....

Decisions.
Rick

[slim616]

cool I didn't even pick up on the 1.5 angle in the pick. Ive been trying to figure out how i'm going to cap off the cut edges on mine also and have been looking for some ideas. when you get a chance could you grab some better pics of how you got than angle Iron and DP set up.

just out of curiosity how close are you to shipileys choice down in millersville?

edit: oh okay I figured out how you got the angle on the sides. i thought you had just bent the diamond plate that way.

[Ramsport59]

I'm actually in Glen Burnie now, I need to change that. I'm across the street from Outback. I should have this thing out by the Xmas holidays. The wife is due for a C-Section on Dec 16th and I have taken a month off for her and to finsh my heep.

Slim I see your in MD, where abouts?

Rick

[slim616]

I'm up in towson. I'll have my rig back together by feb, we should try to hook up sometime for a trip to RC.


Another xmas baby, congrats. My daughters birthday is on the 10th.

[Ramsport59]

A small group of us have a trip planned sometime in MArch....I'll keep ya posted.

Rick

[Ramsport59]

[Derek33]

I like the rear leaf swap. Any more pics of it?

The shackles appear to hang low... any worries with that?

Stock yj leafs? fronts or rears? Any idea how much lift they netted you?

[Ramsport59]

I loaded it up and took it over to my welders to get some mounts weld and other things...After we got it all done, flexxed it up on the trailer and twisted the main leaf spring. YJ springs are a bit soft for a ZJ.

So today I went with a mid 80's Dodge 1/2 ton rear spring. I'm cutting off the front lower mount and building a new set to center the axle in the wheel well.

Ended up with dodge springs due to the YJ's being really weak. They are working great. The shackle Hit once the last time I was out, but really wasnt a issue. I'll try to round up some more pics for you.
I have 7.5" TJ spring in the front and it sat pretty close to level.

Rick

[hkszx2]

Hey man nice rig. Im orig. from Glen Burnie. Im not to far away now just in York PA. When you guys take a trip to Rausch Im down