DC's 96 ZJ Build Thread

[96DCZJ]

Hey guys. Been looking around on this site and saw a lot of build threads so I figured I'd make one myself.

I haven't done much to my ZJ yet but I'll list most of the specs I had at first, and what I did to it.

1996 Jeep Grad Cherokee Laredo
V8 5.2L
4 Speed Automatic Transmission
Leather Interior
Infinity Stereo

I picked up the jeep for $600. 209XXX miles, needed a bunch of tlc things here and there and a few mechanical parts. I replaced the driver fender, coolant sensor, and oil pressure sending unit within the first 3 days or so.

Within the first few days, i took it for a drive not too far but a decent distance. Car started over heating, ended up needing a new water pump. My mechanic installed a brand new water pump, as well as a new serpentine belt.

I got a little jeep happy and ended up putting over 800 miles on the truck within the first 2 weeks of getting the truck

One thing that the previous owner didn't tell me about until I put down the 2nd payment was that the transmission "once in a blue moon" slips and to just make sure the fluid is topped off. That "once in a blue moon" now occurs every morning when the truck is still a little cold, but after about 2 min of it running, it's fine.
Thankfully, I found a guy nearby who sells Jeep parts and had a perfect running transmission for a 5.2L V8 and sold it to me for $300. I actually now work for that guy and will end up taking apart jeeps and what-not.

Stereo -
I installed an Alpine CDE-9852, Crunch 1600 Watt Subwoofer amplifier, and 2 Kicker CVR's. Stereo pounds in the truck and sounds clear especially with the Infinity speakers and speaker amp as well.

Future Plans -
Ever since my friend lifted his Blazer, and then his dad buying a ZJ and lifting it, I fell in love with lifted Jeeps.
Pretty much what I'm doing is a 3.5" suspension lift with 32" tires.

I'm stuck between either the IRO 3.5" or the Rocky Road 3.5" Old Man Emu lift. After shipping the Rocky Road is only 10 dollars more. But, it comes with a rear track bar bracket and a Transfer Case drop kit, which I will need to lift my truck. And Old Man Emu I've heard is pretty much TOP OF THE LINE suspension for Jeeps. Im definitely more towards the Rocky Road but I need some more opinions from other people.

As for the tires, I'm doing Dunlop Radial Mud Rovers 32x11.5R15 which will look great after the lift.
Rims, I'm doing 15x8" Cragar Soft 8's.

I only have a few pictures for now, but I'll definitely be posting more throughout the process, and a lot will be happening within the next month or so.

Also, added a DC sticker which looks real nice with the rear window having extremely dark tints.




Like I said, I'll be posting more pictures up throughout time.

[96DCZJ]

Here's some more recent pictures

[Haleyrz]

click free!

[Haleyrz]

Originally Posted by 96DCZJ

Here's some more recent pictures

and again! Sweet Zeej man! I like the black grille! Now you need to paint the bumpers and cladding black to match it! I need to repaint my grille.

[96DCZJ]

Originally Posted by HaleyZJ

and again! Sweet Zeej man! I like the black grille! Now you need to paint the bumpers and cladding black to match it! I need to repaint my grille.

thankss. its all stock though for now. i'm ordering my lift this weekend. and i plan on trimming my front bumper then painting that and the rear bumper and rockers with the krylon fusion paint that MoonyJohn did. and removing all the cladding. gonna look real clean.

and how do i make it click free??? idk what i'm doing wrong.

[MoonyJohn]

What lift are you getting?

[salsa]

Rocky Road tends to suck. I would go with the IRO or see if you can get the OME somewhere else.

Bad Rocky Road Offroad (RRO) Experience :(

[96DCZJ]

Haha yeah salsa. i've already read that and changed my mind. My original choice was IRO but then I saw the RRO for only 10 bucks more after shipping and it includes a rear track bar bracket and a transfer case drop kit. So i figured, why not? Then someone told me earlier to not get the RRO and showed me that thread. Then I told myself, "nope, back to IRO." it would've been nice having OME shocks though, but still, I don't wanna take the chances of being screwed over.

[Haleyrz]

you have to have 50 technical posts to click free them.

[96DCZJ]

gotcha haley. thanks

[96DCZJ]

heres a few exposure pics -

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3511305655_5670133504_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3512117758_c02eea6458_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3511304903_2e25286a99_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3512116474_c0edd3e354_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3511304039_62d697b5a8_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3511304461_0d5815dc41_b.jpg

I'LL EVENTUALLY BE CLICK FREE. sorryyy

[Haleyrz]

Originally Posted by 96DCZJ

heres a few exposure pics -









I'LL EVENTUALLY BE CLICK FREE. sorryyy

i'm here to save you lol.

[96DCZJ]

yayy
thanks haley

[96DCZJ]

oh..btw
do you happen to have a video of your exhaust? how does it sound?

[Haleyrz]

yeah, here is right after I put it on, just a start up. Next is a load acceleration. They are kind of quiet because all i have is a stinking sony cybershot. Its way more awesome in person.

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