[Black95ZJ]

"Operation Blackout" has officially commenced. Painted some of the small pieces of the cladding today, painted a set of stock XJ rims on 31's that I was given. Got the back ones on, doing the fronts and (hopefully) the big pieces of the cladding tomorrow. Looking forward to taping everything off, sanding, priming, and finally shooting some paint on her.


Pics will be up soon, I promise.

[Mike97ZJ]

Sounds good, I can't wait to see the pics!

I had painted my cladding on my black ZJ a few years ago, I used Dupli-Color bumper black. It worked great, and has held up very well. I also just painted my rockers with spray on bedliner, I'm really happy w/the results, I wish I had done it yeas ago.

[2006_Sport]

Sweet, another station wagon build

Jk man, i love blacked out ZJs.

[JFox21]

Me too..








because I have one.

[Black95ZJ]

A'ight, y'all.....here goes. Remember that this is after day 1.5......


The way she started:




The rims before (I say that because they were all similar to this after prep):




The rims after. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.




Initial Teardown. This is with the small pieces off, and the stock wheels.




Same side, but with the painted 31's on.




And this is where I wound up tonight. I did wind up getting the lower rocker piece off the bottom passenger side. Those clips are a FPITA to get out......







Even pulled the grille, gonna tape off the chrome (the better half wants the chrome, I want to find a black Limited grille), and paint the inner sections.









Hope y'all approve. Gonna do some more on it tomorrow, got the big side pieces of the cladding sitting on the back porch with primer on right now, and yes, I will post more pics. I'm super pleased with how it's turning out so far.



And before anyone asks, I'm using Krylon satin black, with a flat black primer, and sanding before the primer goes on. I know it'll chip eventually, but for right now, I think it looks awesome.

[RMFK13]

do the 31s fi tnice stock or do you have a Budget boost?

[Black95ZJ]

They fit pretty good. They're used, so IRDK how a new set will work. Probably gonna have to pick up a BB and a set of shocks when I do it, but for now, it's on the stock suspension.

[RMFK13]

ahh k, nice. i just put a BB on a couple weeks ago.

[Black95ZJ]

Round two of pictures.......





Rear bumper, taped off and ready for primer.



Passenger rear, taped and ready



The grille, taped and primed. I didn't get a shot of it painted, will do that tomorrow.



Front passenger, taped, no primer



Same as above, the other side.



Even taped off and painted the base of the antenna, wasn't digging the faded to white look.



This is the "big" pieces of cladding, painted and ready to go back on. I actually was able to get the front door pieces on, ran out of daylight to do much else.



The passenger side rear, painted.



Front passenger, painted



Rear passenger, painted



Rear drivers' side, painted



The nose, sans grille, painted. I think it came out real good.



Drivers' side bottom rail, painted.




And that's what I got done for now, I'mma finish up hanging parts tomorrow (when I get daylight), and I'll have the final pics then.

[hitman789]

looks good

waiting on the next set of pics

[Hesher420]

Lookin' good

[Black95ZJ]

Thanks for the compliments, guys. It's appreciated. And, since you asked nicely, here's the pics of how she turned out.













I think the grille turned out best of all. Now, on to bigger and better things......stay tuned!!!

[Mike97ZJ]

Looks good so far! The wheels alone made a huge difference. Kudos to you for being ambitious enough to actually take the cladding OFF to paint...when I did mine I just took off the rocker trim, I left the rest of it on and just taped off everything else.

And I agree w/you, the black grille is def the way to go. I love my black grille, I'm glad I don't have the chrome. It just looks meaner w/out the chrome. IIRC mine has argent center sections.

Losing the pinstripe next?

[Black95ZJ]

Originally Posted by Mike97ZJ

Looks good so far! The wheels alone made a huge difference. Kudos to you for being ambitious enough to actually take the cladding OFF to paint...when I did mine I just took off the rocker trim, I left the rest of it on and just taped off everything else.

And I agree w/you, the black grille is def the way to go. I love my black grille, I'm glad I don't have the chrome. It just looks meaner w/out the chrome. IIRC mine has argent center sections.

Losing the pinstripe next?

Thanks for the compliments, man. They're appreciated.


And as for the pinstripe, IDK yet. Dunno how to get the bleeding thing off w/o wrecking the paint, so.....

[AustinTexasXJ]

christina looks good man.

can wait till shes grows up and comes out to play with betty.


when are you planning on lifting her?

I know of a ZJ in a JY that you can nab some lift springs out of.

I donno know much much lift it is but I know its rustys.