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5.3, 4l60 zj

58K views 691 replies 54 participants last post by  badbird17x 
#1 ·
So I bought another jeep, it has fnr long arms 36in swampers and no doors. the engine has a hole in the block that leaks oil when I am vertical, so I decided this winter would be a good time for a engine swap. I know its a swear word around here but I am a gm guy, and have completed 2 ls swaps so I am familiar with these engines, and love them. I was looking the other day for a 6.0 for my wife's street rod and found a 5.3 that is all aluminum, around 300hp, without a tune, and flex fuel, which I'm a farmer so this is cool to me. I'm thinking I will get 2 and put one in the zj as well. I've seen other guys do this on the web, but would like your thoughts on the project, and ideas on transfer case options. This zj has a 231 in it now, but I don't see a reason why the gm one wouldn't work
 
#85 ·
Bruiser is ready for the engine swap.
 

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#86 ·
Noticed the r1 rhino has been sitting in the corner too long. Needs a wash.
 

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#88 ·
1stblack97ZJ said:
cage needs moar triangles.
Told him that twice. He said this is as sting as his late model chassis that tumble at 100 mph. He says most people way way overbuild to make it look cool but really just adds way to much weight.
 
#89 ·
badbird17x said:
Told him that twice. He said this is as sting as his late model chassis that tumble at 100 mph. He says most people way way overbuild to make it look cool but really just adds way to much weight.
Strong sorry.
 
#91 ·
Approach angle view.
 

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#92 ·
On its way home. Hopefully get some stripping done tonight.
 

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#93 ·
New plan for a hauler. Local school got ahold of me and is selling their oldest bus, a 98 with a cat diesel. Looking to build something like this to put 3 jeeps on my 50ft wedge, and haul 10 guys, and gear.
 

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#94 ·
All primered, started electrical layout, one pic is my new air tank mounted behind radiator, beside the fuel tank.
 

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#95 ·
Anyone think I could use the factory shift cable to run the transfer case? Thinking reroute and make a shifter for this side in front of the scs.
 

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#96 ·
Rough cuts of the dove nose. And general color layout.
 

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#98 ·
Gauge, switch, gps, shifter layout. Stereo goes in opening above silver switch bank, steering wheel is just tacked in for moving around. It's getting a 15 in circle track wheel.
 

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#100 ·
Interior looks better with the cheapest seat covers fleet farm had.
 

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#101 ·
thats awesome!!!!, cant wait to see it in action
love the way you "massaged" the fenders in to clearance the tires
my only thoughts:
4 more pieces of tube and making the stinger more pronounced so you know its gonna serve its purpose if its ever used
 

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#102 ·
speedbucket said:
thats awesome!!!!, cant wait to see it in action
love the way you "massaged" the fenders in to clearance the tires
my only thoughts:
4 more pieces of tube and making the stinger more pronounced so you know its gonna serve its purpose if its ever used
Thanks man. The stinger is mostly a bumper that's made to crush, and is replaceable with 2 bolts. I get what your saying in if I ever use it. Where I wheel I should never need a stinger, mostly just need trees out of my way, lol. The whole front is just the 2 bars to mount my coil overs to, then it's going back for more tubing.
 
#103 ·
i always percieved the stingers purpose as being very sturdy and used in a rear over front flip as :
1. possibly keep you from going over
2. if you get that far over it will act as a pivot point and deflect you to more of a flop to either side than a rooftop crush

like this guy for instance
his would have hopefully stopped him or deflected him onto a door vs the roof. I think most of them are installed for looks and would fail miserably in that scenario
 
#104 ·
Yea, I wasn't going to have one at all, but Jason saw all the rigs online with them and made a crush bumper that looks like one, cool factor I suppose. Where I wheel is mostly atv trails, and some large rocks, no real rock faces to climb, or descend. This one is to be the ultimate 4 seat trail rig, not really a rock wall climber, but I do get crazy. Lol
 
#105 ·
Shifter is mounted.
 

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#106 ·
Shifter is mounted.
 
#107 ·
I'm liking it
 

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#108 ·
speedbucket said:
thats awesome!!!!, cant wait to see it in action
love the way you "massaged" the fenders in to clearance the tires
my only thoughts:
4 more pieces of tube and making the stinger more pronounced so you know its gonna serve its purpose if its ever used
Never notice your drawing till now, I like the back 4 bars. He's going to have to curve them for headroom but I'm going to have him put them in when he does shock reinforcement.
 
#109 ·
Foa coilovers are on the way.
 
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