Jeep Enthusiast Forums banner

What did you do to your ZJ today?

4M views 55K replies 2K participants last post by  98ZJ 
#1 ·
This thread is to serve as an inspiration to others modifying their ZJ's. Pretty simple, just post what you did to your ZJ today!


Today I shamefully took my Jeep to get the oil changed because it was to hot to change it myself.
 
#19,148 ·
I figured that's what you ment. What zjs came with no Ac pump?
None of them. A/C was standard if I recall. If it wasn't, it was only excluded on 5-speed 1993 SEs. The picture without the compressor is of a V8 ZJ with the compressor removed by the owner, likely because they don't deem A/C necessary in the climate zone they live in.

I, however, will be keeping my A/C no matter what it costs me, because in summer the temperature is too damn high.

On topic, I did nothing to my Jeep today. Too damn cold. I'm still trying to find a V8 parts Jeep. I've put a want ad on craigslist, but I don't expect any hits.
 
#19,152 ·
I've seen them pop up around here from time to time. I'll keep an eye out for one if you want
Where in Texas are you? If you're not too terribly far from D/FW, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise, thanks anyway. I don't really want to make a road trip for a parts Jeep. (Unless that sucker runs and is under $500 lol)
All ZJs came with A/C, even a 93 base model with steelies, no cladding, manual windows/locks/mirrors and a 5 speed.
Well there you go. A/C standard, even on the SE.

By the by, comptiger, I don't suppose that spare niner chassis you've got has the remnants of a 5.2 somewhere in it? lol
 
#19,154 ·
By the by, comptiger, I don't suppose that spare niner chassis you've got has the remnants of a 5.2 somewhere in it? lol
It's still got a 5.9 / 46RE in it. Engine might need a rebuild though (maybe just heads checked out and new head gaskets), I think the PO overheated it badly (died on him while mudding). Came to me with a dead starter (mud ingestion) and shot radiator (almost no coolant in it) and it was 2 quarts low on oil. Oh, and it probably sucked some mud through the disconnected crankcase breather and crappy cone filter that were on it. It does turn by hand though, but I haven't swapped the starter to see how it runs.

It's got 181k on it. From what the PO indicated, the trans is fine, but I haven't seen it run / drive, so I don't know for sure.

If you wanted a project, I'd say rebuild the 5.9, beef it up a little, rebuild the D44a and swap the drivetrain into your ZJ.
 
#19,155 ·
It's still got a 5.9 / 46RE in it. Engine might need a rebuild though (maybe just heads checked out and new head gaskets), I think the PO overheated it badly (died on him while mudding). Came to me with a dead starter (mud ingestion) and shot radiator (almost no coolant in it) and it was 2 quarts low on oil. Oh, and it probably sucked some mud through the disconnected crankcase breather and crappy cone filter that were on it. It does turn by hand though, but I haven't swapped the starter to see how it runs.

It's got 181k on it. From what the PO indicated, the trans is fine, but I haven't seen it run / drive, so I don't know for sure.

If you wanted a project, I'd say rebuild the 5.9, beef it up a little, rebuild the D44a and swap the drivetrain into your ZJ.
That is an attractive idea... But finding parts for a 5.9 is more difficult than I'd initially imagined. Turns out they're all either blown or installed, local to me. Also 93 octane.

That said, the biggest problem for the thought of taking your parts niner is getting it to me lol. You're practically on the other side of the country. :(

Related note: How do people overheat their engines? Do they not pay attention to their temperature gauges? I've never had it happen to me and I used to drive a GMC truck with a huge hole in the radiator and a concurrent leak from the heater core.

EDIT: txbass06, if you see a running V8 ZJ around or under a grand, let me know. I'd totally appreciate it.
 
#19,157 ·
Installed an overhead console and an auto-dim rear, works perfectly. Managed to get everything I needed from a part out in the classifieds. Tomorrow I'll be wiring up the temp sensor and using some rust converter on a few minor (but growing) blemishes.
 
#19,158 ·
drove it to the junk yard to try to buy it some things... they only had 3 ZJs...

no 242 bezels to replace the cracked one... 2 of them were V8s the other... a 2WD
no wheels so i could go full size spare
no tow hooks... one had a hitch but no way to get it off unless i had some help and some jack stands (the rims it was propped up on were right under the hitch in the back)
pulled a headlight switch (the dash light dimmer on mine occasionally needs a smack) and a rear wiper motor


BTW i found that the driveshaft from a 2WD ZJ will work just fine to hold the liftgate up if the supports are shot
 
#19,159 ·
Used it to tow my "new daily driver", a 1999 Nissan Sentra, which decided to stop running today. No spark, fuel pump turns on, but there is a weird clicking from the evap canister purge control valve whenever I try to turn it over.

The Jeep did a great job, love the zj; if only it got better gas mileage.
 
#19,160 ·
That is an attractive idea... But finding parts for a 5.9 is more difficult than I'd initially imagined. Turns out they're all either blown or installed, local to me. Also 93 octane.

That said, the biggest problem for the thought of taking your parts niner is getting it to me lol. You're practically on the other side of the country. :(

Related note: How do people overheat their engines? Do they not pay attention to their temperature gauges? I've never had it happen to me and I used to drive a GMC truck with a huge hole in the radiator and a concurrent leak from the heater core.
The PO (for a month or so before I bought it) was a not-so-smart redneck.

The 93 octane thing is changeable, there's a dealer flash out there to de-tune it a little to allow 87 to be run, but IIRC, it hurts gas mileage a little so it may or may not be worth it.
 
Top