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What did you do to your ZJ today?

4M views 55K replies 2K participants last post by  rluser 
#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.
 
#27,001 ·
If a "professional" is charging $300 to $400 for an alignment, they had best be ready to guarantee that alignment FOR LIFE:rtft:, and throw in a steak dinner at a top end restaurant!!!:laugh:
To clarify, a local shop charges up to $400 to do a full alignment on heavily modified vehicles, which they guarantee for life. I probably wouldn't take my Jeep in after a budget boost for that, but I can't speak to everybody, and it's certainly a possibility that somebody would spend their money that way.

None of the dinky $50 big-box alignment shops could dial in my alignment if I wanted them to. Better to just know what steering angles are and get it basic yourself at that rate. You'll be doing a better job than the dillweeds at NTB or Pepboys and it won't cost you anything.
 
#27,004 ·
To clarify, a local shop charges up to $400 to do a full alignment on heavily modified vehicles, which they guarantee for life. I probably wouldn't take my Jeep in after a budget boost for that, but I can't speak to everybody, and it's certainly a possibility that somebody would spend their money that way.

None of the dinky $50 big-box alignment shops could dial in my alignment if I wanted them to. Better to just know what steering angles are and get it basic yourself at that rate. You'll be doing a better job than the dillweeds at NTB or Pepboys and it won't cost you anything.
angle finder and a tape measurer are all you need to align pretty much any solid axle vehicle. I never took mine for an alignment after the first(inexperience).
set caster(angle finder),
set toein (tape),
straighten steering wheel(common sense).
drink beer(sammich optional)

that being said, ill probably have a local shop put mine on the 4 wheel alignment machine just because i re-engineered/built everything from the floorpan down on mine so my thrust angle could be off a hair or something.
 
#27,005 ·
when you guys swap out radios, do you usually disconnect the battery?

i'm going to replace mine this weekend, install kit on the way, and wanted to see what you guys do...
I disconnect the battery whenever I'm messing with something electrical. Better safe than sorry

OT: I had to redo the drivers side pillar mount for my light to keep the mounting bolt of the light from touching the windshield. They ain't the prettiest things in the world but I can't complain for having $7 and a couple hours work in them
 
#27,006 ·
I disconnect the battery whenever I'm messing with something electrical. Better safe than sorry

OT: I had to redo the drivers side pillar mount for my light to keep the mounting bolt of the light from touching the windshield. They ain't the prettiest things in the world but I can't complain for having $7 and a couple hours work in them
right, better safe then sorry .... and is what i will do :highfive:
 
#27,007 ·
I finally got around to taking my front driveshaft to a shop to have them lengthen it and balance it(4'' lift+46rh tranny=every u joint junkyard shaft about 3'' too short) Gotta pick it up Tuesday. It will be nice to have 4 wheel drive back for winter. And mud... :)

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using JeepForum
 
#27,008 ·
To clarify, a local shop charges up to $400 to do a full alignment on heavily modified vehicles, which they guarantee for life. I probably wouldn't take my Jeep in after a budget boost for that, but I can't speak to everybody, and it's certainly a possibility that somebody would spend their money that way.

None of the dinky $50 big-box alignment shops could dial in my alignment if I wanted them to. Better to just know what steering angles are and get it basic yourself at that rate. You'll be doing a better job than the dillweeds at NTB or Pepboys and it won't cost you anything.
My shop does them for $50, even when it's got highly modified suspension. There's no "lifetime guarantee" I'm not even sure what that would mean... But it's guaranteed to be correct.
 
#27,011 ·
You're very lucky about the CL deal... And if you didn't get those springs free, that would have been costing you a lot more, plus stock 5.9 springs aren't giving a 5.2 4" lift in the rear I bet.
Measured before and after, 4" on the money with the 5.9 front coils in the back. As for front coils, yes i got a deal from a good friend. Even so used 4" coils are worth 50-60 bucks so not much more of an investment. Craigslist is there for everyone, you just have to look.
 
#27,012 ·
Went all over the valley looking for a filter that would work for a cowl snorkel as I needed to delete the stock airbox. Couldn't find anything that wasn't a 6" diameter base. Gave up and did this instead.
Motor vehicle Hood Car Automotive design Automotive tire


Relocated the charcoal canister and now it looks like this.
Tire Wheel Automotive parking light Automotive side marker light Vehicle
 
#27,015 ·
Looks like a PT Cruiser on 22"s lol
 
#27,016 ·
when you guys swap out radios, do you usually disconnect the battery?

i'm going to replace mine this weekend, install kit on the way, and wanted to see what you guys do...
No, and I have zapped myself and shorted a few radios doing it. That's why we have fuses. With that said, I always try and use a connector kit to install a radio. Scosche and Metra make wiring harnesses that plug into the factory wiring connector and let you wire standard head unit pigtails in without cutting the factory wiring. It's cleaner and leaves the wiring intact and therefore fully reversible. With that said, my ZJ didn't have its factory connector, so I just wired it direct.

If you're going from the factory head unit to an aftermarket unit, go and buy the wiring connector kit, it's like $8 at Walmart. You'll be glad you did.
 
#27,018 ·
Went all over the valley looking for a filter that would work for a cowl snorkel as I needed to delete the stock airbox. Couldn't find anything that wasn't a 6" diameter base. Gave up and did this instead.
View attachment 824146

Relocated the charcoal canister and now it looks like this.
View attachment 824154
Sweet.. A hot air intake
 
#27,019 ·
I did the same thing, $9 filter. Hot air or not who cares, i highly doubt anyone will notice the 1-2 hp difference. Well worth it to move that ugly as hell canister up out of sight and harms way.
 
#27,020 ·
Just don't find the "$9 mod" worth it. Sucking in hot *** air right above the valve cover and exhaust manifold when the op was going to originally do the cowl snorkel mod. But then again, just my opinion and like a holes, we all gottem haha
 
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