Considering a ZJ build vs. some other options. Thoughts? Opinions?

[Aegis]

Evening guys and girls,

So. The time has come for me to go ahead and get going with a build. A little bit of background, as far as my off-roading/overlanding experience: None.

Yup. That's the truth. Barring some trips down some poorly maintained service roads, and the occasional cruise through a field, this is all new to me. I've spent PLENTY of years modifying cars, and they've usually been ones that are a bit less than simple; mostly Audis and Volvos. I'm used to having to turn a wrench, and I'm used to things not always working perfectly. I've grown up camping and backpacking, but it'll be a new experience to me involving a vehicle.

Here's what I'm looking for/looking to do:

1. Build a rig that not only will be suitable for some off-roading, overland camping, and expedition type trips, but also can serve as my daily driver.
2. Have something that'll comfortably transport me, the misses, and our 90 lb. Rottweiler x Doberman.
3. Start slowly and introduce myself into the world of off-roading, with hopes of getting good enough and comfortable enough to tackle terrain as would be presented in the Vermont Overland Trophy.
4. Safely and comfortably get my brood off of the beaten path for weekend/extended trips that DON'T involve a KOA or some other pay-and-park type deal.


We currently have a '97 ZJ with the I6 that we use as the misses' winter beater, for when her 350Z goes into storage. I've grown quite fond of it, and don't have any qualms with purchasing one for myself, albeit with the 5.2 instead. I'm also considering a Disco 2, and a 2nd generation Isuzu Trooper.


... So. Thoughts? Opinions? I know most'll be biased to the ZJ here, but I'd love to here your thoughts/reasons. A note: I'm not looking to build an XJ or anything else. I've got a soft-spot for the ZJs, so that's where my head's staying as far as Jeep Land


Thanks in advance, and nice to meet all of you!

- Jeff

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Jeff, PM me with your number and a time to call, so much easier than typing it all out.

 

[Aegis]

Jeff, PM me with your number and a time to call, so much easier than typing it all out.

I'll shoot a PM your way come morning; putting the dog to bed now, and tomorrow's a helluva day for me work-wise. I'll take a look at the ol' calendar, figure a time out that I can have a sit and a chat, and get back to ya!

... and thanks!!

 

[reece146]

Strike off the Disco and add the WJ.

Also consider Land Cruisers (80 series, 100 series), Mitsu Montero, 4Runner and LR3.

 

[yossarian19]

The ZJ is fine. The WJ is better. More power, better trans, bigger / better brakes, more modern steering & more comfortable to drive. The 4.7 isn't quite as reliable a motor as the 5.2 but has more power.
For WJ money, you probably can't touch a newer (comparable size) 4Runner. An Xterra might work but I hear bad things about reliability. Honda offers nothing in the league. Chevy has the 4.3 S10 Blazers and the 5.7 / 5.3 Tahoe, so, over or under size. Ford Explorers bring the fail. Dodge Durango is a bigger rig and I know nothing about them.
I wouldn't modify the WJ beyond skid plates and high end shocks. Honest to god - wheel it, beat it, expo it, DD it - dont' lift it until you find a real need. The Jeep 4-link suspensions will shock you with what they'll do stock. Lift it & you open a bag of worms that can only be closed with more money.

Land rovers are very nice rigs that are unreliable at best and expensive as all get-out to maintain.

 

[Aegis]

A note: I'm not looking to build an XJ or anything else. I've got a soft-spot for the ZJs, so that's where my head's staying as far as Jeep Land

Though I appreciate the suggestions of a WJ, I'm just not into them. The other vehicles, though more than capable and nice, aren't anything I'm interested in. I'm not looking to sell my house, quit my job, and travel the world... So I'm not looking to buy a vehicle based SOLELY on what it's capabilities are. I've got three in mind, and those are the three I'm considering. The reasons may not be the best in the world, and I'm sure there are some rigs out there that're better as far as others concerned, but that's where my head's at

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I'll shoot a PM your way come morning; putting the dog to bed now, and tomorrow's a helluva day for me work-wise. I'll take a look at the ol' calendar, figure a time out that I can have a sit and a chat, and get back to ya!

... and thanks!!

Shoot it on over.

 

[VistaCruiser]

30"x9.50R15 or 31" with a small lift/stock if you trim. Sliders, skids, spare shafts from the junk yard for cheap. Upgrade to u-joint axle shafts & 760x u-joints for cheap & over-insurance on smaller tires. Hope you find a ZJ with a decent 249, otherwise look up NP231/242 swap. I should of went this way with my ZJ, but it's more of a trail machine now. The WJ I just picked up on the other hand......

Sam

 

[yossarian19]

OK, no WJ. Gotcha.
I wouldn't do the Disco 2.
The Isuzu will probably be better built than the ZJ but with harder to find / more expensive parts. The ZJ build quality honestly is nothing to write home about.
Good news, though, is that most of the benefits of the WJ (over the ZJ) can be swapped in on the ZJ over time. Control arms, big brakes, crossover steering - all just the turn of a wrench away.
Get the 5.2 ZJ. It's thirsty but it will get the job done. It's also like a grownup's erector set: take it apart, build it a little better, repeat.
Honestly, though - get a '98 ZJ with the 5.2, put some LT tires on it & make sure you have skid plates under the gas tank and transfer case, put some U-joint shafts in it (or not, under 30" tires it wont matter) and have fun. Lifts will only make the ZJ suspension squirrelly.

 

[xjman88]

Hey im in central maine. I run a decently built 96 zj. I have a build thread on here. And my brother Black zj will steer u in the right direction. Pm my your number and we can chat.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

OK, no WJ. Gotcha.
I wouldn't do the Disco 2.
The Isuzu will probably be better built than the ZJ but with harder to find / more expensive parts. The ZJ build quality honestly is nothing to write home about.
Good news, though, is that most of the benefits of the WJ (over the ZJ) can be swapped in on the ZJ over time. Control arms, big brakes, crossover steering - all just the turn of a wrench away.
Get the 5.2 ZJ. It's thirsty but it will get the job done. It's also like a grownup's erector set: take it apart, build it a little better, repeat.
Honestly, though - get a '98 ZJ with the 5.2, put some LT tires on it & make sure you have skid plates under the gas tank and transfer case, put some U-joint shafts in it (or not, under 30" tires it wont matter) and have fun. Lifts will only make the ZJ suspension squirrelly.

You obviously have very little experience with them, so you might be better off keeping your "ideas" to yourself.

 

[reece146]

You obviously have very little experience with them, so you might be better off keeping your "ideas" to yourself.

Your post would be much more useful if you outlined the points with which you take exception.

Just sayin'.

 

[yossarian19]

You obviously have very little experience with them, so you might be better off keeping your "ideas" to yourself.

Yeah, I could have figured on somebody taking exception to that. I should have been more precise. And for the record, I drive an XJ - same front suspension but with a high pinion axle.
A 1" lift on that suspension, you won't notice. A 2", you might. 3" depending on LP or HP dana 30, some people report vibes and the steering grows a dead spot. Adjustable control arms are recommended along with longer sway bar links. I don't know how the ZJ rear reacts to lift, but in the front axles vibes are common.
At 4" your steering dead spot grows, ride quality suffers badly, etc etc, you want to start looking at your steering angles here. Flip to over the knuckle, drop pitman, whatever you have to do.
I rarely see people complain about death wobble and F*ed ride quality, steering, etc on stock suspensions or up to 2" lifts. Rarely? Never, really.
I'm not saying you "cant" do a quality, problem free lift on a ZJ / XJ / TJ / MJ / WJ suspension, I'm saying its more involved and more expensive than people anticipate and it really isn't necessary for anyone who isn't wheeling for the sake of wheeling bigger badder harder.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Yeah, I could have figured on somebody taking exception to that. I should have been more precise. And for the record, I drive an XJ - same front suspension but with a high pinion axle.
A 1" lift on that suspension, you won't notice. A 2", you might. 3" depending on LP or HP dana 30, some people report vibes and the steering grows a dead spot. Adjustable control arms are recommended along with longer sway bar links. I don't know how the ZJ rear reacts to lift, but in the front axles vibes are common.
At 4" your steering dead spot grows, ride quality suffers badly, etc etc, you want to start looking at your steering angles here. Flip to over the knuckle, drop pitman, whatever you have to do.
I rarely see people complain about death wobble and F*ed ride quality, steering, etc on stock suspensions or up to 2" lifts. Rarely? Never, really.
I'm not saying you "cant" do a quality, problem free lift on a ZJ / XJ / TJ / MJ / WJ suspension, I'm saying its more involved and more expensive than people anticipate and it really isn't necessary for anyone who isn't wheeling for the sake of wheeling bigger badder harder.

I'm running a 6in long arm setup on my 97 without even a front stabilizer and can cruise at 75 without any issues, care to tell me why? Because I did things RIGHT.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Jeff, would you be taking possession of the Mrs current 97 or looking for another?

What's the intended usage? Local or lots of interstate running west etc?

If I had it to do over again.. i'd opt for a clean V8 limited/leather 2-3" with 30/31's. Comfort and the power to pull hills with a taller tire and not need gearing right away.. that could come later if even taller tires were being considered. That'll get you around forest and logging roads in the North East... and most places out west. But it wont be a rock crawler to much degree.

Keep in mind ZJ's are not cheap to build correctly.. the taller in suspension the deeper into pocket.

I had been an XJ owner for the last 15 years, decided to build a ZJ. Went too tall (had a lot of the parts) for what I need in a Jeep anymore.. 4.5" 33's etc. But it's almost ready for the open road.