Sold the XJ, now a long term 96 ZJ build.

[IllianaXJ]

Whoever decided to use Torx bolts on both ends of the rear trackbar is an idiot.

 

[BlaZeJeep]

Hey your ZJ is looking good there IXJ. Just saw you were posting here along with JF, looks like things are coming along nicely. Really you need to get that thing out and hit a few trails with it. I agree those Torx bolts are a pain...PB Blaster is your friend... I soaked everything for several days before I put my lift on, made things go much easier...Oh and an impact wrench didn't hurt either.

 

[xjman88]

Ya i was one of those NAXJA guys for years as i had 2 built xjs. Im lovin my new zj.

 

[IllianaXJ]

Trust me, they were soaked in Kroil for a while before attempting removal. I got the axle end halfway out before the Torx stripped, and the frame end I just cut. The bolt was withered away to almost nothing , I would have had to replace it anyway.

I'm still a full member of NAXJA, they're pretty tolerant of my ZJ

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Lookin good! I just got a 98 limited ZJ, black pro comp steels with 32s and a rubicon 4.5 long arm and I love it. I'm already in like 3 times as much as you haha I wish I could have found a cheap car that wasnt a piece of junk to build. Have you hit any trails or anything woth it yet? Im wondering how the heavy front bumper affects the balance going down inclines?

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

The ARB bumper only adds about 70lbs to the front end, I can carry mine with one hand and re-install it by myself.

 

[IllianaXJ]

I left the ZJ in the shop overnight and a buddy of mine took it upon himself to weld a nut to the stripped Torx and backed it the rest of the way out. Gotta love friends. Just need 2 new bolts and I'll have a non-clunking rear axle.

 

[IllianaXJ]

Rear trackbar installed and rear swaybar removed.

How she sits currently:

 

[IllianaXJ]

Threw on a couple fog lights I've had sitting around for a while. Wired them into the stock fog light wiring for ease of installation.

 

[FlexdXJ]

Ready to dent it in a few days?

 

[IllianaXJ]

Yep

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Threw on a couple fog lights I've had sitting around for a while. Wired them into the stock fog light wiring for ease of installation.

I hope the wiring can handle it.

 

[IllianaXJ]

I hope the wiring can handle it.

They're factory fogs from another vehicle. Should be ok.

 

[Recce01]

stoked to see some ZJs being built. I intend to start my thread soon too! What a score for $900, I am jealous!!

 

[IllianaXJ]

Wheeled it last weekend at NAXJA's Winterfest in Attica, IN at the Badlands ORP. Installed my new-to-me 245/75/16 MTRs on Soft 8s at the campground and wheeled them all weekend. Only one pic, I was tailgunning the run and didn't have a passenger to take pics. Did awesome, had to keep it reined in to save the front CV shafts, which were already making noise.

Scored big on parts this week also. Picked up a set of u-joint D30 shafts and a pair of D44a shafts from a buddy, all for $50.

Also scored a Mopar gas tank skid and t'case skid from the junkyard, $50 for the pair. I know they're not super beefy, but better than nothing, especially for the price.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

If you are still running the 249 transfer case you will prefer having the CV's, I'm running 35's and mine are still doing fine. I may even stick with CV's once I swap in the 242.