The beginning of a "Grand" affair

[SteveTheFolkie]

Ok, YJ's, XJ's, 2 CJ's (one 5, one 2) - this is my first ZJ and my first attempt at using photobucket - show's 150K on the clock but it received a new Jasper rebuilt engine, transmission and t-case @ 80K.  Also my first "selectrack" transfercase - if it gives me any trouble it'll get swapped for a 231.  Runs great, all the gee-gaws work, leather and carpet are in great shape, I'm the 2nd owner - apparently the 1st owner took care of his or her stuff!

[PaulW]

I like zj's they were the very first 4 coil sprung jeep.  Watch out for the poopy Dana 35 out back.  An 8.8 ford is usually a good swap in those, as you can retain the disc brakes.

[SteveTheFolkie]

Thanks - I'll keep that in mind (differential) - she's a 4.0 I6, as such shouldn't tax the diff like a V8 ...  it's currently running 31's with minimal rub (only @ full lock), might do a budget lift (2" spring spacers) just to get a bit more attitude (and altitude), not interested in building it into a rock crawler or anything like that - it's going to be a daily driver.

Cheers

Steve

[SteveTheFolkie]

She seems to be a keeper.  Last Wednesday I drove from Abbottstown to Detroit and then Windsor Canada - hit a meeting on Thursday then drove to Toronto - hit a meeting Friday morning then drove from Toronto through Niagara Falls (slowly I turned, inch by inch, step by step ....(sorry for the stooges regression)) and home to Abbottsotown - 18MPG the whole way (pissing down rain for most of Wednesday and Friday), used no oil, didn't miss a beat and I was comfortable the whole time.
Yep - the start of a GRAND affair!
She does need tires - thinking of going with 30*9.5*15 BFG TA AT's - did some measuring and they won't rub at full lock - it'll never be a rock crawler being as nice as it is.

Cheers

Steve

[PaulW]

Glad your enjoying it.  Welcome to the grand crowd!

[SteveTheFolkie]

New tires this morning - runs great - handles better(the wife even likes driving it) - no rust (like zero) underneath except for one brake line that'll be replaced next weekend (had one blow out on an XJ - NOT a prime moment in my life) - putting shocks on it when I get back from Austria (mid May - business trip - tough life - fly into Munich, take the A1 to Austria, reserved an M3 as a rental, company pays for everything but speeding tickets (130KPH in Austria so I've gotta keep it around 90MPH) - odd thing is - I smile when I drive this jeep - the last car that had that effect on me was a grey market scirocco 16V GTI - so she's a keeper (scirocco had a horrible death - tin worm on the front strut towers) -

Cheers

Steve

[SteveTheFolkie]

Still driving the old girl, it's been a year or so, replaced the alternator and serp belt (whoo-hoo!) - recently (post thaw) the front suspension has started to groan over bumps - suspect a worn ball joint - will take a peek at that over the weekend... headed to Austria next month (business again) - have a G-Wagen reserved - interested to see how it does on the unrestricted 'bahn between Munich and the Austrian border on a Sunday (no trucks allowed!) - betcha it's better than the Renault Clio I had last year!  Yeah - the ZJ is a heck of a vehicle!  It's been a very good year ...