Post by SCAMPER ZJ on Mar 4, 2006 15:53:50 GMT -5
OK, I've had a chance to check out some of the other rigs, guess it's my turn to post mine! 
'98 ZJ Laredo, bought this most recent one a couple of years ago - had a 3" Rancho lift on my first one, had it switched out and put on this one before I left the dealer. I also kept my 32x11.5 Mickey Thompsons.
I picked up a K&N FIPK shortly after the purchase of my ZJ, and after saving up for a bit, I was able to put in some Mike Leach headers along with a Car Sound cat and FlowMaster muffler. Not too long after that, I put in the Mopar performance chip. As you can see, there are also some vents in the hood - my first sheet-metal job!
The next big project was the 7" lift from www.kevinsoffroad.com. I nearly went broke that summer, but after we got it installed and put on the new 35x12.5 MTR's, it sure looked sweet!
Wheeling as compared to before was a whole new experience with the 7" lift. I was still running factory gears and axles, and actually doing pretty well. . .but you know how it is, you gots to have lockers! ;D Of course, the aluminum 44 in the rear didn't leave me many options (Aussie now has a locker www.offroadlockers.com/, but didn't at the time), and I decided that if I was going to change things, I wanted to make sure it was a full locker, not just limited slip. This necessitated an axle swap. I found an 8.8 on eBay and acquired a D30hp from a friend for $150, and went to town with 'em!
I know what you are thinking, why didn't he just go with 70's front and rear
. . .well, cost and availability at the time kind of guided that decision. Honestly, the front setup - high pinion with 760 axles/u-joints and a welded truss - has held up pretty well so far, and the rear 8.8 is quite durable (though I did need to replace a blown Auburn ECTED with a Detroit automatic locker last year).
Along the way there have been a variety of little projects, such as some fender trimming, the t-case swap (249 for a 231), a cargo shelf, some steering upgrades, and a front bumper. If you want to read more about these, or just view some trip pics, you can go to my site at www.jeepsite.net.
I kept it looking pretty nice until this last year when I dinged both front doors on the same rock at French Creek on the Holy Cross trail (I have a LOT of body roll with coil springs front and rear, even WITHOUT the spare on top). Thereafter the carnage seemed to be relentless. Below is a pic of some of my custom Colorado pinstriping and contouring:
Future plans? You bet! But they haven't been finalized. I am trying to decide if I want to try to get it looking nice again, or just go all out with an exocage, coil-overs, 38's, a shaved 9 in the rear, and 60hp front. I suspect limited funds will land me somewhere in between, but whatever it becomes, I'll continue to have fun wheelin' it! ;D
'98 ZJ Laredo, bought this most recent one a couple of years ago - had a 3" Rancho lift on my first one, had it switched out and put on this one before I left the dealer. I also kept my 32x11.5 Mickey Thompsons.
I picked up a K&N FIPK shortly after the purchase of my ZJ, and after saving up for a bit, I was able to put in some Mike Leach headers along with a Car Sound cat and FlowMaster muffler. Not too long after that, I put in the Mopar performance chip. As you can see, there are also some vents in the hood - my first sheet-metal job!
The next big project was the 7" lift from www.kevinsoffroad.com. I nearly went broke that summer, but after we got it installed and put on the new 35x12.5 MTR's, it sure looked sweet!
Wheeling as compared to before was a whole new experience with the 7" lift. I was still running factory gears and axles, and actually doing pretty well. . .but you know how it is, you gots to have lockers! ;D Of course, the aluminum 44 in the rear didn't leave me many options (Aussie now has a locker www.offroadlockers.com/, but didn't at the time), and I decided that if I was going to change things, I wanted to make sure it was a full locker, not just limited slip. This necessitated an axle swap. I found an 8.8 on eBay and acquired a D30hp from a friend for $150, and went to town with 'em!
I know what you are thinking, why didn't he just go with 70's front and rear
. . .well, cost and availability at the time kind of guided that decision. Honestly, the front setup - high pinion with 760 axles/u-joints and a welded truss - has held up pretty well so far, and the rear 8.8 is quite durable (though I did need to replace a blown Auburn ECTED with a Detroit automatic locker last year).Along the way there have been a variety of little projects, such as some fender trimming, the t-case swap (249 for a 231), a cargo shelf, some steering upgrades, and a front bumper. If you want to read more about these, or just view some trip pics, you can go to my site at www.jeepsite.net.
I kept it looking pretty nice until this last year when I dinged both front doors on the same rock at French Creek on the Holy Cross trail (I have a LOT of body roll with coil springs front and rear, even WITHOUT the spare on top). Thereafter the carnage seemed to be relentless. Below is a pic of some of my custom Colorado pinstriping and contouring:
Future plans? You bet! But they haven't been finalized. I am trying to decide if I want to try to get it looking nice again, or just go all out with an exocage, coil-overs, 38's, a shaved 9 in the rear, and 60hp front. I suspect limited funds will land me somewhere in between, but whatever it becomes, I'll continue to have fun wheelin' it! ;D
