So after just coming back from Moab with my XJ, I am now looking to build something different. My XJ currently is a pretty beat up rig, been rollled once and is currently set up with:
4.3 vortec, 4.60e, 233
5.5 RE short arm
TJ front with OX and chromos
Isuzu trooper rear,welded.
35" BFG's.


What I am looking to build is a 4door family wagon that sits low with big tires, one tons, and enough body protection for the trails I wheel, but not so much that it looks like a jungle gym.

I have picked up a 94 ZJ to start with. It currently is bone stock with the 4.0 in it. I have one tons for it 60/14, and 44" TSL"S. Anybody have any good picutres or links to a lower rider ZJ on big rubber?

I guess I should clarify that most I have seen on here are lifted a bunch and cut like crazy. I want to keep my next project living low. Right now the 44's are on my Blazer with only 4" of lift. Am thinking about keeping to a 4 to 5 inch lift. Stretching the wheelbase/opening up the wheelwells, but still keep the body weathertight to retain the A/C and Heat, and keep the the supplies out of the weather.

I like this pic of a member on here

http://fototime.com/BF744D4BD0416D8/standard.jpg

I am lifted about 5.5" with 40's. It can definitely be done but did take alot of time and a big hammer to do it. My COG is great, I run no sway bars and am very stable so it was well worth the effort. My fenders are not opened up alot, I run a narrow axle, 64", with a high offset wheel, 5.5", to clear. I had to go to a different wheel so I am building tube fenders to clear the fronts.

Right on, I wouldn't mind smaller tires, but I already have the 44's, so why not?

I don't mind cutting at all to fit the tires, I just want to keep a ZJ look to it. Been thinking of relocation the air filter and battery so I can cut more into the fender area. Would like to have almost a 90 degree approach departure angle at both ends.

In my opinion there is absolutely no way to fit that size tire with the lift you are describing. My uptravel is already heavily restricted and I still get into my fender wells and oil pan with my steering and trackbar. My buddies 42's are huge compared to my 40's. I would love to get on a 42 but there is no way unless the fenders were basically gone, in the rear you are restricted on how big you make the fender well because the fenderwell is structure for the quarters, mine are as big as they can go, and I rub. To clear a 44 you need to go up, or cut the living shit out of it, and then you are taking integrity out of the unibody, I would go with a rig that had a frame for that purpose. Even with being on only 40's with tons, I have spent hundreds of hours reinforcing the structure of the body to hold it together. If I wanted a lower rig on a bigger tire then I already run I would start fabricating a frame, or build a k5 or the likes.

Already have a K5, and want it to be back on 35s as I miss daily driving it. I know frame stiffening is in order, had to do lots of it to my XJ. The XJ is pretty beatup, rode hard, put away wet. May swap all the stuff to a new body soon so that the window quits leaking water on me.

I am not afraid to chop/build on the ZJ, I was already looking at reinforcing the frame, cutting the front fenderwells up to the headlight and hood if need be. In the back I was looking at cutting the wheelwell in half and stretching it back to the rear hatch. The finish it all off with some sheetmetal. If I thought I could realistically fit 44's on it with no lift, I would, but I want a little uptravel.

It can be done, but you said you wanted to keep it looking like a zj, it wont look like a zj, you are going to have to cut out everything. You also said you wanted a low lift, that cant be done, you will need 8 inches likely to clear them with massive cutting. Alot of guys run 8 inches to clear 37's, massive cutting with around 8" may clear a 44.

I am just explaining to you I have MASSIVELY cut out everything in my fender wells, and barely clear 40's. I have moved the air filter, battery box, and all of the egr crap. On top of that the inner wells have been beaten to death to get them moved up and out of the way and I still rub. My opinion of the zj is that to go as big as you are saying is unrealistic, they dont have the structure for it once the sheet metal is removed to clear the tires and, once you lift high enough to get over the tires, your cog will be to high.
But start cutting, and lets see what you come up with, when I started everyone said I would need 8+ inches to clear 40's.

I am still in the decisions mode. 44's are coming off the blazer for sure. The extra one ton's I have and 44's are going to find their way either under the XJ or the ZJ for sure, I just thought the ZJ would be a cooler build.

Here's the rigs I have to work with:

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj181/lumpdog1/ZJ%20project/P1010140.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj181/lumpdog1/ZJ%20project/P1010141.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj181/lumpdog1/ZJ%20project/P1010142.jpg

Nice Blazer

Thanks Kid. I like the way it sits, but I want to daily drive it again.


Anybody else have pictures of what I looking for?

I guess I should clarify that most I have seen on here are lifted a bunch and cut like crazy. I want to keep my next project living low. Right now the 44's are on my Blazer with only 4" of lift. Am thinking about keeping to a 4 to 5 inch lift. Stretching the wheelbase/opening up the wheelwells, but still keep the body weathertight to retain the A/C and Heat, and keep the the supplies out of the weather.

I like this pic of a member on here

http://fototime.com/BF744D4BD0416D8/standard.jpg


That is my buddy AprilzWarrior.

It is on HP60/14b full width with 42" swampers and just a tad bit of trimming. :laughing::laughing:

You can search under my username, there are pics of mine recently in the boatside thread, I may be a little smaller then what you are thinking though. They are kind of shitty pics, I was in a hurry and didnt paint any of the new sheet metal. I will post new pics of it soon, I built tube fenders and am repainting most of it.

I am running about 8 inches of lift to fit my 40's...keep in mind, up front i chopped 5 inches out of the fender...I drive mine on the street but like Kidkrawler said...to run 42's, you would HAVE to move the gastank, and pretty much go full hydro because you would need to stretch the front pretty nicely. My 40s still rub and I am still spending massive hours to make them work..if I wanted to run 42s or bigger, I would most likeley get a wrangler.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa45/zj95maxx/DSCN1214.jpg

http://photos-a.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v358/145/6/657390617/n657390617_4320528_6869.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa45/zj95maxx/DSCN1215.jpg

if I wanted to run 42s or bigger, I would most likeley get a wrangler.



blasphemy:shaking:

:flipoff2:

On the point of the gas tank, because of how low I am my 14 bolt was about 3 inches from the tank, it had to be moved to clear the axle.

Cool pics. Gas tank move is no biggie, might just weld up a new one and/or raise the floor as well.

I was looking at the pics and I like yours Grand ZJ. By looking at your pic, I think I would want my rear axle back about 8 inches, and the front forward about 6 to 8 inches.

The rear I think will be easy, just some cutting and welding to open the wheelwell back to the gate and tail lights. The front would obviously be the hardest. Cutting the inner wheel wells and fender to clear. Possibly cutting and filling the park lights as well. I really like the idea of this project, even though I will probably pull my hair out. I have lots of other wheeling rigs, so if this doesn't work out, no harm.

The goal is to have a big tired rig that I can drive locally to the trails, have fun, stay warm and dry, and have room for my gear. The XJ pretty much did that, but I am getting tired of it. And I like my Blazer too much to destroy it much more.

So last Friday I picked up another 4.0 94 ZJ for cheap, and this one is four wheel drive. The body is beat, but it runs and drives well. So now I am tempted to just swap the 4wd parts over to the red 2wd. Also, I picked up two Dodge dana 60 fronts and 2 dodge 205 tcases for super cheap, almost unbelievably cheap.



Now what to do?? Swap the D60's right drive in along with the 205? Stick with the left drive 60 and 231? Keep the ZJ mostly stock with 35's and the lift parts from my XJ? Too many parts, too many projects.

not that youll be going the rockwell route, but its one of maybe only 2 i have ever seen on 44's. in this picture that is a stock s10 blazer in the background and it comes up to the hood on this jeep. when this picture was taken it hadnt been cut that much up as far as comp. cut fenders go, but since has had the whole back chopped off. im not sure where those pictures are, this one is from a thread over on mallcrawlin:

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum//showthread.php?t=6411

i had some ramp flex pics of it saved somewhere on my computer but cant find them.

i hate to be negative, but those 44's are going to be tough to get on with that little amount of lift, but this is pirate........ anything is possible:flipoff2:

i say sell the old 44's and get a set of 40" ltb's..... something a little more manageable

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4112/rwjpb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/rwjpb2.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img99/rwjpb2.jpg/1/)

Here is mine with 8" springs and 42's on nerrowed 60's.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5246/img1475th0.jpg

Damn! those are both cool rigs. The rocks are sweet. Could have had rocks, but passed them on to a friend of mine.

Well, looks like this project is going away now, picked up a 97 Dodge 1500 for my new rock rig, I have always been a full size guy anyhow.


Anyways, if anyone is interested, both ZJ's or for sale and so is the XJ, whole or in parts. I have some of them listed in the for sale forums on here.

Thanks for the ideas on this project, just moving on to bigger and better things now.