New Project, maybe...

[cincygman]

My new project is a 96 Grand Cherokee that was my sisters for over 10 years. Garage kept and very well maintained. She was rear ended a few weeks ago and pushed into the car in front of her. Of course because of the age and mileage, the insurance company totaled it. So I ask her to find out what the buy back is. $560.00! cool, I bought it. It finally got towed to the house this week and I got a good look under neath last night. Bad news, the left frame rail is kinked where the lower control arm mounts. So the left rear wheel sits forward about 3/4 of an inch.
So now my question; get the frame pulled, rebuild and drive it? or put on a long arm kit, 38's and wheel it!

[cincygman]

pics.........

[yellowjacket]

Long arm it ...fo sho.....

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[cincygman]

OK, priced out long arm kit today and body parts. That looks like the way to go for now. I mean, what the heck. I wanted to lift this buggy sometime any way, right? Why not go all in...... So who wants a slightly used 86' XJ? Anybody? Bueller? Hello? :D

[cincygman]

Picked up the Long Arm kit today :) now if only someone would by this slightly used XJ..........

[WrenchMonkey]

Holy chit that's a lotta boxes...

[cincygman]

Yea I hope there are pictures with the instructions!

[Coppertop]

If the ZJ installation manuel is set up the same as the XJ...There will be plenty of pics to reference.

Nick

[cincygman]

Got more parts today......

[cincygman]

Stage 1 of my GRAND ZJ build is well under way. Stage 1 is repairing the body, very minor damage. Less than my XJ project. Getting the salvage inspection passed before installing the 4" RC LA kit. Today, got the HD44 hanging under it. The D35 was damaged in the wreck. I had to remove broken bolts and rust frozen rotors from the 44 before hanging it. Also got a huge box delivered today with most of the replacement body parts today.

[cincygman]

more

[cincygman]

took another measurement of the rearend after hanging the 44. only 3/8 inch shorter on that side now. Looks like there is some room in the control arm bolt hole to gain just a little more. Should be good enough for salvage inspection. since all they care about is having receipts for your parts.... :D

[cincygman]

Stage one of this project is about finished.....now just gotta schedule receipt, I mean, "salvage" inspection. Then, after I get the trans replaced in daughters Honda, she says a cat ran out in front of her:confused: The long arm install begins :thumbup:

[Coppertop]

Lookin' good... Love the chrome grille.:thumbup:

Nick

WHO-DEY

[cincygman]

Yea, chrome was $4.00 more than the black..... so i go for it :D lol

[cincygman]

Stage 1 DONE!

Had the salvage (receipt) inspection today. Good thing I had the right receipts for the bumper covers. :D for the salvage inspection. Lets not worry about the possible uni-body damage or possible suspension damage. It was totaled after all...................

It passed ;)

[cincygman]

Stage 2 has begun.......

[cincygman]

more

[cincygman]

and......

[cincygman]

and another

[ITLLFLI]

and another


Looks good! Your tires come in tomorrow!:beers:

rzrnation!:thumbup:

[cincygman]

Looks good! Your tires come in tomorrow!:beers:

rzrnation!:thumbup:

SWEET! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[cincygman]

Install about 95% complete. Alignment scheduled for Sat. Hopefully I can adjust the rear pinion angle to something more acceptable. Getting the tires Friday :thumbup:

[Coppertop]

Lookin good..You planning on makin' the Hang Over Run?

Nick
WHO-DEY

[cincygman]

I would like to but I wont be locked on either end and I am going to work on some tow points. But that never stopped me before :D

[cincygman]

Back from alignment shop.....

[yellowjacket]

looks really good man:beer:

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[whacko810]

what size tires did you put on it. We are going to be doing the same lift to my father inlaws grand. Its the same color and everything

[cincygman]

Cool :thumbup: 32X11.50X15 If your doing the same kit I have some tips for you....

[cincygman]

Did a little off road test last night. Nothing hard just some small steep hills, some flexing. now I have a noise when braking and the radiator started leaking :eek: nothing is ever easy :mad:

[ITLLFLI]

looks great!:thumbup:

[cincygman]

It began, now it will never stop........

fabricated and installed proper tow points on the front. something the XJ never had. Made some adjustments to an XJ trailer hitch for rear tow point. Tucked it up underneath real nice ;)

[cincygman]

and....

[cincygman]

Trailer hitch......

[cincygman]

Oh, and the full size spare :D

[Coppertop]

Nice work Gary....:thumbup: I really like the way you did the front tow points..

Nick
WHO-DEY

[cincygman]

Maiden voyage complete! Wow! what a different ride with the long arms! Only had to be pulled once. :D A very slippery hill climb with 90 degree turn. Thanks to the Yota for the pull :thumbup:

[cincygman]

Front tow points worked very well

[cincygman]

Ha the old XJ flexing......

[Red Dog]

The hard work paid off, it looked good out there.

[cincygman]

The hard work paid off, it looked good out there.

Thanks! :thumbup:

[CNTLOSE]

Well I hate to say it, but I think I am going to end up with your twin. I had planned on doing the SA kit, but after reading several articles and this thread I think this LA kit is the way to go. Funny thing is I was also looking at those same wheels from TireRack.com. :D

[cincygman]

That's funny :D I wanted to go with black steels but got these used for $200 so that was easy decision..... but if you are really set on this style wheel........ :)

[whacko810]

I think im going to have my Father inlaw paint his that will be too many jeeps looking alike lol :beers:

[cincygman]

LOL :thumbup:

[CNTLOSE]

I am also looking athe MT wheels so nothing for sure yet, but the AR wheels are cheaper.

Funny thing is I thought mine was a some what rare color. I see mostly red, blue, green, white, and purple on the roadways. Now that I have it, it seems everyone on every site has the same one. :D

...must just be good taste. :beers:

[cincygman]

Update:
So I have about 3000 miles on the Grand since installing the LA's. Been on the trails twice before this weekend but both those times it was pretty wet and muddy, (the Turtle was a soup bowl) so I had yet to really put it to the test or at least challenge its ability a little. Well what a difference it makes when you can flex and keep all four tires on the ground! Dropping in and out of the creek, off camber climbs, ruts no problem. Compared to the XJ, when it wasn't locked up front, this thing with out being locked just kept on going. It was really fun. I got the front wheel well pinch seems done before this weekend and the extended front brake lines on too. So next is getting the rocker guards finished, trussing the D44HD and on and on....

[monkeystrong]

Nice job! That thing looks like a lot of fun.

[cincygman]

Thank you and it is, both on and off road :)

[cincygman]

something never added to the build thread.

[Coppertop]

Looking good.Hope to see you on the trail this spring.

Nick

[Flint]

It's looking good. I like your Fab of the tow points and the rock sliders. I am curious about your tires at full stuff. I looks tight in the fender wells so do you plan on opening them up?

[cincygman]

Thanks Nick, I hope to get out more this year too. We have more techs at work now so should free up some time, or maybe cause more work for me..... :winking:

Flint, No plans yet to open up the wheel wells. It wheels pretty good like it is with minor contacting issues at the front when turning flexed. The plan was to eventually graduate to 35's and up it to 6" lift but I'm not ready for that yet. So I'm doing a bunch of other little mods for now to work on reliability and trail ready-ness. I picked up a winch so now I'm working on integrating the winch mount onto the tow points and upgrading the charging/electrical system. Also still have under carriage led lights to install, over head lighting to install and some day, put in a CB. It sure is fun to drive the way is right now though. :thumbsUp:

[CNTLOSE]

Any more updates? Plan on going to the pull and pay tomorrow to hopefully dig up a few things I need.

We still need to get the sisters together.