97 TJ Heep to Zombie Killing Jeep Build by north50

12 minute(s) of a 286 minute read

Still have a list of things to be done to the white Jeep so I can say it is finished for now.
Oil Change - DONE
Install Adj Rear Trac Bar
Install rear Bumper - DONE
Install BL & MML
Install GTS
Wire up Winch - DONE
Install Driver side door handle - DONE
Change diff fluid in both axles
Install Ausie locker in dana 30 and riddler diff cover
Buy 35" Tires
Install Cowling and wipers - DONE


Ok so I have a ton of things to do yet but i did figure out where to mount my license plate. I bought a magnet wrapped in rubber that dealers use to slap plates on a car when test driving.


I've really started turning my attention to the 5.2L v8 and what else I need to do in preparation for the swap.

Axles - Still not 100% which way I'm going to go but leaning toward an 8.8 for the rear that some day down the road would be transplanted into the white Jeep.
Lift - thinking about coil overs and custom 4-link and tri up front

I'd like to have a rolling chassis to start with when putting the motor in. Which brings me to what the motor needs. I'm going to finish the tear down next week and have the block and heads sent out for machine work. I have it this far apart figure I should build up the motor some. I already have alot of parts but need an oil pump, main bearings and few other little things. I'm going to rob the steering box out of the v8 jeep for now to use in the white Jeep, that one is leaking bad. Then I'll end up putting an upgraded box in the v8 jeep.

Will be finishing the white Jeep in the next month or so but I'm getting back to the v8 build as time permits starting now

8-3-2012

So in my quest to find axles for the v8 build I came across an interesting piece. It is a Dana 35, I know but wait, it has super 35 shafts (30 spline) an ARB locker, 4.88 gears, HD Jeep diff cover with lube locker and disk brakes for $550. So I bought it, to go in the white jeep and then the stock 35 will come out and "back" into the v8 jeep. It will just be in it so I can roll it around and get the v8 done. Will put 4.88's in the front Dana 30 and although I'm going up to 35's on the white jeep it won't be used hard and so don't expect issues with the S35 shafts. But if I do the deal came with an extra set S35 shafts to carry as trail parts. After I sell the 35 out of the v8 jeep you figure I'm only in this axle for about $350 and it is built out, seemed like a good deal for what action that jeep will see. Time to buy an on board air compressor

Other Jeep work has been almost non existent as of late but I keep selling random crap on eBay and building the bank to buy deals as they come along.

8-4-2012

So a few small strides made today. I cleaned up and painted the diff cover that came with the new to me Dana 35. looks pretty good and should be in clear view when I get the Rokmen GTS on. i also got out the JKS 1.25" BL I had bought a long time ago to install and the MML.

Found a spot for my license plate.

The winch is now wired up and working well also added an isolator.

Finished the drivers door inside and out. Interior is looking fantastic, wish I had taken better pictures of what it was like when I bought it.

It's come a long way.

8-9-2012

Drove the Jeep to work today. Was the first time really driving it down the road. The steering box was whining and needs replaced and I have an exhaust leak that makes it sound horrible but it didn't really matter. I was loving every minute of it. Considering I purchased this Jeep in October of last year it was great being able to use it as transportation. Just happened we had the tint guy scheduled to come in today so went ahead and had the front doors tinted.

Of course since it is a Jeep the A/C isn't working and so I left it at work due to not being able to roll down the windows. Then the kicker was after having the tint done I moved it and the check engine light came on So I'll scan it for codes tomm and figure out what thats about. Also plan on switching the interiors over tomm so the white Jeep has the black interior from the V8 Jeep in it.

8-10-2012

Thank you, It will be nice to get it offroad and use it for what it was intended for. 

I hooked the Jeep up to the scanner today and it has a misfire in cylinder #2. I plan on changing all the plugs from auto lites to champion and running some injector cleaner through it. I changed the oil today and added some Lucas additive to help clear out any build up. Have fluids to flush the transfer case, transmission and cooling system.

Tint looks very dark in the sunlight, menacing for a white Jeep.

8-11-2012

Well with the check engine light coming on I figured I would go about fixing known issues to narrow this down. Mainly the exhaust header and catalytic converter/down pipe. I had replaced the cat back section of the exhaustwith a MBRP setup and it is nice but because everything in front of it is crap it is hard to tell if it is really any good. So I have a new Magnaflow cat/downpipe and a cheap header (since they all seem to crack) bought and being shipped. Also bought new NTK O2 sensors to go in as well.

I will be replacing the steering box with a durango box as the stocker whines so much it makes it hard to hear other issues. It leaks so bad I can't see trying to repair it. Once these two things are handled I'll regroup and figure out what the next priority is, I'm hoping it is the SYE.

8-22-2012

Thank you.

ummm, stopped by Advanced Auto and saw this......... don't even know what to say really, but figured I'd share. Made my full size jeep look like a toy, speaking of toy....

Well life has been hectic so not much to report on the full size Jeep. I did how ever come across this little guy on ebay for $15 and had to have it. Figuring it would make a great addition to my desk at work and a good motivator to keep making money so I can mod the real ones

Of course it says Jeep on it so I had to lift it. Brand new moab take offs for sale in 1:18 scale

8-26-2012

Installed the superbright LED cool white colored lights in the gauge cluster and WOW. It looks a hundred times better than stock so nice and crisp looking. Also figured out the lights in my climate control were burnt out so used a couple that I took out of the gauge cluster and bam I have light. I'll post up pictures tomorrow because for now the Jeep is at the office so the wife's car could come in out of the Tropical Storm Isaac mess. 

The Jeep has a slight miss and the check engine light on for a miss in cylinder 2. I put the correct AP985 plugs in it gaped at .35 and it seems better. Also added some Chevron injector cleaner and plan on running it through in the next few days to help clean it out. Will also be installing the exhaust manifold down pipe with new cat along with new O2 sensors. If this all doesn't smooth out the old Jeep I'll have to dig deeper. 

Was back and forth on spending the money on a new PSC steering box but in the end decided for the moment at least to use the box off the gutted V8 Jeep. As I'm 100% certain to do a PSC setup on that Jeep.

I'm looking at going ahead and doing a Clayton or Rock Krawler long arm suspension for the V8 Jeep. I have temp axles I can put under it but with that lift I'd have to weld it in then when I get the axles I want cut off the mounts and weld on the permanent axle. Really going back and forth on how to proceed with the V8 Jeep. I'd like to get it home to work on in my garage but with no axles or suspension under it sort of hard to do. So now I'm really serious about selling the motorcycle so I have a fist full of cash which is what I need to proceed with the beast. So up on Ebay and craigslist it goes.

So I'm tryng to focus on making the white Jeep more of an overlander type vehicle good on the highway and going camping and such. Then the V8 Jeep will be geared more towards being a rock crawler serious off road vehicle. So here is what I'm thinking needs done to get there.

The short list of things to buy for the white Jeep

SYE and drive shaft

Novak Cable

Poison Spyder Ricochet rockers

35" Tires, KM2's most likely

4.88 gears for front

On Board Air for ARB locker

Short list of things to install on white Jeep

Rear Dana 35 with superior shafts, ARB and 4.88's

JKS Adj. front & rear track bars

Currie/Savvy steering linkage

interior out of V8 Jeep incl. CB and seats

Aussie Locker in Dana 30 along with Riddler cover, Superior shaft seals and Spicer ball joints

Rear seat (06 black requires some modification)

JKS 1.25 BL and MML

Rokmen GTS

Smittybilt rear bumper and tire swing out off of V8 Jeep (V8 Jeep will be getting the flush looking Rokmen rear bumper)

Man this is turning out to be the never ending project. If only I had never ending spare time to work on it. at least it is driving under it's own power and moving in a general direction of finished.

Side note: Wife has completed 3 of 4 chemo treatments as of Thursday and this is by far the worst one yet. Seems as though they get harder and harder the more she goes. The fatigue and weird side effects that just spring up out of no where wear her down. Thankfully only one to go and the light is visible at the end of the tunnel. She has been a true fighter and I couldn't be prouder of her.