Big Red

[Big Red 95]

Here is my build thread. Some of you already know i got her form Jerry. Believe it or not i got him to part with her but it took me 3 months of begging but he sold her to me.

Here she is when i got her and cleaned her up some.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=58
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=59
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=60
Big Red
she is a 95 Grand Cherokee ZJ
4.0L, 4sp Auto, NP231
D30 Frnt, D35 RR
Recovery and Protection
Homemade diamond plait frnt bumper with some old military D-rings
Ramsey 8,000 lb winch
all Up Country Skids
Lift
3" Skyjacker w/ 1.75" Daystar pucks
Front End
Skyjacker lower control arms, sway bar disconects, Rock Krawler X-Factor steering, Rock Krawler track bar and bracket, Skyjacker stabilizer
Rear End
Skyjacker lower control arms, JKS track bar
Performance
K&N filter, high flow cat, Flowmaster 40 Series
Dress Up
painted body cladding black, painted valve cover red, red Accel wires, dash board Hula Girl, trimmed 1.25" off front wheel wells for clearance, and random trimming and clearancing with sledge hammer inside front wheel wells

more to come as money allows. you know how it goes.

[Big Red 95]

more to come as i get time and figure out how to get the pics to show up on here the way i want them to.

[jhowery]

Forget Big Red, what's the thing in the background in the third picture ?

[xjtrailrider]

Josh, old age is setting in, your eye sight is failing! Its a cement mixer and a ford PU!

JK:D

[Scrambled]

:redx3: Ahem . . . . . waiting for Hula girl. :D

Later
Sean

[jhowery]

damn...you're right...I am getting old...

[Big Red 95]

Josh, old age is setting in, your eye sight is failing! Its a cement mixer and a ford PU!

JK:D

yea that is exactly what it is. some people were flippin' the house next door.

[Big Red 95]

OK here is my Dash Board Hula Girl.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=57
i must say i have not seen a hotter Dash Board Hula Girl.:yup:

[Big Red 95]

Finally adding more to rebuild the the build thread.

The next think i did to Big Red was paint the cladding. I think red with the grey cladding is one of the most common color combos so i got tired of looking like everyone else. I also got tired of having to dress the plastic all the time too.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=71
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=72
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=73

I am very please with the look. the only thing i would change is to use a better paint. i have had to do touch ups frequently. i am going to pressure wash off the crappy paint and redo it this spring.

[Big Red 95]

The next thing was the valve cover. I needed to replace the valve cover gasket so i figured i would paint it. red of course.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=74
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=75
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=76
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=77

And it only cost 5 bucks for the can of engine paint. a lot cheaper than the 100 bucks for one of those red replacement valve covers.

[Big Red 95]

Got the 15x10 Black Soft 8s from summit.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=81
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=78
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=79

[Big Red 95]

Just doing an update to the new build thread. nothing new unfortunately.

This is when i got the new exhaust. My old exhaust was being held on with a wire coat hanger. This one is much nicer, Flowmaster 40 series, high flow cat and custom bent 2.5" exhaust by Perfection on Peter's Creek.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=82
You can see the JKS track bar TJ sold me in the above pic.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=83
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=84

[Big Red 95]

When we got the new wheels we started having a big problem with death wobble. I decide to put the front sway bar back on. I drove for a little over a year with out it. The stock end links were bent to hell so i got some quick discos.

http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=85
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=86

I have cut them down a bit and the sway bar does not point up that much any more. I also had a problem with the pins getting caught in the springs as they travel so i cut a good bit of the pins and they are good now too.

[Big Red 95]

The death wobble was getting unbearable so i figured i would replace the steering. In true 4 wheeler fashion i could not just replace it with OE parts. I went with the Rock Krawler X-Factor steering. It was a good price and had the simplest installation out of the 2 kits i was looking at. The other kit required me to buy a reamer. that added to the price and reaming little by little and test fitting added to time during installation. Knowing now what i know i would have gone with the RJC steering and took the time for the longer install. the hole on the passenger side knuckle keeps wollering out i have redrilled and sleeve the knuckles once and i am about to put a 2nd set of knuckles on. My final fix will be to put the WJ knuckles on so i loose the double sheering action on the right knuckle.

[Big Red 95]

i ran out of time before so now here are the pics

http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=91
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=92
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=93

[Big Red 95]

The tie rod is 1.25" and the drag link is 1.5" both are solid stock.

http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=87
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=88
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=89

[Big Red 95]

here is where i had to drill it out and sleeve it.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=95

Here is kinda the idea for when i get the WJ knuckles
http://image.jpmagazine.com/f/17824192/154_0906_02_z+fixing_jeep_wobbles+tie_rods.jpg

The article in JP said that anytime you are using hiem joints on steering you should have the mounting points separated like the pic above and not in the same mounting point like mine is now. From what i have experience i believe them.

[Big Red 95]

The next thing i had a chance to do was the front track bar. i still had a bit of the death wobble so the track bar had to be next. I went with Rock Krawler again I was still pleased with the steering kit at that point.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=96
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=97

I had to leave one bolt out. this kit is for XJs not ZJs. I have not noticed any problems that have come from this. That bold only held a bracket to the chassis that had the nuts welded to it for the bottom 2 bolts you see. it is nothing structural.

http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=98

[Big Red 95]

with inspection around the corner i decided to trim the fenders so the Maxxis BuckShots will not get sliced up off road when we take them off the waggon and put them on Big Red. I am going up to 35s or 36s on the waggon. I took my time and i am very pleased with the results. i have seen others trim their fenders with just as nice of a line but i have never seen anyone still do it with the cladding remaining at the end. I don't necessarily dislike the look without the cladding but i just can't see it on my ZJ. I still like her to look good as well.

before
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=99

you can see where the tires have snagged the inner lip already while flexin' off road and where i have trimmed the rockers before to make room for the wheels and tires for turning on the road.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=100

[Big Red 95]

used a compass to scribe a line in the paint so i could make use i kept the factory curves. i them used the line as i guide for the masking tape.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=101

The masking tape is a great guide. as you are cutting if you take your time and go slow any time you get close to the tape you can see it start to slightly peal up. then you know to get back in the groove and not go past it. i highly recommend using the tape if you do this.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=102

[Big Red 95]

I have seen a few others use the door trim molding to give a finished look to the cut fenders and pictures just don't do it justice. i highly recommend using it as well.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=103
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=104
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=105

[hadfield4wd]

Did you post pics? I trimmed a buddy's fenders on his yota and used the door trim and i looks fine.

[Big Red 95]

yea there is about 7 pics. Are you not seeing them? I linked them from my photo album on this site? The door trim molding really does help to give it a finished look.

[TrailReadyMJ]

Nice, that trim really adds a finished look :thumb:. I may have to get some of that for where I trimmed my fenders and rear quarters.

[Big Red 95]

Thanks. i had to use 2 sets. bout 1.5 on each side.

[Big Red 95]

After flexing out some i found that the from tires still rubbed. They rubbed in the front though. I had to trim some more.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=183
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=184
I don't ever plan on putting a factory bumper back on so i cut all that stuff out and beat it up so the sharp metal will have any chance to tough the tires.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=182
I also beat the bottom back in with a 5lb mallet to open the wheel well up some more. I would like to tri to put the liner back in as some time but i have not noticed any problem with the door hinges getting so dirty yet. knocked a bunch of the factory undercoating off but i just sprayed som rattle can undercoating back on when i was done.

[FitchVA]

I would like to tri to put the liner back in as some time but i have not noticed any problem with the door hinges getting so dirty yet.

i thought the same thing until i took my doors off. the bronze bushings they use on the newer xjs were almost shot. i'm not sure how the grands are, but a lot of xj'ers stuff pool noodles up in the fender to help guard against mud

[Big Red 95]

That's a good idea. i never thought of that. I know Josh used great stuff on his old red XJ. I may have to look into doing one of those.

[Big Red 95]

Well I have not done much this year to Big Red. I have had some mechanical problems that costed a bit to fix and things have been tight. But I was able to get one thing done I have been wanting to do. I have seen others do it and liked the looks so I finally went and tinted my tail lights too.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=437
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=438

They are a bit darker than I wanted them but they have been growing on me. So far so good with Mr Police Man too. Knock on Wood.

[Big Red 95]

I have been having trouble with the Rock Krawler steering again. The sleeve I put in a couple of months ago did not last as long as i wanted. Big Red did not pass inspection so i had to change my steering knuckle. I have plans to put WJ knuckles, brakes and steering on but I have not been able to gather all the parts yet.

Looking at these pics below you can see how wollered out the hole is on the right knuckle. This make time # 3 for fixing the poorly designed system.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=440http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=439

[RUparrothead]

I was at barnes and noble today, saw an australian mag called jeep action. The november 09 issue was still out, and on page 42 was big red! Kind of weird seeing it in a magazine:2thumbsup:

[Big Red 95]

Yea I just found out about it last week myself. I bought the last 3 they had there.

Long storey short, I had been working with Jeep Junkie magazine since October of 2008. They asked if they could put Big Red in the Readers Rider and I of course said yes. I also asked if they would consider doing a feature. He said type it up send in a bunch more pictures and they would do it.

Well low an behold Jeep Junkie only came out with 1 issue ever since then and I was not in it. The dude that runs Jeep Junkie was having a bunch of stuff going on and decided he could not do the mag anymore so he jointed forces with Jeep Action magazine which is centered in Australia. Big Red is international now. :wings:

I will post up pics as soon as i can scan them in.

[Big Red 95]

I only got 1 page scanned last night before the software desided to take a dump so i had to scann them in at work durring lunch.

Here is the cover
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=789

My feature starts on page 42
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=790http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=791

[Big Red 95]

not sure how many pics i can put on one post so here are the last 2 pages.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=792http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=793

[rubican!]

dude,thats just awesome. Id hang that right beside the family portrait.

[xjtrailrider]

Congrats:2thumbsup:

[evolution]

congrats man, ive been in your shoes before.. your on cloud nine....:2thumbsup:

[drakan1908]

Congrats!!!:drunkbuds:

[cootees]

i don't see the pics?! but congrats!

[Chevy kid]

I see your wife driving almost daily, I wish i still had my jeep. But it looks good and who ever it riding with me always has compliments for your jeep.

[Big Red 95]

i don't see the pics?! but congrats!

I don't know why it does that. I could not see them at home myself. Whenever i post pics at home i can't see them at work. Whenever is post pics a work i can't see them at home. I linked them from my photo album on this site. i thought that would have helped.

Cootees are you on a Mac? I thought that might be my problem. I have a Mac at home.

[Big Red 95]

I see your wife driving almost daily, I wish i still had my jeep. But it looks good and who ever it riding with me always has compliments for your jeep.

Thanks. It is pretty much my wife's DD. WIth the tax return i should be able to get the Wagon back on the road.

[Big Red 95]

Thanks for all the comments. I am pretty excited. I had almost given up hope with Jeep Junkie not being published any more. I got a little more hopeful when i heard they merged with Jeep Action magazine. I did not even know she was in the magazine till just a few weeks ago.

[hadfield4wd]

that's pretty cool

[cootees]

I can see them now.

[Big Red 95]

That's cool. I have discovered that many of my pics are not showing up. I linked them all from my albums on this site but even when i look at them in the album they are not comming up. I have relinked a bunch of them. If anyone had the cahnce to go back an look to see if they see any pics on pages 1-3 they have not seen before please let me know. Again thanks

[Big Red 95]

Well uncle sam was nice to me to, unforunately it did not spread as far a i had hoped but does it ever? I was able to order a few goodies for the Jeeps. the first thing I orders a a rear sway bar for Big Red. Hopefulley it will help make up for the old soft springs some. Got the Addco 7/8" bar off of Ebay. was same price as summit but know $10.00 hadeling/processing fee and still got free shipping. The post even said they will give a $5.00 refund if we send them back good pics of it installed. so in the long run got it for only $140.00. will post pics when it comes in and when i get it on.

[Big Red 95]

Stupid Ebay site, Never Enough Auto Accessories, said the sway bar was in stock and now it won;t ship until the 15th. They said if i read their about us page i would have seen that it said they were having trouble getting part from addco. why would someone click 6 links away from the site to see if it were in stock when the dam auction site says it is in stock. they even charged my account. i though it was illegal to charge someone before the product shipped. I should have just spent the extra money and ordered it from summit.

[hadfield4wd]

i though it was illegal to charge someone before the product shipped.

No it's not. Most items are drop shipped. Infact I would say its bad business to ship before it's paid. There is no store that gives you a product before you pay.

What you describe would be like going to the store taking the items you wanted to your car then going back to pay.

You would be surprised how many peoples' cards are denied. If the product shipped then it is difficult to get it back.

[Big Red 95]

You would be surprised how many peoples' cards are denied. If the product shipped then it is difficult to get it back.

That is a good point. I do know that when I ordered my lift for the wagon BJ's would not take the money out of our account until he was able to ship. May be he had to wait until he had it stock may be. I kept trying to get him to take the money out before we had to send it on an unexpected bill or something but he wouldn't.
I know there is something weird with our stores too. When a store places a PDQ order the take the money for it but they can't post the sale until the customer picks up the part. There is some BS like that but I don't know the specifics.

[Big Red 95]

I finally did something i always wanted to do. i took the doors off Big Red yesterday for the cruise.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=851

[BULLITT798]

I finally did something i always wanted to do. i took the doors off Big Red yesterday for the cruise.
http://scc4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=521

..she looked cool Brett! Man, I need to get me another ZJ to build up and do that to.ZJ's are the world's best kept secret when comes to cheap off-road vehicles to build.....

[drakan1908]

..she looked cool Brett! Man, I need to get me another ZJ to build up and do that to.ZJ's are the world's best kept secret when comes to cheap off-road vehicles to build.....

:2thumbsup:

[Big Red 95]

I finally got a roof basket.
A buddy at work sold it to me. I don't know what brand it is but i really like the shape of it and the tubular design. Plus the price was right. I will get better pics to post soon. just have the little cell phone pic for now.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=867

[scivic05]

Hey man. It is a Rola Roof Rack. I hope you enjoy it! See you at work.

[cootees]

i like that basket. it's nice and low.

[4x4Dalton]

I agree thats a nice lookin Basket.

[Big Red 95]

Finally got some better pics of the new roof basket.
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=929
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=928
http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=927

[Big Red 95]

I haven't been on here in for ever and wanted to do some updates. My steering gear box broke on me just after Christmas. 2 out of the 3 bold broke and for the 3rd the mounting tab broke right off the gear box itself. I was luck in happend in a parking lot and i was only going a few MPH. Thank God for parts Jeeps. i just took te one off the 94 ZJ i have laying around for just such ocations. I plan on getting that gear box brace from Kevin's Off Road when I get my money back from Uncle Sam.

http://www.scc4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1020