Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ: The Best Budget Off Road Vehicle?

I'll say it right here, I think that the Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ is the best budget off road vehicle, It has the great suspension from a Jeep TJ/LJ and the wheel base from a Jeep LJ, put that with disk brakes all around and a big v8 and I believe we have the best cheap jeep that people should be building and wheeling.
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[@gaborn4521]

Bought one few monts ago i’m, in eastern europe. 1996 Forester green, beige leather, 5.2. Limited sport utility. I just saw it and fall in love with it . , in good condition, a zj here costs around 10000-12000 $. I love it its really fun and new for me, we dont have much v8 around here. Its simple but has everything I need, probably I keep her for life.

[@Geeks4x4]

That’s awesome!

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

ZJs are definitely the red headed step child! I remember wheeling my first ZJ over 15 years ago with a budget boost lift and 32'' tires with guys with fully built rigs and I hung with them all day! I have been off-roading the Grand Cherokee ever seen!! Great Video!

[@Geeks4x4]

They are a hidden gen for sure! Plus the low cost to get into them... beating on it is something your not to worried about!

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

@@Geeks4x4 Amen Brother!

[@John-d7p]

The ZJ is essentially a CJ-8 with a soccer mom body and coil springs. Same wheel base, same running gear, same engine (4.0) Same track width, and same reliability. But without the ridiculous stripes and huge lettering that says Scrambler.

[@Geeks4x4]

Haha you’re not wrong, plus you could get a 5.9 zj😎

[@jameshowey9958]

Agree 100% but I am a bit biased having three 5.9s currently (1 stock, 1 built for mild trails and somewhere to yours, and one on Dana 60s and 37s) I first got into these ZJ‘s when they came out because of the V-8 and the room and capabilities. In my opinion one of the best Jeeps ever made with the least amount of problems.

[@Geeks4x4]

I just think they are such a great platform! Glad to hear I'm not alone.

[@pyrrhus17]

Give me your oppinion on the V8 and how much milieage can you get out of one ( I have a 1993 4.0 ) looking at getting a V8

[@jameshowey9958]

@@pyrrhus17 Well I have one with 171,000 miles one with 211,000 miles and one with 270,000 miles that is my daily and I get about 16 mpg it’s all stock. The other two have lifts and are built differently. The 5.2 and 5.9 are great motors, easy to work on and get parts

[@jameshowey9958]

@@Geeks4x4 well we also agree on Excursions so maybe it’s just we are both a little off 😂😂

[@Geeks4x4]

@@jameshowey9958 or a lot a bit right 🤣

[@stormtrooper_jeep_zj]

Thanks for the shout out. Have you checked out my new MVF front fenders yet? I finally fixed the tire rubbing at full flex thanks to the new fenders. I'm hoping to hit 750 or above this year on the C.T.I. trailer.

[@Geeks4x4]

You know I love your rig! Ya man looks sweet!

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

ZJs for life!! 😆

[@compacanelo6615]

I have a 1997 jeep grand Cherokee limited... My favorite style of jeeps ever maid!... Love my, [ollllo] jeep

[@Geeks4x4]

The jeep you own should always be your favorite!

[@StingerSecSol]

Mine is a 97 5.2 with a 242 swap and I love it

[@Geeks4x4]

Awesome! Love these rigs.

[@CoreyC68]

Does the 242 make it where you can run it in 2-wheel drive in a all-wheel drive?

[@StingerSecSol]

@@CoreyC68 yes, that's why I made the switch. Still AWD option, 2wd, 4 high, and 4 low.

[@CoreyC68]

@@StingerSecSol cool! I am highly interested in doing it to mine! Do the cases interchange with much hassle?

[@StingerSecSol]

@@CoreyC68 you need to make sure the case is from a similar year. I forgot and bought an older one so I had to use the front half of my old case so the input shaft was correct. Rebuild the whole case with new bearings, seals and plastics. The hardest part was not having the correct brackets for the shift linkage. Ended up going aftermarket for a direct linkage with no brackets. Changed the face plate and adjusted the linkage and it was off to the races. I need a new shower sensor, though because the two I had were worn out already. Next is getting rid of the cv axles and going straight shaft axles like the XJs have. That's a long way of saying, yes, it was a hell of a hassle. First time doing this kind of project.

[@user-nc6pl3hl9f]

Hey man good video but you should do a walk around on this jeep explaining and showing every inch it's a nice jeep

[@Geeks4x4]

Ask and you shall receive! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2rIXnujYqx_iJIsi=JXAwDmDJm-D4P9IL

[@sidstevens9035]

I have a 98 ZG (built in Graz Austria) Grand Cherokee Ltd. Mechanically really good. Electrically, always a problem.

[@Geeks4x4]

Aw man that’s a bummer!

[@John-d7p]

I have a 95 Laredo with no issues except that the passenger front window sometimes does not work from the driver position. But if I just reach over and tap the switch, it works. That's all. Very good rig.

[@CoreyC68]

Does a 242 case make it where you can run in two-wheel drive instead of all wheel?

[@Geeks4x4]

Yes that is the main reason for the swap😎

[@NorthIdahoRallyGuy]

Yes a 231 works too that's what I have in mine you can get them from an xj or tj but you have to replace the output shaft cuz zj ones are bigger

[@Geeks4x4]

Yes 100% true

[@PrestonFarney]

I just bought a very cheap... under 1000 dollar Jeep ZJ. I'm wanting to lift it and put new tires on it. Would a 3.5in lift kit running 31/10.5/15 be good or should I do something different?

[@Geeks4x4]

Congrats! I think I’d start wheeling it just the way it is, go to your spots and see how it does, then decide how much lift/long arm vs short arm and tire size. Watch what works on other rigs and build yours for you with those in mind. But that lift and tire seems good too, might be able to fit a 265/75/16 in there too

[@John-d7p]

My 95 with a 4.0 suffers with 31-10.5s on it. Too heavy. Too much rolling mass. I put 30x9.50x15 KO2's on it with a simple 3" puck lift and it's great. Nice curb look, too. It'll go at least 85% of all the places the $60,000 Jeeps go with stock Dana 30/35 open diffs. Transfer case is the original 231. Just don't go spinning boulders or trying stupid stuff and you'll never have to walk out.

[@Geeks4x4]

@@John-d7p This is some great advise, thank you for taking the time to share and watch.

[@user-so2ed2fj2x]

Super cool! What lift are you running ? 4 inch ?

[@Geeks4x4]

Ya, I believe they are 4 or 4.5 inch IRO springs.

[@tytraulich4987]

Do you know aeuwhy my 98 hums from the rear? If neutral on a roll the noise goes away. A wheel bearing typically makes noise if you turn it at some speed or play in wheel. It ain’t that. Also slams from P to Reverse Ty 98 don’t know the diff between zj or wj

[@Geeks4x4]

sounds like you have something in the drive line causing that, maybe a pinion bearing or a u joint.

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

Ty did you get the issues resolved? Just curious...

[@ZoomingWrenches]

Its either a ring and pinion or a carrier bearing. For mine it was both

[@cravenadventures]

I built my ZJ up

[@Geeks4x4]

That's awesome, they a such great rigs, I hope you can enjoy it on many adventures!

[@cravenadventures]

@@Geeks4x4 oh we do. I made that comment because you said you don't see many built ZJ's. They rare out there including mine. And we will be building another one as well

[@Geeks4x4]

@@cravenadventures That's great! Yes, I don't see enough, sounds like your on a mission to change that, love it!

[@jimmianderson5418]

And as I remember its also for sale.

[@Geeks4x4]

It is!

[@pyrrhus17]

@@Geeks4x4 wait how much ?

[@Geeks4x4]

@@pyrrhus17 asking $6300

[@chadsjeeps4134]

I would say yes and no. The ZJ's transmission are weak and seem to go out early. The D44AL spins the tubes easily. The 249 t-case isn't very desirable. The aftermarket for ZJ's vs XJ's is (or at least was) much smaller. I used to have the 2 absolute best year ZJ's. 93, had the 4.0, AW4, 242. That drivetrain, coupled with coils front and rear, AC, etc, made for a great trail rig. Also had a 98 5.9 with a ton of engine mods, swapped in a 242 for burnouts and that thing was a lot of fun! I had always thought the ZJ's would de-throne the XJ's as the king of budget wheelers once the prices came down on used ones, but that didn't seem to happen.

[@Geeks4x4]

Ya I've been surprised they haven't passed the xj too. Gotta love the v8 option and coils!

[@John-d7p]

The 42RE transmission is only a weak spot due to bad maintenance. It is senstive to dirty fluid and filters, as well as somewhat sensitve to heat. By now, all of these rigs have been handed off to multiple owners with no record of regular care - uinlike mine, a one owner with meticulous service records and no transmission issues. The entire RE series was a good, reliable transmission if the owner performed due diligence. There are far far worse transmissions. Some, in very expensive Japanese and German cars.

[@KhanTena-t8z]

Rodriguez Cynthia Robinson Joseph White Karen

[@Geeks4x4]

Ok!

[@RobertMolina-x9q]

Thomas William Lee Charles Miller Carol

[@DeloresCastillo-k1d]

Jackson Christopher Lee Deborah Wilson Betty

[@Geeks4x4]

😎

[@joequixotic3039]

WJ is kind of better, just upgraded all around except the axles. If a 4.0 is enough, it has that. The 4.7 is a reliability issue kind of. The good news is there are more and newer WJs in the wrecking yards and a lot of them came with a transfer case that has 2wd mode (some are even 2wd only but that seems to be a weird California soccer mom thing). I think the steering setup might be a little better too. I got mine for $2,500 but that was a year ago. It's a limited and has about 130,000 miles now. Prices have gone up but it might be worth it and not more than XJ money. If you are going to go all out with a 1 ton axle swap, long arms and a beefed up transfer case, it's probably the best unit-body Jeep that's set up for a solid front axle suspension...

[@Geeks4x4]

WJ's are another, and ya the 4.0 only. They did have a lot of electrical issues tho. These seem to not have quite as many.... then again they still have issues. Its a jeep we love them anyway!

[@jameshowey9958]

I have to disagree, WJs have more electrical issues than ZJs and in my opinion with the slant of the windshield I find myself ducking down. The 4.7 has issues as well and is not as reliable as the 5.2 and 5.9 and the trans are nowhere near as good as the 46RE behind the 5.9

[@stormtrooper_jeep_zj]

I have a ZJ, my son has a ZJ, and my daughter has a WJ. I'm a fan of the WJ, but the interior feels tighter and the more sloping front windshield makes you have to duck when you get in. My ideal set up would be WJ knuckles with the better brakes and tie rod set up on my ZJ. The good news is, it can be done for pretty cheap. Just need WJ knuckles, different ball joints, and a spacer for the passenger side.

[@joequixotic3039]

@@stormtrooper_jeep_zj I'm pretty average height and have no issue with interior volume. I'm proportioned with short legs and a long torso so it's kind of the worst combo, I have to have the seat pretty forward and then I sit pretty high, still no issues. The key thing is that Porche designed the unit body and no one sells WJ chassis reinforcement because it isn't needed... Fingers crossed, my only electrical issues have been a cam position sensor a noisy power door lock actuator and an intermittent rear brake light. Not too bad for a Jeep that's more than 20 years old...

[@jameshowey9958]

@@stormtrooper_jeep_zj I’m thinking of doing JLUR axles under my mild build since it will never see bigger than 35s. I will gain a little width, strength and defiantly easier to find parts for than the 44A