I’ve done really tough Moab builds in years past. I’ve taught myself to weld so I could stitch up a rotted out $500 Postal Jeep frame, I’ve torn into the engine and transmission of a 1948 Willys CJ-2A farm Jeep, and I’ve cobbled together a junkyard lift kit for a rotted-out $600 Jeep Cherokee XJ. Relative to those, my $350 Jeep Grand Cherokee seems like a feasible project, and yet it really isn’t. Still, here goes a last-ditch effort to try to make it happen.
I once owned a borderline mint condition 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee “Holy Grail” (that means it was a rare five-speed manual model), but I sold it before I moved from Detroit to LA (see Instagram link below). It was a beautiful machine, but I really had no choice; you see, two people had reached out to me at exactly the same time a couple of years ago — one had a rust-free manual Jeep Grand Cherokee missing its transmission, and the other had a rotted-out manual Jeep Grand Cherokee that was complete. Both Jeeps were headed to the junkyard.
I had no choice but to intercept the Jeeps and save them. Each had what the other lacked, meaning I could at least save one rare, five-speed ZJ from oblivion. For the good of car culture (and because I’m an illogical automotive romantic), I did exactly that. This meant the clean 1993 had to go, and I towed the rust-free ZJ, filled with parts from the rotted-out ZJ, all across the country to the Galpin Media parking lot, where the vehicle has sat for a year, being used solely for cat-birthing.
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My goal was to get this cobbled-together ZJ ready for the Easter Jeep Safari this year, which sadly is quite early: in late March. That’s in six-ish weeks. There’s no chance in hell I’ll have the Jeep ready. Still, the seller of the rotted-out ZJ, a man named Dustin from Wisconsin (his was the first Holy Grail I ever wrote about after I visited him during my pilgrimage to the former home of American Motors, Kenosha), is flying in in March to spin a few wrenches in a last-ditch effort to try to make something happen. He’ll be here from the 6th to the 11th. Will we get the Jeep ready in time for Moab? Probably not, but we’re gonna put in a last-ditch effort.
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As a refresher, here’s everything the Jeep needs:
- New coil springs
- New shocks
- New axles with 3.73 gears
- New control arms
- A new front track bar
- A new rear track bar
- Sway bar links (quick disconnects)
- A new grille
- New front and rear bumpers
- A new header panel
- Mudflaps
- New seats
- New door trim
- A new exhaust manifold
- New exhaust pipe
- A new water pump
- A new serpentine belt
- A new rear hatch
- A hyper-rare rear spare tire carrier
- A fuel tank skidplate
- A transfer case skidplate
- New headlights
- A front winch (I need to buy a skidplate)
- New tires
- New driveshafts (will need to be custom-made/modified)
- A new radiator
- A new fan clutch
- A new brake pedal
- A used shifter
- A new center console
- A bunch of new interior trim
- New wheel center caps
- A headliner
- New engine mounts
OK, maybe not “needs,” as not all of these have to be done to get the Jeep to Moab; it really just needs to run and drive. The current axles under the Jeep are just fine, I don’t need to install sway bar disconnects or a winch, and on and on. We really just need to get this motor fired up and the vehicle moving — of course, we have no idea if the engine actually runs.
The more I look at the ZJ, the more I love it. Good size, reasonable weight, solid axles are flexy and durable, nice comfortable interior, decent ride, reliable, good visibility, and more handsome each day. (Also the fully loaded U-Haul is somehow doing 11 MPG @ 65mph!) pic.twitter.com/PFVl6GRuPl
— David Tracy (@davidntracy) February 13, 2023
It’s a huge undertaking, largely because of what has precluded me from actually getting this thing started in the first place: time constraints.
All my previous builds have basically involved me, working with my friends in a garage in Michigan, fixing a vehicle as I writing about it in addition to whatever other blogs I was working on. Now I’m no longer just a blogger, but an editor/business owner, and frankly, the time commitment there — and the time I want to put into my relationship — mean wrenching becomes really hard unless I fly to another continent and hide away in a spider-infested garage. I finish each workday exhausted, so working on this junker has been tough.
Still, whether this thing gets done by Moab or not, this wrenchfest that Dustin and I will soon embark on should act as a catalyst to at least get this project moving, and that’s important to me. This Jeep is sort of my dream build. I’ve amassed the best Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ parts ever offered: Euro-spec turn signals, a hyper-rare spare tire carrier, 3.73 axles with a limited slip rear diff, factory mud flaps, factory skid plates, rare ZJ steel wheels, and the list goes on. I am convinced that the manual ZJ is the greatest budget overlanding Jeep in the world; it blends the reliability and low price of a Jeep Cherokee with the five-link suspension and interior volume (and overall driving comfort) of a modern four-door Wrangler.
It won’t look like much, but it’s going to be an amazing machine when I’m done with it. How long that will take, I have no clue. But I’ve got reinforcements flying in from the midwest, so things are about to get moving!
You got this!
I’m looking forward to seeing it in Moab
I can’t tell you how often I find myself thinking about the Greep Jeep. Good luck.
Good luck, and have fun storming the castle!
This more things change, the more they stay the same.
Are you sure you kept the right XJ? You’re followers remember a certain Ute Valiant rebuild where a parts car turned out To be better.
Next time maybe drop off parts along the way in reverse order of repair to members abodes. Then when driving have each member stand by to install the part. That would be epic.
In the article “a rotted-out manual Jeep Grand Cherokee that was complete”, then comes a huge list of parts needed. I’m beginning to think that DT’s definition of “complete” is different than most people.
In all seriousness, best of luck. I’ll be looking forward to the articles.
As is his mostly rust free definition.
At least you won’t be wrenching in the mud and snow, but you may get fleas
Good luck you crazy kids! Wish I could help!
Seriously, good luck with this build, and with your relationship. Hope that you get this holy grail done in time. Either way it oughta be an interesting adventure
“and the time I
havewant to put into my relationship…” There, fixed it for you. Thank me later.You may have just saved my ass
No more drives in the Lexus for you Buddy! 😉
I noticed that, and yes, I’m pretty sure he saved your ass lol
At least you won’t be freezing for this year’s thrash session.
How are the kittens doing? We’ve been sorely lacking in Catopian content lately.
We lost one, and it kind of made writing about them a little tough, hence why I went radio silent about them. It’s hard…
Oh no! As a devoted animal lover, (Dogs and Cats mainly) this hurts my heart.
Sorry to hear that, but understandable.
Oh, so sorry to hear.
🙁 🙁 🙁
Noooo :((((((
That sucks.
Hey David, I’ve fostered kittens for local (to me) animal shelters. We’ve lost one as well, and very nearly lost an entire litter once. It is always hard, but usually there is nothing you could have done differently. Some kittens just don’t make it.
Why? I don’t know. Humans usually have one baby at a time, and those babies have excellent (albeit not perfect) odds of survival. Cats usually have litters of multiple kittens at once, and some of those kittens often don’t make it. It’s hard, but it’s how it goes. Hopefully you are not beating yourself up over it.
Looking forward to seeing this.
I’d really encourage you to take the time to plan this project out so well you feel you can write an article just about that. It’s an aspect of having a successful project car I feel a lot of people don’t get right. Here’s how I do it.
Write down all the tasks, give them a 1-10 rating based on how needed it is or if it’s just a nice thing you want. Note how long each item will take to do. Then come up with a priority list from that. Obviously critical, time consuming items take the lead, but don’t forget to sprinkle out a few quick projects that give you a high feeling of reward along the way. It’s a good way to maintaining momentum when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Then lay out that work for each project so that you understand what work is best done when, both from a workflow perspective, and the risk of failure. For example, it’s a lot easier to change bushings on an axle that isn’t on the Jeep. Ball joints may be more easily done on the jeep… but if the axle under it is functionally fine, just not ideal, you absolutely do not swap out that axle until the replacement is as ready and risk free as you can get it. So take a little more time to do more work on the bench instead of risking having to swap an axle twice. Don’t leave the project immobile, or have to undo precious hours of work, because you prioritized perfect on paper over good enough in the real world.
Once you do that analysis for every bit of work you want to do, the path you need to take is pretty obvious.
Get out of here with your rational thinking.
I want self induced mayhem.
It is the way.
The David Tracy way.
Agreed. A. Test fire engine on starting fluid to make sure it at least spins. B. Fix all cooling system items: radiator, water pump, fan clutch, hoses(!). C. Then work on other items.
“…being used solely for cat-birthing.”
As I recall, also for cat-berthing.
And cat peeing and cat crapping.
I need to stop reading DT’s “I have x time to get x ready for x and I won’t make it” articles as I don’t need that kind of drama in my life. Also hope you make it!
Since the Autopian has a partnership with XPEL going, maybe yall can drum up some press with a Kitten themed wrap for the Jeep Safari
Maybe even a Hello Kitty theme
No better time for a resurrection than Easter.
I Pray to Jeepsus Christ! Amen Brother! ৲( ᵒ ૩ᵕ )৴♡*৹
With the Sienna as a warmup David’s wrenching muscles should be ready unless LA is too warm
Aren’t you at least closer to Moab now?
gotta find a bright side, right?
And you can take Route 66!
I assume you’re going with the cat delete. 🙂
And I hope you guys will be able to work under the roof/canopy, rather than out in the open.
You missed catopy.
And now I feel awful about that comment – didn’t know that they lost one of the kitties. 🙁
Project Kitten Litter
I’m here for it.
Good Luck. Are you starting it now or are you waiting for help to arrive and wrench a steady week?
Easter Jeep? Have you considered a Rabbit?
Good luck DT.
And why do my laptop speakers smell like cat shit?
David have you ever used one of those induction heat tools? Sold under various Chinese brands on Amazon/eBay like Solary, etc. They’re a game-changer for rusted out bolts. Recently did a bunch of suspension work on a 3rd gen 4Runner and didn’t break a single bolt, it was incredible.
They have been coming down in price too. It used to be thousands , now they are hundreds. Thanks to mass production in China. It is basically a repackaged induction cook top. At that price, it is worth it even if it work just for this project and blow up a circuit board.
I think you just gave me a very bad idea…
Hopefully nothing involving heating up canned spaghetti.
Will you at least get a hoist to use? Because honestly that will make life so much easier. Otherwise I don’t give you as much of a chance.
Hmm, I’ll see if I can borrow a hoist for the major jobs at least. But more than likely, it’s gonna be floor-jack time.
Would love to see an article on how to jack up and suspend a vehicle long term safely. There is a reason I’m not asking for this on a Torchinsky story.
Ask me why?