binderbart Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 well, the plans to go and get the comanche back fired yesterday, we got snow and blowing snow. drifting and the works. The comanche doesnt have rear brakes and the four wheel drive lever won't move, so I decided to go after it when the weather straightens out a bit. My question is, a guy came into work last night and said his girlfriend rolled his grand cherokee in the bad weather, and asked me if I would be wanting anything off of it for my comanche project. So, I call upon all of you, what will swap and what will be useful. the grand cherokee is a 94 and my comanche is a 88, will the axles be worth the trouble? how about the rims, are they a direct swap or not? the cherokee has the v-8 but I'm thinking I want to stick with the inline 6 that is in the comanche now. also, the comanche is a stick and the cherokee is an auto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Tires and rims are same. Front axle is a LO pinion but could be swaped in, rear is different (Coils). Steering linkage would be a nice upgrade. Overall, I wouldn't say there is a whole lot there for you. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binderbart Posted March 3, 2007 Author Share Posted March 3, 2007 not to sound stupid, but what does LO stand for ? also, could you go into some detail on the steering upgrade? I'm planning on using this truck for everday driver/offroader. is the rear axle a not usable at all? wouldn't bother me if I had to weld in spring perches one bit. and some of the grand cherokee had 44's under them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binderbart Posted March 3, 2007 Author Share Posted March 3, 2007 I should probably mention also, I'm planning on doing some what of a lift on the comanche. I'm wanting to get enought clearance for 32x9.5x15 swampers. I'm already looking for parts rigs and I havent' even picked it up yet, If I find cheap cherokees for parts rigs I'll buy them and part them out for spare parts. always nice to have spare parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpm4x4 Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 not to sound stupid, but what does LO stand for ? also, could you go into some detail on the steering upgrade? I'm planning on using this truck for everday driver/offroader. is the rear axle a not usable at all? wouldn't bother me if I had to weld in spring perches one bit. and some of the grand cherokee had 44's under them. I would get the axles, engine tranny t-case, and if it is 4wheel disc get the master cylinder and proportioning valve. the mentioned LO has to do with the pinion. that would be a low (comes out of the axle low) pinion. Where in IA are you? (besides under all the snow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minydigger Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 I don't think it is going to be a dana 44 since its a 94, mine has a dana 35. The steering would be a nice upgrade as it is stronger than the one you have now. And grand cherokee 44's are the alum. version not really that strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 if you get the drive train make sure to get the wiring stuff as well. I would be all over that if it was me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 The ZJ front axle will bolt into your MJ but, as noted, it's a low pinion. That wouldn't matter at stock height, but it magnifies u-joint angularity issues if you lift. BUT ... it will be a non-disconnect axle, and it should have the larger 297 u-joints on the shafts. And you should be able to grab the front driveshaft as a spare. The brakes will be the crappy Chrysler composite rotors that warp if you look at them cross-eyed, so probably the best deal might be just grabbing the axle shafts, and then you could convert your MJ to the larger u-joints and a one-piece shaft w/o disconnect. Do NOT use the ZJ hubs on your MJ -- the knuckles are different, and the hubs do not interchange. A V8 ZJ probably has the aluminum case D44, which isn't really a D44. If there was ever an axle that's WORSE than the D35 ... that's it. It might serve as a donor o=for a rear disc brake conversion on your existing axle, but don't bother putting the ZJ axle into the MJ. The transfer case will be a 23-spline, so it won't mate to your '88 transmission. Also, the early ZJs used a transfer case that didn't lock the driveshafts in the 4-Hi mode. I don't know what year they stopped doing that. If you are even considering adapting that t-case to work in your MJ, be sure to verify which t-case it is, because it may not be worth the effort. Rims will definitely swap right onto the MJ. The steering box is the same, so you could grab that as a spare. And the front coils on a V8 ZJ should be essentially like Up Country coils in an XJ/MJ ... about a 1" lift over stock. That's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comancheon33 Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 I would grab rear disk brakes for sure. I did that swap and love it. Front axle will be a low pinion and should CV style axleshaft but will be a non disconnect for sure. Rear axle may a dana 44 but it will have the aluminum center, not worth swapping. Front coils will give and MJ or XJ an inch or so lift though. If you end up withit I might be interest in the tranny for a V8 ZJ I have. The case will be a NP249 with the viscous coupler for the all wheel drive. Good for a ZJ and thats about alls its good for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binderbart Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 He talked to me at work last night (3rd shift). His girlfriend was driving it and it was rolled. He says that he thinks its totalled. Right now he is just waiting for the insurance company to get back to him. He doesn't want the vehicle and has plans to buy something else right now. He told me whatever the insurance company wanted for it to buy it back, I could have it for that. Once this is known I'll let all of you that replied know. I'll probably want the front coils and steering. I plan on sticking with the inline 6 mine has, thanks for all the replies. One last note, when he went to get it, he said it fired right up and he drove it about 150 feet to get it out of the way. The roof is smashed down but everything else seemed to work alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I GOT IT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS........THIS COULD BE THE ZJ CALLING IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR A BUGGY http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557547 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binderbart Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 oh.....great, now ya went and did it......now I started thinking of another project to add to the 3 projects I got going on right now, and I'm thinking "this would be easy, the damage is already done....sawzall, torch,welder.....beings you put this idea in my head, if I go this route, you got to come up and help me with it. :cheers: :D what is the wheel base on a 94 grand cherokee? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 i don't no what it is i just seen it and thought it would be great thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binderbart Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 just a quick update, he talked to the insurance guy yesterday and they totalled it. He is suppose to get back to him today with a "buy it" price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binderbart Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share Posted March 8, 2007 well, it ain't happening. :headpop: the insurance company told him that he should have told them the first day he was interested in buying it back and its to late to do so now. Imagine that..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 JEEZ!!!! that ZJuggy is AMAZING. wow. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now