Ladybug 429 Posted April 5, 2013 Karen: Yes, I will be bringing the new '98 ZJ to the Maze Trip now that I know that it gets just as good or better gas mileage on the trail as my '96 ZJ. It's back in the shop right now to have the rear suspension adjusted after the Moab trip. First trip with a load and the rear coil overs settled somewhat, also installing a better radiator as it ran fine on the trail but would run a little hot on the highway at 70 mph. The show in Moab was fun but I guess you didn't see anything you just had to have cause I didn't hear any loud "WOW". Woody Woody...the scenery had me quite awed a good part of the time...(you should have been on some of the trails that we ran!!), but you are correct, I didn't find alot that I couldn't live without at the show....nor had the money to spend on it anyways!!! See you in a few weeks! smiles, ladybug Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 3,833 Posted May 23, 2013 how did the rig do on the Maze trip? i think that was it's first big run - anything to change or fix? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZJ Woody 1 Posted November 7, 2014 how did the rig do on the Maze trip? i think that was it's first big run - anything to change or fix? Kris: Well it's been over a year now that you asked this and I have had the ZJ out for testing. The rear military type limited slip did not work out and was replaced with an ARB air locker. The hand brake set up was two small calipers on the rear discs that were useless. we replaced them with full size rear calipers and ran it as a separate stand alone system with separate left and right brake handles so that it could be used as a cutting brake. This system also cannot hold back the torque of the 5.9L at idle with 5.38 gears. The only time that it can work as a secondary or parking brake is with the tranny in Neutral or the motor turned off. We installed a fan cooled coil for the transmission behind the front bumper which kept the transmission cooler but did not help much with the engine running hot at 70 mph and above (a problem even with most stock 5.9L engines). We took a look at the air flow patterns through the new aluminum radiator with the electric fan and determined that the cooling system seems to be doing it's job. It appears to be the extra advanced timing built into the 5.9L computer that reaches max advance at the higher rpms of highway speed. I am going to add an engine oil cooler before I would want to de-tune the advance as the engine only runs at about 220 deg max and does not get any hotter. The temperature immediately comes back down to under 200 degs (I have a 180 deg T stat) when you drive at 60 mph or less and never runs hot on the trails. Other than that I really have not had much time this year to take it out on runs as I have been spending most of my time building a new model railroad for my grandsons to see at Christmas and paying for my daughter's September wedding at the Hilton on the beach in San Diego, CA. As I mentioned on the other Jeep site: "I could have bought a brand new JK Rubicon for what her wedding cost me and it only lasted 4 days. A new JK would have lasted at least a week or two." :-) I took a picture last year of both of my ZJs side by side and the full size axles, 35" tires & 8" lift of the '98 ZJ sure makes the OEM axles, 32" tires & 6" lift on the '96 ZJ look SMALL. Woody Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZJ Woody 1 Posted January 9, 2015 Just found out a couple of days ago that my '98 Grand is going to be on the cover of the March 2015 issue of Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road magazine. Harry Wagner wrote a nice article about it, got a few facts wrong, like the transfer case being a 242 when it is a 231 but all in all it came out good. I guess I can go ahead now and put a few scratches and dings in it. Woody Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 3,833 Posted January 9, 2015 Just found out a couple of days ago that my '98 Grand is going to be on the cover of the March 2015 issue of Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road magazine. Harry Wagner wrote a nice article about it, got a few facts wrong, like the transfer case being a 242 when it is a 231 but all in all it came out good. I guess I can go ahead now and put a few scratches and dings in it. Woody congrats! and yeah, you better use that nice machine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dzJeepChic 2,435 Posted January 9, 2015 That's really cool, congratulations Tim! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottL 178 Posted January 9, 2015 Sweet deal! Too bad for me though, my subscription to that mag expired last year after Kevin Blumer's grueling 12 month long toyota bumper build spread:sleepy: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ob1jeeper 484 Posted January 9, 2015 Congrats Woody… BTW: Are you still gonna wheel with us "lesser folk" ? (IE: those who have yet to have a vehicle make a highly prestigious mag cover…) Easy now… Woody knows I'm just teasing… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddogjeeper 2 Posted January 9, 2015 Looks Great Woody!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
