• RME Gear & Apparel

#iwannagofast ZJ build

Johnny Quest

Johnny Quest

Web Wheeler
Location
West Jordan
To clarify, this build is going to be primarily a family wheeling rig, built to 4600 specs. The initial build will be axles, long arm, and unibody stiffeners, etc, followed by cage work. After that will come all the "race" stuff; safety being the primary focus. My goal is to end up something something that will be just as at home down at Sand Hollow with the family, as it will be at Johnson Valley in full race trim. The cage will be built with a rear seat in mind.

I want to avoid this build going so far in one direction, that it can't do the other stuff. I know that will mean that there will be some sacrifices; race cars don't have back seats, so i will have to work around that. It's all part of the build process.
 
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
Johnny Quest said:
To clarify, this build is going to be primarily a family wheeling rig, built to 4600 specs. The initial build will be axles, long arm, and unibody stiffeners, etc, followed by cage work. After that will come all the "race" stuff; safety being the primary focus. My goal is to end up something something that will be just as at home down at Sand Hollow with the family, as it will be at Johnson Valley in full race trim. The cage will be built with a rear seat in mind.

I want to avoid this build going so far in one direction, that it can't do the other stuff. I know that will mean that there will be some sacrifices; race cars don't have back seats, so i will have to work around that. It's all part of the build process.
Click to expand...

You may or may not have seen this thread already, but it may give you some good ideas for your goals. (particularly with having a full cage and keeping the back seat, and headroom) https://www.rme4x4.com/threads/cheap-cherokee-build.47224/
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Johnny Quest said:
To clarify, this build is going to be primarily a family wheeling rig, built to 4600 specs. The initial build will be axles, long arm, and unibody stiffeners, etc, followed by cage work. After that will come all the "race" stuff; safety being the primary focus. My goal is to end up something something that will be just as at home down at Sand Hollow with the family, as it will be at Johnson Valley in full race trim. The cage will be built with a rear seat in mind.

I want to avoid this build going so far in one direction, that it can't do the other stuff. I know that will mean that there will be some sacrifices; race cars don't have back seats, so i will have to work around that. It's all part of the build process.
Click to expand...

I love the build plan and needed requirements as an all around family rig, while still meeting the 4600 Class requirements. This will be fun to watch come together!

Post up when you're to the point of needing a bunch of hands to knock out work, we'll have an RME Build Party!
 
Johnny Quest

Johnny Quest

Web Wheeler
Location
West Jordan
Greg said:
I love the build plan and needed requirements as an all around family rig, while still meeting the 4600 Class requirements. This will be fun to watch come together!

Post up when you're to the point of needing a bunch of hands to knock out work, we'll have an RME Build Party!
Click to expand...

Yea it will be a challenge, but with some creative engineering, it shouldn't be impossible. One of the bigger question marks that i currently foresee is going to be the fuel system; 4600 class rules state that you must run a fuel cell. The ZJ's stock fuel tank is behind the rear axle under the floor. most, if not all of the ZJ's I've seen have mounted the fuel cell to the cargo area, inside the Jeep, so its up out of the way of rocks. well, if i'm gonna be running a back seat for my kids, i don't really want to run a fuel cell right behind them, even with proper shielding and ventilation. But i also don't really like the idea of having a full cell in the stock location, since its down low, and vulnerable to rocks. even still, I haven't pulled the stock tank to even know how much room i would have to work with.

back to the present, i haven't really had a ton of time to work on this lately. The rear axle is a bit cleaner than it was in the last picture, but the front hasn't gotten any attention just yet.
 
N-Smooth

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
You can always put a firewall in between but I say it's a non-issue. I've never heard of an issue with this, especially if you get a good cell.
 
Johnny Quest

Johnny Quest

Web Wheeler
Location
West Jordan
yea there is a rule about a firewall between the cell and passenger compartment that must be at least shoulder height. still just weirds me out a little i guess. The other part of an internal fuel cell would be the location of the fuel filler, as that must be "outside the passenger compartment".

what ill probably end up doing is pulling the rear window, and replacing it with a piece of aluminum or something. and putting a filler neck up through that
 
Last edited:
kmboren

kmboren

Recovering XJ owner anonymous
Location
Southern Utah
Johnny Quest said:
Yea it will be a challenge, but with some creative engineering, it shouldn't be impossible. One of the bigger question marks that i currently foresee is going to be the fuel system; 4600 class rules state that you must run a fuel cell. The ZJ's stock fuel tank is behind the rear axle under the floor. most, if not all of the ZJ's I've seen have mounted the fuel cell to the cargo area, inside the Jeep, so its up out of the way of rocks. well, if i'm gonna be running a back seat for my kids, i don't really want to run a fuel cell right behind them, even with proper shielding and ventilation. But i also don't really like the idea of having a full cell in the stock location, since its down low, and vulnerable to rocks. even still, I haven't pulled the stock tank to even know how much room i would have to work with.

back to the present, i haven't really had a ton of time to work on this lately. The rear axle is a bit cleaner than it was in the last picture, but the front hasn't gotten any attention just yet.
Click to expand...
What about cutting the back of the cargo area out. Raise the tank 6 inches or so and then fab around the tank another floor that is just raised 6 inches. More work bit keeps cargo area still intact just shorter and is not in the passenger area. Just shorten the fuel filter hose and should still be able to keep the stock fuel tank filler location.
 
Johnny Quest

Johnny Quest

Web Wheeler
Location
West Jordan
Got the passenger side mostly cleaned up last night; just have to remove the sway bar mount when I pick up a few more cut off wheels. Took me about 2 hours or so to get it to this point. Trying to track down a porta-band to make the drivers side go a bit quicker. I’ve also been told diamond tipped cut off wheels will work as well.

Once these are cleaned up, they’ll get pushed to the side, and the big tear down of the ZJ will start. Right now, it’s still drives, but it will come into the garage, and the axles and suspension will come out, and the frame rails will get prepped for stiffeners and long arm brackets.A791FB0C-5F4A-4291-B993-CDF11B7BB285.jpeg
 
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