A) Performance:
Cut a hole in the hood, popped an edlebrock mushroom filter directly onto the throttle body, and drop kicked the POS stock intake assembly as far as I could get it away from myself. Then I put a nice scoop over the hole in the hood. (I went and got the stock assembly cause I didn't want to litter, but I did pee on it in the garbage can. Can you tell I don't like the stock intake assembly?) I installed the Kolak 3" Cat and back system. I'm happy with the computer's flash so far, but mine's a niner, so you might want to think about ECU. I'll put headers on when I replace the motor in a few years. I don't want to deal with that installation with the motor in the bay. For performance results, I went from the stock 26-27" tires to a 32", I have not changed gears, and I'm quicker than I was stock.
B) I bought some used parts from the for sale section here, and get myself a 3.5" lift. Since then it has settles/been abused to about 2.5"s. I run 32"s on aftermarket wheels, so the sawzall is my friend. I'm not happy with the current setup, and I keep breaking front end stuff. I gutted the front axle, and I'm currently shopping for one ton stuff. When the 60 goes in, long arms will go on. Then I think I'll be happy... for a while.
C)What I did depends allmost entirely on your taste. I've hacked slashed and cut a bunch of sheet metal. I replaced the stock bumpers with tube bumpers, and put some sliders on. I had my hood scoop professionally painted, and polished my wheels a couple of times. Then I painted the bumpers and cut the stinger off the front end (Engine paint dosn't cure, and rusts, and the stinger just didn't look right). There are people who love what I've done, and there are grand owners who ask why I bought a grand in the first place (mostly 5.9 purists who are offended that I have de-rockered and cut a hole in the hood).
I've done other crap, some of which is still there, and some of which will be redesigned and resurrected, but I've written enough of a novel.
Cody could tell you lots more adventures with the ZJ carcass, but he might try to steal your motor.
