Dude this guy is the only person I watch on Jalopnik-- I am subbed for this channel when this guy rebuilt some old 4.0L like.. 5 years ago.. never watched anything else.
This video makes me want a manual. It also makes me thankful I have the V8. The I6 is a great motor and works for some, but I love how my V8 and how it can go up mountains in OD at 45 or 70, even with bigger tires and no regear.
David’s videos are always great because he clearly loves his Jeeps. The drama is also real, maybe this Jeep will be the one that does him in! Tune in and find out! Hope to see more from you David!
Thanks for vid, thought for years the porsche 928 was not offered in manual (wrong) and decades that grand cherokee was not offered in manual, (wrong). After cj7, and two cherokee's, one now for almost 20 yrs, only go for manuals. What a find!
There was a guy with a well kept stick Grand Cherokee who would come in on occasion. It was one of the few cars that would put a smile on my face there lol
I have a 2001 XJ 4x4 with 219K on the ODO and and I can't bring myself to sell it. Drove home in a nasty ice storm this afteroon and she ran true the whole time. Gotta love that 4.0!
Loving that keep, I had a 93 grand Cherokee, np231 and the only year that came with the aw4 instead of a Chrysler transmission. 304 thousand miles, rusted to hell, no brakes, no exhaust, and no f***s given. Never saw roads. Have fun with this one.
Funny how different some standpoints are. As a German I like automatic transmissions, in fact my last car search was based on heated leather seats, ac, and most important of all: automatic. With all that stop-and-go traffic a manual is a pain in the ass, even when it is a nice one like in my first BMW 525 (the second one had the automatic - wow, what a nice difference!). Best experience so far was my '97 Chevy Suburban turbo diesel with the nice steering column lever. Now I own a '98 Mercedes CLK 320 (heated leather seats, ac, and most important of all: automatic). Nice. I would never go back to a manual, which most of my earlier cars had: Citroen 2CV, 2 Beetles, 2 Fiat 124 Spiders, Ford Consul, VW Transporter (rear engine), Fiat Tipo, 3 real Minis (which I would like to try with the 4-gear automatic, just got no chance to do it), VW Golf and the mentioned BMW 525. But on the other hand I can understand your point of view since you are surrounded by boring & slow cars with automatic and the manual is the 'exotic' thing for you. Nice video, by the way.
Yeah in the US towns are separated by greater distances. So when the automotive industry was developing there was strong consumer demand for speedy cars for these longer commutes, and that required more gearing. Americans got sick of shifting so the demand grew for automatic transmissions. Also, the prevalence of manual transmissions around the globe can be attributed to the need post-war for cheap transportation.
I've got a '94 2 door XJ 5 Spd, but I always wanted the "Holy Grail" and I love that there is another person who recognizes it for what it truly is. BTW, I'm a proud Michigander as well.
@JonsReef I Guess I didn't make myself clear enough, I have an XJ, but I always wanted one of the near mythical manual ZJ's... the Holy Grail. Furthermore I was reinforcing the use of the term Holy Grail as applied to the Manual ZJ.
If you arent going to fix it up right (new parts, keeping it away from rust and a true restore) sell it to me. That said glad you saved it from a early grave.
I thought so too. I keep a zj around for camping, hunting and towing our travel trailer. I'd take the 5.2 in my $500 zj any day of the week. One run those 4.0l and they're kind of a turd, at least the ones that I've owned. Where as 5.2 I've put 100 000 km on it trouble free
@@bolerdweller the inline 4.0? They're great motors, I think the later ones get a bad rep due to the issue with the blocks cracking but the rest go for 300k+ miles easily.
@@imacaryay7628 they're fantastic in XJs, but they're underpowered for handling the extra weight of the ZJ. Not everyone is bothered by it, but many are.
@@bolerdweller my girls 99 cherokee limited has over 200k miles and the motor is running as strong as ever, but i must say theres alot of wiring issues with power windows and locks and some rust but she runs good tho lol i drive a 01 dodge 1500 with the 5.9 and i wish i had the better 5.2 there my snappy but i haul alot so its good.
the AX15 (built by asian transmission) is also used by toyota as the r154 (with slightly longer gears, and an extra .25" on the input shaft, but same housing and bolt patterns)... it is the transmission used behind a 2jz engine a lot in things like... the mk4 supra...(yeah yeah, v160 is god trans, but r154 can totally handle 5-600 whp)... AKA that trans with decent power behind it totally exists, and is very common.
@JonsReef just remeber you can buy gearsets made for the drag strip that fit right in... if you know how to rebuild a transmission there are a lot of things you can do to a ax15 by shopping for r154 parts. If you dont believe me then I blame the driver, not the parts.
A clutch on a washing machine. I feel less weird for taking my dining room table to Goodwill so I'd have room in the kitchen for the T5 I'm rebuilding.
You. Are. Insane. I thought I was mad buying a 337k-mile '91 Cherokee in Colorado this past September, but at least it was 5 mins down the street from my house! (I'm not disappointed with my purchase and hopefully you aren't either!)
These old ZJ’s will not die, I see a lot still on the road. My 98 5.9 Limited still runs strong for 280k it’s a little rough around the edges but it will crank every time and get me where I need to go with no worries.
About a year ago my son and I took a similar drive from Denver to western Massachusetts in a uhaul towing a trailer carrying his car. Since we also had his cat with us, we spent two nights in motels; once in Nebraska and the other in south bend. This vid brought back memories. Thanks and good luck with the ZJ!
I grew up in western Colorado and I swear this Jeep used to belong to a friend of mine. It was his high school car around 2003. Never forget that five-speed. I remember it used to leak coolant in the high school parking lot.
Really enjoyed the vid. I have a 97 jeep grand cherokee Laredo 4×4 automatic with 221k miles. Paid 1400 for it last April with 213k on it. Runs freaking great never used a drop of oil love the truck but broke down right now. Harmonic balancer coming off. I have no tools here in Missouri. Waiting on my brother in Oklahoma to come up here and give me a hand with it. 3 more weeks hopefully be Rollin again
I nearly bought a white 1994 Laredo with a manual in it, It had around 250000km or 160000miles. He was asking I think only 1600 Canadian for it. It was located on Vancouver island, not sure if it sold or not. But it was good running order and looked really clean
I know all about the hunt for a manual transmission in any vehicle. It's not easy to find a decent one let alone any these day in any make. I got a 5 speed 4x4 Jeep Liberty. There was only 3 in Florida for sale across multiple sites. All of them in terrible shape, but I made mine perfect after a ton of work. I paid way too much for it, but it was the best of the 3 I looked at. If I was to get a grand Cherokee it would have to have the 5.2 or 5.9 with a manual, but congrats on your new project. My next hunt is a cheap Manual 4x4 3/4 ton crew cab truck in ok shape.... I have been looking for a while and the ones I find are expensive. I am done with automatics failing me.
I couldn't agree with you more - auto all the way for me in London city traffic. There's a reason all our famous black cabs are automatic. I currently drive a Cherokee XJ but UK petrol prices are killing me. My last car was a BMW 520 E34 auto and I miss it terribly. Are good E34's still possible to purchase for reasonable money in Germany or are they appreciating as a classic?
Awesome video I read this article. Happy it turned out well for you. I recently found my holy grail a 95 E350 7.3 turbo diesel with a quigley 4x4 (auto trans). Same condition as this Jeep frame is perfect however the body is a little rough. Nothing a little time and effort can’t fix. Good luck with your rig!
Love the zj, wish there was a good way to make them alot lighter though, xj definitely has the weight advantage but its getting hard to find cheap ones that arent ruined already.
At 17:17 it happened, again.... the mind meld metal mental link was made between the birthplace of a legend and its makers. Profound. Pure mechanical maniacal jeep grand cherokee genius!
Mr. Tracy, You definitely need to get a recovery vehicle. Not a recovery vehicle for pulling stuck vehicles out of holes, but a recovery vehicle for recovering Jeeps from a sad existence, a different kind of hole. After all, you take holy Jeeps and make them whole again. For this task I would like to recommend the Gladiator Diesel. I know, I know new cars are expensive. That is why you should use one of your Jeep contacts and buy a press vehicle after they are done making their rounds. Sincerely, A concerned reader
I have 3 of these grand Cherokees zj's with 5 speeds an 2 Cherokee's xj's with 5 speeds for sale in my area plus the xj I have with 4.0 4x4 an 5 speed didnt know they were holy grails
this jeep body style and interior are the exact same as my 1996 cherokee lerado 5.2liter all time 4x4 or low gear 4x4. only difference is the drive train :) i got the 249j transfer case on my A500 transmission. i got the 5 speed overdrive unit.
Holy Grail? My 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited 4x4 is a real Holy Grail. I've found several ZJ Grand Cherokee 4.0 5 speed here in the Northwest. Enjoy your toy!
Steven Mitchell I’ve litterally never seen one but heard they made very few in the first years. Only one I ever seen was on the og road and track review video
@@chadwilliams8741 The 5-speed Aisin AX-15 transmission was used in the Grand Cherokee ZJ from 1993-1995 with the 4.0L inline 6. They don't come up for sale very often but are out there. I know of a couple on lots around Seattle/Tacoma area now. They are very in demand. The Cherokee XJ used 4 different 5-speeds depending on year and 4x4 or 4x2. It's quit common to see the XJ trans being swapped into a ZJ as they are pretty much the same chassis. The 1998 5.9 Limited was 4x4 of the year and fastest accelerating SUV for years, until the Hemi SRT Grand Cherokee. It was made only in that last year of ZJ production and fewer than 15,000 were made. Many of those were destroyed by drivers not expecting or experienced with, for it's day, a real beast with between 6.7 and 7+ second 0-60. Mine has QuadraTrac but I'm swapping in a SelecTrac, a factory 5.9 option, for 2wd mode and part-time 4x4 instead of Full-time currently. Personally, I consider the ZJ to be the best of the smaller Jeeps for comfort, handling and off-road in one vehicle. Aftermarket support really sucks though, especially for the 5.9 and, to a slightly lesser extent, the 5.2 v8s. Pretty much anything for the XJ drivetrain and suspension works on the 4.0L ZJ. I needed the towing capacity of the v8 and virtually stole my 5.9 for $1,700 as it had some minor problems that didn't cost but about $500 and a lot of time and busted knuckles. 21 years old and still scary quick.
This is obviously the mainstay-- and the main reason most people are subbed to this channel. This video has 10x the average views on the channel. If Jalopnik knew anything, they would just give this guy a few 100$ a week to work and tool on his Jeeps.. and a few 1,000 every month to start buy and start new projects.
Hey, so i noticed a whistle in the engine sound as you were driving it down the freeway the first time. My Jeep has a whistle like that too, any idea what it is?!
Man. I want that ZJ. I missed my chance on a white 94 5 speed ZJ a couple years back, local to me here in Kalamazoo. Been itching to find one since. looked like a great adventure there David, and a very worthy purchase on that ZJ!
Liking the manual transmission. I see a lot of 4.0 jeeps for sale with lots of miles. You proved that t the ey can still be reliable daily drivers. Go Jeep
12:13 is the reason why the 3rd Gear Syncro goes bad on these. Its the reason why my 3rd gear is bad on mine. Also,change your trans fluid but DO NOT use Gl-5 fluid,chrysler calls for motor oil or tons of people use Redline MT90 synthetic fluid.
i have an even rarer 5spd grand cherokee mines a 95 and according to jeep they only made the 5spd grands in 93 and 94. but somehow my 95 slipped through with a factory ax15 fully loaded.
I'd be willing to bet it's a swap as a lot of people have done manual swaps on later years. Check the transmission code on the body code plate under the hood. The ax15 code is ddq. It would be in the lower left hand corner.
@David Tracy If you are ever bringing that thing through Kansas, let me know and I'll happily show you my 94 factory manual ZJ with 138000 miles (right now) and in comparatively excellent condition. And let me know if you ever get that gear noise under control. I did a complete rebuild with all new bearings and synchros and it still whines. Every gear but fourth.
I know it's a factory because I've owned 3 a 93 a 94 and my latest the 95. All with working shift lights and no overdrive buttons. I got it from the original owner when the motor sunk a lifter. I've seen plenty of swaps but no one goes through the trouble to wire a shift light or find the oem shift boot.
@@street_wise_gamgee if it were me, I'd verify by the body code plate and maybe look up the factory build sheet just to be sure instead of trust that no-one is that meticulous. It's what i did with mine. Especially if I'm going to claim it to be a previously unheard of combination. But whatever works for you, man. If that's what it really is, then that is truly amazing and you've got a hell of a unicorn there!
I laughed through out this video!! I like the humor and the Jeep! I am a ZJ owner as well but mine is an automatic. If your Jeep does not have a hitch receiver or a steel skid plate over the fuel tank and all you have for protection on the back of the vehicle is a plastic bumper - you can take this Jeep to your local Jeep dealer for a recall. FCA issued a recall in late 2015 on the ZJ. Apparently, the gas tank could get punctured if the vehicle is rear ended. This can create a fire. I got a recall notice in November of 2015 to ensure my receiver was still there from factory installation. If it wasn't, FCA would have installed one. Mine also has the steel skid plate over the fuel tank. I feel well protected in this regard. Call your local dealer to participate in this free upgrade. I gather there was a big lawsuit involving this particular model of Jeep (ZJ) and the Jury awarded millions to the plaintiffs, even though the ZJ met all the safety requirements for the year that it was built. I gather that the vehicle that rear ended the particular ZJ in question, was either under insured or had no insurance. So the victims decided to sue Chrysler. The plaintiff's are lucky that I wasn't on the Jury. The ZJ met the safety requirements for the year that it was made. The liability should be on the negligent party that rear ended the Jeep. If both parties are under insured or had no insurance; To bad so sad, it's not Chrysler's fault that some people can't drive and plow into the back of the ZJ. Plate C The Chevy truck was epic! Plate C
Reminds me when I use to work on my CJ7. Remember one weekend my friend and I replace a 4 cylinder for a 6 because I had to drive it to work on Monday. Drove it home Sunday afternoon. We had to change the radiator and the steering linkage and a few other things. Loved the jeep but 10 mpg wasnt fun esp when it was my only ride. So let it go.
I'm curious where the production number of 1500 you keep quoting comes from. Last year, March i believe, you wrote an article for jalopnik where you said around 400 total was the number generally agreed on and thought to be correct by Hemmings. Is there updated info? Or are you including the euro spec diesel manuals in that number?
got my 96 still, only car ive ever owned and ill own it till i die. saw you came through omaha where mine resides. boy what a difference between our zjs, mine at 80 feels like a racecar deathtrap, but that could be the lift and tires lol
It feels like an XJ because the ZJ was suppose to be the XJ replacement... This was still developed when AMC/Renault was in charge. I have a 1999 2 dr XJ manual with the 4.0 and the NP231 and fully equipped. Can I consider that a holy grial too? XD
I once laid eyes on and even touched an Orvis edition ZJ with a 5 speed... NW Washington State... It was a theft recovery and was being parted out... So very sad
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
More of this Jalopnik
Dude this guy is the only person I watch on Jalopnik-- I am subbed for this channel when this guy rebuilt some old 4.0L like.. 5 years ago.. never watched anything else.
yes, plz no more Buzzfeedish content!
The real hero of this video is that granny low 4 speed Chevy lol
David is low key the best videographer at Jalopnik. All his content rocks
Thats my junk yard. That was a pontiac stamping plant my grandfather worked at. It was called plant 15.
That Cherokee is definitely rust-free by Michigan standards.
Pretty rust free for anywhere with snow
This is why u drive.. no TSA to deal with and u get to see the country
Love the truck!
I would overnight my tools next time or I would just go to Harbor Freight when I landed.
This video makes me want a manual. It also makes me thankful I have the V8. The I6 is a great motor and works for some, but I love how my V8 and how it can go up mountains in OD at 45 or 70, even with bigger tires and no regear.
What a weird car to get excited about... but I love it. Great video!
I’m on my second ZJ and I must say... I appreciate the fact that my current one has the 5.2 in it. The extra power is appreciated.
David’s videos are always great because he clearly loves his Jeeps. The drama is also real, maybe this Jeep will be the one that does him in! Tune in and find out! Hope to see more from you David!
Probably the nicest bucket you've ever bought sight unseen.
Thanks for vid, thought for years the porsche 928 was not offered in manual (wrong) and decades that grand cherokee was not offered in manual, (wrong). After cj7, and two cherokee's, one now for almost 20 yrs, only go for manuals. What a find!
I honestly didn't even know they made manuals.
1993 only
come to europe
There was a guy with a well kept stick Grand Cherokee who would come in on occasion. It was one of the few cars that would put a smile on my face there lol
Yeah I knew they made manual cherokees but not grand cherokees
@@AFXGaming yeah I had a 5spd litter Cherokee
I have a 2001 XJ 4x4 with 219K on the ODO and and I can't bring myself to sell it. Drove home in a nasty ice storm this afteroon and she ran true the whole time. Gotta love that 4.0!
Loving that keep, I had a 93 grand Cherokee, np231 and the only year that came with the aw4 instead of a Chrysler transmission. 304 thousand miles, rusted to hell, no brakes, no exhaust, and no f***s given. Never saw roads. Have fun with this one.
Should have shown the clip of the GC breaking through the glass at Cobo.
I always read your blogs but this is the first time I've watched a video of yours. Good Job. You are quality entertainment!
Got one as a winter daily driver for 2 years now, God i love this truck
80# oil pressure at 261k miles? Not bad.
Very cool video!
Didn’t think I would see you here
The holy Grail Jeep Grand Cherokee is 1998 with a 5.9 liter.
not. 15000 where made. the manual is the holy grail
About 14k 9ers were made 😁
First time I've seen a manual grand Cherokee.
Holy Grail Jeep is an 03 HO 5.9 Cummins with a NV5600 six speed manual, NP271, 9.25FD, 11.5RD.
Why did you bring the whole box. Anyone that ever worked on a Jeep knows you could build the entire thing with a 10mm -15 mm socket
What a great way to spend a few days! I love these types of trips 😀😀
Funny how different some standpoints are. As a German I like automatic transmissions, in fact my last car search was based on heated leather seats, ac, and most important of all: automatic. With all that stop-and-go traffic a manual is a pain in the ass, even when it is a nice one like in my first BMW 525 (the second one had the automatic - wow, what a nice difference!). Best experience so far was my '97 Chevy Suburban turbo diesel with the nice steering column lever. Now I own a '98 Mercedes CLK 320 (heated leather seats, ac, and most important of all: automatic). Nice. I would never go back to a manual, which most of my earlier cars had: Citroen 2CV, 2 Beetles, 2 Fiat 124 Spiders, Ford Consul, VW Transporter (rear engine), Fiat Tipo, 3 real Minis (which I would like to try with the 4-gear automatic, just got no chance to do it), VW Golf and the mentioned BMW 525.
But on the other hand I can understand your point of view since you are surrounded by boring & slow cars with automatic and the manual is the 'exotic' thing for you. Nice video, by the way.
Yeah in the US towns are separated by greater distances. So when the automotive industry was developing there was strong consumer demand for speedy cars for these longer commutes, and that required more gearing. Americans got sick of shifting so the demand grew for automatic transmissions. Also, the prevalence of manual transmissions around the globe can be attributed to the need post-war for cheap transportation.
I've got a '94 2 door XJ 5 Spd, but I always wanted the "Holy Grail" and I love that there is another person who recognizes it for what it truly is. BTW, I'm a proud Michigander as well.
@JonsReef I Guess I didn't make myself clear enough, I have an XJ, but I always wanted one of the near mythical manual ZJ's... the Holy Grail. Furthermore I was reinforcing the use of the term Holy Grail as applied to the Manual ZJ.
If you arent going to fix it up right (new parts, keeping it away from rust and a true restore) sell it to me.
That said glad you saved it from a early grave.
I think Holy Grail is a bit of a reach but whatever floats your boat.
I thought so too. I keep a zj around for camping, hunting and towing our travel trailer. I'd take the 5.2 in my $500 zj any day of the week. One run those 4.0l and they're kind of a turd, at least the ones that I've owned. Where as 5.2 I've put 100 000 km on it trouble free
@@bolerdweller the inline 4.0? They're great motors, I think the later ones get a bad rep due to the issue with the blocks cracking but the rest go for 300k+ miles easily.
Lol. I dunno, I've never even seen a 5-speed. I have a 99 w/ the 4.7 at 250k. Still runs. It requires a little love.
@@imacaryay7628 they're fantastic in XJs, but they're underpowered for handling the extra weight of the ZJ. Not everyone is bothered by it, but many are.
@@bolerdweller my girls 99 cherokee limited has over 200k miles and the motor is running as strong as ever, but i must say theres alot of wiring issues with power windows and locks and some rust but she runs good tho lol i drive a 01 dodge 1500 with the 5.9 and i wish i had the better 5.2 there my snappy but i haul alot so its good.
My friend has an AX15 on his 5.9 ZJ. Imagine that trans with decent power behind it.
the AX15 (built by asian transmission) is also used by toyota as the r154 (with slightly longer gears, and an extra .25" on the input shaft, but same housing and bolt patterns)... it is the transmission used behind a 2jz engine a lot in things like... the mk4 supra...(yeah yeah, v160 is god trans, but r154 can totally handle 5-600 whp)... AKA that trans with decent power behind it totally exists, and is very common.
Is your friend in michigan? I had a 5.9 with the AX15. sold it because it was too unreliable. That poor trans was not built for that power
Hmm I knew a guy in Macomb that had this teams behind his because i was going to purchase the 46re from him
@JonsReef just remeber you can buy gearsets made for the drag strip that fit right in... if you know how to rebuild a transmission there are a lot of things you can do to a ax15 by shopping for r154 parts. If you dont believe me then I blame the driver, not the parts.
@jason9022 ducking autocorrect. Thanks for clarification of my bad spelling
A clutch on a washing machine. I feel less weird for taking my dining room table to Goodwill so I'd have room in the kitchen for the T5 I'm rebuilding.
I wouldve built the trans on the table
My first Jeep was a zj! Watching this brought back so many good memories! Keep up the good work!
I’ve been following this story on the website for a while and I just finished reading the write up. Very ambitious and very cool!
You. Are. Insane. I thought I was mad buying a 337k-mile '91 Cherokee in Colorado this past September, but at least it was 5 mins down the street from my house! (I'm not disappointed with my purchase and hopefully you aren't either!)
I thought the Holey Grail ZJ would be the 5.9 version? Still a cool project. I've had a pile of Jeeps and I loved every one of them.
You can thank wisconsin for building all those beautiful straight 6's....
These old ZJ’s will not die, I see a lot still on the road. My 98 5.9 Limited still runs strong for 280k it’s a little rough around the edges but it will crank every time and get me where I need to go with no worries.
About a year ago my son and I took a similar drive from Denver to western Massachusetts in a uhaul towing a trailer carrying his car. Since we also had his cat with us, we spent two nights in motels; once in Nebraska and the other in south bend. This vid brought back memories. Thanks and good luck with the ZJ!
Why didn’t you just UPS the heavy stuff back.
1099 Deus Vult they were carrying the gear forward to the purchase location, not back home.
Keep ZJ love going! Finally, they’re getting some attention. Fun fact: I own of one of the last ever ZJs built.
My folks are the original and current owners of a 120k mile ‘94 Grand Cherokee 5 speed manual. It is an excellent and versatile vehicle.
I thought the holy grail was the 360 grand Cherokee TSi with the rear aluminum differential
yes thats another lol
JonsReef ya, I’m metric illiterate, so they are still 360’s to me
I grew up in western Colorado and I swear this Jeep used to belong to a friend of mine. It was his high school car around 2003. Never forget that five-speed. I remember it used to leak coolant in the high school parking lot.
Really enjoyed the vid. I have a 97 jeep grand cherokee Laredo 4×4 automatic with 221k miles. Paid 1400 for it last April with 213k on it. Runs freaking great never used a drop of oil love the truck but broke down right now. Harmonic balancer coming off. I have no tools here in Missouri. Waiting on my brother in Oklahoma to come up here and give me a hand with it. 3 more weeks hopefully be Rollin again
Finally, I can afford the elusive ZJ I first heard about on Beerfest!
Dude! That’s super legit!!! Those old ZJs are such a great platform.
and then the wj came along. with some unibody stiffeners and a few other things zj could be great
I nearly bought a white 1994 Laredo with a manual in it, It had around 250000km or 160000miles. He was asking I think only 1600 Canadian for it. It was located on Vancouver island, not sure if it sold or not. But it was good running order and looked really clean
Great video, but why didn't you buy the parts there?
Maybe they're special order.
I know all about the hunt for a manual transmission in any vehicle. It's not easy to find a decent one let alone any these day in any make.
I got a 5 speed 4x4 Jeep Liberty. There was only 3 in Florida for sale across multiple sites. All of them in terrible shape, but I made mine perfect after a ton of work. I paid way too much for it, but it was the best of the 3 I looked at. If I was to get a grand Cherokee it would have to have the 5.2 or 5.9 with a manual, but congrats on your new project.
My next hunt is a cheap Manual 4x4 3/4 ton crew cab truck in ok shape.... I have been looking for a while and the ones I find are expensive. I am done with automatics failing me.
I couldn't agree with you more - auto all the way for me in London city traffic. There's a reason all our famous black cabs are automatic. I currently drive a Cherokee XJ but UK petrol prices are killing me. My last car was a BMW 520 E34 auto and I miss it terribly. Are good E34's still possible to purchase for reasonable money in Germany or are they appreciating as a classic?
Looks like it has one of those Bluetooth front drive shafts
My parents purchased a 1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the inline 6 and a five-speed. It was a fun car!
Awesome video I read this article. Happy it turned out well for you. I recently found my holy grail a 95 E350 7.3 turbo diesel with a quigley 4x4 (auto trans). Same condition as this Jeep frame is perfect however the body is a little rough. Nothing a little time and effort can’t fix. Good luck with your rig!
Excellent video! It was the most entertaining journey this week. Thanks!
Love the zj, wish there was a good way to make them alot lighter though, xj definitely has the weight advantage but its getting hard to find cheap ones that arent ruined already.
At 17:17 it happened, again.... the mind meld metal mental link was made between the birthplace of a legend and its makers. Profound. Pure mechanical maniacal jeep grand cherokee genius!
Brave man,Colorado mt roads are no joke during winter
Mr. Tracy,
You definitely need to get a recovery vehicle. Not a recovery vehicle for pulling stuck vehicles out of holes, but a recovery vehicle for recovering Jeeps from a sad existence, a different kind of hole. After all, you take holy Jeeps and make them whole again.
For this task I would like to recommend the Gladiator Diesel. I know, I know new cars are expensive. That is why you should use one of your Jeep contacts and buy a press vehicle after they are done making their rounds.
Sincerely,
A concerned reader
I'm 100% wowed at the no rust on that ZJ considering it's from Colorado. They must not salt their roads when it snows.
For a tow rig I could see you in a Ram 2500 V10 with a manual.
I have 3 of these grand Cherokees zj's with 5 speeds an 2 Cherokee's xj's with 5 speeds for sale in my area plus the xj I have with 4.0 4x4 an 5 speed didnt know they were holy grails
Its basiclly a 4 door tj over a unibody. Good find
this jeep body style and interior are the exact same as my 1996 cherokee lerado 5.2liter all time 4x4 or low gear 4x4. only difference is the drive train :) i got the 249j transfer case on my A500 transmission. i got the 5 speed overdrive unit.
What a fun adventure. Looked like a great time. Good content!
Shoot I’ve got a 240,000 mile explorer xlt. One owner too! And it’s in damn good shape
$250!
I had '94 with automatic transmission. Shouldn't ever get rid of it. Manual transmission is a real gem.
Holy Grail? My 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited 4x4 is a real Holy Grail. I've found several ZJ Grand Cherokee 4.0 5 speed here in the Northwest. Enjoy your toy!
Steven Mitchell I’ve litterally never seen one but heard they made very few in the first years. Only one I ever seen was on the og road and track review video
@@chadwilliams8741 The 5-speed Aisin AX-15 transmission was used in the Grand Cherokee ZJ from 1993-1995 with the 4.0L inline 6. They don't come up for sale very often but are out there. I know of a couple on lots around Seattle/Tacoma area now. They are very in demand. The Cherokee XJ used 4 different 5-speeds depending on year and 4x4 or 4x2. It's quit common to see the XJ trans being swapped into a ZJ as they are pretty much the same chassis. The 1998 5.9 Limited was 4x4 of the year and fastest accelerating SUV for years, until the Hemi SRT Grand Cherokee. It was made only in that last year of ZJ production and fewer than 15,000 were made. Many of those were destroyed by drivers not expecting or experienced with, for it's day, a real beast with between 6.7 and 7+ second 0-60. Mine has QuadraTrac but I'm swapping in a SelecTrac, a factory 5.9 option, for 2wd mode and part-time 4x4 instead of Full-time currently. Personally, I consider the ZJ to be the best of the smaller Jeeps for comfort, handling and off-road in one vehicle. Aftermarket support really sucks though, especially for the 5.9 and, to a slightly lesser extent, the 5.2 v8s. Pretty much anything for the XJ drivetrain and suspension works on the 4.0L ZJ. I needed the towing capacity of the v8 and virtually stole my 5.9 for $1,700 as it had some minor problems that didn't cost but about $500 and a lot of time and busted knuckles. 21 years old and still scary quick.
This was great. More of these
Bought a 98 grand Cher. It was an endless money pit and the electrics had a mind of its own got rid of it quick.
Imagine if you put this much effort into something worthwhile.
This is obviously the mainstay-- and the main reason most people are subbed to this channel. This video has 10x the average views on the channel. If Jalopnik knew anything, they would just give this guy a few 100$ a week to work and tool on his Jeeps.. and a few 1,000 every month to start buy and start new projects.
Fun adventure and great video! Looking forward to watching the restoration process. Well done!
Hey, so i noticed a whistle in the engine sound as you were driving it down the freeway the first time. My Jeep has a whistle like that too, any idea what it is?!
Love the AX15. I have one in my '97 XJ 2 wheeler
Man. I want that ZJ. I missed my chance on a white 94 5 speed ZJ a couple years back, local to me here in Kalamazoo. Been itching to find one since. looked like a great adventure there David, and a very worthy purchase on that ZJ!
Brandon rocks! He's a good buddy for you!! Great video!
Liking the manual transmission. I see a lot of 4.0 jeeps for sale with lots of miles. You proved that t the ey can still be reliable daily drivers. Go Jeep
Nice! I have a 95 that I pretty much plan on keeping forever. Little sucker is tough as nails.
12:13 is the reason why the 3rd Gear Syncro goes bad on these. Its the reason why my 3rd gear is bad on mine. Also,change your trans fluid but DO NOT use Gl-5 fluid,chrysler calls for motor oil or tons of people use Redline MT90 synthetic fluid.
If my 1993 ZJ undergoed work until 2024, want to cover Bonhomme Richard to South Africa?
Always wanted a ZJ Jeep Cherokee. I saw the film Breakdown with Kurt Russell as a kid and been into them ever since.
i have an even rarer 5spd grand cherokee mines a 95 and according to jeep they only made the 5spd grands in 93 and 94. but somehow my 95 slipped through with a factory ax15 fully loaded.
I'd be willing to bet it's a swap as a lot of people have done manual swaps on later years. Check the transmission code on the body code plate under the hood. The ax15 code is ddq. It would be in the lower left hand corner.
@David Tracy If you are ever bringing that thing through Kansas, let me know and I'll happily show you my 94 factory manual ZJ with 138000 miles (right now) and in comparatively excellent condition. And let me know if you ever get that gear noise under control. I did a complete rebuild with all new bearings and synchros and it still whines. Every gear but fourth.
I know it's a factory because I've owned 3 a 93 a 94 and my latest the 95. All with working shift lights and no overdrive buttons. I got it from the original owner when the motor sunk a lifter. I've seen plenty of swaps but no one goes through the trouble to wire a shift light or find the oem shift boot.
@@street_wise_gamgee if it were me, I'd verify by the body code plate and maybe look up the factory build sheet just to be sure instead of trust that no-one is that meticulous. It's what i did with mine. Especially if I'm going to claim it to be a previously unheard of combination. But whatever works for you, man. If that's what it really is, then that is truly amazing and you've got a hell of a unicorn there!
I bought a 95 Suburban sight unseen. 5000 mile round trip!
I laughed through out this video!! I like the humor and the Jeep! I am a ZJ owner as well but mine is an automatic.
If your Jeep does not have a hitch receiver or a steel skid plate over the fuel tank and all you have for protection on the back of the vehicle is a plastic bumper - you can take this Jeep to your local Jeep dealer for a recall.
FCA issued a recall in late 2015 on the ZJ. Apparently, the gas tank could get punctured if the vehicle is rear ended. This can create a fire.
I got a recall notice in November of 2015 to ensure my receiver was still there from factory installation. If it wasn't, FCA would have installed one. Mine also has the steel skid plate over the fuel tank. I feel well protected in this regard.
Call your local dealer to participate in this free upgrade. I gather there was a big lawsuit involving this particular model of Jeep (ZJ) and the Jury awarded millions to the plaintiffs, even though the ZJ met all the safety requirements for the year that it was built.
I gather that the vehicle that rear ended the particular ZJ in question, was either under insured or had no insurance. So the victims decided to sue Chrysler.
The plaintiff's are lucky that I wasn't on the Jury. The ZJ met the safety requirements for the year that it was made. The liability should be on the negligent party that rear ended the Jeep. If both parties are under insured or had no insurance; To bad so sad, it's not Chrysler's fault that some people can't drive and plow into the back of the ZJ.
Plate C
The Chevy truck was epic!
Plate C
This makes me miss my 89 K1500 305 5 speed step side
Reminds me when I use to work on my CJ7. Remember one weekend my friend and I replace a 4 cylinder for a 6 because I had to drive it to work on Monday. Drove it home Sunday afternoon. We had to change the radiator and the steering linkage and a few other things. Loved the jeep but 10 mpg wasnt fun esp when it was my only ride. So let it go.
Congratulations, David! So happy to watch you achieve your dreams and skin your knuckles so I don't have to
I'm curious where the production number of 1500 you keep quoting comes from. Last year, March i believe, you wrote an article for jalopnik where you said around 400 total was the number generally agreed on and thought to be correct by Hemmings. Is there updated info? Or are you including the euro spec diesel manuals in that number?
Coil sprung rear helps it rode better than a XJ
Nice find...i have a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2 v8 with only 129,000 miles i found right next door..automatic tho..
Wow, you guys drove right past where i live!
Brandon, you look familiar, did we meet on the 2018 jp dirt n drive? 57/05 willys Rubicon wagon.
got my 96 still, only car ive ever owned and ill own it till i die. saw you came through omaha where mine resides. boy what a difference between our zjs, mine at 80 feels like a racecar deathtrap, but that could be the lift and tires lol
The hipster of car finds!
Word
Dude! Wish I had your luck! Congratulations on your find !
This is a hilarious narrative!! great stuff
I checked in a set of wheels for a mustang from Alaska to Hawaii one time.
Congrats on your holly grail. Glad the trip worked out!!
It feels like an XJ because the ZJ was suppose to be the XJ replacement... This was still developed when AMC/Renault was in charge.
I have a 1999 2 dr XJ manual with the 4.0 and the NP231 and fully equipped. Can I consider that a holy grial too? XD
Could have just brought a automatic and swamped in a manual from a wrangler. 😒
Wish I would of known you were near Chicago could of dumped off some jeep parts
I once laid eyes on and even touched an Orvis edition ZJ with a 5 speed... NW Washington State... It was a theft recovery and was being parted out... So very sad