can anybody tell me if the rear hatch handle -plastic outer piece- from a 93 or 94 ZJ will work on my 97? mine's broke, a buddy has one but it's from a different year ZJ..

Yes.

I had to replace mine on my '93, and got a handle out of a '97. Worked fine.

beauty. thanks.

can anybody tell me if the rear hatch handle -plastic outer piece- from a 93 or 94 ZJ will work on my 97? mine's broke, a buddy has one but it's from a different year ZJ..

Did this work for you?
I think the 96 to 98 will work on the 93 to 95 but I don't think the 93 to 95s will work on 96 to 98s.
Don't think they have a place to put the switch that runs to the window release button. The switch that senses when the system is unlocked is on the handle.

See pix on this post: http://www.nagca.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=228873#228873