02' TJ - Capable daily driver

kiwi

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2021
Messages
515
Location
Seattle
Hey everyone! I'm new to this forum, and new to jeeps, and wanted to document my build for anyone interested

After a long search for my perfect TJ, i finally found one. Jan 13, 2021, drove 4 hours round trip and picked up a 2002, one owner, 96k miles, manual, 4.0, and it was mostly stock too. This will be my daily driver, as it's my first vehicle ever. Over the past couple months I've given it a huge clean, replace a dented body panel, replaced the front u-joints, and cleaned up the frame. All while saving up for a lift and some new wheels and tires.

Here it is the day i got it (Came with a hardtop and soft top)

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Time for a clean...

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Picked up new fenders on marketplace to fix the dent

before:
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after:
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And cleaned up the frame!

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Lots more to come!
 
Last week i finally ordered the lift, ended up going with OME springs, and rs5000x shocks, and should get around 2.5" of lift. While waiting for those to arrive i did a few small mods, and picked up some rims for 150$ for 4, and some BFG's for 200$ for 4.

New gas cap door

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Stubby antenna and window wipers

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And the BFG's

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Lift should be arriving tomorrow!
 
Thanks! And hi neighbor! Have u been up to Tahuya?
I have, its an excellent place to get acquainted with your Jeep and what it can do, without being overwhelmed. Walker valley is another good starter for after Tahuya.

I would avoid Elbe for now :ROFLMAO:
 
I have, its an excellent place to get acquainted with your Jeep and what it can do, without being overwhelmed. Walker valley is another good starter for after Tahuya.

I would avoid Elbe for now :ROFLMAO:
Yeah i just went out to Tahuya for the first time a few weeks ago, definitely got lost but it was fun! Walker Valley is next on my list once the lift is done 👍
 
Not much progress the past few days... Put the soft top on, realized the 18 year old zippers were a pain to use, and now i’m looking at new soft tops (specifically the trektop nx)
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Also made a phone mount. Ended up getting a deeper dash tray, and mounting a track to it, allowing me to add 20mm ball mounts for phone mounts, gopro mounts, etc.

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Nice build I was thinking of getting some A/T tires since mines my daily for school how are your tires offroad ?
Thanks! I haven’t had the chance to take them off-road yet, but i’ll update u once i do. On road they’re great though.
 
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Haven’t done much to the jeep recently, just been enjoying driving it ☀️
I did however order a new front bumper and got a new project to keep the jeep company
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Honda sl100
Plan on doing a resto-mod and building it to match the jeep (which i eventually plan on painting patriot blue)
Bumper arrives thursday so more updates then!