My new-to me LJ

About two years ago I sold my 2014 Mercedes C300 because it was boring me, after selling it I decided to get a cheaper car (or so I thought) and got a 2000 Wrangler with 145k miles 5 speed. I loved it, in less than two years I put about 20k miles on it because I was driving it everywhere. Then in the summer of 2020 some drunk lady ruined that for me, but insurance paid out good.

After about a year of deciding which car I wanted to get next (I was pretty set on a 2014-16 BMW 535i) I decided back on a Jeep. Test drove a few JK's even a JL but they felt nothing like my old TJ and that wasn't what I wanted. The TJ's drive like actual trucks whereas the JK and especially the JL feel like a normal SUV. After about two months of searching I came across an LJ, a 2005 with only 48k original miles. Now granted this Jeep wasn't perfect. Spending probably all of its life in Maine it has more than likely been exposed to salt. I spoke to the owner, great guy very upfront and honest. The frame did have a defect but he fixed it and it doesn't even look like there was ever a problem with it. I managed to snag it for 15k. Hardtop included w soft top as well. There is surface rust on the frame that I will be cleaning up over a couple weekends as well as some rust on the body (torque boxes and body panels are in pretty decent shape). The only thing that bugs me is it being an automatic but I can live with that.

There are a couple things I will be doing such as repainting the grill to match the paint of the body, replacing the tailgate (its nice just a hassle for everyday use)

Haven’t really done much with the Jeep since getting it. Installed a UCF skid plate which has been annoying as hell. Vibrations are through the roof, getting their transmission mount which will hopefully help, really do not want to lift the body at all.

I’ve removed the chrome grill insert, added limb risers, sold the rear bumper and waiting on a new one with a tire carrier.

I also added this battery operated light on the rear of the hard top (for 7$) as the factory dome light barely lit up the rear of the Jeep.

Added/replaced a couple things on the Jeep this weekend.

-NEW SPICER U JOINTS (FRONT)
-FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS
-NEW STAINLESS STEEL TRANSMISSION LINES
-NEW JKS SWAY BAR LINKS
-REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL PINION SEALS FRONT AND REAR
-REPLACED 4 NTK O2 SENSORS (1 came used from Amazon and immediately got a CEL light for it)

I am looking for new brake lines and fuel lines now as I am trying to restore this to its glory.
Transmission has been giving me a tough time, P0700 will occasionally come on. Reset PCM and it hasn't been back since.
Might be the PCM, looks worn out. Jeep has 50k miles on it so I don't think the transmission is already worn out.
Also added a sticker on my rear glass so hopefully it'll help with people telling me its a gas guzzler.
Also totaled an unmarked police VW jetta.story of accident

So the Jeep decided to not start last night at the gym. Got out from my evening pump, hop in. No start...
I was pretty confident that it was the starter, as I have been hearing scratching noises when starting it over the last couple of weeks.
It has also been doing this and I would go under hit the starter with a wrench and get it going, but last night that trick stopped working. I went to my local Autozone, grabbed a new one and popped it in, nothing changed. Well shit. I asked my dad what he thought it could be, he said check the Ignition Switch Actuator Pin. After figuring out how to do that, I gave it a shot. Once I got to it I saw that the metal rod on it was actually broken in half. I again hit my local Autozone and grab a new one. Replace it and boom!
This is kinda why I love my Wrangler. Replaced two parts in the span of 3 hours in a gym parking lot.

Pretty sure this starter is toast

Haven’t been working on the Jeep much. Getting it ready to have the frame redone soon and regeared. Been a little busy with this new Harley 883 I just picked up. So much fun