Jeep Wrangler PCM and module repair and replacement

Advice about dual tone paint on 1999 TJ

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HoldOnToYourButts

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Hey y'all,

Just picked up this '99 TJ last week, it came like this and while in the future when maybe more budgeting allows I'll repaint it all one color, I was asking for opinions or thoughts on if I were to get full black doors on this (instead of the half doors on now like in the photo) and keep the black soft top, and the hood and front fenders black. Rest of the body would stay the 'desert tan' color.

I appreciate any thoughts or opinions if anyone has seen that before or if it works out the way I was going to do it, etc.

IMG_9105 (1).webp
 
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I've seen color mismatched panels before. It usually indicates a rebuild after a wreck or rust. As long as you're happy, who cares. Can you tell us more about the Jeep? It appears to have JL wheels, which means there are wheel adapters being used. What's the frame look like?
 
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Ashim said:
I've seen color mismatched panels before. It usually indicates a rebuild after a wreck or rust. As long as you're happy, who cares. Can you tell us more about the Jeep? It appears to have JL wheels, which means there are wheel adapters being used. What's the frame look like?
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That's pretty fair! The Carfax had no previous damage reported or known about, doesn't mean something wasn't hidden but to my extensive background research into the vehicle it has had no major issues prior. A little frame rust is on there I made sure there was no rot anywhere to be found prior to purchasing. I'm swapping out the wheels for TJ stock 15" ones later this week. I'm not a fan of the half doors so I'm hoping to get solid full doors at some point in the near future with a new soft top (the one this came with was heavily used and about 10 years old). But this will be a project jeep for sure over the years.

I thought that if I was able to balance out the black and desert tan colors, it would at least look somewhat even for both colors, and not just a random part here or there a different color.
 
HoldOnToYourButts said:
Hey y'all,

Just picked up this '99 TJ last week, it came like this and while in the future when maybe more budgeting allows I'll repaint it all one color, I was asking for opinions or thoughts on if I were to get full black doors on this (instead of the half doors on now like in the photo) and keep the black soft top, and the hood and front fenders black. Rest of the body would stay the 'desert tan' color.

I appreciate any thoughts or opinions if anyone has seen that before or if it works out the way I was going to do it, etc.

View attachment 706195
Click to expand...

I think black full doors would make it appear more mismatched. If you are planning to paint at some point, leave it until then.

That said, full doors for a driver are a huge improvement over half doors with the soft uppers. You could look for a very nice set of full doors without regard to the color (makes it much easier), and then paint the whole thing at once.
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
I think black full doors would make it appear more mismatched. If you are planning to paint at some point, leave it until then.

That said, full doors for a driver are a huge improvement over half doors with the soft uppers. You could look for a very nice set of full doors without regard to the color (makes it much easier), and then paint the whole thing at once.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the advice! That's what a few others have said too. I think since I just got this and got a few things repaired already, painting the doors and hood to match the rest of the desert tan would be likely a future/next year project, for budget purposes, if I were to do it at all. But I totally agree about getting the full doors- I'd actually get desert tan doors if I could find them, but so far they're pretty hard to find with that exact color, hence the idea of getting black full doors for now since it'd at least match the fenders and hood a little, vs another color.
 
First thing I'd say, is you do you. If full doors are a priority and a mismatched color doesn't bother you, go for it!

That said, if it's not a daily driver I'd be tempted to paint the front before worrying about the doors. I had half doors on a YJ and really liked them in the summer when the top was off. Not as much in the winter.

If you have a place to do the work, paint the front end yourself and save some cash/gain some experience doing it.
Then when you find a good deal on full doors, no matter the color, use the experience and the leftover paint to do those too.
 
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MtPockets said:
First thing I'd say, is you do you. If full doors are a priority and a mismatched color doesn't bother you, go for it!

That said, if it's not a daily driver I'd be tempted to paint the front before worrying about the doors. I had half doors on a YJ and really liked them in the summer when the top was off. Not as much in the winter.

If you have a place to do the work, paint the front end yourself and save some cash/gain some experience doing it.
Then when you find a good deal on full doors, no matter the color, use the experience and the leftover paint to do those too.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice! That's the idea I am starting to get. I don't think I'd mind the mismatched door color as long as it's not forever. But yeah currently full doors are the priority since winter is coming up in a few months. It won't be a daily vehicle but at least a few times a week. Good advice about painting them myself! That's a skill I wouldn't mind learning if it works out.
 
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TheBoogieman said:
I hope you got a good deal because Maryland Jeeps are rusted worse than NY specimens. That Jeep had major front end damage and should have a salvage title.
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Oh for sure! I not only inspected myself, but had it inspected by an independent inspector plus the local dealer. No rot found, but some rust overall which is to be expected. Nothing that can't be managed. I actually bought it out of WV
 
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