My fault just realized yours is the reverse. 03 top on older version. Disregard.
OP
Now that my lack of reading comprehension is apparent, one of the two previous owners of mine was either sloppy or lazy when it came to wiring. He or she installed the KC spot lights; rather than trim wiring to the length of the run, just bundled the excess wiring up and zip tied it on the top of the battery. There was so much wiring bundled up and zip tied that I couldn't see half my battery. I just corrected that this weekend by cutting all the wires to length with an appropriate amount of slack.
OP
Well, with the possible side vent leaking issues with the older tops, you may be very well trading one leak for another LOL.
Airjunky
TJ Enthusiast
So on topic....... when I looked at buying my Jeep, I took it to a buddies' place and we looked it over pretty heavily. Test drive, including 4hi & 4low, compression test on the engine (fat lot of good that did, the motor spun a rod bearing 5 months later), figured out there was a brand new Rocky Mt 4x4 trussed 8.8 in it, 4.56 gears, Rusty's 4" lift springs (that were causing interference and geometry problems), a Tom's SYE on a new driveline, new adjustable upper rear control arms, an old Rancho lift, a bent steering arm, a new Sony HU, a new Rampage top, a 2 month old Optima red top, almost no rust on the frame, but surface rust on both bumpers, & a crappy rusted out exhaust, etc. It gave me a good idea of what I was willing to offer him & how much work there was to get things right. And at that point I knew about the + $3000 in parts alone I was looking at. I made him an offer and after a day or so of finagling, he accepted it.
In the end, the only surprise was the engine bearing......an $1800 lesson for me. But the suspension and steering work I did almost immediately and it cost about what I saved on my offer to the seller.
In the end, the only surprise was the engine bearing......an $1800 lesson for me. But the suspension and steering work I did almost immediately and it cost about what I saved on my offer to the seller.
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I have a 97-02 hardtop on an 05. I’d be willing to trade if I come your way or you mine. I’m in Spokane, it’s not too far away.
that looks like someone hooked the bumper and ripped it off, that steel is torn.
Nope, that is purely from a swing out tire carrier that vibrated back and forth until it cracked the crossmember ends and failed.
How many people died when the trailer tore off on the highway? Yikes.
Edit: Others mentioned Tire carrier...Still.. Don't want to be on the receiving end of that either, assuming at came off completely.
Still has the stock tire carrier, but I suppose it could have been replaced after the unfortunate incident.
Any ideas as what I could do to repair?
Any ideas as what I could do to repair?
Hack it off and replace it, or bolt/weld a new crossmember piece over it.
Genright makes a bolt on one:
https://genright.com/products/rear-cross-member-plate-tj-lj-yj.html
Use a frame brace for any bumper you put on after. Any company that makes a bumper (Genright, poison spyder, savvy, rock hard 4x4, dirtworx, etc.) makes one
I will have to look into this. Had no idea that could be done. Thanks!
The po must have caught a sale of spray bed liner. He sprayed the front and rear bumpers, wheel wells and started on the door hinges but must have got tired of doing the masking cause he only did one hinge on the passenger side, left the others alone. Also my windshield wipers were odd, one looked to be oem, faded and dirty but the other was rusty as hell. Had to be from another older Jeep. But the engine was clean enough to eat off of?? The next guy who gets Ripley will have a lot to bitch about. Now why did he do ______?
I was just astonished at how much weather neglect went into my Jeep by PO's. The long term PO took pretty good care mechanically. Lots of receipts. But they had to have left it out in the Socal sun for many a season. I had to replace just about everything that can be sun damaged. Soft top, flares, all external plastics and some internal. Even the roll bar covers need replacing. I replaced the seats front and back. But if not for his neglect I would not have been able to afford it. I picked it up for 6k. I don't know how much it's worth now. But nearing 9 or 10k at the most.
It did have one wreck on it's Carfax early on it's in life. Like within the first year or two. It originally came with hard top and full doors. But I think they cheaped out on the repair. They repaired the body damage. But replaced the hard top with soft. And full doors with yellow half doors painted black. So another example of damage that gave me a better deal. But the bright side is it's wired and hosed for a hard top with rear window washer. And I sold the half doors and old soft top.
The other thing was extra parts over the life of the Jeep. It had a tow hitch installed. And goofy big tube rock guards. Grizzly rims. Weather worn Bestop soft top and bikini top. It all looked lame imho and/or weather worn. But to my advantage I sold it all and spent the money on the Jeep.
Lastly, my transmission wouldn't shift right. I'm not sure if the PO had the same problem I did and could not find an honest trans guys. I went to 4 and they all said I needed a new trans. I got a recommendation to one good trans guy in socal. And he adjusted the TV cable and it's run fine ever since. Didn't cost a dime. Probably another reason I got a good deal. As PO undoubtedly thought the trans needed replacing.
This all reminds me of the vehicle pre inspection at the dealership. They didn't uncover every last detail. But they found over 90% of them. Put a price tag on fixing it all (an estimate). And I further used that to negotiate the cost of the Jeep down. By time I was done I had 1 or 2k off on the Jeep to spend on repairs. and what repairs it needed in addition to mechanical ones I've done myself. HAd I tried to do the same thing with say a bad engine. It would have been out of my realm. But luckily I can change parts and paint things. So I saved alot.
I think my Jeep is an example of how to get in on the ground floor. And slowly get your Jeep up to snuff. I could not have afforded it otherwise. And I've learned so much about Jeeps. It's been a godsend. I didn't know a tenth about my Yukon what I do about Jeeps now. I will cherish that knowledge for the rest of my life. As I don't see myself not owning a Jeep.
PS - I still don't know why the PO didn't turn the rear view mirror upside down. Maybe he was smaller in stature than I am.
It did have one wreck on it's Carfax early on it's in life. Like within the first year or two. It originally came with hard top and full doors. But I think they cheaped out on the repair. They repaired the body damage. But replaced the hard top with soft. And full doors with yellow half doors painted black. So another example of damage that gave me a better deal. But the bright side is it's wired and hosed for a hard top with rear window washer. And I sold the half doors and old soft top.
The other thing was extra parts over the life of the Jeep. It had a tow hitch installed. And goofy big tube rock guards. Grizzly rims. Weather worn Bestop soft top and bikini top. It all looked lame imho and/or weather worn. But to my advantage I sold it all and spent the money on the Jeep.
Lastly, my transmission wouldn't shift right. I'm not sure if the PO had the same problem I did and could not find an honest trans guys. I went to 4 and they all said I needed a new trans. I got a recommendation to one good trans guy in socal. And he adjusted the TV cable and it's run fine ever since. Didn't cost a dime. Probably another reason I got a good deal. As PO undoubtedly thought the trans needed replacing.
This all reminds me of the vehicle pre inspection at the dealership. They didn't uncover every last detail. But they found over 90% of them. Put a price tag on fixing it all (an estimate). And I further used that to negotiate the cost of the Jeep down. By time I was done I had 1 or 2k off on the Jeep to spend on repairs. and what repairs it needed in addition to mechanical ones I've done myself. HAd I tried to do the same thing with say a bad engine. It would have been out of my realm. But luckily I can change parts and paint things. So I saved alot.
I think my Jeep is an example of how to get in on the ground floor. And slowly get your Jeep up to snuff. I could not have afforded it otherwise. And I've learned so much about Jeeps. It's been a godsend. I didn't know a tenth about my Yukon what I do about Jeeps now. I will cherish that knowledge for the rest of my life. As I don't see myself not owning a Jeep.
PS - I still don't know why the PO didn't turn the rear view mirror upside down. Maybe he was smaller in stature than I am.