05 Wrangler penny pincher build

Jeepersteve71

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
548
Location
Fort Worth, TX, United States
Well.... it’s time for a new build... I sold the LJ...


Ha just kidding. My uncle just bought this 05 sport model for my cousin. He turns 16 in June. He is going to bring it to me for a month or two and let me clean it up and get it sitting right for a new driver.

First thing is first. When I get my hands on it I’m going to clean and wax the heck out of it. Who shows a vehicle without getting it cleaned up first anyways??

Has 90,000 miles on it and it’s an auto. Guy said he only went off-roading twice and from the looks of it I believe he lived on a dirt road.

So what is the build list?? Glad you asked.

My uncle said he doesn’t have a huge budget but may add more to it over time. Right now just needs to be nice enough to drive to school and back. I told him he could drive to Oklahoma and back by the time I’m done with it lol.

Build list:
4 31 inch cooper discoverer ATs. Maybe the AT3’s?? Not sure yet. Just depends on whatever he picks up.

Factory Rubicon springs I picked up for $10

New shocks (not sure on brand or price yet but will update the post once purchased).

Remove the light bar and place all 4 lights on the front bumper (will ditch the factory fog lights).

Kc bumper hoop for lights - I picked up for free!

Remove fenders, steps and bumpers to repaint black. Will also clean up the frame and paint black.

Upgrade to JK headlights - $50

Add the mopar chrome grill. I picked one up the other day for $50.

Spare tire cover for $40 or less.

Other than that clean the living heck out of the thing and Make it a nice daily driver. The exterior I’m not to worried about. When I take the fender flares off I’ll go ahead and remove the spare tire as well as the tail lights and give it a good buff job. The interior on another hand... I’ll probably go ahead and remove the factory carpet and vacuum/shampoo it out really good. I’m sure there will be some stuff underneath the carpet that needs to be vacuumed up too. The last task will be the engine bay. I’ll need to get the degreaser out and really clean it up. I plan on taking the factory air box out and replacing it with our 06 LJ factory air box. It’s in much better condition and I think will help clean up the engine bay a bit.

We were thinking of selling the hard top but I think my uncle wants to hang on to it since it is the one the Jeep fame with from the factory. We were thinking of selling it and buying a frameless too and a few other things for it. Depending on what the brakes look like we may upgrade to some power stop rotors and pads that I have on my LJ. We can pick some up for around $300ish from 4wheelparts. We’ll see what they look like first.

So below are the photos of the Jeep and what I hope it looks like once complete. Does anyone know of a good product to put on the hard top? I love the grey color. Just want to get the shine back out of it. Also what kind of paint do you think would look best on the fenders and steps?

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Here is what I’m hoping the after will look like lol.
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Awesome build and let me know if you want to sell the stock fog lights. would be interested...
 
I just shipped a set of trucklite headlights to Dallas. Cost about 20 bucks. so it depends on how much you want to sell them for. Just let me know, I am in no rush. Thanks
 
Well I took the seat covers off and the seats are in great condition! I’m no usually one for the tan interiors in the TJ’s but this one is by far my favorite. The only issue with the seats is that the front passenger seat looks to hav a cigerette hole burn or two but it’s nothing major.

I took the light bar off today and sold it with the KC lights, the wiring, and switches for $100. Figured that’s not that bad. It was all junk anyways. Looks like that money is going to go towards some kentrol windshield hinges because the hinges are complete crap now with rusty bolts and etc. Found out that they wired it through the floor plug! Couldn’t believe it. What idiots! Check out the last photo.

I took the backseat out and got a really good look at the carpet. It’s disgusting. Will need quite a bit of work to make it decent enough to live with. If it were me it would have already been gone and a bed rug would have been purchased. My uncle said he didn’t want to spend more than $10,000 on a vehicle but he spent $11,800 on the Jeep, put new tires on it, a new battery, and tinted the windows so the only rul is keep it cheap as possible. It really won’t be that bad. It’s all cosmetic stuff really. Problem is that’s what adds up the most. $20 here and $20 there kind of stuff. I’m going to see if he’ll at least splurge $300 or so for some speakers. It has the factory head deck in it and only 1 speaker still works lol.

Already looks better without the light bar. Really can’t wait to get the bug shield off (may replace with a new one), clean the Jeep up and buff out the paint to get the shine back out of it. This is one of my favorite TJ colors (probably because my buddys in high school has a sweet stone white rubicon) and I just cannot believe why they didn’t even try to keep it a little cleaner than what it is. Will post more photos as I am able to work on it.
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PO wasn't too big on clean, huh? Good luck with the cleanup. My previous X was like that. I took the carpet out, then to a self-serve car wash and hit it with the degreaser then high-power rinse, Several times. Let it dry for a good long time. Came out pretty clean.

Bug deflectors always remind me of a unibrow, especially on a white Jeep.
 
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PO wasn't too big on clean, huh? Good luck with the cleanup. My previous X was like that. I took the carpet out, then to a self-serve car wash and hit it with the degreaser then high-power rinse, Several times. Let it dry for a good long time. Came out pretty clean.

Bug deflectors always remind me of a unibrow, especially on a white Jeep.
Yeah the photos make it look much better than what it really is. Little scratches and grime all around. I can’t wait to see this thing after I get some wax on it and buff it out.
 
Pulled the bug shield and milk jugs off the front and rear. Already had the front bumper end caps and will need to order the rear. Had a KC bumper hoop too. I think it looks pretty good with the chrome grill. Will need to buff the paint and get rid of the stains on the white paint with the left over residue from the bug shield. May be too far gone and will have to buy another bug shield. Noticed a small dent on the front of the hood where one of the “cushions” was stuck on the hood. Crazy to think this was a mopar bug shield. Terrible design. Already looking much better though!
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I hate bug shields. Those things are ugly, stupid, and everyone I've ever seen has a bad design that damages the paint underneath. Good call on removing that thing!
 
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I hate bug shields. Those things are ugly, stupid, and everyone I've ever seen has a bad design that damages the paint underneath. Good call on removing that thing!
I like some... but not this one.

I think we’ll be going with this one. I guess it’s better (and probably cheaper) than trying to pull a dent. That and it will hide the other battle scars on the Jeep.

Auto Ventshade 322091 Aeroskin Acrylic Hood Shield https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BG8XUIY/?tag=wranglerorg-20
 
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Like this?

Jeep Wrangler 2007-2014 Front Hood Cover T Style W/Logo Mopar OEM https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LO3JPM/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I heard they can sun fade. Do you have a specific one you like to use? Pics are welcome :) lol.

I don't have any photos of it on my current TJ because I haven't applied it yet. But I had it on all my previous vehicles and pics wouldn't even make a difference. The stuff is so invisible that you couldn't even see it unless you got within a few inches of the vehicle.

I've always used the 3M brand as it comes with the lifetime warranty, but I'm also open to using any of the brands supplied by local window tint shops, as they always back up their work with a lifetime warranty as well.

I've also never had an issue with it fading due to sun... ever. I also don't leave my vehicles parked outside exposed to the elements, so that probably counts for something for what it's worth.

The stuff I'm talking about FYI is commonly referred to as "paint protection film".
 
I don't have any photos of it on my current TJ because I haven't applied it yet. But I had it on all my previous vehicles and pics wouldn't even make a difference. The stuff is so invisible that you couldn't even see it unless you got within a few inches of the vehicle.

I've always used the 3M brand as it comes with the lifetime warranty, but I'm also open to using any of the brands supplied by local window tint shops, as they always back up their work with a lifetime warranty as well.

I've also never had an issue with it fading due to sun... ever. I also don't leave my vehicles parked outside exposed to the elements, so that probably counts for something for what it's worth.

The stuff I'm talking about FYI is commonly referred to as "paint protection film".
Oh yeah I know what you are talking about now. I like that stuff too. I think this one may be to far gone for that though. That stuff wouldn’t work to well with the dent in the hood and I’d just be covering flaud paint lol. I just wish the previous owner would have washed the darn thing from time to time.
 
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The carpets come out pretty easily. Shampoo them and they should look pretty nice. Shampoo the seats while you are at it. The rental carpet shampooers work pretty damn well, just make sure you get the attachments that do furniture, and use hot as you can get water and about half the recommended soap. Some new floor mats will make a nice difference as well. That nasty center console comes out easily. Yank it and hose it all off. Hit the flares, door handles, fuel filler bezel, sway bar cover, and bumpers with some satin black, will "freshen" up the entire Jeep.

Could do something like this for the hood, http://www.ruggedridge.com/hood-guard-body-armor-11650-17.html

I am fairly certain a 16 year old guy is gonna be pretty damn stoked getting a Jeep at 16. :D
 
Update on the penny pincher! I was able to get the engine bay cleaned/semi detailed. I wouldn’t say it’s spot less but it’s probably the only time it has ever been cleaned since it rolled off the assembly line. I’m pretty happy about it. I was also able to get all the stains off the hood. Looks like the one small dent may be able to be popped out so we may not have to do a bug shield, stone guard, or hood bra after all.

The only other dent is in the door but it’s hardly noticeable and probably not worth touching. I went ahead and got all of the lenses out. Tomorrow I will be taking the bumpers off, sway bar cover, fenders, and steps off to buff out the paint, paint the fenders, steps, bumpers, and some parts of the frame. I’ll also finish off with the Jk headlights upgrade and the chrome grill installed. Feeling pretty accomplished thus far. That engine bay and stains on the hood was a huge step. I posted the before picture of the engine bay again so you can get the idea. You can see the dent in the hood and door I was referring too. Can’t wait to get everything just right again. Will be buying a new license plate bracket as well.
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Longest day ever but I got a lot accomplished. Buffed out the paint, painted some parts of the fame (will probably do the rest on another day), bumpers, steps, and fenders. After that I had to assemble everything together which always takes more time then it ever should. It’s all the little things that take up the most time.

I have Kentrol hinges on our LJ and we love them. This being the penny pincher build I decided to try some of the cheaper ones out there to see if there is a difference or not.

Bottom line... there is. I went with he Rugged Ridge upper hinges and the smittybilt lower hinges. Total was $160 for the set. The rugged ridge hinges are thinner than the factory hinges and wouldn’t line up right at all. The smittybilt ones are alright but the kentrol powder coat is much better. I’ll be returning them and buying new kentrol. One of those “you get what you pay for” things on this one.
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