1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ: time to let it go or can it be brought back to reliable state?

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smitty1710

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Hi everyone! My husband has a 1989 red Jeep Wrangler he bought new when he was (hold on while I do this math) — a tender young 25, the first car he ever bought, and he loves it almost as much as he loves me. It has not run well in the last few years, and is hesitating really bad now. My question is, are parts for a 1989 even available at this point to get this Jeep back in good running order? Or is it time to just let it go? I'd really like to find an ace Jeep mechanic in Dallas if anybody here knows who that might be.

Thank you!

Mary
 
Yes every part you need, and many more you don't, are available for the '89 Wrangler. You can practically build one out of a catalog. Your local auto parts store should be able to get anything you need, if not there are many, many online sellers who will gladly sell you parts. Sorry, I'm not from the DFW and don't have a referral for a Jeep mechanic.
 
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Finding parts aren't usually a problem for an older Wrangler. But somethings can be a bit pricey but you can usually shop around too.

Not much help on a referral for a Jeep mechanic either as one reason I like older Jeeps is that I can do the work myself.
 
smitty1710 said:
Hi everyone! My husband has a 1989 red Jeep Wrangler he bought new when he was (hold on while I do this math) — a tender young 25, the first car he ever bought, and he loves it almost as much as he loves me. It has not run well in the last few years, and is hesitating really bad now. My question is, are parts for a 1989 even available at this point to get this Jeep back in good running order? Or is it time to just let it go? I'd really like to find an ace Jeep mechanic in Dallas if anybody here knows who that might be.

Thank you!

Mary
Click to expand...
If you post in the Texas regional thread you could probably get a good recommendation or if you offer some beer someone close may be willing to take a look.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/texas-jeepers.6691/page-52#post-372435
 
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smitty1710 said:
Hi everyone! My husband has a 1989 red Jeep Wrangler he bought new when he was (hold on while I do this math) — a tender young 25, the first car he ever bought, and he loves it almost as much as he loves me. It has not run well in the last few years, and is hesitating really bad now. My question is, are parts for a 1989 even available at this point to get this Jeep back in good running order? Or is it time to just let it go? I'd really like to find an ace Jeep mechanic in Dallas if anybody here knows who that might be.

Thank you!

Mary
Click to expand...
Let us know how it goes with your husband's Jeep.
 
lowranger said:
She knows her husband's Jeep is a Wrangler and came here for help. Probably doesn't know if it's a YJ or TJ, just Wrangler.
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You're probably right on this. I just saw 1989 and only know what I know.

lowranger said:
She probably just wants to bring it back to life for her husband the way it was... stock.
Click to expand...

I'd say you're probably right on this one too.
 
Unlike the TJs, pretty much every single part can be bought aftermarket for the YJs.

Companies like Throttle Down Kustoms make frames (upgrading to galvanized and to 3/16” thickness)
https://www.throttledownkustoms.com/i-26373450-yj-jeep-frame-1987-1995.html
You can buy aftermarket fiberglass and even Kevlar tubs:
http://www.shellvalley.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=results/category_id=139/mode=cat/cat139.htm
Or even aluminum tubs:
https://www.hardbody4x4.com/jeep-bodies.html
Full metal dashboards:
https://sites.google.com/site/doubledfab/(They make these for TJs too)

Basically you could assemble a 100% aftermarket YJ using only off the shelf parts. We’re not quite there yet with the TJ. So yes this can be fully repaired with proper funding, as long as we don’t get into a debate on the ship of Theseus
 
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