Back in 2021, I picked up a non-running 98 TJ with the mighty 4 squirrel 2.5L. This was my first Jeep to own; I figured this would be a perfect vehicle for the deer lease and would allow me to drive to and on the lease with the same vehicle instead of trailering a Polaris Ranger there. A simple cap, rotor, and plug wire replacement got it back on the road running and driving. First drive was fun, but trying to get to 60 mph on the highway with a loaded down log truck getting closer and closer in my mirrors as that 2.5L did all it could was enough to get me to decide to do a full out build. Here is a picture of the jeep as I purchased it:
By the way, I swear this thing was Blue when I bought it, once the sun was out, it is sure enough purple! Either way pretty clean jeep to use as a project.
I was having some trouble with the electrical system, so decided to start the project with body work, stripping all of the extra lighting, winch, and extra stuff on the jeep to get it back down to a mostly stock system and see what I was working with.
Disassembly and starting to prep for any body repairs:
Skip forward past paint prep and body work. (I am terrible about taking pictures while I work....)
Primer:
First round of color and door/hood/panel fitment:
Final Color and fitting headlights and cowl.
Final product before new windshield and soft top install:
More to come, I am much further along than this, but will start with this part of the project. Looking forward to actually recording this project so later I can look back.
PS this project is still not done, but is much different than this last photo. With the way my work is, I go pretty good spans at times without working on this thing, which is frustrating but it happens.
By the way, I swear this thing was Blue when I bought it, once the sun was out, it is sure enough purple! Either way pretty clean jeep to use as a project.
I was having some trouble with the electrical system, so decided to start the project with body work, stripping all of the extra lighting, winch, and extra stuff on the jeep to get it back down to a mostly stock system and see what I was working with.
Disassembly and starting to prep for any body repairs:
Skip forward past paint prep and body work. (I am terrible about taking pictures while I work....)
Primer:
First round of color and door/hood/panel fitment:
Final Color and fitting headlights and cowl.
Final product before new windshield and soft top install:
More to come, I am much further along than this, but will start with this part of the project. Looking forward to actually recording this project so later I can look back.
PS this project is still not done, but is much different than this last photo. With the way my work is, I go pretty good spans at times without working on this thing, which is frustrating but it happens.
