I hope I am posting correctly here. Since I have started this forum I am amazed at all the cool jeeps, but more amazed at what you can learn and how informative and helpful everyone is. Since the last time I owned a Jeep, (before Jan 2019), was a CJ5 in 1988, I don't feel like I can contribute that much to the forum. But in reading everyone's build posts I learn a lot. So I thought I should post and maybe someone will get something out of what I have done. So here goes.
Bought 1999 TJ Sport with 4.0, Automatic in Jan. 2019. It was an Arizona Jeep so in good shape for rust, but had sat outside for a couple of years under a jeep cover. Dirt and sand was in everything. Gave $4500.
Original condition.
Good
Savy rock guards and Rear quarter Armor
Grizzly 15" Jeep Wheels
32 inch BFG's, (which of course only measure about 30.5 inches).
1.5 inch body lift.
Paint good to fair
Wheel fairings good
Almost no rust anywhere
Bad
Even though 1999, has a 15 gallon gas tank in reality and on build sheet.
Never came with a hard top
I think upgraded radio with sound bar was the only option
Rear main seal leak
Steering box leaking out input shaft seal, (almost pouring out)
Seats are shot, cheap covers
No roll bar padding
Interior full of dirt, most switches don't work, (heater fan, light switch, etc.).
Here it is almost in the beginnig.
My first work was on the interior electronics getting the radio, AC/Heater and all other electronics with switches, etc. Working. Bought used clusters and cleaned switches, (Electronic tech in my younger years). Also bought a used Steering box from a jeep dismantler here in Phoenix, (I know him well now). Also put some special stop leak for rear main seals in. Reduced the leak to about a dime on the floor after a big trip. Also bought a bikini top, windjammer and duster to give the interior some protection, although it lives in a garage. Also picked up a roll bar cover kit.
Next I really didn't like the armor. I grew up in the midwest in the 60's and the only corner armor on a jeep or land cruiser was diamond plate to hide rusted out corners. Plus I didn't like the looks. Took it off and sold it. In hindsight, should have probably just kept it and painted it. As I said I am an electronic tech from old and an Amateur radio operator, so I added a radio with ham freqs and all the race teams in Arizona.
About this time I got a chance to pick up a 12000 lb winch used. So I mounted it with a really nice heavy duty winch plate.
About now it's April and summer is here in Arizona. Time for new projects and to get rid of all tops and covers. I had seen a jeep with a full roll cage and really wanted one. Especially something with a center section from windshield to roll bar to mount radios and such. I bought a SmittyBilt Cage and put it in. Loved it from the start. Only bad point was SmittyBilt said the sound bar would have to go. I sure didn't want to get rid of my tunes, so I decided to do some fabrication. At the same time I put in high quality speakers in the sound bar and in the front desk side speakers. Sounds great now. Cage was not easy, but is was not hard. Just tedious and took time.
Fabrication Time!
I took off the sound bar cover and cut through the light metal and rubber covering so the rear quarter bars could run "under" the top of the sound bar, but through the front and rear of the sound bar.
Next by mid summer I got a chance to buy a top, (in Arizona need tops for summer time to run air
). I also picked up some canvas half doors with sliding windows.
I also ran across a chance to pick up some good seat covers and worked on the padding on the old seats. Also put in BedRug carpeting in the front of the jeep and added a spice color console. I will need to paint it Agate, or paint the door panels and parts of the dash. Not a priority right now.
Then came THE PROJECT. Got a chance to pick up some Used Eagle Off Road 17" wheels with 35x12.5x7 Goodyear MTRs.
Of course the 1.5 inch body lift is not going to cut it. During my Craigslist watching and swap meets, I had picked up a 2017 4 door Rubicon shock and spring take off. Only had a few hundred miles on them. They were "60 series" springs which were the stiffest and the red shocks. I put the front springs on and the red Rubicon shocks. It only raised the front 1/2 inch. Ride improved tremendously. I put the back ones on, (with modifications for the larger upper spring mount), and put on the red shocks. The rear went up almost 4 inches, which I did not want and immediately gave me a lot of vibration. Plus I knew 1/2 inch up front was not going to cut it for the 35's. So I had a friend with a set of 2 inch spring spacers front and rear, so I picked them up. Took out the rear rubicon springs and put back in the stock springs with the spacer and new Rancho 5000XL shocks on the rear for a 2 inch lift. Overall the rear went up about 2 inches exactly, (which it should have in this configuration). I left the rubicon springs on front, but added the spacer. The front went up 1 inch, which I can't figure out. Left the Rubicon shocks on which are much closer to bottoming out than topping out, so it can't be the shocks. But ride is good and I am up about 1 1/2 from where I was, (remember I also have 1.5 body lift). At his point I also bought some steel flat fender flares. Also replaced the front sway bar links, (have put in disconnects yet). Here is some of the pics and finished product.
So I think I have forgotten some things, (CB, CB antenna, rear carper, Bestop metal Insta-trunk, front tow hooks, high lift jack etc.). My main items right now are rear tire carrier and high lift jack mount. Still going through options. And of course I do need a gearing change. It is not bad on the trails, (mostly wheel north of Florence is anyone knows Az/PHX area), with this gearing. But getting there it is a huge dog.
Lastly, my cousin and I getting ready to tackle "waterfall" on the Elvis trail north of Florence. My Cousin Pictured! I did make it up without incident!
I'll keep everyone posted as I continue down the upgrades and trails. Many thanks to everyone on this forum for giving me the courage to do everything on this myself, (although nothing has been to hard with forum help and lots of time).
Bought 1999 TJ Sport with 4.0, Automatic in Jan. 2019. It was an Arizona Jeep so in good shape for rust, but had sat outside for a couple of years under a jeep cover. Dirt and sand was in everything. Gave $4500.
Original condition.
Good
Savy rock guards and Rear quarter Armor
Grizzly 15" Jeep Wheels
32 inch BFG's, (which of course only measure about 30.5 inches).
1.5 inch body lift.
Paint good to fair
Wheel fairings good
Almost no rust anywhere
Bad
Even though 1999, has a 15 gallon gas tank in reality and on build sheet.
Never came with a hard top
I think upgraded radio with sound bar was the only option
Rear main seal leak
Steering box leaking out input shaft seal, (almost pouring out)
Seats are shot, cheap covers
No roll bar padding
Interior full of dirt, most switches don't work, (heater fan, light switch, etc.).
Here it is almost in the beginnig.
My first work was on the interior electronics getting the radio, AC/Heater and all other electronics with switches, etc. Working. Bought used clusters and cleaned switches, (Electronic tech in my younger years). Also bought a used Steering box from a jeep dismantler here in Phoenix, (I know him well now). Also put some special stop leak for rear main seals in. Reduced the leak to about a dime on the floor after a big trip. Also bought a bikini top, windjammer and duster to give the interior some protection, although it lives in a garage. Also picked up a roll bar cover kit.
Next I really didn't like the armor. I grew up in the midwest in the 60's and the only corner armor on a jeep or land cruiser was diamond plate to hide rusted out corners. Plus I didn't like the looks. Took it off and sold it. In hindsight, should have probably just kept it and painted it. As I said I am an electronic tech from old and an Amateur radio operator, so I added a radio with ham freqs and all the race teams in Arizona.
About this time I got a chance to pick up a 12000 lb winch used. So I mounted it with a really nice heavy duty winch plate.
About now it's April and summer is here in Arizona. Time for new projects and to get rid of all tops and covers. I had seen a jeep with a full roll cage and really wanted one. Especially something with a center section from windshield to roll bar to mount radios and such. I bought a SmittyBilt Cage and put it in. Loved it from the start. Only bad point was SmittyBilt said the sound bar would have to go. I sure didn't want to get rid of my tunes, so I decided to do some fabrication. At the same time I put in high quality speakers in the sound bar and in the front desk side speakers. Sounds great now. Cage was not easy, but is was not hard. Just tedious and took time.
Fabrication Time!
I took off the sound bar cover and cut through the light metal and rubber covering so the rear quarter bars could run "under" the top of the sound bar, but through the front and rear of the sound bar.
Next by mid summer I got a chance to buy a top, (in Arizona need tops for summer time to run air
). I also picked up some canvas half doors with sliding windows.I also ran across a chance to pick up some good seat covers and worked on the padding on the old seats. Also put in BedRug carpeting in the front of the jeep and added a spice color console. I will need to paint it Agate, or paint the door panels and parts of the dash. Not a priority right now.
Then came THE PROJECT. Got a chance to pick up some Used Eagle Off Road 17" wheels with 35x12.5x7 Goodyear MTRs.
Of course the 1.5 inch body lift is not going to cut it. During my Craigslist watching and swap meets, I had picked up a 2017 4 door Rubicon shock and spring take off. Only had a few hundred miles on them. They were "60 series" springs which were the stiffest and the red shocks. I put the front springs on and the red Rubicon shocks. It only raised the front 1/2 inch. Ride improved tremendously. I put the back ones on, (with modifications for the larger upper spring mount), and put on the red shocks. The rear went up almost 4 inches, which I did not want and immediately gave me a lot of vibration. Plus I knew 1/2 inch up front was not going to cut it for the 35's. So I had a friend with a set of 2 inch spring spacers front and rear, so I picked them up. Took out the rear rubicon springs and put back in the stock springs with the spacer and new Rancho 5000XL shocks on the rear for a 2 inch lift. Overall the rear went up about 2 inches exactly, (which it should have in this configuration). I left the rubicon springs on front, but added the spacer. The front went up 1 inch, which I can't figure out. Left the Rubicon shocks on which are much closer to bottoming out than topping out, so it can't be the shocks. But ride is good and I am up about 1 1/2 from where I was, (remember I also have 1.5 body lift). At his point I also bought some steel flat fender flares. Also replaced the front sway bar links, (have put in disconnects yet). Here is some of the pics and finished product.
So I think I have forgotten some things, (CB, CB antenna, rear carper, Bestop metal Insta-trunk, front tow hooks, high lift jack etc.). My main items right now are rear tire carrier and high lift jack mount. Still going through options. And of course I do need a gearing change. It is not bad on the trails, (mostly wheel north of Florence is anyone knows Az/PHX area), with this gearing. But getting there it is a huge dog.
Lastly, my cousin and I getting ready to tackle "waterfall" on the Elvis trail north of Florence. My Cousin Pictured! I did make it up without incident!
I'll keep everyone posted as I continue down the upgrades and trails. Many thanks to everyone on this forum for giving me the courage to do everything on this myself, (although nothing has been to hard with forum help and lots of time).
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