No one cares about the Wee Beastie. It is arguably the worst...no...THE worst example of the TJ to roll out of the factory. Who in their right mind would do anything other than sell a 2.5L 4 cylinder, 3 speed automatic TJ? I've built half a dozen rigs in the last 30 years starting with a '79 CJ7, 4 speed manual with a built 360 V8, a couple of lifted Cherokees, a couple of old Land Cruisers, a couple of JKU's on 35's, to a Gladiator with a 5" Clayton, 5.13 gears and 37s. Why would I even consider it?
Through unexpected circumstances, some expected ones, and sprinkled with a few incurable diseases, all our Jeeps and motorcycles went away this year. This baby TJ sort of landed in my lap like an unplanned pregnancy with only 82k original miles and in very good condition. I had a choice to make: build it or sell it? I pondered this question as I staired at my empty garage and my mind drifted back to my first vehicle: a '83 Toyota 4x4 mini truck with 87hp of fury. I had so much fun in that truck and not a week goes by I wish I didn't still have it.
I took the beastie for a spin with the mind set that it would be slow, but for heaven's sake, what a turd. The little guy couldn't even hold 65 mph, but was equipped with 31" tires and after inspection, 3.73 gears. After a speedo check, at least it was 5-6 mph slow at 60mph, so it would actually hold 65mph. It hadn't run much in a long time so I changed the oil and added some Lucas treatment, changed the nasty air filter, and put a fresh tank of fuel with the Lucas additive in it. I yanked the top, doors, and back seat to lighten it up and burn the first tank of fuel around town. On a weekend, I filled up the tank and took an 80 mile drive. The Beastie could run 70 mph given time and could maintain 65mph...sort of. But, it drove great, tracked well, and had obviously been well cared for in the past, and it was ALL STOCK except for the bling wheels and tires.
Challenge accepted.
Through unexpected circumstances, some expected ones, and sprinkled with a few incurable diseases, all our Jeeps and motorcycles went away this year. This baby TJ sort of landed in my lap like an unplanned pregnancy with only 82k original miles and in very good condition. I had a choice to make: build it or sell it? I pondered this question as I staired at my empty garage and my mind drifted back to my first vehicle: a '83 Toyota 4x4 mini truck with 87hp of fury. I had so much fun in that truck and not a week goes by I wish I didn't still have it.
I took the beastie for a spin with the mind set that it would be slow, but for heaven's sake, what a turd. The little guy couldn't even hold 65 mph, but was equipped with 31" tires and after inspection, 3.73 gears. After a speedo check, at least it was 5-6 mph slow at 60mph, so it would actually hold 65mph. It hadn't run much in a long time so I changed the oil and added some Lucas treatment, changed the nasty air filter, and put a fresh tank of fuel with the Lucas additive in it. I yanked the top, doors, and back seat to lighten it up and burn the first tank of fuel around town. On a weekend, I filled up the tank and took an 80 mile drive. The Beastie could run 70 mph given time and could maintain 65mph...sort of. But, it drove great, tracked well, and had obviously been well cared for in the past, and it was ALL STOCK except for the bling wheels and tires.
Challenge accepted.
