Two years ago, my son met his obligations for me to purchase a TJ project to work on. After two years of hawking forums, side roads, back roads, Craigslist, and joining FB for Marketplace recently, we finally found "the one" on Marketplace. A neglected 1998 Sport project popped up on Marketplace for $1500 and within a few miles from home. School is closed for the remainder of the year and he misses auto shop class. Now, shop class will be held in the garage.
Main features & specs are it's a well-optioned Sport hardtop model, AX-15, and rear Dana 44 w/ 3.73 trac-loc. The Jeep hasn't revealed any tell-tale signs of rot in the usual areas. Nothing afoul in the windshield frame, rockers, torque boxes, or rear panel. There won't be a need for Saf-T-Caps or other significant frame repairs. It sat in a garage for ~10-15 years.
The TJ was rode hard and put away wet- the interior still wears mud from the un-fateful day the engine ate some bearings. As you can see, the TJ is mostly dismantled. Some of the parts have been lost in time or promised to others, but we're not worried as I have practically most everything to put it back together. The TJ has a 2" coil spacer and 3" body lift that were installed to clear 35s. The body lift will go away, but the spacers will stay on to clear JK-R wheels on 32s that a coworker gave me.
As far as a plan, the goal is a safe and reliable daily driver. This project is about the journey more so than the destination. Stay tuned, enjoy. This one will take a while.
Main features & specs are it's a well-optioned Sport hardtop model, AX-15, and rear Dana 44 w/ 3.73 trac-loc. The Jeep hasn't revealed any tell-tale signs of rot in the usual areas. Nothing afoul in the windshield frame, rockers, torque boxes, or rear panel. There won't be a need for Saf-T-Caps or other significant frame repairs. It sat in a garage for ~10-15 years.
The TJ was rode hard and put away wet- the interior still wears mud from the un-fateful day the engine ate some bearings. As you can see, the TJ is mostly dismantled. Some of the parts have been lost in time or promised to others, but we're not worried as I have practically most everything to put it back together. The TJ has a 2" coil spacer and 3" body lift that were installed to clear 35s. The body lift will go away, but the spacers will stay on to clear JK-R wheels on 32s that a coworker gave me.
As far as a plan, the goal is a safe and reliable daily driver. This project is about the journey more so than the destination. Stay tuned, enjoy. This one will take a while.
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