Finally picked up another TJ

[TxFireman1972]

I’ve been without a Jeep for a few years and I came across a deal I couldn’t pass up. It’s Pretty much stock, with the exception of a few bolt ons, and in pretty good shape. It needs a transmission so it wasn’t getting much interest on Marketplace. I went and grabbed it and brought it home.

1997 TJ Sport
4.0/5-spd
31x10.50’s (new)
Ugly brush guard
Ugly wide fender flairs
Cheesy side steps
Brand new soft top
No major rust
Runs great/broken transmission

I don’t have any big plans (I know I know lol), just a nice driver with maybe a little occasional weekend beach/lake time. First order of business will be to get the transmission taken care of, clean it up a little and go from there. Here are a few pictures right after I got it home.

 

[TxFireman1972]

was able to get it up on the lift and dropped the transmission. Definitely has something broke inside. I really didn’t have much luck finding anyone to rebuild it and I didn’t want to tear into it myself. For not much more than what I was quoted for a rebuild I just went ahead and ordered one of the brand new Advance Adapters AX15 transmissions.

 

[TxFireman1972]

Of course you know how it goes, while it’s apart I might as well fix/update a few other things.

Advance Adapters AX15
New clutch fork
New TOB, pivot ball, spring
Redline MTL trans fluid
Fresh oil change
Savvy Off-road transfer case cable
Clean the frame inside/out
Ospho the frame
Satin black paint on the frame
New stock flares
New bumpstops & cups
New gas tank skid plate
New Delphi fuel pump
Banks Monster exhaust
Modify stock bumpers

 

[TxFireman1972]

Frame is solid, just the typical surface rust from being on the Gulf Coast. Figured I might as well clean it all up while the transmission is out.

A few before pictures

 

[TxFireman1972]

A little clean up with the flap wheel, needle scaler, scotchbrite pads, cleaner, degreaser, and plenty of elbow grease! I did clean inside the frame and drill drain holes.

a few in process pictures

 

[TxFireman1972]

Treated any rust left with Ospho, let it cure then degreased it all and gave it a few coats of Rustoleum Professional Semi-Gloss black. I did get the new pump put in the gas tank and new tank skid plate put on and back in the Jeep.

Only snapped a couple of pictures. I’ll try to remember to take more later.

 

[TxFireman1972]

Of course I figured while it was apart I might as well take care of the inner fender areas too. Cleaned them up, used Ospho on what little minor rust there was, and sprayed them with the Duplicolor Chip Guard.

 

[TxFireman1972]

New Advance Adapters AX15 5-spd installed in the Jeep along with new clutch fork, TOB, pivot ball/spring and a fresh clutch/flywheel. Also went ahead and got rid of the crappy stock transfer case linkage setup and added the savvy off-road transfer case cable setup.

 

[TxFireman1972]

Also installed the MagnaFlow Catalytic Convertor kit and the Banks Monster Cat-Back system and fresh set of O2 sensors.

 

[TxFireman1972]

A few more pictures after I put a set of 2” BDS springs and a set of Rancho RS5000X shocks in.

 

[TxFireman1972]

Got most of it buttoned up. Started it up to drive it out of the shop and no clutch! Tried bleeding it with no success so a quick trip to Oreilly’s for one of the complete master cylinder/slave cylinder setups. Luckily they had it in stock. Installed and problem solved! Drove it out of the shop under its own power with no knocking transmission! I did pick up a set of Rough Country black steel wheels for now

 

[TxFireman1972]

Before and after. Still need to decide what I want to do on bumpers then the interior needs some cleaning and TLC.

 

[TxFireman1972]

I cut the factory front bumper down for now until I find something I like. I also cut a piece of 3” wide by 1/4” thick flat bar to go behind it to reinforce the tow bar brackets. I picked up a set up tow hooks from Harbor Freight to go on top and then cleaned it up and gave it a few coats of the semi-gloss black that I painted the frame with.

 

[TxFireman1972]

Ok I think I’m caught up, that’s where it stands now. Next mod is gear swap because 3.07 gears suck with 31’s!

 

[jhama78]

Clean work! You wouldnt happen to use the same or a variation of that username on 67-72 chevy forums? If not its unreal because there was a guy there with a similar name that was extremely detail oriented on his truck builds.

It doesnt look like you used a rear TB relocation bracket when you did the suspension work, any plans to possibly install later?

 

[TxFireman1972]

Clean work! You wouldnt happen to use the same or a variation of that username on 67-72 chevy forums? If not its unreal because there was a guy there with a similar name that was extremely detail oriented on his truck builds.

It doesnt look like you used a rear TB relocation bracket when you did the suspension work, any plans to possibly install later?

No. I do have a 68 but it’s a Ford lol.

I do plan on picking up the relocation bracket but i have something else in the works so I might not need it. Going to look at this in a few days. Has a blown up 4-cyl but lots of other stuff I can swap over to mine.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Congrats on the new rig, and nice work. Awesome shop as well.

Jeff

 

[TxFireman1972]

Congrats on the new rig, and nice work. Awesome shop as well.

Jeff

Thanks!

 

[TxFireman1972]

Picked up my donor vehicle today. 2001 with a blown up 4-cyl. Going to swap the axles (4.88’s) probably the bumpers, and wheels and tires. See if there’s anything else I need and sell what’s left.

 

[TxFireman1972]

Well for 40% off I couldn’t pass it up. I know there are haters and winch snobs out there but it should do fine for what I’ll use it for. Just need to figure which winch plate I want to order. Thinking about the Smittybilt one.