Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

I Just Scored The Deal Of The Century - My Second "TJ" - A 2006 LJ

My first "browsings" into the TJ world, I immediately wanted an LJ.
The simplicities of a TJ, with additional benefits for what I wanted to use the rig for.
I live in a Snow/Ice area, I snowboard a lot, and I like to off-road some fairly aggressive trails.
So I wanted the extra Cargo space, and longer wheel base to make some of the street driving a bit more comfortable.
But the pricing of LJ's turned me away. So I settled back down into the realities of buying a "normal" TJ.

There were a few options I wanted with my TJ, but was "okay" with not having.

Hard Top (+extra soft top was a plus), Full Doors, and I wanted it BONE stock.
I wanted something I KNEW had not been beaten/neglected.

Needless to say, I had a lot of troubles finding that, within a good price point that I felt was reasonable to spend.
So I bought my 2000 Sahara, lifted by the previous owner, with soft-top/etc.
Pretty much I missed 1/2 the boxes I wanted to check. BUT I HAD A TJ FINALLY...

So I've enjoyed my current TJ along the way, but those things have still lingered in the back of my head the last few months..

Until this morning.
I usually scroll facebook marketplace before I get out of bed.
And I came across this listed as a "2006 Jeep Wrangler" for $5,500 , in my town.

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Look closely. I was absolutely MINDBLOWN.
A 2006 TJ UNLIMITED. AKA. LJ.
For $5,500 bones.

It was posted 30 minutes prior to me seeing it, and I just knew in the back of my head "someone knows what this is, and this thing is GONE".
But I messaged the seller anyways.
Seller responded a few minutes later, and not to my surprise, there were already 4 people ahead of me wanting to see it.

I'm not sure what kind of good karma i've run into lately, but I get a message 1 hour later saying:
"there's 20+ other folks wanting to see this jeep today. The first few people bailed out. If you're interested, it's still available."
followed by
"Just know, we won't take a penny less than $5,500"

When I tell you i've never ran downstairs so fast, I mean it.
I practically broke my neck trying to get my TJ fired up to go see it.

I drove 20 minutes to the sellers house, and there it sat, in the driveway.
The photos were literally taken TODAY before posting. It was EVERYTHING the ad said it was.

2006 Jeep Wrangler "LJ". Flame Red. 4.0L Engine. 6-Speed Manual Transmission. Clean Title.
Hard Top AND Factory Soft Top STILL IN THE BOX.

I crawled underneath, and there sat the Dana 44, and the seller informed me it also had the "Trac Lok" differential installed.

There was one issue. It had 200,000 miles on it.
This immediately stung me in a bad way. But I kept replaying the old saying "maintenance is more important than mileage", so I decided to start questioning the owner a bit.

Turns out, to my surprise, the owner is the ORIGINAL owner, and bought the Jeep in 2006 off the showroom floor.
He was an older gentleman (I'd guess 70 - maybe late 60's) and was extremely meticulous about maintenance.
He had every service record since 2006, and never allowed as much as a spot of fluid to drip onto his garage floor.
(I'm being serious. He replaced the windshield wiper tank, and when I pointed it out he replied "the old tank was too dirty to sell that way" )

He had also taken it to the Jeep dealership for majority of the services on it, and had records of him staying on top of all drivetrain, transmission, etc schedules.

The jeep was flat-towed for a portion of its life behind an RV, which I assume could explain at least SOME of the mileage.
But the frame matched the rest of the jeep. Absolutely PHENOMENAL condition.
The engine fired up, and sounded like it just left the showroom floor. Absolutely ZERO leaks, creaks, ticks, etc.
Ran like a sewing machine.

It was blatantly obvious to me that this was the cleanest TJ I had ever seen in person, and to top it off it was the cleanest LJ i've ever seen in person.
To top all of that off, it was the best price I've ever seen on ANY TJ of this condition.

I told the seller I needed to go to the bank, and I would be back within the hour with cash.
No haggling, no gimmicks, I WAS GOING TO BUY THIS JEEP.

The entire way to the bank, I'll admit I had an absolute rock in my gut. But not in the bad way.
I think I was genuinely shocked and anxious about the absolute DIAMOND I had found.

As quick as I could, I gave $5,500 to the seller, shook his hand, thanked him 30 times, and drove away.
I now own a bone-stock, un-molested, damn near PERFECT CONDITION Jeep Wrangler "LJ".

An absolute unicorn find if you ask me, and I am still near shaking with excitement.
I don't know how it happened, but it did...

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I don't know you, but all of the sudden I have the urge to strongly dislike you. Very strongly.
 
Not trying to be a dick at all so hopefully it doesn't come across that way. But what you asked about (swapping axles and everything else) is probably worth an entirely separate thread itself.

Also, throwing it out there, have you thought about selling the Sahara as is and doing all of the work that you want on your new LJ? Selling the Sahara would give you a pile of cash to throw at the LJ. Also, since you have gone through the learning process with the Sahara, you can do even better on the LJ.

I know I will be in the minority but I wouldn't tear both of them apart and start swapping parts. I would sell the sahara as is for a pretty penny and then build the LJ as you want. I realize nobody will agree with me and that's ok lol.
 
It took you this long? 😅

I typed it up early today when I first saw this but never hit the post button. I was unfortunately distracted by work and missed out on venting my disgust in a timely fashion. I will endeavor to do better in the future. :D
 
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@zachpeakee if you haven't already, and it's not too late, take a before pic of both rigs. I like having mine both as a reminder that for about 3 months I owned two TJ's at once, and seeing them both before and after.

Nov 6, 2020 (the day I bought the LJ)
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Feb 6, 2021 (the day I posted the TJ for sale)
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What a man of class, went from 2 sets of black rims to 0

I liked it in 2017...but by 2020 I was over it. Soooo glad I used Plastidip. It wasn't fun to remove but it was completely reversible without having to refinish the wheels. Luckily, the JK 18s that came on the LJ had also been plastidipped, so I cleaned them up and had them looking factory new before I sold them on craigslist.
 
I know I will be in the minority but I wouldn't tear both of them apart and start swapping parts. I would sell the sahara as is for a pretty penny and then build the LJ as you want. I realize nobody will agree with me and that's ok lol.

I think the biggest drawback to that is having 4.88 gears with stock size tires (maybe they're 31's?) and the NSG370. Here's the numbers from Grimm Jeeper for 29's. I think that would be an annoying rig to drive. If it has 31's the rpm's in 6th at 70 are 3110.

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I think the biggest drawback to that is having 4.88 gears with stock size tires (maybe they're 31's?) and the NSG370. Here's the numbers from Grimm Jeeper for 29's. I think that would be an annoying rig to drive. If it has 31's the rpm's in 6th at 70 are 3110.

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I’d swap axles because of the gearing and the brand new ARB’s. A jeep with no lockers is pretty much useless IMO.
 
I know I will be in the minority but I wouldn't tear both of them apart and start swapping parts. I would sell the sahara as is for a pretty penny and then build the LJ as you want. I realize nobody will agree with me and that's ok lol.

I agree with you though. It's not my vehicles though. If the OP loves wrenching on it that much, then go for it. I'm just trying to give another option.
 
Selling the Sahara would give you a pile of cash to throw at the LJ.

He'll have the same pile of cash if he swaps the axles and sells the Sahara. Very few people would want a Sahara on those dinky 29-30" tires with 4.88 gears anyway. It's more sellable with 3.73's. 1st gear is short enough in the 6-speed with proper gearing. YMMV.
 
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He'll have the same pile of cash if he swaps the axles and sells the Sahara. Very few people would want a Sahara on those dinky 29-30" tires with 4.88 gears anyway. It's more sellable with 3.73's. 1st gear is short enough in the 6-speed with proper gearing. YMMV.
He posted something earlier that he wasn't switching the wheels and tires. So I think the Sahara would remain on it's current tires but would have the 3.73's. But then the LJ will have 4.88's and stock tires, so he would need to get new wheels and tires quick.
 
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He posted something earlier that he wasn't switching the wheels and tires. So I think the Sahara would remain on it's current tires but would have the 3.73's. But then the LJ will have 4.88's and stock tires, so he would need to get new wheels and tires quick.

he should rethink that.
 
He posted something earlier that he wasn't switching the wheels and tires. So I think the Sahara would remain on it's current tires but would have the 3.73's. But then the LJ will have 4.88's and stock tires, so he would need to get new wheels and tires quick.

Thanks for keeping me on track. I missed that.
he should rethink that.

Yes, he should re-think that.

If he wants to keep having the deal of the century, swap the tires and wheels and axles and sell the Sahara in near stock configuration.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts