If I could do it again

[Not_Invented_Here_]

my 2000 tj was stock when i bought it. i did upgrade with 31" tires and h & r 1" springs with new shocks. i am in the process of putting 1" spacers on for a 2" total lift. In my mind that will be perfect!

How do you like the 1", is it not worthwhile? I'm at stock now too with fresh Moog springs while I work my way through suspension and fluids and other crap. I'm going to install Crown control arm package in the near future though and I figure at that point I've probably committed to a 1-1.5" lift max. I likewise have thought about the H&R's with .75" spacers or none at all...

 

[Not_Invented_Here_]

Man-- I am just the opposite — I see these jacked up modified jeeps and I think they are out of control stupid ugly as sin. I would't own one to drive on the highway for anything. Now off road-- thats a different story
Every one has their own opinions — likes and dislikes

I feel the same, definitely in the stock to stock-ish camp. I think it just takes a lot of $$$ to do it right and make it look good. I appreciate that some folks just care about performance though and it doesn't necessarily matter how BA it looks.

 

[Irun]

How did you get that thing so clean? Paint?

Tore it down and painted it in pieces. I also replaced the entire front end in the process.

 

[joe b]

How do you like the 1", is it not worthwhile? I'm at stock now too with fresh Moog springs while I work my way through suspension and fluids and other crap. I'm going to install Crown control arm package in the near future though and I figure at that point I've probably committed to a 1-1.5" lift max. I likewise have thought about the H&R's with .75" spacers or none at all...

I like the H&R springs. Very worthwhile! The 1" lift they provided looked good. I also put on a set of pro comp shocks (0"-2") and with the combo it rides totally awesome. So my next project is the 1" "budget boost".....just to set it up a little more which should be perfect!

 

[NOLAJeep]

Tore it down and painted it in pieces. I also replaced the entire front end in the process.
View attachment 138781

View attachment 138782

It’s real purty.

 

[TJ2]

To be honest, I am itching to have a fourth wrangler.
Once in a while I look for a bone stock TJ and hope may find a khaki unmolested 4.0L (year '03 through '06).

 

[Irun]

To be honest, I am itching to have a fourth wrangler.
Once in a while I look for a bone stock TJ and hope may find a khaki unmolested 4.0L (year '03 through '06).

You mean like this?

 

[mde8965]

When I bought TJ X in early 18 (completely stock) I had every intention on 33’s and 3-4 inches of lift. But I went wheeling early on and realized I will never have the guts to do any wheeling that requires 33’s and a larger lift. And I discovered I hate mud too.

So realizing my Jeep would be mostly a street vehicle with maybe a little over landing, I reset my goals. 31’s and a 1.5” BB are where I am and where I will stay.

When I see the various Jeep models I think perfect is:

Regular TJ - 31s and 2” lift
TJ Rubicon - stock
Regular LJ - 33s with 3” lift
LJ Rubicon - 33’s with 1-2” lift

 

[bedhed]

I was scrolling through old photos off my photo album today at lunch and ran into this pic of the first day I brought my Jeep home (April 2015). The first thing I did was take the top off and go for a cruise. What a blast that day was. At the time I thought I had a to have a lift, wheels and tires, etc.... Now I look back at this picture and think wow, it looked great all factory. Almost wish I could go back.

Has anyone else felt like this? Love my 35's and all but man how simple and cool it was stock. Not to mention all the money I've spend and still need to spend to reliably run the 35's......

View attachment 138566

Man, that was a good looking Jeep. I've always been a fan of those wheels. Some TJs look great to me in their stock form, but even better with just a simple BB to reduce rake.

I've modified past vehicles to extremes that I look back on now and think, "Damn, I should have left that one alone. That would have been an otherwise good one." Before I bought this Jeep, I swore the next vehicle I bought would, at the very least, have factory wheels that I would be 100% content with, so I wouldn't go down that road again. Along came this Rubicon I have now. Aside from the dopey looking milk jugs and rear bumper, I don't have anything that I feel like I just have to change. Even then, I still battle with urges. But I try to keep in mind that the look of some OE things never die, unlike the many fads that come along throughout the years.

For those who were there to witness the fads, you'll know all too well the era that these fall into.

Aside from "body kits", I seem to remember the 90s being fairly tame for the most part. In those times, it was the roller skate look, with 15x12 polished aluminum wheels with fat, wide tires. I think the super swampers had mostly faded out by then, but having chrome anywhere and everywhere was still in style for many. I think one chome addition had died though, having as many chrome shocks that could be fit under the fender wells.

Can't lie though. I'd drive the shit out that last one!

 

[Goatman]

Oh, all those tacky OEM stickers they plastered on in the 90's! Some made the 'firechicken' hood look tame. Everything had a swoop or a swish stuck to the sides. Lots of bright pink and aqua blue everywhere! Don't miss those days at all!

 

[BlueFl.Wrangler]

Mine basically bone stock except for 31's and upgraded fog lights

 

[KillerIsMe]

Mine basically bone stock except for 31's and upgraded fog lightsView attachment 139301View attachment 139302

Tell me more about those fog lights. Mine is also stock and it's in beautiful condition except for the fog lights. One has a cataract and I'm debating whether to take it apart and try to clear the lens or just go with new lights. Decisions decisions

 

[Goatman]

Mine basically bone stock except for 31's and upgraded fog lightsView attachment 139301View attachment 139302

JEEP PORN!!

 

[BlueFl.Wrangler]

Tell me more about those fog lights. Mine is also stock and it's in beautiful condition except for the fog lights. One has a cataract and I'm debating whether to take it apart and try to clear the lens or just go with new lights. Decisions decisions

If I could have found- or taken the time to find good orig. replacement lenses at the time I would have gone that direction 'cause mine were COMPLETELY hazed over.

But i went the easy / lazy route ( but quite costly ) and purchased aftermarkets. They are CRAZY bright.
I forgot to mention I also upgraded the headlights. Literally about night & day difference, the stock lights were literally a yellowish color & the LED's are a bright white, VERY happy I made the swap. I would do the same again if I had to buy another jeep.

They are costly but not as expensive as the JW speaker lights. Mine are by Quake LED
Fog replacement ( listed on their site as a "work " light
https://www.quakeled.com/product/7-work-light-aftershock-black-or-redHeadlight replacement
https://www.quakeled.com/product/7-headlight-half-halo-white-drlamber-turn-signal-reflector-tempestI got the headlights @ $100 off because it was @ a event and they had a vendor trailer set up
I got the fogs for about $50 off @ the same event

The fogs wire directly in

The headlight are a plug & play for the headlight and need a little wiring for the half halo / turn signal but I am an idiot and if I can do it anyone can

 

[Starrs]

 

[Midwest]

I think Wranglers can go either way. Stock Sports with tiny wheels and Crawlers with 37's+, neither looks right to me. I like 31-35 best, so I picked 33" as the "Goldilocks" size to build around.

 

[KillerIsMe]

If I could have found- or taken the time to find good orig. replacement lenses at the time I would have gone that direction 'cause mine were COMPLETELY hazed over.

But i went the easy / lazy route ( but quite costly ) and purchased aftermarkets. They are CRAZY bright.
I forgot to mention I also upgraded the headlights. Literally about night & day difference, the stock lights were literally a yellowish color & the LED's are a bright white, VERY happy I made the swap. I would do the same again if I had to buy another jeep.

They are costly but not as expensive as the JW speaker lights. Mine are by Quake LED
Fog replacement ( listed on their site as a "work " light
https://www.quakeled.com/product/7-work-light-aftershock-black-or-redHeadlight replacement
https://www.quakeled.com/product/7-headlight-half-halo-white-drlamber-turn-signal-reflector-tempestI got the headlights @ $100 off because it was @ a event and they had a vendor trailer set up
I got the fogs for about $50 off @ the same event

The fogs wire directly in

The headlight are a plug & play for the headlight and need a little wiring for the half halo / turn signal but I am an idiot and if I can do it anyone can

Thanks man. My headlights are Hella E-codes. Way better than stock without being LED. LED's are a little dicey around here during big snowstorms. You get no contrast. I am going to check those fogs out. You say plug-&-play?

 

[BlueFl.Wrangler]

Thanks man. My headlights are Hella E-codes. Way better than stock without being LED. LED's are a little dicey around here during big snowstorms. You get no contrast. I am going to check those fogs out. You say plug-&-play?

The headlights were "plug " & play

The fogs I cut the wires and used a but splice ( could have soldered them)
Very easy on the fog lights but there is no actual plug like on the head light
Cover the wires with 3/8" split loom for a professional look

 

[gg1]

I was scrolling through old photos off my photo album today at lunch and ran into this pic of the first day I brought my Jeep home (April 2015). The first thing I did was take the top off and go for a cruise. What a blast that day was. At the time I thought I had a to have a lift, wheels and tires, etc.... Now I look back at this picture and think wow, it looked great all factory. Almost wish I could go back.

Has anyone else felt like this? Love my 35's and all but man how simple and cool it was stock. Not to mention all the money I've spend and still need to spend to reliably run the 35's......

View attachment 138566

If I did it over, I would go stock with 31s. When I wear my 33s out I may do it.