So my daugher was with me the day I went shopping for my TJ. She was 6 months old and really hated riding in the back seat with the top off. But she grew up riding in her dads TJ so of course she has an affliction for them now.
So as she was approaching driving age I started look for a Jeep for her. Well I had always dreamed of finding her a 2002 TJ because then she would have a rig from the year she was born. So I happened to come across this 2003 TJ Sahara but it was an automatic and she wanted a stick. Proud PaPa.
When I called to asked about the car lot said that they had just sold it but had taken in a 2002 TJ with a 4.0 & 5 speed manual. So we drove over to look at it. It had about 120K miles on it. It came with some funky street tires and had a little rust on it. I failed as a dad that day becasue I didn't do a good inspection on it. This past summer while doing a brake job on it I was finally able to really look under it...…………………………………… Dang Nab it but it was BAD BAD BAD rust. The Jeep was originally sold in NY.
Day we brought it home.
Her BFF had to come check it out.
Now she was only 14 at the time but I figured why not get it now. So the first thing I did was order some tires off Amazon for it.
The rust issue...…….
Then last Christmas she got Jeep parts.
And a new tub to replace the rusted out tub.
So right now the only mods we have done is new tires and the CB.
She also got a Super Chips Trail Jammer kit- and HPS Silicon hose kit.
Come this summer she is going to get a ton of hand me down parts off her dad's TJ.
Poison Spyder tube fenders
Poison Spyder Crusher corners
Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers
GenRight 24 gal fuel tank & skid
Tuff underseat drawer
Rear bumper w/tire carrier
I'm also going to be taking my Nth Degree longarm kit off my TJ so it will get put on s shelf for the next few years and when she is ready I'll install it with 3" springs.
Of course her TJ came with the darn Dana 35 rear axle. Now I will be the first to admit I am not a huge fan of that axle. I saw way to many break bad before we had figured out WHY it was breaking. I've debated about installing a 8.8 and right now it is still open for debate. I came across a AWESOME deal on a bare HP30 housing so I have that sitting in the shop. Right now she has the crappy 3.07 gears so even with 31" tires she doesn't use 5th gear.
Future plans are to regear to 4.56 and add TruTrac LSD's front and rear. Yes I understand that I could do a Super35 kit and be good but I don't think she needs a selectable locker. With our snowy roads I like the idea of her having TT's front and rear. So when the time comes I'll be building axles too. If I go Dana 35 or 8.8 it will get 1541 shafts and a TT. The front will get cromo shafts and a TT also.
So stay tuned and watch her little TJ grow.
So as she was approaching driving age I started look for a Jeep for her. Well I had always dreamed of finding her a 2002 TJ because then she would have a rig from the year she was born. So I happened to come across this 2003 TJ Sahara but it was an automatic and she wanted a stick. Proud PaPa.
When I called to asked about the car lot said that they had just sold it but had taken in a 2002 TJ with a 4.0 & 5 speed manual. So we drove over to look at it. It had about 120K miles on it. It came with some funky street tires and had a little rust on it. I failed as a dad that day becasue I didn't do a good inspection on it. This past summer while doing a brake job on it I was finally able to really look under it...…………………………………… Dang Nab it but it was BAD BAD BAD rust. The Jeep was originally sold in NY.
Day we brought it home.
Her BFF had to come check it out.
Now she was only 14 at the time but I figured why not get it now. So the first thing I did was order some tires off Amazon for it.
The rust issue...…….
Then last Christmas she got Jeep parts.
And a new tub to replace the rusted out tub.
So right now the only mods we have done is new tires and the CB.
She also got a Super Chips Trail Jammer kit- and HPS Silicon hose kit.
Come this summer she is going to get a ton of hand me down parts off her dad's TJ.
Poison Spyder tube fenders
Poison Spyder Crusher corners
Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers
GenRight 24 gal fuel tank & skid
Tuff underseat drawer
Rear bumper w/tire carrier
I'm also going to be taking my Nth Degree longarm kit off my TJ so it will get put on s shelf for the next few years and when she is ready I'll install it with 3" springs.
Of course her TJ came with the darn Dana 35 rear axle. Now I will be the first to admit I am not a huge fan of that axle. I saw way to many break bad before we had figured out WHY it was breaking. I've debated about installing a 8.8 and right now it is still open for debate. I came across a AWESOME deal on a bare HP30 housing so I have that sitting in the shop. Right now she has the crappy 3.07 gears so even with 31" tires she doesn't use 5th gear.
Future plans are to regear to 4.56 and add TruTrac LSD's front and rear. Yes I understand that I could do a Super35 kit and be good but I don't think she needs a selectable locker. With our snowy roads I like the idea of her having TT's front and rear. So when the time comes I'll be building axles too. If I go Dana 35 or 8.8 it will get 1541 shafts and a TT. The front will get cromo shafts and a TT also.
So stay tuned and watch her little TJ grow.
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