Lo-buck YJ

[97TJNM]

So I have 3 Jeeps in the yard. My 97 TJ, a 99XJ that my son drives, and 2004 WJ. The WJ set up as a camping/daily driver. My TJ is my offroader.

Last week, the local High School's shop teacher mentioned to me that he was downsizing. He's apparently retiring next year, and moving to TX. As such, he's thinning out his vehicles. Knows I like Jeeps, so asked if I was interested in a YJ.

Hell, I dont need another Jeep, but I asked what he wanted for it. $1500. Damn, looks like I might buy another Jeep.

Talked it over with the wife, and she was all for it. I have a buddy that I have introduced to offroading, and he wants my WJ. Its mildly built, but will do most of the local trails (3.73 gears, 32's, 4" lift, rear lunchbox locker).

So yesterday I bought the YJ. It's a 90, so carburetor 4.2, it has 3.5" springs and 33x12x16 tires.

Buddy is buying the WJ next week, and the price we agreed upon will get me within 2 months of paying off my wife's Tacoma, so no vehicle notes by October!

The YJ is a cheap beater, but it runs decent (needs a carb tune up... ill probably throw a motorcraft 2100 on it and call it a day) it needs tires and brakes, but I found a set of canyons for free, so that's a plus.

Looking at a CJ7 top and doors on Marketplace that someone has listed for $500...

My TJ is setup for offroading and is pretty dialed in, so im thinking im just gonna get this thing up to snuff and use it as my daily for a while. Just a beater, Lo-buck YJ!

 

[Chris]

One of my favorite things about the early model YJs is the slanted rear sport bar. I know it's totally unsafe for passengers, but it sure does look good!

 

[97TJNM]

One of my favorite things about the early model YJs is the slanted rear sport bar. I know it's totally unsafe for passengers, but it sure does look good!

Agreed! That rollbar is sexy. Im gonna pull the rear seat out anyway, so im not too worried about passengers in the rear!

 

[97TJNM]

Well, the YJ has been in my yard a few weeks, and im starting on projects. Got the hardtop glassed and primed. My kiddo goes to College in 3 weeks. He offered to come help me, which i took him up on. Showed him how to do fiberglass in the driveway. More importantly, I spent 5 or so hours with my son, engaged with him. Im gonna miss the hell outta that dude.

I also installed a JVC head unit and JBL speakers (and 8" sub) in it. Holy crap, replacing the dash speakers in a YJ is a beast. Dealing with some past owner's hack-job on the stereo wiring didnt help the job. Wire nuts, electrical tape and cut harnesses for days! Took me the better part of 7 hours to get the stereo install done. Had to lower the windshield frame and pull the dash, but I got it done. Gotta say, JBL makes some great speakers. Im no audiophile, but they sound great.

Gonna work on fixing the doors soon, then painting them and the hard top. Tires and a carburetor are coming in the next month or so. Doing a spot check on the underside led to discovering a worn u-joint in the rear driveshaft, fo replacing that has become a priority. Hopefully this weekend.

I've taken to calling this thing Lo-Buck. It's an appropriate name.

 

[97TJNM]

Coupe of updates on Lo-Buck. Got new 33x9.50r15 Kenda Klevers mounted on my freebie wheels. I think they look a lot better than the 12.5 wides that were on it (plus, the date codes on them are from 2026, not 2016).

Finished up the fiberglass and paint on Lo-Buck's hardtop. The Bikini top was still on it, but I had to set it on the Jeep to get an idea of how it looked.

Found 4 YJ doors on Marketplace for $50. Couldn't pass em up. 2 were straight with no rust but no hardware. 2 were bashed up pretty bad but with all the hardware.

Gonna put the good hardware on the good doors after I paint em white.

 

[Mike_H]

Boy does this one remind me of my Grampa. He had a white 4 cyl YJ with the same wheels. Used to drive that thing all over the place when I was younger. Like most Jeeps in Mi though, Rust got it. My uncle tried to save it, but it was just too far gone. He used it as a hunting rig a couple years after replacing the body mounts and roll bar pads, but that cancer just keeps eating.

Good Luck!

 

[97TJNM]

Boy does this one remind me of my Grampa. He had a white 4 cyl YJ with the same wheels. Used to drive that thing all over the place when I was younger. Like most Jeeps in Mi though, Rust got it. My uncle tried to save it, but it was just too far gone. He used it as a hunting rig a couple years after replacing the body mounts and roll bar pads, but that cancer just keeps eating.

Good Luck!

Thanks! Im having a blast working on this thing. I love my TJ, and it's a beast offroad, but I often miss it before all the mods. This one is giving me a chance to keep it on a mild lift and 33's and just use it as a runaround, which is exactly what I want!

I hear you on the reminders. I can't see a tan Ford Ranger without thinking about my Gramps and smelling phantom cigarettes that he used to chain-smoke.

 

[97TJNM]

Fitted doors on Lo-Buck. Got 'em adjusted and they fit, now. Or, as well as doors can fit on a jeep that's been banged up a bunch! They should be watertight, at least.

Once I get 'em painted, I'll get all the good hardware switched to them and fit them with the top.

Got around to addressing the brakes today. There was a little air in the line making them squishy, and the rear brakes weren't adjusted properly, AT ALL. Got the rear brakes adjusted and air out of the lines, and it brakes much better. Super happy that it just required some attention, and not more money.

Project Lo-Buck is coming along! Total for the setup at this stage is:

$1500 for Jeep
$1000 for tires and mounting/balancing
$500 for top
$50 for doors
$500 for radio/speakers/bass
$130 for carb/air filter(not yet installed)

Total in the jeep is $3680. It still needs plenty, but it's a decent little runaround and I'm not invested deep!

 

[97TJNM]

A pile of stuff has been creeping forward on Lo-Buck. Got the doors painted (rattle-canned). Passenger side windows doesn't want to roll down, so i will have to take it back apart.

Hard top is almost done, just need to install the back glass and struts.

Got the Motorcraft 2150 on.

Went on a declutter crusade on the thing. Removed all non-functioning accessories, as well as wiring and vacuum lines that went to nowhere. It made quite a pile.

Still plugging away at stuff, just trying to make it a decent runner and to remove anything not needed.

Progress continues...

Still a lo-buck project, spent another $30 on paint/supplies and ordered an HEI Distributor and manual axle engagement line. (About $200 for both)

At about $3910 right now.

 

[97TJNM]

$224 for seatbelts, another $17 for a rearview, and $8 for rearview mirror mounting glue. Also ordered new motor/trans mounts (Rubber, $70) and a horn, because after I pulled the badly wired "la cucaracha" horn, there was no horn. ($27)

Installed the rearview today. Wife loves the Cheep Jeep, but insisted I get a rearview and new seatbelts sooner rather than later.

Total is about $4257 at the moment. My HEI distributor got lost in the mail, but I contacted CRT and told them, they verified it was lost, and promptly sent out another one. They said they'd file the claim with UPS, and I told 'em if the original one shows up, I'd be happy to ship it back.

They were really easy to work with, so if you ever need an HEI consider CRT. Customer service was painless, easy, and they made it right.

Waiting on the distributor and seatbelts, as well as new motor/Trans mounts. They are all expected next week.

In the meantime, I got an old air compressor mounted that I had in storage for about a year. I was planning on installing it in my WJ, but sold it before I did so. Not counting the cost of the compressor, because it was laying around so I didnt have to make a decision about buying it.

I also have an old style ARB locker for a Dana 44 in the garage, so if I find an old TJ or XJ 44 for cheap, it will be worth it to buy it and put new perches on it. Then I'd have a "free" locker to install when I (VERY EVENTUALLY) do gears.

 

[97TJNM]

Oh! I forgot 2 things I've done! Posi-lok shifter to replace the passenger side vacuum axle disconnect (WTF was AMC thinking?!) And LED lights. Just under $200 $150 for everything. Brings the total to approximately $4450 $4400. (Edited because i realised i had already added the Posi-Lok in an earlier post)

Still not bad at all for a Cheep Jeep!

 

[06GEEP]

Hmmm...buy a Jeep and put twice as much into it, as what you paid for it... you, sir, are the definition of a Jeep owner.

Well done

 

[97TJNM]

Hmmm...buy a Jeep and put twice as much into it, as what you paid for it... you, sir, are the definition of a Jeep owner.

Well done

Bro, you aren't wrong!