Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

New to me Jeep with unknown history; what things would you check first?

4x4 AG

4x4 AG

Member
Original poster
Joined
Nov 5, 2025
Messages
48
Location
Houston
With all the research and fact finding I have done after buying this Jeep, this question has come up.

If a person was to buy one of these old TJ's or LJ's and have an unknown history. What are the things you would check on it first to get a health and well being check on it?

Where are the big trouble spots? Places that let folks down? Failure points?

Things that you would check and verify before you gave it a clean bill of health?

Justin
 
macleanflood said:
Check frame for rust. Change all the fluids... that'll tell you a lot. Spark plugs, air filter. Check alignment.

-Mac
Click to expand...

agreed. Rust is usually a big concern. This jeep was a Oklahoma Jeep and pretty clean.

teaching my kiddo basics on main, so did oil, plugs and filters.

alignment, well it is decent, so left it for now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood and speeding_infraction
History on our New to Us Jeep.

2004 model. 108k on clock when bought.

Had 80k put on it from 2004 to 2015ish. then second owner had it, put 25k on it from 2015 to 2020. Then about 3k from 2020-2025 when we bought it. So sat alot in a shop.

Trying to insure it is road worthy, and that we have replaced all wear parts that need replacing.
 
I'd say to check all of the suspension bushings as well as your steering joints, ball joints and u joints for wear, a preventive check for common causes of death wobble.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4x4 AG
Aside from fluids I'd be checking u-joints, bearings, and the condition of rubber mounts.
 
Change ALL fluids to include brake and radiator flush. Check brakes. Inspect thoroughly for rust.

Enjoy it!
 
Check your bushings throughout the whole system. They can look good and be horrible. Fluids will tell you almost everything about how the jeep was used and maintained. Also, if the jeep has any extra lights installed, check the wiring. Some people don't know wire ratings and will install the wrong gauge wire, which can put you at risk for a fire. I recently went through my jeep, tracing down switches that were wired by a previous owner, and all the wires were wrong across the board. Took me a day to clean it out, but the peace of mind was well worth it once I realized how wrong it was.
 
4x4 AG said:
With all the research and fact finding I have done after buying this Jeep, this question has come up.

If a person was to buy one of these old TJ's or LJ's and have an unknown history. What are the things you would check on it first to get a health and well being check on it?

Where are the big trouble spots? Places that let folks down? Failure points?

Things that you would check and verify before you gave it a clean bill of health?

Justin
Click to expand...


Also Look at this forum for more stuff, as it contains tons of information

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/what-should-i-look-for-when-buying-a-used-wrangler-tj.375/
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood
OdinsRoar said:
Check your bushings throughout the whole system. They can look good and be horrible. Fluids will tell you almost everything about how the jeep was used and maintained. Also, if the jeep has any extra lights installed, check the wiring. Some people don't know wire ratings and will install the wrong gauge wire, which can put you at risk for a fire. I recently went through my jeep, tracing down switches that were wired by a previous owner, and all the wires were wrong across the board. Took me a day to clean it out, but the peace of mind was well worth it once I realized how wrong it was.
Click to expand...

what bushings would you look at, in detail? I have given the jeep a once over a couple times, but maybe there is something I should inspect further.
 
macleanflood said:
All of them...control arms, steering...

-Mac
Click to expand...

plan to take it to my old school alignment shop, and the will run all that down. it has all been replaced with greasable MOOG at some point.

I guess i can look at the link bar bushings, they are Rubicon Express short arms. so likely polyurethane?
 
This post left intentionally blank while you do some research and searching on these forums.

An alignment can be done with basic tools and a tape measure. An alignment shop wants to make money and will recommend the parts canon.

Don't say Rubicon Express or polyurethane bushings. Johnny joints or OEM control arms are sufficient.

-Mac
 
Just send it

Time Send It GIF
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4x4 AG
macleanflood said:
This post left intentionally blank while you do some research and searching on these forums.

An alignment can be done with basic tools and a tape measure. An alignment shop wants to make money and will recommend the parts canon.

Don't say Rubicon Express or polyurethane bushings. Johnny joints or OEM control arms are sufficient.

-Mac
Click to expand...

it has johnny joints. They are greaseable joints, and have been greased recent, as in we did them.

my alignment shop is pretty decent. they will show and recommend repairs if needed, will be honest, and align either way. they are an old school shop, not the new fancy ones. so i trust them to be more honest than some.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood
4x4 AG said:
what bushings would you look at, in detail? I have given the jeep a once over a couple times, but maybe there is something I should inspect further.
Click to expand...

All of them. Steering and control arms for sure dont want death wobble dont forget body mounts but i would look at the all of they look old replace them it will make your life easier
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts
Top Bottom
Back