One at a time

q8ieng

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 20, 2019
Messages
203
Location
USA
### Updates and more photos can be found in the posts ###

At the beginning
I didn't had the proper knowledge to work on a car, and make it better.
I had dreams of buying specific cars, and work on them.. develop them and make them look better.
But, even if I got one of the cars that I really wanted to work on..

Will I succeed?
Even if I really do not know how to change the oil and filter for a car?!

Anyhow, after 4 years..
I finally decided to pick one of my favourite cars,
and no matter what, I have to finish the project.

I picked:
Wrangler 2000 TJ - Sport
4.0
Automatic

Condition:
- It was tough, riding it was like riding a box with lots of tools.
Lots of noises from the hard top, from the dashboard, from the old tires, big rims, and bad suspension...
- Wiring was very bad, lots of empty ends.
- Lots of wiring connections, useless ones.
- No antenna, broken one.
- Media/Radio was rusty and the speakers were giving noises.
- Leaking, every time I stop I find a lake below my TJ.
- Ugly headlights.
- Broken fenders, and rusty broken front bumper.

Why did I pick this car?
I love this model, this shape.
to be honest I loved the YJ more but my bad I couldn't find a decent one to start working on.

Photos of the car:

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Do you see lots of Jeep Wranglers in Kuwait? I think you're the first person on here form Kuwait, though there are a number of people on here from Dubai.
 
Before we continue: (Thank you guys for helping, and clarifying lots of things, grateful)
...
My plan was to finish what is more important, then head to the accessories, so I started with these:

1- I re-worked the engine (with a mechanic), replaced all the parts, replaced all the gaskets required.
I started to know how to measure the oil gear LOL, SERIOUSLY.

2- I replaced my rear axle, as it was giving lots of noise.
3- I replaced: (Water pump, radiator, power steering, AC compressor, filters)
4- I replaced the oil filters, and changed the engine and the gear oil.
5- I removed my Fan clutch and replaced it with an electronic fan (SPAL) BIG one.
6- I discovered (by this forum, BIG thanks) that the grill inserts are increasing my heat.. so I had them removed.
7- Replaced all the sealing and gaskets of the gear, they were damaged and the leaking made a river next to me house!
8- Replaced the tires to BF Goodrich (31x10.50R15LT) and replaced my rims to Method.


While doing so, it is my first time to:
1- Go to the junkyard area and get parts.
2- Work on a car, and learning lots of things like (the axle if it is bad it is going to give a sound, that you are barely going to hear it, and you might think it is from the engine but it is not, and you have to change it eventually! xD)
3- Changing engine and gear oil, filters and learning how to clean the air filter.
4- Knowing that there are two Radiators AC, and the car one.


Photos of the process:

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Do you see lots of Jeep Wranglers in Kuwait? I think you're the first person on here form Kuwait, though there are a number of people on here from Dubai.

We have lots of wranglers in Kuwait, but not TJ's. (a few)
 
Right on man! Don't let lack of knowledge discourage or slow you down, the internet can be a great teacher lol My first big solo project was swapping the cabs on two Chevy S-10's and all I knew how to do was change the oil and do my brakes. Lots of Googling, forum searching, and YouTube videos, and by the end I could work on an S-10 with my eyes closed lol

Looking forward to seeing the progress!!
 
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That picture of you working in the rain is a great shot. The things we do to keep them running and up to par...

To be honest, this day is one of the great days I had..
A true beautiful moments, the rain surprised us
it was on June, and it is RARE very RARE to rain in June..
it made me happy while working..

Wow. You really dove into the deep end. Meaning you didn't start small. You got right in and took care of some pretty major repairs. In a driveway by your house no less. And in the rain apparently. Good on you man!

Thank you, I truly appreciate it.
I got lots of things that I didn't know to be honest, and I was sticking to the mechanic all the time so most of the things I did, wasn't me but the mechanic, but the rest yup..

Right on man! Don't let lack of knowledge discourage or slow you down, the internet can be a great teacher lol My first big solo project was swapping the cabs on two Chevy S-10's and all I knew how to do was change the oil and do my brakes. Lots of Googling, forum searching, and YouTube videos, and by the end I could work on an S-10 with my eyes closed lol

Looking forward to seeing the progress!!

Grateful mate, haha not really a teacher but I do love specific things and when I start doing them I fall in love with the process and the journey along.
Let's say I'll be a good storyteller rather than a teacher.
 
Let's continue..

So, after than I started to look for a solution for the leaks in my gear.

I took it to the mechanic,
had to replace all the sealing and gaskets.. and that fixed the issue.
He even checked my gear, and 4-wheel gear too
so, I'd be good in winter when we go camping.

Next, it was (fixing the AC) as my fan speed was not working on 1st and 2nd speed
but only on 3rd and 4th speed.
I replaced the AC buttons panel in the dashboard,
BUT this wasn't the problem..
I figured later on that it was the Blower Motor Resistor,
and IT WAS FIXED right away.. (Check the photos, the old resistor is history)

Shopping for Tires and Rims, became my favourite..
BF goodrich and Method rims
Cannot get better.
With Rough country 2.5" Lift.


I'd mention that I re-worked my Media, replaced the Radio and
installed new speakers.
The man helped me in making mounts for the new speakers!
Amazing.
Pioneer (in the front, dashboard, left and right under the AC vent) and JBL (in the top middle bar)
Fits directly to OEM bar, but the mount had to create it for the dashboard speakers as they wiggle without it.


And in the last photo you'd be able to see that I have fixed, and painted the fenders, bumpers.
Also, you'd see the new tires and rims (shoes and laces, oh yeah!)
Along with the 2.5" rough country lift.

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Continuing the story..

Overheating
, I couldn't understand how I can prevent that from happening to my TJ!
I literally read lots of posts, went on youtube and watched several videos that talked about:
New air filters, K&N, making holes on the hood so the heat will escape, adding a fan under the hood...etc
lots of ideas..

BUT, by posting my problem in this forum, I had it FIXED.
Literally, I FIXED the issue and I have no more overheating.

What did the gentlemen in here told me?
To remove the grill inserts,
WHICH,
I thought they were OEM.
But it was the sin of the PO.


Then,
cleaning the wiring..

The PO was insane, truly, with his crazy wirings..
So, I had to clean that, reworked what he did.
And made it NEAT.


Finally, installing the ZJ Tie Rod Upgrade (Crown HD thanks to @Chris).


REMOVING Grill Inserts and Cleaning:

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OLD wiring:

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NEW wiring:

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What are the small things that I added to my TJ,
and I believe they are worthy?

1- Adding the TRAIL RATED badge, on both sides x)
2- LED lights for the foot-well and the soundbar.
3- The tray storage one in front of the driver (sticks by 3M), and the other one above the dash (using screws). Added more storage places in my TJ.
4- The Quick Removal Bolts Thumb Screws (for the Hardtop)
5- Cleaning what's under-the-hood.
6- KC Lights for the headlamps to maintain classic look, but also having a great light vision.


and that's for now..

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