Edit:
After some time on the forum, I added this pre-amble as my build ideas became a little more crystallized. My build is based on 33s with short arms. It’s one of 2 vehicles I daily drive and occasionally I take it off-road. Stock-ish looks and light weight are priorities as opposed to armor and body mods. But, within those boundries, I’m doing what I can to optimize travel, articulation, clearance and drivetrain performance. Also, I’m learning new things and having lots of fun.
Index:
Page 1: Clean up, SYE, exhaust, shocks, 33s, Eaton tru-tracs, Re-gear, and chromoly shaftsF/R, soft top.
page 2: Stock spare tire carrier mods, Hi-lift, hitch, Golen Stroker arrives.
page 3: Baseline dyno results stock 4.0, stroker swap begins.
page 4: Stroker swap completed, reupholstered heated seats, T-stat, O2 sensors, trans mount #1.
page 5: Seat belts, GM under hood light, Stroker dyno results, front drive shaft, trans mount #2, extended front brake lines, ZJ steering linkage, clutch master/slave cyl., front track bar, front suspension cycling, new tool-Welder!
Page 6: next up? rear sway bar, BMB F brakes, tie rod flip and elevated F sway bar link brackets. Welding practice. Oil ZDDP. Frame drain holes.
Page 7: New RC flares. T-case cable shifter. MML. UCF skid and driveline angles. Aluminum wheels. Savvy control arms. Stubby stock bumper. Rear frame rehab. Stretch tank/fuel pump. Super 35 W/ rear e-locker. ZJ rear disc conversion.
Page 8: Rear frame recovery point, e-Locker wiring, exhaust mods.
Page 9: Rear bumper, MORryde tailgate kit and 3rd brake light. Finishing up Johnny Joints. Mini skids. Longer front shocks and front Currie springs.
Page 10: Longer rear shocks. Front SwayLoc. Banks header. Front e-locker.
Back to the first post, 6/21…
After reading and learning on this forum for a while I decided to join and post a build thread. Please call out my stupid ideas.
2 years ago, in April of 2019, a green ‘97 TJ fell into my lap and for no good reason, I bought it (some would say stupid idea #1). For me, the Jeep bug probably started with a bright blue V8 CJ (-5?) owned by the father of a college girlfriend. I was fortunate enough to drive it on a date with her in 1985 (would you let some dude take your daughter AND your Jeep out unaccompanied?). I don’t remember where we went or what we did, but I remember that Jeep. 34 years later, this TJ is my first real Jeep (I had a V8 WJ w/ a 242 for 10 years). Let’s face it, JEEP Jeeps aren’t practical. Broke students can’t afford them and families need more space (e.g. SUV Jeeps like my WJ, or JKUs, JLUs…). But, now that my career is mature and my kids are out in the world, this is a great hobby to grow my mechanical experience and try new things. This specimen is a 4.0 Sport w/ AX-15 w/ Dana 30/35 w/ open front and factory LSD rear (and 3.08 gears!). I like that it’s small and maneuverable but tough and though old, has massive aftermarket support. I’m owner number 3. It’s been in Colorado, Nevada and Oregon and is not very rusty but a little dirty and rough around the edges. At over 20 years old, probably everything needs going through. The last owner was a teenager and it seems he maintained his vehicle like I did back then - which is to say he didn’t, really. It came 31x10.5 tires and a 3” Black Diamond lift without adjustable rear upper control arms or SYE kit and a 1.5” transfer case drop (and a nice driveline vibration).
But, I like green, sticks, straight sixes and messing with cars. So, I brought it home and it got put into the daily driver rotation with my 2012 Mustang GT which is mostly modified to my preferences so I’ve run out of things to do to it.
Here is the TJ at purchase:
After some time on the forum, I added this pre-amble as my build ideas became a little more crystallized. My build is based on 33s with short arms. It’s one of 2 vehicles I daily drive and occasionally I take it off-road. Stock-ish looks and light weight are priorities as opposed to armor and body mods. But, within those boundries, I’m doing what I can to optimize travel, articulation, clearance and drivetrain performance. Also, I’m learning new things and having lots of fun.
Index:
Page 1: Clean up, SYE, exhaust, shocks, 33s, Eaton tru-tracs, Re-gear, and chromoly shaftsF/R, soft top.
page 2: Stock spare tire carrier mods, Hi-lift, hitch, Golen Stroker arrives.
page 3: Baseline dyno results stock 4.0, stroker swap begins.
page 4: Stroker swap completed, reupholstered heated seats, T-stat, O2 sensors, trans mount #1.
page 5: Seat belts, GM under hood light, Stroker dyno results, front drive shaft, trans mount #2, extended front brake lines, ZJ steering linkage, clutch master/slave cyl., front track bar, front suspension cycling, new tool-Welder!
Page 6: next up? rear sway bar, BMB F brakes, tie rod flip and elevated F sway bar link brackets. Welding practice. Oil ZDDP. Frame drain holes.
Page 7: New RC flares. T-case cable shifter. MML. UCF skid and driveline angles. Aluminum wheels. Savvy control arms. Stubby stock bumper. Rear frame rehab. Stretch tank/fuel pump. Super 35 W/ rear e-locker. ZJ rear disc conversion.
Page 8: Rear frame recovery point, e-Locker wiring, exhaust mods.
Page 9: Rear bumper, MORryde tailgate kit and 3rd brake light. Finishing up Johnny Joints. Mini skids. Longer front shocks and front Currie springs.
Page 10: Longer rear shocks. Front SwayLoc. Banks header. Front e-locker.
Back to the first post, 6/21…
After reading and learning on this forum for a while I decided to join and post a build thread. Please call out my stupid ideas.
2 years ago, in April of 2019, a green ‘97 TJ fell into my lap and for no good reason, I bought it (some would say stupid idea #1). For me, the Jeep bug probably started with a bright blue V8 CJ (-5?) owned by the father of a college girlfriend. I was fortunate enough to drive it on a date with her in 1985 (would you let some dude take your daughter AND your Jeep out unaccompanied?). I don’t remember where we went or what we did, but I remember that Jeep. 34 years later, this TJ is my first real Jeep (I had a V8 WJ w/ a 242 for 10 years). Let’s face it, JEEP Jeeps aren’t practical. Broke students can’t afford them and families need more space (e.g. SUV Jeeps like my WJ, or JKUs, JLUs…). But, now that my career is mature and my kids are out in the world, this is a great hobby to grow my mechanical experience and try new things. This specimen is a 4.0 Sport w/ AX-15 w/ Dana 30/35 w/ open front and factory LSD rear (and 3.08 gears!). I like that it’s small and maneuverable but tough and though old, has massive aftermarket support. I’m owner number 3. It’s been in Colorado, Nevada and Oregon and is not very rusty but a little dirty and rough around the edges. At over 20 years old, probably everything needs going through. The last owner was a teenager and it seems he maintained his vehicle like I did back then - which is to say he didn’t, really. It came 31x10.5 tires and a 3” Black Diamond lift without adjustable rear upper control arms or SYE kit and a 1.5” transfer case drop (and a nice driveline vibration).
But, I like green, sticks, straight sixes and messing with cars. So, I brought it home and it got put into the daily driver rotation with my 2012 Mustang GT which is mostly modified to my preferences so I’ve run out of things to do to it.
Here is the TJ at purchase:
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