New here, just got a 97 TJ

[Jgedwardsv]

Hi guys!

I’m coming up on 40 so of course I had to make a “mid life crisis” purchase. My options were boat, Porsche or Jeep. I chose the latter.

1997 2.5L with 5-speed. Interesting story, bought it from the grandson of the guy who ordered it new in 1997 (came with original factory order slip- delete rear seat and seat belts, no rear carpet, no power steering, no AC, etc.).

So far I’ve replaced the entire front end (tie rods, ball joints, steering stabilizer, etc.), shocks, tires (went 31” on stock suspension), new soft top (more parts like the straps coming this week), and speakers.

Next up is headlights (crummy Chinese LEDs are going bye bye) and tearing apart the passenger door (latch mechanism is broken at the locking point- replacement latch coming from rock auto).

Would love some input on the headlights - leaning quadratec gen II, stereo, leaning Sony AX3200 so I don’t need to cut the dash, and anything else that should be pressing.

Oh and the fun wintertime jobs are manual steering box and exhaust manifold (steering has play, that’s the only thing left to fix and the manifold has a slight crack).

Look forward to learning and asking questions, glad to be here.

 

[macleanflood]

97s is the best year.

-Mac

 

[Jgedwardsv]

Hi guys!

I’m coming up on 40 so of course I had to make a “mid life crisis” purchase. My options were boat, Porsche or Jeep. I chose the latter.

1997 2.5L with 5-speed. Interesting story, bought it from the grandson of the guy who ordered it new in 1997 (came with original factory order slip- delete rear seat and seat belts, no rear carpet, no power steering, no AC, etc.).

So far I’ve replaced the entire front end (tie rods, ball joints, steering stabilizer, etc.), shocks, tires (went 31” on stock suspension), new soft top (more parts like the straps coming this week), and speakers.

Next up is headlights (crummy Chinese LEDs are going bye bye) and tearing apart the passenger door (latch mechanism is broken at the locking point- replacement latch coming from rock auto).

Would love some input on the headlights - leaning quadratec gen II, stereo, leaning Sony AX3200 so I don’t need to cut the dash, and anything else that should be pressing.

Oh and the fun wintertime jobs are manual steering box and exhaust manifold (steering has play, that’s the only thing left to fix and the manifold has a slight crack).

Look forward to learning and asking questions, glad to be here.

 

[KennethS]

For headlights, the Toyota kit is a great buy for the money.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/toyota-lights-on-your-tj-cheap-quality-led-alternative.52840/

Search the internet Toyota dealers for 81110-60P70.

I just saw one dealer advertising $16.49, but I didn’t look at the shipping cost. Last year I got a set for my TJ for around $30 shipped.

 

[L J]

welcome and congrats on your TJ

 

[CharlesHS]

CONGRATS on your purchase.
Good looking Jeep and great color combination.
You will enjoy driving the Jeep during the nice weather months.
IF you want to keep your Jeep for many years; avoid driving the Jeep in the winter months.
That salt that is applied to the roads will eat your Jeep in a short period of time.

 

[tm dean]

Welcome to the wrangler tj forum. Great to have you on board.

 

[Jgedwardsv]

CONGRATS on your purchase.
Good looking Jeep and great color combination.
You will enjoy driving the Jeep during the nice weather months.
IF you want to keep your Jeep for many years; avoid driving the Jeep in the winter months.
That salt that is applied to the roads will eat your Jeep in a short period of time.

Thanks. Already planned on basically being an April - Oct/Nov ride. My other ride is a 24 Silverado with the 3.0L Duramax. Jeep’s already helping out by keeping wear/tear down on the diesel by eating up all my short trips in town.

After winter projects, it’ll spend the winters in my parent’s garage.

 

[Jgedwardsv]

For headlights, the Toyota kit is a great buy for the money.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/toyota-lights-on-your-tj-cheap-quality-led-alternative.52840/

Search the internet Toyota dealers for 81110-60P70.

I just saw one dealer advertising $16.49, but I didn’t look at the shipping cost. Last year I got a set for my TJ for around $30 shipped.

I’ll check this out- have you done it? Wondering how they compare to the quadratec or other higher end LEDs. Couldn’t find the truck lite ones when I looked last night that were recommended in other threads.

 

[SSTJ]

Welcome to the forum.

My signature below has a thread about 97s, and a thread about the 2.5.

My notes about replacing the exhaust manifold are in my build thread (first link in signature).

 

[thedustyboot]

Welcome to the forum my friend!

Nice to see another fellow member with the 97 2.5.

Have you considered getting half doors? they're way lighter than the full doors and are quite nice for the warmer months.

What are your plans long term for the vehicle?

 

[Jgedwardsv]

Welcome to the forum my friend!

Nice to see another fellow member with the 97 2.5.

Have you considered getting half doors? they're way lighter than the full doors and are quite nice for the warmer months.

What are your plans long term for the vehicle?

I would love a set of half doors- maybe down the line though. I have seen a few sets in the moss green, but they need some cleaning up and are all like $3-400 in my area on FB Marketplace. The question would be how hard is it to put the uppers on and off- where I live we back up to a salt marsh, so if it isn’t closed up at night, the entire interior is wet from the dew (and the interior is still mint like it rolled off the lot in 1997).

Longer term, it’s basically a rebuild to stock look. No real trails, but tons of beaches, so no roof/doors summers and keep short trips off of my diesel truck.

Even longer term, maybe one of my kids (likely the middle one whose 5 and loves jeeps) drives it.

 

[jeepguy03]

Nice Jeep, and to a fellow New Englander. I'm in Northeast CT but frequent RI a lot since I have friends/family that live there, let me know if you ever need a hand wrenching!

The 2.5L/manual can be fun but most recommend not going over 30/31" tires or it becomes painfully slow. How is the frame underneath? Our Jeeps are actually the same color, green on tan. First thing I would do is change out all the fluids, and make sure the maintenance stuff is up to par like plugs/wires.

As far as headlights, I have the Holley Retro Bright LEDs in mine. They work pretty well while maintaining the stock look. The China LED housings can look pretty strange on older Jeeps in my opinion. That Sony will be a nice choice, and probably a good time to upgrade the speakers if it still has the stock ones. I went with Polk Audio marine speakers all the way around since mine spends most of it's time with no doors or top.

 

[Tronner]

For headlights, the Toyota kit is a great buy for the money.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/toyota-lights-on-your-tj-cheap-quality-led-alternative.52840/

Search the internet Toyota dealers for 81110-60P70.

I just saw one dealer advertising $16.49, but I didn’t look at the shipping cost. Last year I got a set for my TJ for around $30 shipped.

Ordered mine today from Toyota of Greenville $35 bucks shipped! This is a worthwhile mod if you are planning to drive at night.

 

[Imagineer]

Is that Citron Pearl? My first experience with Jeeps was a '97 in Citron Pearl. I was told it's the rarest of colors for '97s and it was only available on the 2.5s.

 

[Jgedwardsv]

Nice Jeep, and to a fellow New Englander. I'm in Northeast CT but frequent RI a lot since I have friends/family that live there, let me know if you ever need a hand wrenching!

The 2.5L/manual can be fun but most recommend not going over 30/31" tires or it becomes painfully slow. How is the frame underneath? Our Jeeps are actually the same color, green on tan. First thing I would do is change out all the fluids, and make sure the maintenance stuff is up to par like plugs/wires.

As far as headlights, I have the Holley Retro Bright LEDs in mine. They work pretty well while maintaining the stock look. The China LED housings can look pretty strange on older Jeeps in my opinion. That Sony will be a nice choice, and probably a good time to upgrade the speakers if it still has the stock ones. I went with Polk Audio marine speakers all the way around since mine spends most of it's time with no doors or top.

I specifically bought this one because the frame was perfect. Some spots on the front quarter panel, but otherwise good. And the interior was essentially perfect also.

Jeep came with 31” tires, so that’s what I stuck with (spare was in good shape, the others had dry rot).

Glad to know you’re somewhat local. I’m on the East side of RI in Tiverton, so a bit of a hike.

I did do the speakers- went with kicker CS 5-1/4 for the bar and kicker CS 4x6 in the dash. Will have to look at an under seat sub in the future - unless the center console from an 02-06 would fit, haven’t figured that out yet.

 

[thedustyboot]

@Jgedwardsv I can relate to the moisture concerns living in the coastal rainforest of western Canada. If you're able to park it under some sort of shelter that might help keep the dew off your rig, perhaps even a small marine space heater to keep it warm and dry.

The canvas uppers can be hit and miss as far as the quality of the weather stripping they sew onto them. I had to replace one, cost me $250CAD off ebay, and the weather stripping at the bottom rear corner wasn't contoured to the hard top adequately.

Make sure you take time to rinse out the inside of the frame as often as you can. The area just ahead of the rear axle is a bad spot for dirt to build up. The second bad spot is around your upper rear control arm bracket. there's a little pocket between that bracket and the frame that really likes to hold onto dirt.

 

[Jgedwardsv]

Is that Citron Pearl? My first experience with Jeeps was a '97 in Citron Pearl. I was told it's the rarest of colors for '97s and it was only available on the 2.5s.

Color code is PJN, so Moss Green. Probably the lighting from the picture- I took it after I threw the new soft top on and was in a hurry with the big thunder storms coming in hot.

 

[BlueC]

Would love some input on the headlights

On the budget end, or if you just want a H4 halogen bulb, the Toyota conversion or KC H4 conversion are great. I have the KCs and they are much better than the factory sealed bulbs. The Toyotas have dropped in price significantly over the past few years. That's the way I'd go for H4s now.

If you want LEDs and don't mind the price, my choice would be the Holley retros, but other people like the JWs, Trucklites, KCs, but those come with a price. I see you live up north. If you think you'll be snow driving, be aware the standard non-heated LEDs will not melt snow, so buildup could be an issue in the snow.

 

[The4bangertj]

Love my 2.5 97. Even with 33s regeared it’s a fun little rig. Super capable with lockers, more than I’m willing or can find. You’ll love that thing for the beaches.