Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Long-term TJ owner insights

Primary use: Daily driver, annual destination wheeler. Bought to manage a ranch. Wife said it looked “mousey.” Found this forum in early 2017. Found Wolf Caves and Hidden Falls. That started my wheeling journey and learning how to make them more capable.
Years owned: 7
Total Miles driven: 67,000
Lessons learned: I don’t know much. Getting under the Jeep is the best way to understand what is happening. If you don’t understand don’t do.
Best practices: Maintenance and constant looking at every bolt.
Best mod: 1.25” body lift and auto swap
Worst mod: Nerf bars
 
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Primary use: recreational
Years owned: 13
Total Miles driven: 9,000
Lessons learned: wheeling is not a family activity
Best practices: driving without passengers
Best mod: SYE kit (Spouse Yapping Eliminator) kit
Worst mod: Chinese skull cigarette lighter
 
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Primary use: DD, getaway rig
Years owned: 19 years
Total Miles driven: 177K miles driven
Lessons learned: Too many to list here
Best practices: Get lots of advise on this forum from experienced folks. Don't drink the Koolaid.
Best mod: Swaylok, re-gearing
Worst mod: re-gearing. It's complicated, so tread lightly.
 
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Primary use: Hunting, wheeling, weekend cruiser
Years owned: 7
Total Miles driven: 92k on clock, 35k by me
Lessons learned: Best knowledge and advice is right here on this forum. Buy once, cry once.
Best practices: Drive it, wheel it and let the TJ tell you what it needs.
Best mod: Technical/performance: Swayloc, gears and lockers. Drivability: LED interior and cluster lights, dead pedal and Bartacts
Worst mod: Crappy RC lift I put on before finding the forum and doing adequate research.
 
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JEEPCJTJ said:
After a divorce if you still have anything close to that, even just a potted plant, you are one lucky son of a bitch.

Not saying growing something like that isn't possible, it just takes quite a while (decades?).
Click to expand...

Or growing certain green leaves in California can turn the tree into that fairly quickly 🤪
 
Primary use: off-road and daily driver duty on sunny days
Years owned: I am the original owner. Ordered from the factory 20 years ago.
Total miles driven: 142,000 miles
Lessons learned: keep it lightweight. If the engine lacks power, the upper catalytic converters came apart and are now stuck in the third catalytic converter. buy and install more Jeep parts when you happen to be single.
Best practices: I am the only one that works on the Jeep. Why pay someone to mess up your stuff. Replace worn parts with good parts only. Finesse it up tough stuff and winch before crossing the limits . Take the time to make all modifications work right. Especially suspension travel, articulation and steering. Read and learn from this community.
Best mod: savvy mid arm, 255/85r16 tires, Heavy flywheel (centerforce high inertia), Swayloc, factory half doors, 1.7 ratio roller rockers, savvy aluminum armor and stainless tub rails
Worst mod: don’t buy cheap powder coated calipers, they will seize up.

Perhaps it is time to create a build thread on the LJR.

IMG_3641.jpeg


IMG_4677.jpeg
 
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Bought my 2002 Sport in May of 02, had it special ordered to what I wanted (which was every thing except a soft top) even a block heater in Arizona. I can easily say it has been the most trouble free car I've ever owned. Haven't messed with the suspension, besides bushings and shocks. 22 years later it uses very little oil (5W-40 since new) and change it every 4500 miles. I'm extremely happy I didn't purchase it with an automatic as they were as slow as could be and after 22 years I just had my original clutch replaced 2 months ago. My other cars are Hondas and GMCs and this is the reliable king of the stable. Fuel economy is 15. And I mean 15 no matter what, City or highway it's 15. The only down side is Chryslers have crap for paint. I love this Jeep, it's been nothing but good to me. Would I buy one now other than a TJ ? No, Stellantis has screwed the brand into the ground. Engine and drivetrain now are crap, especially the engines. The last good Jeep was the TJ when Mercedes owned the company.
 
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Primary use:
-Around town vehicle/overlanding/off-roading
Years owned:
-00 (3 years) 97 (4 years-current)
Total Miles driven: 50kish
Lessons learned:
-Regear before you slap 35s on a stock automatic (your transmission will thank you)
-give yourself an extra 3 hours on top of how long you think a project will take (for the trips to the hardware store for the bolts that seem to disappear)
Best practices:
--Always carry tools on board. (Always seem to be pulling things apart in parking lots away from my stocked garage)
Best mod: lockers/new carpet/kill switch
Worst mod: lightbar
 
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AdventurePig said:
Calling all grizzled, salty, seasoned owners to share your wisdom from 10, 15, 20+ years of experience of owning TJ’s..

What have you learned (maybe the hard way- but learned nonetheless) while owning your TJ?

Just some optional data point starters to consider…

Primary use: Daily Driver
Years owned: 27
Total Miles driven: 223 plus
Lessons learned: Always check the fluids
Best practices: Don't drive it cold
Best mod: Stereo System
Worst mod: NA
Click to expand...

I really don't have time to answer all these questions right now or in the near future. But, I am the original owner from the factory of a 1997 Wrangler Sport. So, I have owned it 27 years so far. It has 223k plus original miles with the original engine. Best Practice for me is to let it run for awhile after starting it to make sure the oil has distributed through the engine because the lifters make noise when it is cold until it warms up. It is pretty stock except upgraded stereo, speakers, Alpine PDX-V9 amp and molded MTX trunk subwoofer. I've had all the interior lights professionally modified to 255 color LED's, and other exterior 255 color LED lights. Other than that, I can't say that I have really modified it. My modifications have really just been superficial.
 
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I have an 04 that I bought new. This is far and away the longest I've ever owned a vehicle and I can't ever see getting rid of it.

Primary use: Around town cruiser and off road toy.

Years owned: 2004 (I've owned it all 20 years).

Total Miles driven: 146,000

Lessons learned: The mods are never done.

Best practices: like others have said, crawling beats bashing.

Favorite mod: It's a tie between the Poison Spider aluminum fenders which make my Jeep totally unique in my area that is loaded with various Jeeps, and the Bluetooth module I added to my factory stereo so I can listen to all the music on my phone.

Best performance mod: Super 35 upgrade with e-locker

Worst mod: K&N air filter. Cheap paper is way better.
 
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Don't upgrade beyond what you want/need the jeep to do. Upgrades can bring their own new and even more expensive issues.

Best mod: 1ton axles with full hydro and coilovers
Worst mod: 1ton axles with full hydro and coilovers
 
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Murf926 said:
I have an 04 that I bought new. This is far and away the longest I've ever owned a vehicle and I can't ever see getting rid of it.

Primary use: Around town cruiser and off road toy.

Years owned: 2004 (I've owned it all 20 years).

Total Miles driven: 146,000

Lessons learned: The mods are never done.

Best practices: like others have said, crawling beats bashing.

Favorite mod: It's a tie between the Poison Spider aluminum fenders which make my Jeep totally unique in my area that is loaded with various Jeeps, and the Bluetooth module I added to my factory stereo so I can listen to all the music on my phone.

Best performance mod: Super 35 upgrade with e-locker

Worst mod: K&N air filter. Cheap paper is way better.
Click to expand...

My Grom audio Bluetooth adapter is still my favorite mod, to date. Makes any type of driving better, since i can listen to pandora or my apple music downloads.
 
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