Creating a Jeep TJ truck

[JamesBuhr]

I have finally acquired 3 jeep TJ's, and can now start building a truck out of the parts.

2000 green 4.0 manual 5-speed green jeep Wrangler sport, - good jeep minor issues, 3.5-inch lift , 122k miles
2003 gold 4.0 automatic 3-speed Jeep Wrangler X - slight lift, -front end frame damage, small lift, 130k miles
1997 black 2. 4 automatic 3-speed Jeep Wrangler sport - on its last legs not amazing,200k miles, completely stock

I'm looking over the conditions of both the gold and green jeeps. I want to update the interior, but I wonder how cross-compatible the wiring is, I'll probably end up rewiring it all to put the dash of the gold 2003 into the 2000, I have to take a better look at the body and see what is the best to each to create the best truck.

I'm looking to create a Jeep TJ truck with a 6-foot bed and about 1.5 feet of cargo area behind the front seat.:

I'm in Colorado, if there a part you are curious about just send me a message

 

[Weasellee]

Should be an interesting build to follow. Hopefully the thread makes it to the end of the build.

 

[Wildman]

The 97 has a 2.5 not 2.4 BTW....

Here's some truck builds to read.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/poor-mans-yj-brute.4218490/

This is a beautiful version of a truck

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/my-jeep-wrangler-truck-build.1316771/#replies

 

[lBasket]

Sick

 

[macleanflood]

Pick a year and stick with it for wiring/PCM/drivetrain.

I favor 97s so the earlier the less complicated.

-Mac

 

[Wildman]

Pick a year and stick with it for wiring/PCM/drivetrain.

I favor 97s so the earlier the less complicated.

-Mac

Agreed...

97-01 is CCD & then mid year 01.5-06 is PCI. You'll need to replace the whole dash wiring to use the 2003 dash in the 2000. You'd be better off to put the 2003 tub onto the 2000 frame...

Best of luck with this project. TJ based trucks are super cool IMO...

 

[Steel City 06]

https://youtu.be/ykJRWxKHvrk

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/comments/92zrbi/i_built_a_6x6_tj_pickup_more_info_in_comments

 

[NDSpeed]

interested to follow doing this journey,

 

[JamesBuhr]

Agreed...

97-01 is CCD & then mid year 01.5-06 is PCI. You'll need to replace the whole dash wiring to use the 2003 dash in the 2000. You'd be better off to put the 2003 tub onto the 2000 frame...

Best of luck with this project. TJ based trucks are super cool IMO...

that's so much work for the pay off. Why can't I change the dash and the wiring?

 

[JamesBuhr]

sold the hard top of the gold jeep, Now I need a 2 part hard top for the truck

 

[Weasellee]

sold the hard top of the gold jeep, Now I need a 2 part hard top for the truck

Just saw one for sale , standby

 

[Weasellee]

sold the hard top of the gold jeep, Now I need a 2 part hard top for the truck

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AJHdaT2sB/?mibextid=79PoIi

New Hampshire

 

[JamesBuhr]

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AJHdaT2sB/?mibextid=79PoIi

New Hampshire

thanks, but there's a guy here selling one too for 1100, but if I could drive across the us for less then 200. i definitely would

 

[Wildman]

that's so much work for the pay off. Why can't I change the dash and the wiring?

You can... Just can't tell you how much work it's going to take to do so other than stripping the tubs down to bare so you transfer all the wiring. So I'm not really sure which of the two options are less labor intensive. Pulling the tub off the frame IMO seems easier but I haven't done either.

 

[jjvw]

that's so much work for the pay off. Why can't I change the dash and the wiring?

You need to choose one complete engine, dash cluster and engine/dash wiring harness from one of your TJs to work with. From there, you choose the frame and body portions that best fits the selected engine and dash and their associated wiring harness.

Your 2003 is not a 3 speed auto, btw. And that one will mix and match the least with the other two jeeps.

 

[Weasellee]

thanks, but there's a guy here selling one too for 1100, but if I could drive across the us for less then 200. i definitely would

The drive is 90% of the fun

 

[JamesBuhr]

The drive is 90% of the fun

but I don't have the time

 

[JamesBuhr]

good thread about a Jeep TJ truck conversion named Dumpster Dive:

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/a-tj-truck-build-named-dumpster-dive.1300759/


this is what the cab should look like, two-part hard top:

with the addition of a little space in the back for the dog and 1 gearbox.


@jjvw
side note if anyone in Colorado wants to have a weekend party during the summer and make headway on this - I'm more then open to this.

 

[NDSpeed]

if you need a wrenching hand let me know. i have a very chaotic work schedule however. and a very time demanding spouse.

 

[JamesBuhr]

I would be working on it now, but I got an internship.