Hopefully, My Forever TJ

[ProTJ98]

Hello, everyone. I now own a 98 2.5L Manual TJ. Currently, it is 50% dump runs and 50% project. I call it my forever TJ because I have owned a 92 YJ Sahara, a 00 TJ Sport, and a 2018 JK Unlimted. Apparently, I cannot go without having a Wrangler in life, so this is hopefully my last Wrangler. Fortunately, my 5-year-old daughter loves it, and I will teach her everything I can about Wranglers.

That said, current projects are reserved for making this TJ safer, and they are as follows:

-Installing drums and rotors all around.
-Replacing the parking brake cable the previous owner cut or left off when replacing the rear axle.

-Troubleshooting a plethora of wiring issues for exterior lighting and interior instruments, e.g., wiring LED turn signals into the tube fenders, correcting the wiring for the trailer harness, fixing a potential ground issue with the gauge cluster that sometimes doesn't work, and removing a ton of crazy LED's and poorly wired extras both inside and out.

Power Steering system overhaul. There is a pretty good leak coming from the steering gearbox seals or fluid lines. I am opting to replace all components because while the pump still functions, it is extremely loud, and some hoses look worse for wear.

Future Projects are somewhat practical, but I want this Jeep to be as nice as possible.

For the sake of time, I will label this project Operation Rust-Be-Gone!

It is by no means the most rusty wrangler around, but it will need a lot of TLC.

Check it out and let me know what you think. I plan on doing the turn signals and trailer harness this weekend because I have the stuff on-hand.

Thanks for checking out my thread.

 

[Rickyd]

Check out the inside of the frame with a bore scope.buy a welder and learn how to use it.repair and fluid film the frame and body.

get some rancho 5000x shocks to replace the crappy rough country ones.

 

[ProTJ98]

Check out the inside of the frame with a bore scope.buy a welder and learn how to use it.repair and fluid film the frame and body.

get some rancho 5000x shocks to replace the crappy rough country ones.

Thank you. Fortunately, I can weld decently. I know, I know, the Rough Country ones are pretty bad, but they are good enough for dump runs until the winter rolls around. I have to piece all of this project together or my wife might get jealous that I spend more time with the Jeep than her! Lol.

 

[Rickyd]

Thank you. Fortunately, I can weld decently. I know, I know, the Rough Country ones are pretty bad, but they are good enough for dump runs until the winter rolls around. I have to piece all of this project together or my wife might get jealous that I spend more time with the Jeep than her! Lol.

If you can get her into driving it around town with the top down it'll create a lot of goodwill!

 

[ProTJ98]

If you can get her into driving it around town with the top down it'll create a lot of goodwill!

Funny enough, that was why she supported me getting the TJ in the first place. We love to cruise around the backroads with no destination in mind. Now, I need to teach her to drive a manual. I almost convinced her to buy a 99 TJ Automatic up the street for 4k. Apparently, I am not the best salesperson. Whomp whomp!

 

[Cooper Smith]

Hello, everyone. I now own a 98 2.5L Manual TJ. Currently, it is 50% dump runs and 50% project. I call it my forever TJ because I have owned a 92 YJ Sahara, a 00 TJ Sport, and a 2018 JK Unlimted. Apparently, I cannot go without having a Wrangler in life, so this is hopefully my last Wrangler. Fortunately, my 5-year-old daughter loves it, and I will teach her everything I can about Wranglers.

That said, current projects are reserved for making this TJ safer, and they are as follows:

-Installing drums and rotors all around.
-Replacing the parking brake cable the previous owner cut or left off when replacing the rear axle.

-Troubleshooting a plethora of wiring issues for exterior lighting and interior instruments, e.g., wiring LED turn signals into the tube fenders, correcting the wiring for the trailer harness, fixing a potential ground issue with the gauge cluster that sometimes doesn't work, and removing a ton of crazy LED's and poorly wired extras both inside and out.

Power Steering system overhaul. There is a pretty good leak coming from the steering gearbox seals or fluid lines. I am opting to replace all components because while the pump still functions, it is extremely loud, and some hoses look worse for wear.

Future Projects are somewhat practical, but I want this Jeep to be as nice as possible.

For the sake of time, I will label this project Operation Rust-Be-Gone!

It is by no means the most rusty wrangler around, but it will need a lot of TLC.

Check it out and let me know what you think. I plan on doing the turn signals and trailer harness this weekend because I have the stuff on-hand.

Thanks for checking out my thread.

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Where the rear of your frame arches, there are flakes that seem to represent rubberized undercoating. If there is rubberized undercoating anywhere on your Jeep, get it off now. That shit acts like a sponge and destroys frames, especially box frames. My grandfather's 2013 Avalanche has been undercoated with that every other year and it's flaking off leaving behind a mess of scaley rust. Drill a few 1/2" drain holes on the frame as well.

 

[ProTJ98]

Where the rear of your frame arches, there are flakes that seem to represent rubberized undercoating. If there is rubberized undercoating anywhere on your Jeep, get it off now. That shit acts like a sponge and destroys frames, especially box frames. My grandfather's 2013 Avalanche has been undercoated with that every other year and it's flaking off leaving behind a mess of scaley rust. Drill a few 1/2" drain holes on the frame as well.

Thank you for the advice, I could be wrong but I think it is similar to bed liner. The whole tub is sprayed with it as well, I will be redoing a lot of that.

Oh no, what happened to your Jeep.

 

[Cooper Smith]

Thank you for the advice, I could be wrong but I think it is similar to bed liner. The whole tub is sprayed with it as well, I will be redoing a lot of that.

Oh no, what happened to your Jeep.

I got a job at NASA that requires a commute the Jeep couldn’t do.

 

[ProTJ98]

I got a job at NASA that requires a commute the Jeep couldn’t do.

I mean, that's awesome for a job, but it sucks you had to get rid of the Jeep(s).

 

[Cooper Smith]

I mean, that's awesome for a job, but it sucks you had to get rid of the Jeep(s).

Eh. Got back into the Silverado world. I'll jump back into the TJ world in the next few years. One of you can have my 5.3 in trade for a 4.0 however...

Comes with an extra set of lifters!

In all seriousness though, get some drain holes in your frame. That was the number 1 flaw from the factory that caused a LOT of these Jeeps to end up in boneyards.

 

[ProTJ98]

Eh. Got back into the Silverado world. I'll jump back into the TJ world in the next few years. One of you can have my 5.3 in trade for a 4.0 however...

Comes with an extra set of lifters!

In all seriousness though, get some drain holes in your frame. That was the number 1 flaw from the factory that caused a LOT of these Jeeps to end up in boneyards.

Thanks, man. I appreciate your advice and feedback as well. I was sporting the 5.7 Hemi Ram Warlock 1500, and it was a nice truck, but now I have an economy car (a 24 Honda Civic Sports Touring) and my TJ toy. I look forward to seeing you come back to the Jeep side in the future. Have a good night.