***RE-Intro***
Greetings fellow Jeepers! After what seems like an eternity, I’m happy to report that I made my way back into another TJ. “Back you say?” Yes, I regretfully sold my previous one about 12 months ago because I thought a MT to AT swap was going to be too much of a headache and for other (dumb) personal reasons. After pricing out all the equipment my old TJ had on it, WOW do I feel dumb for selling it now.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/1999-for-sale-in-texas.23919/
Is there such a thing as sellers’ remorse??? Ok enough about the old one, let’s hear about the next irrational decision.
***About New Jeep***
[Enter bad decision #2]
After about 12 months of hunting for a replacement, in what seems like an insanely inflated market, I nearly pulled the trigger on a Lexus GX470 but ultimately didn’t since the seller wasn’t quite ready to let go of it at the last minute. The FOMO set in and hit me harder than Iron Mike in his prime, and within two days I searched for the cheapest TJ in my area that I could find, and I bought that booger. Crazy thing was when I went to go check it out, I had even talked myself out of it because it was a borderline deal breaker and right before I told them “I’ll pass” I blurted out a (2nd) lower offer and they accepted it.
“OK?!?, well what did you get?!?!?”
“OK so what is wrong with it?!?”
So, it’s not a horrible buy (considering that I bought it for what most 4 cyl will go for) with unsolvable issues but I really should’ve been more patient with my search.
Over the next 4-8 weeks, my plan is to strip this thing down as much as possible to treat the surface rust, resolve the other issues, and figure out which route I want to take on building this and plan it all out. I remember feeling like I missed out on something major when I got my previous TJ since it was already built (think Currie & RE had a long arm baby…) and people would always make comments that suggested “BOUGHT<BUILT”, and I can understand the difference and see why that matters but MAN… am I going to miss some of those things on my old one LMAO.
***Goals***
This is going to depend to 2 words, Stock. Axles.
I’d like this Jeep to be an overland build or rock crawler build. If you’re telling me I can slap an OME/Zone (budget) 2-4” lift and run 31-33s on the stock axles doing some overlanding and light/medium rock crawling trails with vigor (confidently), then that’s the route I’m going.
However, if that Dana 35 is as crappy as it is made out to be then I’ll probably spend the coin and build this like my previous TJ.
If the stock axles hold up to 31-33s and will handle some trails, then I would like to hear what builds work and what people are using. I only mentioned OME & Zone because those seem to be the ones that are more highly regarded in terms of budget, I am open to ideas and suggestions.
While I’m on the subject of lifts… if there is a non-SYE solution for this less aggressive build, please enlighten me. I know there is a magic number in terms of lift heights that requires a SYE installed, I just can’t remember it off the top of my head.
I will likely trailer this Jeep to and from the trail locations and I don’t anticipate using this very much on roads at highway speeds. Texas is home, and my offroad park options are limited to Hidden Falls, Barnwell, and a few others that are hours away. I would like to explorer more possibilities and get into OHV Trails and Routes as there appears to be more of those.
Thanks in advance!
-Steam
Greetings fellow Jeepers! After what seems like an eternity, I’m happy to report that I made my way back into another TJ. “Back you say?” Yes, I regretfully sold my previous one about 12 months ago because I thought a MT to AT swap was going to be too much of a headache and for other (dumb) personal reasons. After pricing out all the equipment my old TJ had on it, WOW do I feel dumb for selling it now.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/1999-for-sale-in-texas.23919/
Is there such a thing as sellers’ remorse??? Ok enough about the old one, let’s hear about the next irrational decision.
***About New Jeep***
[Enter bad decision #2]
After about 12 months of hunting for a replacement, in what seems like an insanely inflated market, I nearly pulled the trigger on a Lexus GX470 but ultimately didn’t since the seller wasn’t quite ready to let go of it at the last minute. The FOMO set in and hit me harder than Iron Mike in his prime, and within two days I searched for the cheapest TJ in my area that I could find, and I bought that booger. Crazy thing was when I went to go check it out, I had even talked myself out of it because it was a borderline deal breaker and right before I told them “I’ll pass” I blurted out a (2nd) lower offer and they accepted it.
“OK?!?, well what did you get?!?!?”
- 2003 Wrangler Sport 4.0L AUTO
- Stock aside from some larger tires and wheel spacers
- Dana 30 Front / Dana 35 Rear
- 3.73 Rear axle ratio
- Body has one small bruise but shows normal wear for 20 y.o. vehicle, floor pans look fine, and everything appears intact
- Transmission & motor operate as they should for now
- Clean title, no accidents
“OK so what is wrong with it?!?”
- For starters the frame as surface rust, as one typically does when they are repeated used in and around saltwater and the sandy beaches of Texas. No pitting or flaking off that I’ve noticed just yet, but I haven’t checked every nook and cranny either. The amount of sand and mud inside of the frame and fuel tank skid pan is beyond comprehension.
- The odometer isn’t working but is indicating “No Fuse”. The PO said it had 176K on it when the purchased it less than a year ago but used it as a DD and probably put another 12-15K on it since then.
- Interior center dash is butchered to hell from a makeshift double din head unit install, a crappy one at that. This is not a deal breaker as much as it is just a nuisance.
- Grinding noise that occurred on switching ignition on, its only occurred once since I’ve had it but is something that I’m assuming has to do with the starter.
- 4Lo is a little hard to engage / shifter will not stay in place (almost as if it has a certain location it likes).
- Lastly, there is traces of oil of some sorts on the top of the motor around the valve cover. Need of valve cover replacement???
So, it’s not a horrible buy (considering that I bought it for what most 4 cyl will go for) with unsolvable issues but I really should’ve been more patient with my search.
Over the next 4-8 weeks, my plan is to strip this thing down as much as possible to treat the surface rust, resolve the other issues, and figure out which route I want to take on building this and plan it all out. I remember feeling like I missed out on something major when I got my previous TJ since it was already built (think Currie & RE had a long arm baby…) and people would always make comments that suggested “BOUGHT<BUILT”, and I can understand the difference and see why that matters but MAN… am I going to miss some of those things on my old one LMAO.
***Goals***
This is going to depend to 2 words, Stock. Axles.
I’d like this Jeep to be an overland build or rock crawler build. If you’re telling me I can slap an OME/Zone (budget) 2-4” lift and run 31-33s on the stock axles doing some overlanding and light/medium rock crawling trails with vigor (confidently), then that’s the route I’m going.
However, if that Dana 35 is as crappy as it is made out to be then I’ll probably spend the coin and build this like my previous TJ.
If the stock axles hold up to 31-33s and will handle some trails, then I would like to hear what builds work and what people are using. I only mentioned OME & Zone because those seem to be the ones that are more highly regarded in terms of budget, I am open to ideas and suggestions.
While I’m on the subject of lifts… if there is a non-SYE solution for this less aggressive build, please enlighten me. I know there is a magic number in terms of lift heights that requires a SYE installed, I just can’t remember it off the top of my head.
I will likely trailer this Jeep to and from the trail locations and I don’t anticipate using this very much on roads at highway speeds. Texas is home, and my offroad park options are limited to Hidden Falls, Barnwell, and a few others that are hours away. I would like to explorer more possibilities and get into OHV Trails and Routes as there appears to be more of those.
Thanks in advance!
-Steam
