One year ago i bought this wrangler, was in rough shape. in this video i talk about what my one year was like living with this thing and bringing it back to its former glory!
I have had my beauty 23 years. I love her more each day I have her. We have grown old together over the decades. But just like all strong relationships, the years have only enforced the relationship. She is my love, my life, my dream come true.
You have done a lot more homework than your original video with this jeep. I like how you redid it. Yes a full doors or more practical but half doors are not dorky. Yes the ones you originally had one very rough in and needed to be replaced condition. You are 100% right on the reliability. And I like your passion for trying to keep it up.
Pro tip- I bought out door carpet (2 rolls for 40$) from home Depot and 3m spray adhesive and carpeted my hard top- took me all day to cut it out perfect but MANNNN is it nice and quiet and soaks up all the echos!
I bought my TJ in SoCal when I was in the Marines back in 2005, still have it today. I LOVE my 98'. It has a great engine and has never been a pain in ass to keep up. Everything you said at the end, is exactly how I feel. Nothing can ever make me get rid of it. A few years from now she will feel like your best friend!
Really liked how you wrapped things up at the end. I feel the same way about my '98. I've owned a bunch of higher end vehicles over the years and not one has come anywhere near being this much fun. The TJ seems to be a perfect mix of reasonable comfort while still having a ton of character...sadly not something that really exists in many new vehicles these days.
Very true! And couldn't have said it better myself haha I'm a little shocked that this jeep gets as much attention as it does from non jeep people. For some reason people seem to ask what year it is and always shocks them when I say it's a '98 lol
I bought a 97 TJ about 3 years ago for a weekend driver. Its a 5 speed 4 cyl which i initially regretted but its taught me you gotta slow down in life sometimes. In 4 low i cant even tell the difference it crawls so well.
If I ever get a Jeep again its going to be a TJ. I owned a 2009 JK it was modded for rock crawling. I learned to customize Jeeps with it and it was my first and only jeep. Sold it because I moved overseas. Letting go of your Jeep or any vehicle you love is hard to do.
Want the engine to last MUCH longer? Switch to Schaffer oil. it has moly in it, & it cleans with each oil change & doesn't cannot burn up under extreme circumstances. Better than synthetics. It's in all my vehicles & now get better mileage & use less oil etc.
Agreed! The Jeep is so classic. I got a TJ as a weekender but drive it a lot! I don’t believe there’s a more versatile car or truck out there. So many mods and so much fun you can have with it with doors off or on. Plenty of pep to for an in-line 6! I also see having this Jeep forever
Wonderful! About the $8500, I saw your initial video and its condition. Just bought an 03 tj with 99k for $7100. Car is pristine but has the death wobble. Only beef is you gave up the half doors. I love the half doors! I ordered, yes ordered, my 2015 jk in copper brown pearl with half doors.
I got a 97 4.0 love that thing i added a alarm with kill switches and remote start and that helps during cold weather, even do i live way down south tx😂
great vid. regarding your TCO costs, , ive seen similar jeeps TJ and LJ selling for $10k stock. congrats or condolences on becoming a jeep fan. i think you already understand jeeps are labor of love. you can't apply logic and business rules to something you're passionate about. good luck.
I brought a 1998 TJ for $3,100 with 186K miles 2.5 manual and hard top. I replaced the PCM for the Check Engine Light. Power steering Gear Box for leaking fluid. Rear windows was gone, replaced with new window. going to rebuild the engine for engine knocking noise. A/C heater is not working. need more diagnostic. I mean the climate control unit is broken. so far $1,500 for parts. expecting to make it fully restore around total of $6,000. TJ is one of the best Jeep.
i also have a 98 tj bought 2 years ago this part march. not a speck of rust nowhere. everybody says the same thing about mine they think it is newer. bought it with just over 96000 on it and now has almost 102000 just ride around town. close too the same color as yours but all tan inside. had a 95 yj for two years traded it was the biggest mistake i made. that is why i wanted another wrangler. i'm now going on 61 and it will be the last car i own. unless somebody really offered me a decent price i would think about it.
Great vid -and great TJ. I love my 01'.To your point of having a cool older Jeep; I agree there is a lot of pride and self-satisfaction in cruising a nice, reliable ride that you built yourself. Great job and best wishes, my brother.
Right on man nice jeep. Iv had mine for about a year now also. Still gotta do my frame repair this winter gonna take it down and knock it out. Im from cental illinois. I hit mudfest in taylorville monthly its a good time. These things will go damn near anywhere
upgrade injectors to 4 hole, get a 160 amp alternator from a 2001 - 2003 Durango, consider upgrading the exhaust manifold from the stock, and if you don't have the "horseshoe" style intake manifold, you can find one at the salvage yard when your picking up the 160 amp alternator.
I love the TJ, such a fun vehicle & best looking Jeep, just too small for my family. Don’t like the JK. Wish I could get the LJ, but they go for $14k+ minimum, that’s mint Landcruiser 80 & 100 series territory
Nice video. I'm in the market for my first Jeep. Don't really want to spend $45K on a new one.. don't really like the JKs... I may just get a TJ. I don't see any for sale anywhere near $8500 though
Just past a year a couple months ago with mine as well. Have an '02 Apex Edition (fancy seats and a hood sticker, but otherwise a standard Wrangler X) and despite the weathers best attempts, still fired up at -40 F (not including windchill). As for heaters, mine works really well. Like sauna well (at full blast). I would check your vacuum and heater core lines to make sure those are up to shape. Sounds like somethings not working like it should on yours if it's a little anemic. Previous owner built two subs into the bottom of the rear seat (with a quick disconnect for easy removal), so that might be a route you could go in case you wanted to lighten up the tailgate a bit.
I have a 1999 that needs a new chassis. Im buying a 1998 tj. Im selling the 99 as a unit to someone who can take it on as a project. Motor, trans, interior and tub are mint! HMU if interested.
I didn't buy both at the same time the front bumper does not have any brandings that I was able to see. The rear bumper is EAG. I bought both on ebay for roughly under $200 each.
Have you flushed your system to improve the heating system I did a have wonderful heating mine is a 2000 wrangler sport and loving it. Just have to find an affordable hardtop. Any suggestions?
I did flush my system and works fantastic! I dont have any experience with aftermarket hardtops, although there were a lot of great options. I do like the factory top, I just found one local to me.
