Unfortunately, they only offered a soft top for the first year 2004 LJ’s but the 2005 & 2006 LJ’s had an available hardtop, so I picked up a used 2006 hardtop on Craigslist and it fits perfectly on my 2004 LJ.
After studying jeeps in preparation of buying my girlfriend a jeep to run the dog to the beach in, found her a LJ. The LJ was built to be a more user friendly model that could be used as a everyday driver instead of only as a 4x4 specialty vehicle. TJ's basically had very little cargo capacity, in fact many people took out the rear seats to be able to take ice chests, tools and camping gear for off road outings. As you noted the body is 15 inches longer with a 10 inch longer wheelbase. More room, increased stability, and of course mainly storage space behind the rear seat, it only added 2 inches of leg room for the rear seat. After the final year of the (2006) LJ, jeep came out with the 4 door Unlimited, but it didn't have the bullet proof torque master straight 6. And yes they are sought after as well as rare, due to their short production run. So yes they are considered the Holy Grail of jeeps, and for good reason:)
Love my 06 LJ 6 speed picked up 3 years ago with 19k miles would not trade it for any JK... truly feel its the last of the real jeeps...not knocking JK’s or JL’s but they feel like SUV’s...the 6speed is way better than the auto..imo...✌️
Oil pressure on this vehicle is not a true oil pressure guage. Chrysler made it work to come on when there is oli pressure, like a dummy light. Then with rpms coming up Chrysler created variability to the needle with rpm to simulate increase of oil pressure. Essentially it is a fake guage and works like a dummy light.... that was lame Chrysler. Way to go.
