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My first thought was OOOH, he got reamed.
10,000 with repairs/mods is not bad. I bought mine for about 6k, and I've probably put that much into suspension, tires, gears, lockers, accessories, winch, etc so I probably have about 12k in mine.
My 2.5L is at 112k now and still running strong. With a good tranny and clutch, it should be good for a lot longer. Was your tranny the AX-5 or the Puegot/Renault transmission? THOSE are notorious for failure and I'm surprised if one of them got 102k on it. THAT is pretty good.
With proper searching on the net, you can find some good mods/accessories w/o braking the bank. A 4.0 or a V8 could fit in there quite well, but you'd REALLY want to swap the transmission for something much stronger if you did that. So an engine swap would entail a lot more than just the engine.
-Paul
On the highway, no, but in the city, I get almost 25 mpg with my 4 cylinder.
I have 33's on mine and I was concerned about mileage/speed so I tracked exactly 1 mile on my GPS and found my odo was a tiny bit off (less than .1), so I know my mileage is accurate.
If you have put different size tires on your Jeep and not installed the proper speedo gear that corresponds to tire size and differential gears, your mileage numbers may be a bit off.
I've never seen a TJ (4 or 6) pull 25 in town.
-Paul
I get about 350 miles(more or less)/15 gallon tank fill up. 25 mile round trip to work and back on city streets, that's about the use it gets; and the occasional longer summer drive (on and off road )and fun in the snow. On the highway, it's about 20 mpg.
I've never seen that... I'd like to know what tips you have for getting that mileage. I know I will never see that. With my 33's, doors off, armored bumpers, rockers, sliders, underside armor, etc... I am WAY to heavy to get that.
-Paul
I just have the basic, factory setup: soft top all year, Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Tires. Take the doors off all summer, and have a tune up every other year. If I put armor on it, that would obviously make it worse, but I only go off roading in the summer a few times, so it's not a basic necessity for me. So far, very reliable, the only thing gone bad was the power steering fluid leaking a few years ago.
-Paul
Terry
As for the wheels, the minimum rim width for most all 31s is 7 inches, although 8-8.5 inches is the optimum width.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Still some MIA. I may have to track them down.
I would recommend a spring spacer lift. You can also go with a small body lift or a suspension lift.
I've only been on here since 2001. hehehe
If you are wanting to add a lift simply for looks, the budget boost is a good option for you - low cost, easy enough to do.
Basically, the budget boost is some spacers that go on TOP of the coil springs. You remove the shocks, lower the axle, pop the spring out, install spacer on body end (on top), then reinstall the spring and a longer shock. Do that for all 4 corners. It is much simpler than it may sound here.
If you want to get new, longer springs and shocks, you can go with a package from Old Man Emu (OME) or Rubicon Express (RE). When you lift your rig, your axles will shift a bit to the side due to the track bar (which keeps it centered side to side normally). A longer track bar will usually solve this, but most go with an adjustable trackbar from JKS or Rubicon Express. So these package lifts will have springs, shocks, adjustable trackbars, and sometimes sway bar disconnects (to give better articulation to the front axles offroad).
I, Tom, and Mac all run OME suspensions and I LOVE how it rides on and offroad. My 97's springs were worn anyway so a complete setup was a better option for me. Your 04 may still have good springs and the budget boost may be a good way to go. For daily drive use, lifts between 2-4" is common (I have 3" lift and 1.25" body lift). With a 2" lift you could run 32x11.5" tires no problem as long as the wheel's backspacing was lower than the factory wheels which are 5.5".
If you have stock wheels, you CAN add wheel spacers, which I did, but you can also put on some wheels with backspacing in the 4.25" range (American Racing 767 AR767 black steel wheels are popular) and run those wider tires.
With a 4" lift you could run 33's easily.
Ideally, you'll want to keep your SUSPENSION lift (budget or package) under 4" to avoid steering and driveline angle complications. But a 2.5" lift like OME with a 1" body lift (which raises the body off the frame a bit) is a VERY popular and reliable setup with minimal complications.
Any other questions, just ask.
Here is my TJ with the OME lift, JKS body lift and 33x12.5" tires on stock wheels (I used SpiderTrax 1.25" spacers to move the wheels out a bit to avoid rub).
-Paul
Just let us know if you have any other questions. The way I did it worked well for me, but there are a LOT of options out there. I'll naturally recommend what I've done as I can relay what worked well in my situation, but others have done things that I would LIKE to do, but didn't really fit with my budget or my intended Jeep use.
-Paul
When was the last time you swapped plugs or changed the wires? When I got my 97, replacing the plugs and wires was one of the first things I did and it has run pretty smoothly until I ruined a throttle position sensor while in the mud. THAT threw the check engine light.
-Paul
Any help, advice, or guidance is appreciated.
Thanks. Steve
And remember, let's be careful out there...
Spoiler in Straightline
First off, any opinions on lift kits? I am working with a local mechanic to do the actual work, he recommended Skyjacker, he said in his work with installing suspension lifts, Skyjacker always fits the best. I found a few quotes for the 2.5" Skyjacker lift at around $750. Note that even with the lift I will be doing little off-roading, so I don't think OME is necessary, even though from what I read it's the best. He's quoting me around $375 for labor, which includes adjusting the turn stops for larger tires. I am doing a 2.5" lift so I can fit 32x11.5 tires. I've read several people running Pro Comp lifts, which seem to be on the cheaper end in terms of cost, but they don't have 2.5" inch lift - just 2" or 4", from what I could find. Plus I question why they are so much cheaper than the other lift kits.
I'll be going with BFG A/T tires. I'm debating whether to buy 4 or 5 - at this point, I can't afford to get the rear bumper/spare tire holder replaced to be able to fit a 32" tire. So in the near future, if I get a flat, I'll be calling a tow truck. I've read that running the spare stock 29" with a 32" is a very big no-no.
As always, thanks in advance with any info.
I am kind of surprised, actually, that so few bought it. I think it's the perfect combination of getting some extra cargo/seating space in back without having to drive a 4-door vehicle. I love how it looks with the top down and the doors off.
Oh well, just my opinion. I guess we're in the minority - which I like!
I personally would recommend either a Rubicon Express or OME lift. I personally have OME (Old Man Emu - partnered with ARB here in the US), and I've been thrilled with how it handles on AND offroad. Traintracks, turns with bumps, are MUCH better with the OME and JKS parts I have installed.
www.dpgoffroad.com has OME 'kits' with JKS parts as well and are a GREAT match for your TJ. Dirk Sanders runs the place (I personally think DPG stands for Dirk the Parts Guy) and will help you set something up.
Their Ultimate kit includes springs, shocks, JKS trackbars to help keep axles centered, JKS sway bar disconnects, bump stops, body lift, motor lift, and it a pretty darn complete setup. Though I bought mine over time, those are the parts I run. Been VERY happy with it thus far.
-Paul
Well after many long years of financial woes i have finally gotten myself a Wrangler!!!
It is a Black 2005 Sport! Hard-Top, 6 Speed, pretty stock!!!
Anyway, wanted to brag a bit and say hi to Tsjay and Bama! I spoke with them about 4 years ago when I was looking at another Jeep!!!
-Paul
Mac and I are probably the remaining guys (with mac having been here longer than me.
Enjoy your jeep!
-Paul
With Tom hardly ever checking in, looks to me like you are in line to be the next Mayor.
Mac still comes in with good technical advice on occasion. I wish it was more.
I look in here every day. I don't post often because I don't have the experiences you guys have. I just use my TJ as daily driver and have almost no trouble (except the dreaded radiator replacement).
Terry
The radiator is an EASY swap - even I swapped mine out on a 42 degree day! Sucked, but doable.
My Jeep is a daily driver, but not driven every day. I love the combination of DD-ability and offroad capabilities. Even my little 4 banger does well. I've had ZERO maintenance issues other than a water leak through the heater core gasket. But I fixed that myself. No dealer services for me if I can help it!
-Paul
or if anyone has some plans to build your own that would be cool too!
For a build your own, check out message #21360.
Terry
does anyone know a good source to get replacement body panels for a 2000 wrangler? i have searched online, but oddly it seems that there are lots of places that have panels for 87-95 models but no one has them for the later models. is there a reason for this? thanks for any help.
michael
www.jeepsareus.com may carry some. You may also check out www.car-part.com, which searches salvage yards. I have one near me with quite a few TJ's. Depending on what you are looking for, it could be easy or tough to find. Fenders are VERY hard to find intact at a salvage yard. Trust me, I've looked!
You may also want to check the various Jeep sites. Many offroaders upgrade body parts to armored versions, so could possibly find takeoffs that way as well.
I actually scored a FREE TJ hood and cowl (both of which I damaged in a flop) on the local 4x4 site, so deals CAN be found.
-Paul
How is everyone doing?
The Tomster is doin' OK. Well, my kleptomania does bother me sometimes, but I can usually just "take something for it."
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
-Paul
And now that you're here, tell us what you've been up to.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
These stupid gas prices have kept me from wheelin' very much this year, and the weather has not helped either. Turkey Bay was closed a good part of the winter and early spring because of saturated soil.
Just traded in my little S-10 for a Cobalt to avoid some upcoming repair costs and to get a daily driver that gets 30 MPG.
Hankster is still hangin' in there with me. That boy sure loves to go Jeepin', just like Ross Allen did. He behaves himself very well while we are out there on the trails, and if he gets a little too far from me, all I have to do is call him, and he comes running.
Lord willing, I will be going back out West in a couple weeks. I plan to go back out to ID and western MT, like I did last year.
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Gas prices are crazy and that's keeping a lot of folks from wheelin'. I thought prices would stabilize but after today's jump who knows? I hope it doesn't make too much of a dent in tourism here (lots of people pass through on their way to Yellowstone).
It's great to see you again. You should stick around for a while - many of the "regulars" stop by occasionally but not necessarily every day.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
You really, really, really ought to consider the OME lift. Spend a couple hundred bucks more now, and save headaches later, and as a bonus, enjoy a ride that is BETTER than stock.
A couple of my Jeep Buds installed an OME lift on Thelma Jane for me a couple years ago, and man, am I ever thrilled with it!
Skyjackers used to be known for control arm bushings wearing out. Maybe they have that corrected now?
Also, when you are comparing prices on lift kits, be sure that you are taking into consideration what components are included. One lift kit may include shocks and the other kit might not. Same with control arms, transfer case lowering kit, and track bar relocation bracket.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Yep, cold and wet spring around Boise this year too, but in a couple of weeks, it'll probably be 105. :P
I hate to hear about the cold, wet spring. I hope to be up in the Panhandle and over in western MT in a couple weeks, and it would be nice if the mountain passes on the unimproved roads would be open. I would like to do some exploring and picture-taking.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I would like to put a OEM '07 Radio/CD/MP3 (part #P05064411AD) into my '97 Sport. What issues/problems am I going to have?
I also would like to get an opinion of the Hankook Dynapro MT RT03. I have BFG ATs now (32x11.5x15) The BFGs seem to 'float' alot on wet roads and wet snow. I live in Minnesota and I don't do much off-road, pretty much a grocery getter-toy.
Maybe someone knows of a tire with off-road looks and on-road performance?