The Addiction Begins. . .

06camarodude · 10-15-2008, 12:45 PM

Hey guys, I wasn't sure where to post this, but my "new to me" '88 Wrangler is on a trailer and is on it's way to my house right now. I just sold my truck, have cash in my pocket, and I'm ordering a 2.5" lift kit in just a few minutes. . .

Pics are on the way, as soon as it's off the trailer and the title's in my hands, I'm bringing out the camera. I'm so excited, I had to share my excitement with you guys! This is my first Jeep ever, my Dad has had several, but this is MINE! It's a great feeling to be able to get something you want and pay for it in cash!

Mods, if I posted this in the wrong forum, please let me know and move it. I'm using this as a project thread and as a place to ask a few YJ-Specific questions.

**Opihi59** · 10-15-2008, 12:53 PM

Welcome to the world of YJ's and to the forum. The cash in your pocket won't last long, so before it seeps into too many upgrades and mods, make sure you have established a functional, safe Jeep--brakes, tires, wiring/lights, clutch, driveline, etc.
We look forward to seeing the photos, and following your build thread.

06camarodude · 10-15-2008, 03:57 PM

Everything on the Jeep works right now, it has been stored for most of it's life. It's got 41,000 original miles, and the engine bay is the cleanest one I've ever seen on a vehicle this old. . .

It was delivered about an hour ago, I've been outside sitting behind the wheel smiling for about an hour. I just peeled myself away from it long enough to post up here and grab my camera so I can head back outside to play with my new toy. . . lol

No upgrades for now, although I do have about a grand in the bank still. That's going to be my emergency fund. I bought a piece of 1/4" plate steel to repair the crack in the frame, but I'm going to go ahead and order one that's already cut out from the internet. My dad is ICAR certified for body repair, automotive refinishing, and structural welding and repair, so it will be stronger than ever before after he finishes working his magic tomorrow. . .

Pics are on the way!!

UnderPar · 10-15-2008, 04:09 PM

Congrats. First thing I would do is swap the drivetrain from the Pontiac into the YJ ! 1993 - Formula, Is that a TPI or LT1?

mtn_wrangler · 10-15-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderPar

Congrats. First thing I would do is swap the drivetrain from the Pontiac into the YJ ! 1993 - Formula, Is that a TPI or LT1?

i wanna say lt1. not sure though as i only know what means what for camaros

06camarodude · 10-15-2008, 07:31 PM

It's an LT1. It was the first year of the newer body style. That's not going to happen . . . Can't rationalize ripping the motor from a $5,000 muscle car to put into a $1,000 Jeep. . .

Plus, with 41k original miles on the Jeep, I think I have a few more miles ahead of me in stock form. . . lol

We tried to get the soft top put on it, but it was in rough shape. Missing snaps, broken zippers, etc. made it a chore, so I just threw the bikini top on and the top 1/2 of the doors, it still soaked the entire inside, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. . . lol

Here are some pics. . .

mtn_wrangler · 10-15-2008, 07:48 PM

nice jeep. and i want your formula. lol. but dang thats a nice jeep

88TNSahara · 10-15-2008, 07:58 PM

nice Jeep and welcome to the club. I look forward to watching progress.

bunkrdfool · 10-15-2008, 08:03 PM

Well it looks like your dad has a little work on the way for him. With 41,000 miles did thed guy use it for plowing? Has some pretty good size rust holes in the side and the paint looks reallt faded... BUT it looks great and seems like a good buy because that is one damn clean engine. Good Luck and ENJOY!

06camarodude · 10-15-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtn_wrangler

nice jeep. and i want your formula. lol. but dang thats a nice jeep

Well, not all's well in the "Jeepland" portion of my driveway. . .

Check out the one and only repair I have to make before I can drive it. . .

The frame is cracked there. . . Luckily, my father is a damn good welder, we have all the tools I'll ever need to work on this Jeep (including grinders, drills, jacks, paint guns, a welder, sandblaster, basically everything except a big polebarn with a floor lift and a plasma cutter. . .), and he's going to weld the crack in the frame and fish-plate it with 1/4 plate steel on both sides. . . I think it'll be plenty solid after we are done with it. I just need to fix the top and repair some rust, after that, I'm getting it ready for some paint work.

The tires are brand new, they were purchased within the last 18 months, and have only been driven on for about 50 miles. The driver's floorpan is badly rusted, the guy I bought it from threw a "No Parking" sign in the floor to cover the hole, I'm going to make a new floor pan this weekend. All of the rust should be repaired by next week, and I'm going to see what I can do about getting some paint to blend the repaired areas into the rest of the Jeep, or I'm going to repaint a different color.

The theme I'm going with is a "Search and Rescue" theme, I'm going to use the Jeep for some wilderness/survival training and light off-roading, but mostly, I'll be driving it all the time. I'm trying to keep the miles off of my Formula, it's sitting at 162,000 miles on the odometer right now, and unfortunately, she's starting to show her age.

offroadutopia · 10-15-2008, 08:09 PM

88tnsahara seen the name so i had to look at that 88. i too have that 88 sahara automatic. has 82,000 original miles bought it from some older fellow who was working on it back in 2000 with his son. make a long story short he started redoing it and after rebuild couldnt get motor to start. i looked at it for a week off and on. needed new distributor fired right up. almost done now. that years color sahara is awesome. one of my favorite jeeps i own!

mtn_wrangler · 10-15-2008, 08:10 PM

whats the joys of owning a jeep if you dont need to fix it though lol. yeah i can understand the parking of the formula. if i had a second car i would park my camaro. but i got rid of my jeep so i can get my camaro. plus i kept breaking the jeep. didnt have the money to upgrade to the parts i wanted and knew i would end up just blowing those parts up again

06camarodude · 10-15-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunkrdfool

Well it looks like your dad has a little work on the way for him. With 41,000 miles did thed guy use it for plowing? Has some pretty good size rust holes in the side and the paint looks reallt faded... BUT it looks great and seems like a good buy because that is one damn clean engine. Good Luck and ENJOY!

I'm doing the body work. . . There's very little rust on this Jeep. There are no dents in it at all, it's in very good shape. It was parked in a barn for about 15 years, that's why it looks so faded. It's also partially wet in the pictures, it was drizzling out right before I went out to take the pictures. It looks better in person.

Dad's only going to be repairing the frame that's cracked, I'll be doing the rest. He taught me how to weld, I'm not bad, but I would rather have him weld the frame so I know it will be safe, rather than chance screwing it up and having to try to get him to fix it. lol

The tub is straight, the only rust is on the driver's side under the flare, on the tailgate at the bottom corner, and on the pass. fender, right where the hood latch is supposed to be. I'm picking up some sheet metal tomorrow so I can start making patch panels and a new floorpan to get the tub all fixed up.

I'm doing a full tune-up on it this weekend. All the lights work except the tachometer backlight, all the gauges work (including the original clock!), and all of the suspension parts are in great shape. It truly is a one in a million buy. Deal of a lifetime. I'll keep you all posted, including many pics of my progress. I don't have an empty bay in the garage to work on it over the winter, so the progress I make before the snow hits is all that's going to be done until Spring/Summer roll around, then I'll be devoting some time to the Formula as well. . . I'm putting long tube headers and 3" true dual exhaust on that in the spring, as well as cold air intake. If anyone's interested in the specs on the Formula and what I've done to it so far, PM me or post up, I'll be glad to post some pictures for anyone who's interested.

jpfix · 10-15-2008, 11:29 PM

welcome to jeepworld...hope you brought your wallet

Barrio · 10-15-2008, 11:30 PM

welcome!!

Nice YJ!

10-15-2008, 08:09 PM	#11
offroadutopia Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 60 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	88tnsahara seen the name so i had to look at that 88. i too have that 88 sahara automatic. has 82,000 original miles bought it from some older fellow who was working on it back in 2000 with his son. make a long story short he started redoing it and after rebuild couldnt get motor to start. i looked at it for a week off and on. needed new distributor fired right up. almost done now. that years color sahara is awesome. one of my favorite jeeps i own!