[PAFirefighter11]

Hey all. My name is Rick. I live in West Chester, PA and have a place in Brick, NJ. I've worked for Quadratec for 4 years I'm on my 5th Jeep. I had a '90 YJ (built it up nice from stock), '91 XJ (again, built real big from stock), '91 YJ (too many issues - sold it after 1 month of ownership), '93 XJ (small build from stock). And now my '97 TJ.

I just picked it 6 days ago. Here are the specs:

1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ

Factory specs:
4.0L, 5 speed, 174k miles, no A/C, Grizzly's, half doors, tilt wheel, '05 LJ Rubicon flares, etc.

Aftermarket Equipment installed:
-31" BFG A/T's (SOLD 9/11/09)
-Hella E-code headlight housings (Installed 1/20/09)
-Custom 12 gauge upgraded headlight wiring harness with dual relays & fuse (Installed 1/20/09)
-Blue V-LED's in the gauge cluster (Installed 2/2/09)
-Smittybilt XRC 8 Winch (Installed 2/13/09)
-Smittybilt Synthetic Winch Line (Installed 2/13/09)
-Daystar Poly Fairlead Inserts for synthetic winch lines (Installed 2/15/09)
-Crown Automotive clear turn signals & side guards (Installed 2/19/09)
-Bestop Trailmax Thermal Pro Seats (Installed 2/21/09)
-Quadratec Edition ARB Front Winch Bumper (Installed 3/13/09)
-Bestop Sailcloth Replace-a-Top (Installed 4/15/09)
-Bestop High Rock 03-06 style mirrors (Installed 5/10/09)
-Sony CDX-GT430 IP head unit (Installed 5/11/09)
-Uniden Pro 502XL with PA system (Installed 5/15/09)
-Hella Rallye 1000 Driving Lights (Installed 5/22/09)
-Boston Acoustics speakers in the sound bar & dash (Installed 5/25/09)
-Custom sub box with dual 8" Kicker Comp VR subs and 1000 watt amp (5/28/09)
-2" Teraflex lift kit w/ OE '05 LJ Rubicon Shocks (Installed 6/18/09)
-Old Man Emu Steering Stabilizer (Installed 6/19/09)
-Warrior Products Hood Mount Hi-Lift Jack Brackets (Installed 6/23/09)
-Tough Stuff Products Rocker Guards (Installed 7/27/09)
-Tough Stuff Products Fender Guards (Installed 7/27/09)
-Tough Stuff Products Limb Risers (Installed 8/1/09)
-Osram Hyper 85/80 watt H4 bulbs (Installed 9/2/09)
-ARB Safari Snorkel w/ Scorpion Drop in Filter (Installed 9/2/09)
-33x12.50x15" BFG Mud Terrain's (Installed 9/10/09)
-15x8" Mickey Thompson Classic II's (Installed 9/10/09)

List of things in my storage room...
-Bestop Instatrunk
-Bestop Combo (Bikini, Windjammer, Duster)

List of things to order...

Armor & Protection:
-Kilby gas tank skid plate
-ARB rocker guards
-ARB diff covers
-Control arm skid plates
-Engine skid plate

Lift & Suspension (Including Wheels):
-Old Man Emu Long Travel shocks
-33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's
-Unsure on what rims
-Ford 8.8 with discs & 4.11's
-Matching HP30 up front

Interior Accessories:
-Tuffy Security Glove Box
-Tuffy rear speaker safes

Exterior Accessories:
-Hella fogs

Electronics:
Done for now
Performance:
-Borla or Banks exhaust (header, cat-back)
-Random Technologies high flow cat
-Firepower Ignition Kit
-62mm Rubicon Express throttle body

Misc Accessories:
-Optima Blue Top
-Higher output alternator

There's more coming, but that's all I can think of at this point lol...

Here are some photos of the stocker as it sits now that I took today in Toms River / Lavalette, NJ:





And sitting in the parking lot Friday at work (Size matters at Quadratec lol):


I'll be editing this of course as I add the mods :-D

Update (1/28/09): Installed a Green High Performance Cold Air Intake system (Camera Phone photo):


Update (2/02/09): Gauge Cluster LED's:


Update (2/13/09): Front Accessories


Updated (2/28/09): Rubicon Flares & first time wheeling the TJ - went with girlinajeep on here


Updated (3/13/09): Custom ARB bumper


Updated 9/7/09:


Updated 9/10/09:


9/27/09:

[bandit455]

good to see you on here! good luck with the build here's a link to mine my jeep

[titosgreen95yj]

looks good

[02blacktj]

that's a nice looking parts list.
i bet working at quadratec makes building a jeep signifigantly easier, huh?

[PAFirefighter11]

Thanks guys

Yes, it helps a heck of a lot working at Quad. I basically work for half of my paycheck. Half usually goes right back to Quad for parts... ugh.

[Whsperz]

Grats on the TJ. Pretty impressive list of things to do/buy.
Subscribed to see what a Quad man does to his Jeep

[MisterO]

Nice Jeep! as awesome as it is that you work at quadratec, it still must suck! lol
Jeep looks like mine except mine has gamblers, full doors, and hardtop.. but I'm def following your build to see what i can add and how you move forward. It looks like its gonna be awesome! lookin forward to this build, Good luck and as always keep us updated with pics and mods!!!

[PAFirefighter11]

Thanks again So I figured I'd try something new with this build. I've added a couple updated photos, as well as a little more info. I'll basically be updating this as much as I can when I add "major" mods.

Regarding working at Quadratec, it's amazing and I love it, but at the same time, I guess I almost work for free. I do pay my bills, but most of my other money goes right back to Quad! It's a vicious cycle haha, but I do love my job.

The list is daunting, but it'll be nice to have a built Jeep again. I love buying them stock, then building 'em, and looking back, remembering all the fun ... and can't forget to mention the hard work, blood, sweat, cursing, late LATE nights, and good times with my friends! It's always been worth it at the end, and I'm hoping this one beats the record of the previous 4 Jeeps, and lasts more than 2 years!

97: Is yours the same color blue as mine?

[bandit455]

looks like its coming along great firefighter, we gotta get a se pa group to rausch in april/may

[92XJCowboy]

There might be a group here going on feb 28th.

Also anyone local check out www.sira4x4.net for a pretty local club in our area.

[bandit455]

yea and naxja nac is going on the 21st, but school play tech has taken over my life till the end of march

[bandit455]

also doe the rampage top come with all the frame work needed or is it just a replacement top?

[Asored2000]

Rick, nice work man. I'm right down 202 from you guys in King of Prussia.

[92XJCowboy]

oh yea Im right outside of allentown here in Macungie.

And real nice work Rick. What station do you run with?

[MisterO]

Originally Posted by PAFirefighter11

Thanks again So I figured I'd try something new with this build. I've added a couple updated photos, as well as a little more info. I'll basically be updating this as much as I can when I add "major" mods.

Regarding working at Quadratec, it's amazing and I love it, but at the same time, I guess I almost work for free. I do pay my bills, but most of my other money goes right back to Quad! It's a vicious cycle haha, but I do love my job.

The list is daunting, but it'll be nice to have a built Jeep again. I love buying them stock, then building 'em, and looking back, remembering all the fun ... and can't forget to mention the hard work, blood, sweat, cursing, late LATE nights, and good times with my friends! It's always been worth it at the end, and I'm hoping this one beats the record of the previous 4 Jeeps, and lasts more than 2 years!

97: Is yours the same color blue as mine?

Hey just realized your response to me, lol. Your blue appearse to look just like mine! I haven't seen a built jeep the same exact color as mine yet (I don't think) therefore I'm gonna watch yours and follow with a close eye. Looks great so far. Keep the mods comin.