98 TJ, My new love!

BulldogTJ98 · 07-28-2008, 09:23 AM

Hello Everyone!
I broke down and bought my first Jeep! While in Iraq my buddy was always telling me to get a Jeep and I'd say "ya right!" Until, one night under the desert stars I had a dream that I was driving in the woods in a Jeep topless with the doors off and my left foot dangling. After that dream the next day I was sold! So thank God for good sleep! haha. My original plan was to find a '91-'95 YJ for 5-6grand and spend another few grand on lift, tires, etc... But when I got home I went and looked at some YJs and couldn't find one that screamed 'Buy me!' So after days of searching I woke up one morning and got on Craigslist (Awesome site) and saw a TJ for sale near by. The girlfriend was working and I was home alone so i figured i go check it out. I pulled up to the dudes house and saw the Jeep sitting outside, It was Sold! I loved the way it performed on and offroad compared to the YJs and went and picked it up the next morning. I payed a little more than i wanted but it was worth every penny.
The guy i got it from was a good ole guy. He worked at Les Schuab and owned a Jeep 4x4 Shop back in the 70s. (he knew his $h-t) The Jeep stayed garaged everynight since it came off the lot. He Installed a 3inch Trailmaster lift with swaybar discos, 32x11.50s, k&n drop in filter, redtop optima, sony soundbar, and he was nice enought to throw in a brand new Sunrider soft top! I spent about an hour in his shop after the purchase learning how to install the soft top and i was off. Im going to be purchasing a few parts these upcoming weeks and ill be posting pics of my mods. Hopefully these pics show up alright. (stock spare has got to go first! I know) haha.

**mschviuz** · 07-28-2008, 10:09 AM

looks good! i'm sure it won't be long before you start spending money on mods

Capricorn · 07-28-2008, 01:56 PM

I love the color, and the Jeep looks really good man

**gtowngirl** · 07-28-2008, 04:49 PM

I like the color to! That is a really nice looking Jeep! Congrats!

**0blcktj6** · 07-28-2008, 06:15 PM

That's a great looking Jeep and it sounds like it came from a great home. It's a '98 so I'm assuming it's got a D35 rear end though but with 32's that shouldn't be a problem depending on the type of offroading you're planning. Welcome to the addiction, nonetheless, and be prepared to spend a lot of money . . . trust me, I just shelled out about ~$800 for tube fenders and a new front bumper, haha, but hey it's worth it in the end!

**scotiez** · 07-28-2008, 08:35 PM

Looks great, Doesn't look like the guy wheeled it much if any at all. Great shape. Have fun with it, and don't forget to wave.

BulldogTJ98 · 07-29-2008, 01:57 AM

Its funny you mentioned the wave because after i bought it I pulled out of the guys driveway and onto the main road. And not 2 miles down the road 2 TJs with the doors off drove pass me in the other lane waving. I waved back of course, and that was the best feeling I had in a long time. I knew the jeep was the right choice!

BulldogTJ98 · 08-02-2008, 09:48 AM

I've got a guy in Tacoma holding a pair of half doors and a set of Wildcountry M/Ts wrapped around Centerline Alluminum rims! I bought the rims/tires for $300 bucks and the doors for $500. Pickin them up next week.

Next to come--Black steel rear corners! Maybe diamondplate, maybe not. dunno yet!

BulldogTJ98 · 08-15-2008, 06:56 AM

Update:
So my roomate went and picked up my half doors yesterday! The doors are in great shape but the soft top part of them isnt in perfect shape. One of them has a rip in it, but im planning on new skins anyways to match my new sunrider top. The rims and tires fell through. The guy sold them before my buddy got there.

I guess he thought I said I would buy them 'IF' they were still there.

Anyways, heres my new bumper I ordered from a guy off ebay in Yakima, WA. $225 Bucks and he'll throw in the shackles, reciever, and powder coated black finish! I just have to drill the mounting holes.

It'll look better on my TJ! I'll post pics once I get it mounted hopefully in the next week or 2!

xj964 · 08-15-2008, 07:04 AM

Glad to have you as part of the forum and Jeep family. The rig looks good.

Camo Deere · 08-15-2008, 07:26 AM

Looks awesome, man!

Like the color choice, and the stinger looks great.

BulldogTJ98 · 08-24-2008, 01:55 PM

So I put on my halfdoors today! Looks way better! Im taking off the hardtop and putting the soft top on tonight.
Yesterday I went to Les Schuab to get a spare tire and apparently they discontinued my Mud Terrain Radial SXTs.

So I decided to do one better and I mounted a 32x11.50 BFG KM tire to my spare tire carrier. Well, after i got it mounted i tried to shut the tailgate and it wouldnt shut.

So i took off the top rubber stop off of the tail gate and the tire is sitting crooked for now until i get a 'Teraflex spare tire mount extension bracket' (super long part name) in the mail. It was only 30bucks. We'll see how far im going to have to extend out the rubber tire stops when the bracket comes in.

2'' LED for my 3rd brake light. 9 bucks at NAPA, super bright too!

See the bumper is in the way

Spare Tire Extension Bracket looks like it extends it out and up. I wish it only made it go up but, whatever.

Dwayne96 · 08-24-2008, 05:16 PM

nice looking jeep.

brian674 · 08-24-2008, 06:19 PM

I have nearly the same set up, what kinda mileage you getti'n? I'm getti'n 13 average, which I feel is not too great.

BulldogTJ98 · 08-25-2008, 09:26 AM

Ya im getting alot better than 13! Im up near 20mpg, but i baby the hell out of him and im on the highway most of the time going no faster than 55-60 all of the time.
OH! And by the way... I put my half doors on yesterday and I Love Them!!! Check em out........