From Whacked to Jacked!!! My photo diary.

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 06:10 AM

Hello, I'm a relative n00b to this site but I've been driving Jeeps for years. I picked up this 1998 TJ for $1000 from a family friend about a year and a half ago. Shortly thereafter, I hit a fallen tree branch that was lying across the highway during a rain storm. This is what my Jeep looked like after that accident, I was lucky I didn't get seriously hurt.

So after the accident, I was looking for the cheapest fix possible. I found a windshield with broken glass at a junkyard for $100. Then got my insurance to replace the glass for free. Got a Rampage soft top to replace the obviously shot hardtop for $400. Then to cover up the spots on the hood that were missing paint, I decided to cover the entire body with truck bed liner. I got a can of Hurculiner from autozone for $75 and did all the work myself. This is what the Jeep looked like after the "Rhino Liner" was applied:

Now, time for some tires! I got a barely used set of 32"X11.5" Maxxis Big Horns from a work friend for $300. I got a set of 5 Cragar 15"X8" wheels from Jegs for $35/each. Picked up a Rough Country 2.5" lift with steering stabilizer and RTB bracket for $340 shipped. I just finished the install yesterday so these are just some quick pics that I took at work. What do you guys think?

Not bad for about $2500 total!

lieke730 · 03-12-2010, 06:25 AM

nice, it looks great. What's your next mod you are planing?

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 06:28 AM

Thanks. Probably just some more KC Slimlites on the windshield to match the ones on the bumper. This is my second car, so I'm probably not gunna dump too much more money into it.

Billy · 03-12-2010, 06:39 AM

nice job.
when its a jeep, its not being cheap. its being inventive.

Billy · 03-12-2010, 06:40 AM

being from arizona i wonder if the herculiner insulates the driver well from the heat outside, if it would make the heat inside worse...

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93boomer

being from arizona i wonder if the herculiner insulates the driver well from the heat outside, if it would make the heat inside worse...

Hmmm.... Good question... I'm not really sure, I don't think it would a noticeable difference either way.

And thanks for the compliment.

ocTJ · 03-12-2010, 07:07 AM

black isn't known for protecting you from any type of heat but I'm sure if the color were different it would slow the heating of the metal that's about it

**Imped** · 03-12-2010, 08:34 AM

The bedliner looks cool. The side steps and tube bumper do not.

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 09:14 AM

Ok, thanks for the compliment.

The side steps came stock and are pretty functional, so they'll stay. That style bumper has always been my favorite. To each their own.

rompinthewoods · 03-12-2010, 09:18 AM

How does it clean up with the herculiner on the outside? Does it stay dirty? Will it fade? I've toyed with this idea as well.

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 09:22 AM

It stays dirty, yes. To clean it, you just have to scrub it with a coarse brush, like at the car wash or something. It definitely fades after some time in the sun. It went from looking kinda semi-gloss to looking more flat black over the past year. I still think it looks great. I get tons of compliments on it, people love it.

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 09:25 AM

Just make sure you dont cover the hardware with the Hurculiner. As you can see in the pic below, I just sprayed the windshield, hinges and any other moving parts with Rustoleum flat black spray paint.

RhinoTJ · 03-12-2010, 05:28 PM

Bump for s'more feedback.