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December 2013 YJOTM Contest. Vote Now!!

7K views 114 replies 49 participants last post by  Sparrows 
#1 ·
Here ya go.

Have some rules
 
#2 ·
jerryjeeper

Here is my 1990 YJ for consideration in the YJ of the Month contest. My name is Jerry Huber and I have had this Jeep for about 7 years. It gets wheeled in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Canada.
1990 YJ Wrangler with serious off-road modifications including: 350 Chevy V8 with auto transmission, twin stick transfer case, long arm, long travel relocated shocks, unique three point rear axle suspension and springs resulting in about 6" lift. The Jeep has been built for heavy duty durability and performance. One ton rated Dana 44 front axle and GM 14 bolt rear with lockers and four wheel disc brakes. Wheels are 20" American Racing Mojave simulated beadlocks with 39.5" IROCs. Swing away spare tire, on-board air, full roll cage, rockcrawler bumpers, 10K winch and a killer stereo along with storage system for off road recovery equipment and tools. Bestop wide TJ style flares and a custom cowl induction hood scoop/vent make this JEEP a unique ride with great off-road capability and the civility to drive on the street.


 
#3 ·
Gage56

1992 YJ 4.0 5speed
CB
Hilift
Kenwood Head Unit
Custom Bi-Xenon Projector Headlights
Custom LED Rock Lights
Custom LED Int Lights
Homebrew RockGuards
4" RC Lift
33/12.50.15 Grabber AT2's
15x10 RR D-window's
Tj Flairs
Tj Fuel Filler
Led Tails lights
Led Reverse lights
Custom License Plate Mounting
RR Super Sport Seats
Monsta Lined inside tub
Corvette White Paint
Ford 8.8 4:10 waiting to be installed
D30 4:10 Waiting to be installed
SYE & DC Shaft Waiting to be installed
The wife and i had a 1992 YJ in the past it was a great jeep but one mishap on the trail one day took out the motor and that was the end. So we sold it and regretted it ever since
i had a 1994 Bmw 325is that was a great car but just was not what i was looking for and then "Emma" showed up on Craigs List, i found a buyer for the bmw @3800.00 and the next day i went to see her.
The lady selling had her listed for 3500.00 with the bran new lift tires and wheels but after looking over her closely i said im sorry but the best i could offer would be 2400.00 and to my surprise the lady said That's fine so i paid her in cash and was on my way home with my new YJ
Since i got her i took on the task of Rebuilding Ground up including frame, tub, and lots of gutting, cutting, grinding, and welding All was done in the driveway with the most basic of tools and ALOT Of Very Long Days and Nights but still only took about 3weeks to put her all back together. All told She turned out Just the way i wanted and im loving it
I still have a bunch of things i want to get done but it is time i put them off for now and work on them at a later time , I need a Break LOL
The day after i got her home

And Current

 
#4 ·
Tom95YJ

Year/ Model 1989 Islander Edition "The Smurf"
Powertrain: 4.2L I6, BA10, NP231 D30/D35
Suspension: Stock
Wheels/Tires : TJ Grizzly's 235/75/15 Goodyear Wranglers
Modifications: TJ Rubicon Flares, Flushmount LED Tail lights, Nutter Bypass, LED Gauge Cluster Lights, CAD Eliminated, Bobbed front bumper.
Why I have it:
After regretting selling my 95 for 3 years I was looking for another YJ , I found one on the online classifieds and called the guy seeing if he wanted to trade we met up and I traded my DD/Auto-X Miata for a non running YJ to build as a father son project. After owning it for 1hr I had it running by replacing a vacuum line. So sar I have been enjoying wheeling a stock rig over my semi built XJ and surprising people taking it places where guys with bigger rigs go !



 
#5 ·
The_Goob

91 Islander
99,500 miles
4.0 HO
TF999 auto
3.07 gears (4.11 soon0
31x10.5x15 Mud King xt
1"BL
1" Booms from Besrk
homebrew Discos
smittybilt front and rear bumpers.
KC daylights and some other cheapies

One day last year I just decided, I want a jeep!
Then I spent 2 months endlessly searching and found this bone stock Islander and couldnt pass it up. Paid too much but its a jeep

I didn't do much to it for the first year except enjoy it.
Payed it off this year and decided I needed to start making it better.
Got rid of the hardtop for soft, ditched trackbars. added 1"BL and shackles, traded my stock wheels for the mud kings(I won that trade), some paint here and BFH there.
I am in the middle of gathering parts for some well needed upgrades (axles, sye, lift, etc) Wheeling stock is fun but sometimes you need just a little more

One thing thats was fun is doing more stuff then some well built rigs and Rubicons were even trying to do. (even when you get stuck, whoops) I have big plans for this thing and loving every minute of it!
 
#6 ·
SSYJ94

1994 YJ
suspension:
100" wheelbase
Custom front 3link w/12" fox co's
Custom rear 4link w/12" fox co's
All using creeper joints/ruffstuff heims
Front axle:
89 waggy 44 4.10's w/arb yukon shafts and excalibur joints. 3/4" heim steering, poly truss and ruffstuff diff cover
Rear axle:
97 shaved explorer 8.8 4.10's detroit, dutchman 6lug shafts, ucf truss/cover, 1.5" wheelspacers
motor/trans/transfer case:
4.0/ax15/4.3 atlas
Other:
AtoZ cage, corbeau seats, raised genright comp tank, homemade 3/8"belly and 2x3 sliders, PS hood louver, tj flares, plated frame, tube fenders and grill hoop.
Tires: 35" maxxis creepys
I've owned this jeep for over 14 years since it was bone stock. There have been alot of changes and tons of broken parts as it evolved to the jeep you see here. The jeep will roll down the highway and keeps up with the buggy's. Future plans are airbumps, lots of tuning, new clutch and more cage tie ins.



 
#7 ·
94CHB

89 wrangler
4.2 carb swapped to 4.0 fuel injected
tf999 automatic swapped to ax-15
d30/35 swapped to waggy d44's
grooved 36 tsl's
stretched 12inches
warn 9500 high speed winch
welded front and rear.
RCI fuel cell.
fully rhino lined tub
231hd t case
Lots of engine mods

i traded my 24ft pontoon boat for this yj 4 years ago. and its been a project since. it started out as a 4.2 carb and automatic jeep. i learned real quick how much i hated it lol, over the years i have removed the 4.2 and installed a Fuel injected 4.0 with complete computer and harness, ive removed the tf999 trans and installed a ax-15 and everything needed for the swap. after wheeling it for a few years i wanted more. so recently i have stretched my yj 12inches , went spring over, and installed waggy d44's . Now i have no shop or anything, ive done all this work by hand tools and in my front yard. everything ive used to build this jeep is all from other jeeps. including 04 grand cherokee, 06 wrangler, 98 grand cherokee, 97 wrangler, 89 wagoneer. and a 95 chevy astro van steering box, when i did this buid i did not want anything custom made, i wanted to have factory parts from other vehicles so its easy to get parts and repair if i broke anything. This whole build and swap was all done in my front yard in the grass.

before pic


Now pic


Flex pic
 
#8 ·
JeepAddOnsChris

1995 Jeep YJ 4.0, AX-15, NP231 w/SYE
106" wheelbase. 38" TSL bias tires on Mickey Thompson Classic IIs
Front Axle: HP D44 set up for coils, Full Spool, 5.13 Motive Gears, Ten Factory Axle Shafts, Warn Premium lockouts
Rear Axle: Ford 9 inch set up for SOA, Detroit, 5.13 Motive Gears, Ten Factory Axle Shafts, HMF Fabrication pinion guard, GM disc brake conversion.
Suspension Front: Forward stretch. Custom three link mid-arm front using HMF Fabrication builder parts, Currie Johnny Joints and Metal Cloak Duroflex joints. Metal Cloak 5.5" TJ springs in adjustable HMF Fab coil buckets. Rough Country N2.0 12.5" travel shocks.
Suspension Rear: XJ spring bastard pack stretch rear SOA. Bastard pack is setup with new Crown HD leafs and 20 year old salvage yard springs mounted to Genright rear crossmember brace and Ruff Stuff Way Back shackle hangers. Rough Country boom shackles and RC N2.0 12" travel shocks.
The Knick-knacks: Full custom cage. Hydro-assist steering with Steinjager heims and tapped into Astro box. Full armor rocker guards, corner guards, tube fenders and stinger bumper. Poison Spyder hood louver. Adam's and Tatton's driveshafts. Barnes 4WD Skid Plate, HMF Fabrication LED light bar mount with 12", 20" and 50" Engo LED light bars. Vision-X Tantrum rock lights. Cast Hi-Lift Jack mounted to cage. RCI fuel cell with HMF Fab mount. Teraflex oil pan skid. Viair Heavy Duty on board air system. Rampage soft top that hardly ever gets put on... usually running a Rampage mesh Island Topper. Highrock 4x4 tube doors with storage. There's lots of other stuff I'm sure I'm not remembering off the top of my head, but that should be most of the big stuff.



 
#9 ·
Johnboy68

YJ Year: 1995
Specs and Mods:
* 4.0L I6 motor
* Stock drive train
* 1 ½" SuperLift Springs
* 5/8" M.O.R.E boomerang lubeable shackles
* Custom front and rear bumpers
* DIY sliders
* C&C Fab DIY 3" flare front tube fenders finished with black Monstaliner
* Rear TJ flares on trimmed wheel wells
* Herculined tub
* 33"X12.50"s Goodyear Duratracs on 15" Cragar Soft 8s
* Complete frame treated with Rust Bullet
In the near future I plan to install a winch on the front and build a swing out tire carrier on my rear bumper so I can haul my spare. Right now the spare won't fit on my stock carrier. I also have a Dana 30 out of a four cylinder YJ with 4:10 gears I'm going to install after I get a rear Ford 8.8 with matching gears. I'm not sure if I'm going to put in new springs or not. If I do they will either be OME or Zone.
I bought the Jeep from a friend for my daughter when she graduated from high school. I put a little money in it and at the time it was completely stock. After three months of driving it she rolled it on a small country road. My original plan was to just fix the bare minimum and get it back on the road but ended up doing a tub off restoration. It took me two years to finish it and have been adding things the entire time. She used it as her daily driver her last two years of college. The Jeep has been back to me full time since she graduated from college and I don't have any plans on giving it back to her or ever getting rid of it.
[URL="]

 
#10 ·
skyj

1990 Jeep wrangler
Engine:
4.2 w/ 4.0 head swap.( Soon to be MPI 5.2 V8)
MC 2100 carb
HEI distributor
AX15 recently rebuilt
NP231 with Advanced adapters SYE
E-350 Brake Master cylinder
Suspension:
Bastard pack saggy Grand Wagoneer springs for 2""of lift and 4""stretch
1"" shackle lift
Cut down 2"" body lift to 1.25""
Front axle:
Dana 30 4.56 gears
Lengthened front CV shaft out of XJ
XJ solid shafts
OTK tie rod flip with goferit inserts
Rear axle:
Ford 8.8 with detroit Locker
XJ CV shaft cut and balanced
4.56 gears
Tires and wheels:
35x15.5x15 Super Swamper TSL SX grooved for better traction on snow and ice mounted on15x10 American Racing aluminum wheels
33x12.5x15 BF Goodrich All-terrain TA my street tires mounted on 15x10 Ultras
Exterior:
Modified stock poly tank to accomodate a rear 3-4" stretch (aka dimple mod). Custom homemade front winch bumper, Warn 5687 winch, rear homemade 2x4 3/16" steel bumper with swing away, fiberglass front Flat fenders. stand-alone radiator support, CJ front clip
Interior:
high lift jack, custom homemade .50 cal ammo can center console with cup holders , pineapple grenade shifters, Grant Steering wheel, Front seats out of 99' TJ, middle row leather seat out of '07 suburban. Hybrid TJ/YJ cage.
Future Mods:
Full rear corner armor
Front/Rear tube fenders
I bought this jeep a little over 5 years ago and I have been slowly adding to it as time and money allow. I built this jeep to handle anything Montana terrain can throw at it and the occasional trip to Moab. When I was in high school my dad and I built a CJ5 from the ground up it was a great bonding experience for my Father and I.
Now I have this jeep to slowly build up with my three Sons. Almost every single bolt or piece of equipment has been rebuilt or assembled by me with help from my boys. From welding the custom bumpers, to the suspension, to the 4.0 head rebuild we've done it all.
We recently built a stand-alone radiator support to accommodate a cj front clip.I also installed a middle row leather seat out of a '07 suburban for a new back seat. now my kids can comfortably ride with me on those long trail rides.
This is why I Love the YJ its such a great platform for you to build your perfect jeep. Right now we are in the process of installing a 5.2L V8 out of a '93 grand cherokee, should start the tear down sometime around Christmas.
I know some of you are going to scoff and mock the cj clip, what can I say I Love it. I have incorporated so many parts form various jeeps into this build my jeep represents what every YJ owner should appreciate a truly home built rig.
I know this jeep inside and out and enjoy working on it. check out my build thread for more info.


 
#11 ·
CRASHNDENT

1994
2.5L 4 cyl
Automatic with 3.73 gears
3.5" Fabtech springs
Shocks off of 97F150 & 74F250 for lift
Dana 35 lockrite locker
Dana 30 lockrite locker
Rubicon express SYE
Warn 8274 winch
TJ flares - no cutting
injectors from dodge neon
35" toyo's
TomTom for when i'm lost!!
Initially bought this for my wife in stock form and bought myself a TJ. Drove it, saw the errors of my way and quickly told her we were trading which made her happy cause she liked the Tj anyways. I've done everything to this from stock. Why, because it makes me happy.

Human lockers-----because open diffs do suck!!!

a little life and alot better flex

just posing
 
#12 ·
95YJMountie

1995 YJ
Drivetrain:
4.0L Motor
Ax-15 tranny
NP 231 Transfer case.
Dana 44 rear-open(hopefully soon to be an 8.8)
Dana 30 Front-open
4.10 Gear Ratio
Modifications include:
Recovery:
12k pound Smittybilt XRC winch.
48" High-lift
Tool box mounted in the back
Lighting:
Aftermarket LED Headlights
Silver-star Ultra Bulbs
KC Lights on windshield.
PIAA Lights on front bumper
Blue baja bulbs in all added lights
LED rock lights mounted above the frame
Red LED Neons inside under the dash
Light cover guards on head, tail, and turn signal lights
4 Led Pods on roof basket
Christmas lights for now haha
Armor/bumpers:
Smittybilt front stinger bumper.
Rampage rear bumper/tire carrier
Rear corner armour
Home Made Rock Sliders
Skid plate
Light Covers
Intake:
Powerade Throttle Body Spacer
ARB Safari snorkel.
Exhaust:
Flow-master exhaust.
Lift:
4 inch skyjacker suspension lift
3 inch body lift.(yeah.. I know)
Track bar and Sway bar deleted
Tires/wheels:
35/12.5/15 Falken Wild-peak AT-2's
15x8 Cragar Streetlock Wheels

Flares:
MCE Flexible Front 6" fenders.
Xenon rear 4" flat flares
Tops:
Hardtop, soft top, safari top.
Body:
Just repainted August 2013
Full doors and half doors
Tj Gas Filler
Drop down tailgate
Yakima Roof Basket
Interior:
Bed lined interior.
Cb & Pa Speaker
Neoprene seat covers.
Homemade Para-cord Grab Handles

Audio:
Sony Head Unit
Sound bar
Kicker Speakers
Speaker box behind seats

Ill start off by thanking everyone who has helped me with my build so far. Couldn't have done it without all the help ive received. Anyways, My jeep is the definition of a budget build. My name is Jordan, Im 17, a senior in high school. I Work as much as possible outside of school to make money for my jeep fund. Takes me a little longer than most to make the money for my build but i take my time and try my best. Got the jeep as stock as i could find. After a ton of begging and convincing, my parents let me get another jeep. Took a lot to get mom's approval because i rolled my last jeep.. But thats another story lol. Anyways, The Only thing this jeep had done to it was a body lift and it was sticker-bomb'd. As soon as i got it, i began (in my opinion) improving it. Anyways, its not even close to where i vision it being, but its getting there slowly, step by step. And for being 17, in school, and building it on minimal funds, im very happy with how its coming along, and im definitely not getting rid of it. Out of the other vehicles i have owned/own, this is by far my favorite. It wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for the great people on this site. There is unlimited knowledge passed around on here every day, and i try to soak as much of it up as possible so i can learn and make my jeep better. I'd rather read about someone else's mistake and prevent it than make my own.
Thanks guys, heres some pics.
Pic's:




Figured id throw this one in here for some christmas spirit lol
 
#13 ·
Mrdeath2000

1993
Rough Country 2.5" lift, Daystar 1" body lift, braided extended brake lines, speed bleeders, 5/8 booms up front and 1.25" beavs in the rear, bored intake with matching 62mm TB, pacesetter header, electric fan w/therm/on/off, hand throttle, 8.8 with LSD, elocker in D30, 4.88 gears, 33x1250/15 on eagle alloy alums 3.25 backspace, jb conversions SYE, adams driveshafts f/r, eautogrilles fenders and sliders, police spot lights, 126w LED light bar, poison spyder/riddler iron diff covers, bestop trailmax seats, cb in tuffy console, 102" whip, co2 and plug kit.
I bought my Jeep 2.5 years ago after hot rodding mustangs was too much trouble, needed something slower that I could utilize my time/money spent into it. Pretty much bone stock 2.5L except for a bumper and some beaver teeth, rolling on 29's. Over the last 2 years I have extensively been working on it to get it where it is and wheeling in between. I think I'm at parity now, and any change would be tremendous, like 4.0/ax15/atlas/37's swap.


IMG_20131116_113939 by mrdeath2000, on Flickr

IMG_20130921_151316 by mrdeath2000, on Flickr

1077721_10151709047380782_2119101883_o by mrdeath2000, on Flickr
 
#14 ·
grandboost98

1989 Jeep YJ
2.5L TBI 4cly
AX5 trans with external slave swap
NP231J with JB conversions HD SYE
TJ exhaust
Dana 30
Ford 8.8 with disks
All water tight with extended vent lines
Custom front and rear drive shafts
ARB Safari snorkel
3.5" H.D. BDS lift
5/8" H.D. M.O.R.E. booms
Teraflex rear shock bar
Aero Racing wheels
33x12.5x15 M/Ts
Front Smittybilt stinger
Rear Pro Comp bumper
Warn winch
O.R. Fab sport cage
Family roll bar swap
Tuffy stereo console
Tuffy trunk
Marine stereo
Marine speakers
CB radio
TJ flairs
60" Hi lift on the hood
Snatch block
misc recovery gear
Hardtop
Half hardtop
Safari top
Windjammer
Jammock
Full doors
Half doors
Tube doors
Where it all began


 
#15 ·
AmbuGrl

- 1992
- Canyon blue metallic, 3.5in BDS lift, 5/8 boomerang shackles, Rugged Ridge SYE, Hurst short throw shifter, factory lsd, 33x12.50x15 KM2s (in the pics she is wearing black rock wheels, but now she is sportin AMR Teflon coated aluminum wheels). She also has a Borla exhaust (header all the way back) back and Swag offroad tailgate mod. Interior has new seats, tuffy center console and rear box, sound bar and mountaineer rack.
- SoCal Jeep born and raised. My parents bought her new off the lot in January 92 (we have the original bill of sale, sticker and owners manual). They kept her pretty stock with the exception of smittybuilt tube steps and bumpers. We decided in 09 to fly to Cali and road trip her back to Va. Since 09 we have added all of the above mods and refreshed her original paint color.


 
#18 ·
Voted. Again, lots of great rigs. :thumbsup:
I still say we need 2 different categories; one for ultra built rigs and one for mostly stock and/or modestly built. I think both have their place and IMHO it is hard for a stocker to compete against an ultra well built rig. Anywho, I voted for my personal preference... but they are all nice YJ's in their own respect. :cheers2:

added note: AmbuGrl's tailgate mod was cool!

WRM
 
#21 ·
There is such a range of expertise in this contest that I could not possibly choose to whittle it down to ten let alone vote for a single one. From restoration to over the top fabrication, every jeep serves a purpose for its owner. For me, the winner is the one who has best built the jeep for the use that's intended not necessarily the most modifications added. The pictures are there not only to give a visual reference to what said listed modifications look like but also to show how they are used.

If it is a stock restoration built solely for taking the grand kids around town in the summer with the top off and the pictures show that, then to me that's fulfilling the full potential of the jeep and worthy of full points. For a street jeep jacked up SOA (even done right) with 35's and never sees trail, that's a fail to me. Overbuilding for peace of mind and insurance you'll make it home in one piece is one thing. Overbuilding on the basis of aesthetics is another. Some of us have AAA because when we get back to the paved roads, our jeeps are barely held together with duct tape and baling wire and we can't make it home otherwise, others have it because they can't change their own tire.

I'm so happy to be a part of a community that is so supportive of self reliance. <-- Kind of ironic, hmm? All in all this is the best group of jeeps I have ever seen together in a contest since I have been running this contest. That includes the other models in other sections as well. Variety is the spice of life.



 
#28 ·
There is such a range of expertise in this contest that I could not possibly choose to whittle it down to ten let alone vote for a single one. From restoration to over the top fabrication, every jeep serves a purpose for its owner. For me, the winner is the one who has best built the jeep for the use that's intended not necessarily the most modifications added. The pictures are there not only to give a visual reference to what said listed modifications look like but also to show how they are used.

If it is a stock restoration built solely for taking the grand kids around town in the summer with the top off and the pictures show that, then to me that's fulfilling the full potential of the jeep and worthy of full points. For a street jeep jacked up SOA (even done right) with 35's and never sees trail, that's a fail to me. Overbuilding for peace of mind and insurance you'll make it home in one piece is one thing. Overbuilding on the basis of aesthetics is another. Some of us have AAA because when we get back to the paved roads, our jeeps are barely held together with duct tape and baling wire and we can't make it home otherwise, others have it because they can't change their own tire.

I'm so happy to be a part of a community that is so supportive of self reliance. <-- Kind of ironic, hmm? All in all this is the best group of jeeps I have ever seen together in a contest since I have been running this contest. That includes the other models in other sections as well. Variety is the spice of life.
Very, VERY well put as usual. :D :thumbsup:
Sub'd up while I consider each rig. Such a phenomenal line up to end out the year! Very impressive!

Cheers
 
#22 ·
Anticanman said:
There is such a range of expertise in this contest that I could not possibly choose to whittle it down to ten let alone vote for a single one. From restoration to over the top fabrication, every jeep serves a purpose for its owner. For me, the winner is the one who has best built the jeep for the use that's intended not necessarily the most modifications added. The pictures are there not only to give a visual reference to what said listed modifications look like but also to show how they are used. If it is a stock restoration built solely for taking the grand kids around town in the summer with the top off and the pictures show that, then to me that's fulfilling the full potential of the jeep and worthy of full points. For a street jeep jacked up SOA (even done right) with 35's and never sees trail, that's a fail to me. Overbuilding for peace of mind and insurance you'll make it home in one piece is one thing. Overbuilding on the basis of esthetics is another. Some of us have AAA because when we get back to the paved roads, our jeeps are barely held together with duct tape and baling wire and we can't make it home otherwise, others have it because they can't change their own tire. I'm so happy to be a part of a community that is so supportive of self reliance. <-- Kind of ironic, hmm? All in all this is the best group of jeeps I have ever seen together in a contest since I have been running this contest. That includes the other models in other sections as well. Variety is the spice of life.
This^

Because I Saved 15% On My Car Insurance
 
#65 ·
Thanks for the compliment! The build is under "Hunker Down" here on the forum if you do a search. A little tech in there, but mostly just progress updates. If you have any questions about anything there, feel free to ask in the build thread. :cheers2:

Some very nice rigs in this month's contest. :thumbsup:
 
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