- City
- Dexter
- State
- MI
I swear I made a post on this acquisition already, but when I went to add a couple photos to the thread, I appear to have dreamed that...
Anyway, I was having a couple issues with my LJ and Kate and I have been talking about the upcoming need to have a vehicle for Laura... long story short, we ended up finding this thing.
I really wanted an XJ, but up here they are all complete disasters. I actually looked at this thing, made a low offer he rejected and drove away due to a couple things I found in looking it over. I checked in with him a couple days later and he changed his mind. 90% of the reason I wanted this was the wheels, after the TJ Moabs and FSJ/CJ 6-slots, these are my favorite factory Jeep wheels. AX-15 so Laura will have to learn stick (already started!)
It's an AZ Jeep that was only brought to Michigan a couple years ago when the guy inherited his family orchard and decided to come back east. He did drive it in winter but got into sailing, put a trailer hitch on this and quickly found this wasn't suited to towing his boat. He got a Tacoma, started DDing that and parked this in a barn. He rarely ever drove it but kept it running. It's a 20/20 Jeep with definite issues and 160k but because it was out west for so long it's really solid. Perfect for driving up here without feeling too bad about ruining a really great Jeep.
I've already gutted the interior and replaced the carpet in the front, added a number of Tuffy security products, swapped in a stereo with some nice speakers, swapped a dual USB outlet for the cigarette lighter socket, covered the seats, redid the brakes all around, front u-joints, and ball joints, new cat back, and a number of other things. Fluids were all fine but working through replacing them (realized it has the D44 and limited slip in the rear when I went to do the rear diff fluid!)
Wheels will need serious attention with stripping/sanding/polishing but I'll wait until next year. Idea is to peck away at things after this initial push to make it decent and usable and have a solid runner by the time Laura needs it. I'll use it as a DD in lieu of the LJ until then.
This will stay pretty much exactly like it looks now, no lift, no big tires. May or may not do bumpers but no winch. I want to keep this dead simple.
It's fun to drive a stock TJ, it's been FOREVER since I did that at all.
Rugged Ridge fabric seat covers fit great in the front and look pretty sweet IMO. Rear seat upper cover could be improved, but I gathered up the excess fabric and threw zip ties around it to tighten things up some. Will see how that works. Replaced the rollbar covers too and did new front seat belts.
Tuffy under seat security drawer, this is almost the full length of the rear cargo area and you remount the seat on top of it. Pretty excited about this addition. I opted to do their adjustable tie-down rails on the outside edges of it along with their rubber diamond plate covering in lieu of carpet on top (and underneath the seat).
This was jammed in the stock stereo, hence the replacement/upgrade. Had to disassemble the unit to get it out.
Enjoyed the last of the topless weather. This has the Rampage frameless soft top which I was skeptical about until I drove it more. Actually some impressive design details and I love that it's so easy to run as a full-length bikini. Also very excited to have something to put the Camp Jeep 2007 tire cover on again!
And Laura has been told she has to earn this thing, so she's gotten her hands dirty on the work
Anyway, I was having a couple issues with my LJ and Kate and I have been talking about the upcoming need to have a vehicle for Laura... long story short, we ended up finding this thing.
I really wanted an XJ, but up here they are all complete disasters. I actually looked at this thing, made a low offer he rejected and drove away due to a couple things I found in looking it over. I checked in with him a couple days later and he changed his mind. 90% of the reason I wanted this was the wheels, after the TJ Moabs and FSJ/CJ 6-slots, these are my favorite factory Jeep wheels. AX-15 so Laura will have to learn stick (already started!)
It's an AZ Jeep that was only brought to Michigan a couple years ago when the guy inherited his family orchard and decided to come back east. He did drive it in winter but got into sailing, put a trailer hitch on this and quickly found this wasn't suited to towing his boat. He got a Tacoma, started DDing that and parked this in a barn. He rarely ever drove it but kept it running. It's a 20/20 Jeep with definite issues and 160k but because it was out west for so long it's really solid. Perfect for driving up here without feeling too bad about ruining a really great Jeep.
I've already gutted the interior and replaced the carpet in the front, added a number of Tuffy security products, swapped in a stereo with some nice speakers, swapped a dual USB outlet for the cigarette lighter socket, covered the seats, redid the brakes all around, front u-joints, and ball joints, new cat back, and a number of other things. Fluids were all fine but working through replacing them (realized it has the D44 and limited slip in the rear when I went to do the rear diff fluid!)
Wheels will need serious attention with stripping/sanding/polishing but I'll wait until next year. Idea is to peck away at things after this initial push to make it decent and usable and have a solid runner by the time Laura needs it. I'll use it as a DD in lieu of the LJ until then.
This will stay pretty much exactly like it looks now, no lift, no big tires. May or may not do bumpers but no winch. I want to keep this dead simple.
It's fun to drive a stock TJ, it's been FOREVER since I did that at all.
Rugged Ridge fabric seat covers fit great in the front and look pretty sweet IMO. Rear seat upper cover could be improved, but I gathered up the excess fabric and threw zip ties around it to tighten things up some. Will see how that works. Replaced the rollbar covers too and did new front seat belts.
Tuffy under seat security drawer, this is almost the full length of the rear cargo area and you remount the seat on top of it. Pretty excited about this addition. I opted to do their adjustable tie-down rails on the outside edges of it along with their rubber diamond plate covering in lieu of carpet on top (and underneath the seat).
This was jammed in the stock stereo, hence the replacement/upgrade. Had to disassemble the unit to get it out.
Enjoyed the last of the topless weather. This has the Rampage frameless soft top which I was skeptical about until I drove it more. Actually some impressive design details and I love that it's so easy to run as a full-length bikini. Also very excited to have something to put the Camp Jeep 2007 tire cover on again!
And Laura has been told she has to earn this thing, so she's gotten her hands dirty on the work
I hope she loves it.
