Third World America
12-23-2013 | 07:50 AM
#1
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Yazoo City, Mississippi
Third World America
Hey, folks!
I have been a Jeep owner since 2003 when I purchased my very lightly used 2003 TJ SE from a Honda dealership. The PO bought it and six months later his was became pregnant. Apparently he was told that there was no way the baby would be riding around in a TJ, so he traded it in for a minivan. Poor guy, so much damage to his Man Rep! HAHAHA!!!
Seriously, though. I probably would have done the same in that situation.
Anyway, for those of you who do not know much about TJs, the SE was always the 4 cylinder Wrangler. I did not know anything about Wranglers at the time. I knew a lot more about old CJ-5s and CJ-7s from my childhood next-door neighbor's dad. So I did not even know it was a 4 banger. All I knew was that the used Accords that I had been looking at were absolutely safe and boring. (My wife already had two in the past and I really like the Accord, but I did not want *two* at the same time. So common sense lost out and I left with the six month old TJ. It cost me a lot less from the Honda place than a similar rig from the Jeep dealer further down the highway.
Long story short, I drove the crap out of that thing.
Due to financial problems during the recession I stopped with the regular dealer-performed maintenance and also let some problems go. At that time I only did very basic work to our vehicles. I had no tools, so it was hard for me to do much.
One of the problems that we let go for that two year period was that the engine started to runs warm. It never got hot, but it ran warm 100% of the time.
And after a decade of running that little 4 banger with the foot to the floor to keep up with the rest of the Interstate traffic and two years of running warm it threw a rod. It threw it right through the side of the block!
It was my DD, so I had never done much to it save getting some good tires, bumpers and rock rails. I took it off road a lot and ended up having to replace my clutch because I did not know when to use 4-Lo! Live and learn...
Being that this was my DD and I was not without wheels to get me to work I panicked a bit. I am a professional symphony orchestra musician and am off all summer (meaning unemployed, taking 9 months of pay in smaller paychecks spread out over the 12 month year like many teachers do). And our summer break in employment had started three days prior. So I could get by without a vehicle for about 90 days.
We ended up getting an almost exact match to my Shale Green Metallic SE. It was a 2003 Sport with the 4.0L and Dana 44 rear end. It was lifted and had bigger tires. It was in pretty bad shape, but I needed something I could afford.
I bought a lot of tools and set to work cannibalizing from the SE to the Sport all that I needed. I bought an entire cooling system since this Jeep also rand hot. (Not going to make that mistake again!) The wife and I installed a new radiator, fan clutch, water pump, thermostat, serpentine belt, hoses and heater core. The jeep runs about 2º cooler than when new. (TJs run right at 210º and we are consistently running at 208º. Not bad.)
It has several other problems with the EVAP system and with air codes for a lean condition. I have not yet tracked down the exact problem. I think I have a small hole in the pipe just before one of the two pre-cats. We shall see.
Anyway, my mother-in-law bought my wife a new Accord out of the blue about a year ago and decided that our labors on the Jeep had been impressive enough. (We actually have done much more than what I stated above. Much more.) And it still has trouble. So she bought me a new black 2 door 2013 JK Sport S, paid cash in full, no less!!!
So I have a dead 2003 SE, a pretty decent 2003 Sport and a 2013 Sport S crammed into my small parking area behind the house along with the old Accord and the 2010 that mom bought my wife. We also have a 1990 Volvo 740 that still runs great, but is very fluky.
Needless to say, we need to sell off some stuff...
Anyway, my mom, who is very poor in comparison to the MIL, did not want to be left out, so she added in about $5,000 in JK mods and upgrades.
This has never happened to me. So I am really at a loss, here. I am, however, quite grateful.
I am awaiting deliveries of a lot of stuff.
So far I have put on better rims and tires, a Mopar gas door, Truck-Lites (with the anti-flicker harnesses), and a passenger grab handle and a coat hanger in the back.
I have here at the house awaiting installation a TeraFlex leveling kit (spacers, not coils - 2" front, 1" rear), four of the red, gas-charged Rubi shocks from a 2014 JKUR/hard top/tow package. I currently have 14/56 springs and will swap in the 18/60 springs that I got with the red shocks.
Arriving today, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday are:
Ace front stubby bumper
Ace Pro rear bumper (no tire carrier)
Ace rock rails
Ace wide flat fenders
TeraFlex JK HD Adjustable Spare Tire Mounting Kit
TeraFlex D rings and snatch straps
JKS Quicker Disconnects
ProCal module
Merry Christmas, y'all!
Wade
I have been a Jeep owner since 2003 when I purchased my very lightly used 2003 TJ SE from a Honda dealership. The PO bought it and six months later his was became pregnant. Apparently he was told that there was no way the baby would be riding around in a TJ, so he traded it in for a minivan. Poor guy, so much damage to his Man Rep! HAHAHA!!!
Seriously, though. I probably would have done the same in that situation.
Anyway, for those of you who do not know much about TJs, the SE was always the 4 cylinder Wrangler. I did not know anything about Wranglers at the time. I knew a lot more about old CJ-5s and CJ-7s from my childhood next-door neighbor's dad. So I did not even know it was a 4 banger. All I knew was that the used Accords that I had been looking at were absolutely safe and boring. (My wife already had two in the past and I really like the Accord, but I did not want *two* at the same time. So common sense lost out and I left with the six month old TJ. It cost me a lot less from the Honda place than a similar rig from the Jeep dealer further down the highway.
Long story short, I drove the crap out of that thing.
Due to financial problems during the recession I stopped with the regular dealer-performed maintenance and also let some problems go. At that time I only did very basic work to our vehicles. I had no tools, so it was hard for me to do much.
One of the problems that we let go for that two year period was that the engine started to runs warm. It never got hot, but it ran warm 100% of the time.
And after a decade of running that little 4 banger with the foot to the floor to keep up with the rest of the Interstate traffic and two years of running warm it threw a rod. It threw it right through the side of the block!
It was my DD, so I had never done much to it save getting some good tires, bumpers and rock rails. I took it off road a lot and ended up having to replace my clutch because I did not know when to use 4-Lo! Live and learn...
Being that this was my DD and I was not without wheels to get me to work I panicked a bit. I am a professional symphony orchestra musician and am off all summer (meaning unemployed, taking 9 months of pay in smaller paychecks spread out over the 12 month year like many teachers do). And our summer break in employment had started three days prior. So I could get by without a vehicle for about 90 days.
We ended up getting an almost exact match to my Shale Green Metallic SE. It was a 2003 Sport with the 4.0L and Dana 44 rear end. It was lifted and had bigger tires. It was in pretty bad shape, but I needed something I could afford.
I bought a lot of tools and set to work cannibalizing from the SE to the Sport all that I needed. I bought an entire cooling system since this Jeep also rand hot. (Not going to make that mistake again!) The wife and I installed a new radiator, fan clutch, water pump, thermostat, serpentine belt, hoses and heater core. The jeep runs about 2º cooler than when new. (TJs run right at 210º and we are consistently running at 208º. Not bad.)
It has several other problems with the EVAP system and with air codes for a lean condition. I have not yet tracked down the exact problem. I think I have a small hole in the pipe just before one of the two pre-cats. We shall see.
Anyway, my mother-in-law bought my wife a new Accord out of the blue about a year ago and decided that our labors on the Jeep had been impressive enough. (We actually have done much more than what I stated above. Much more.) And it still has trouble. So she bought me a new black 2 door 2013 JK Sport S, paid cash in full, no less!!!
So I have a dead 2003 SE, a pretty decent 2003 Sport and a 2013 Sport S crammed into my small parking area behind the house along with the old Accord and the 2010 that mom bought my wife. We also have a 1990 Volvo 740 that still runs great, but is very fluky.
Needless to say, we need to sell off some stuff...
Anyway, my mom, who is very poor in comparison to the MIL, did not want to be left out, so she added in about $5,000 in JK mods and upgrades.
This has never happened to me. So I am really at a loss, here. I am, however, quite grateful.
I am awaiting deliveries of a lot of stuff.
So far I have put on better rims and tires, a Mopar gas door, Truck-Lites (with the anti-flicker harnesses), and a passenger grab handle and a coat hanger in the back.
I have here at the house awaiting installation a TeraFlex leveling kit (spacers, not coils - 2" front, 1" rear), four of the red, gas-charged Rubi shocks from a 2014 JKUR/hard top/tow package. I currently have 14/56 springs and will swap in the 18/60 springs that I got with the red shocks.
Arriving today, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday are:
Ace front stubby bumper
Ace Pro rear bumper (no tire carrier)
Ace rock rails
Ace wide flat fenders
TeraFlex JK HD Adjustable Spare Tire Mounting Kit
TeraFlex D rings and snatch straps
JKS Quicker Disconnects
ProCal module
Merry Christmas, y'all!
Wade
12-23-2013 | 08:20 AM
#2
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: saskatchewan
Good story, I read the whole thing ha. Good luck on the new Jeep.
People have built wicked cool trailers out of salvaged TJs. I dare you.
Sell everything else for money to take a sweet vacay with your MIL and Mom? In the jeep? Moab? Grand Canyon?
Skid plates! Diff covers!
Buy a better soft top prior to selling the one you got? (If you got the premium top) ORH, Trek top, RR new rack system?. AEV hood is always worth it. Or another of your choice.
People have built wicked cool trailers out of salvaged TJs. I dare you.
Sell everything else for money to take a sweet vacay with your MIL and Mom? In the jeep? Moab? Grand Canyon?
Skid plates! Diff covers!
Buy a better soft top prior to selling the one you got? (If you got the premium top) ORH, Trek top, RR new rack system?. AEV hood is always worth it. Or another of your choice.
