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RON'S 2000 TJ
Progression from stock to modified
A little history first. When I lived in Tucson, AZ, in 1988, I owned a 76 CJ-5. That was my introduction to off road driving. It was also my introduction as to how expensive owning a jeep really is. For starters, the CJ-5 cost me $3,000.00 and came equipped with 30 inch tires (bald, on 2 chrome and 3 white wagon wheel rims), a stock 304 (except for headers and Cherry Bomb side pipes), a full roll cage (spot welded in), a 2” shackle lift and a tail gate that was ripping from the weight of the spare tire. The improvements I installed were 4 new BF Goodrich A/Ts on 4 white wagon wheel rims (I kept the best used tire for a spare), A Holley 2bbl Pro-Jection system, a 22 gal fuel tank, a CB and 18 cans of Krilon white gloss spray paint. I wheeled it for 3 years around Tucson and sold it because it would never have made the trip to Washington DC. I believe that wheeling without all that fancy stuff (lockers, lift, large tires or winch) taught me more about proper technique that any off-road course I could have taken.
Maneuvering over some rocks. |
More fun. |
Getting ready for my bachelor party. |
Times like this require a locker. Too bad I don’t have one. |
Well, the bug had bitten, and as soon as I could afford the Jeep I wanted, I bought it and started modifying it almost immediately starting with new tires and rims when the TJ had less than 300 miles. This page is the central point for all modifications from start to finish (if there will ever be a “Finish”). I tried to go into some detail about the installs so you will get a good visualization and hopefully learn from my mistakes. Enjoy.
Stock |
Stock |
It's getting there |
It got there (Stuck) |
MSRP: $20,860.00 (Plus tax, title and license)
Paid: $20,000.00 (After tax, title and license)
Purchased: 31 March 2000 (Odometer: 18)
From: Farrish Jeep, Fairfax, VA (703) 273-0200
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2000 WRANGLER SPORT |
MSRP: |
$18,725.00 |
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D-PACKAGE
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Convenience group (Includes additional courtesy lamp under passenger instrument panel, engine compartment lamp and a full-center floor console), intermittent wipers, full-sized spare tire, height adjustable steering column and leather wrapped steering wheel. |
$560.00 |
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ENGINE |
4.0-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine with 5-speed manual transmission |
$0.00 |
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AIR CONDITIONING |
Includes: Heavy duty 117 amp alternator and maintenance-free 600-amp battery |
$895.00 |
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SOUND SYSTEM |
AM/FM Stereo/CD Player/Four Speakers and Sound Bar |
$125.00 |
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FLOOR MATS |
Front carpeted |
$30.00 |
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EXTERIOR |
Silverstone, Metallic, Clear Coat |
$0.00 |
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INTERIOR |
Agate |
$0.00 |
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SOFT TOP |
Black |
$0.00 |
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DESTINATION COST |
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$525.00 |
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TOTAL MSRP AS SPECIFIED: |
$20,860.00 |
IMPROVEMENTS
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WHEELS ($1,300.00): (3 April 2000) 5 - Z Racing Type 50 – 15 x 8.5 - $550.00 CUSTOM PLATES ($55.00): (29 May 2000) RING AND PINION ($1,300.00): (29 July 2000) CB RADIO ($110.00): (30 July 2000) ENTRY GUARDS ($35.00): (15 October 2000) TRAIL STUFF ($140.00): (15 February 2001) CUSTOM STORAGE BOX ($35.00): (20 April 2001) Power Trax No-Slip ($400.00): (10 May 2001) STEERING BOX FIX ($10.00): (29 June 2001) SKID PLATES ($215.00): (3 July 2001) DEALER REPAIRS ($0.00): (3 August 2001 (34,400 miles)) FULL CAGE ($235.00): (28 August 2001) HI-LIFT JACK ($45.00): (12 October 2001) BIGGER TIRES ($435.00): (1 November 2001) 1” LIFTS ($190.00): (21 November 2001) |
BUMPER TIRE CARRIER ($400.00): (17 & 24 February 2002) Rock Rails ($125.00): (24 February 2002) RING AND PINION II ($100.00): (22 February 2002) TRAIL MASTER 2”LIFT ($325.00): (11 March 2002) DETROIT EZ-LOCKER ($240.00): (26 July 2002) POWER TANK ($135.00): (14 October 2002) FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SKID ($11.00): (23 December 2002) ZJ TIE ROD ($130.00): (10 January 2003) SKID ROW ENGINE SKID ($160.00): (21 January 2003) RUSTY'S 2" SPRINGS ($75.00): (7 February 2003) RE CONTROL ARMS ($250.00): (1 March 2003) OLYMPIC ROOF RACK ($100.00): (12 April 2003) INSTALL 4.56 / DANA 35 Repair ($680.00): (22 April 2003) SERPENTINE BELT ($23.00): (19 July 2003) JKS QUICK DISCONNECTS ($25.00): (26 July 2003) THE BIG UPGRADE ($702.00): (8 August 2003) TOTAL SO FAR: $7,986.00 |