1997 Jeep Wrangler Built Rock Crawler Offroad on 2040-cars

1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ built crawler.

Has had a new frame installed, gen right 3 link front frame brackets and rear 4 link brackets.  All upper links are 2” 1/4 wall DOM and lowers are 2” square 1/4 .  Just installed 14 new 2.63” Johnny joints with 1.25” shank.

Rear axle was stretched approx. 5-6”, and front roughly 3”.  Genright stretch gas tank.  Relocated steering box and used Genright flat fabricated pitman arm.  Genright track bar kit and brackets.

Has a ’98 Cherokee 4.0 and aw4 installed, that have approx. 95,000 miles.  NP231 with a slip yoke eliminator.  Tub is nice and rust free drivers floor pan was replaced.  Genright front highline tube fenders and TNT rear corner armor with handmade rear fender flares welded and molded into the corners.  TNT rocker armor.  Swag off-road relocated reinforced frame mounts.  Custom made skid plate and engine skid.  Custom made rear frame cap/hitch/step and body mounted spare tire carrier (no rattles at all w/ 39.5 tire!).  Also has a louvered hood panel to get the heat out.

Front axle is a 78-79 ford high pinion Dana 60 front, 5.38 gears, Detroit locker, stock neck down inner shafts and Yukon alloy 35 spline outer shafts with drive flanges.  3/8” fabricated diff cover and huge 3/8” wall DOM tie rod (you’ll have to try hard to bend it).  Sky off-road crossover steering arm.  All steering joints use heim joints. 

PSC steering pump and reservoir and 1.5” ram for hydraulic assist, which can move the jeep sideways with the front wheel up against a rock.

Rear is a GM 14bolt (70” factory width).  Yukon 5.38 gears, Detroit locker, 3/8” fabricated diff cover, disk brake conversion, pinion guard, and truss.

High angle driveline 1350CV rear driveshaft.  Jeep XJ shortened front driveshaft.

Tires are 39.5” bias Irock’s on stock hummer H1 double beadlocks.  PVC beadlock inserts, and Trailworthy fab rock rings.  Spare is a 39.5” Irock for a 17” wheel, with no beadlock.  Have a spare Hummer wheel that is included.  Wheel spacers were used to get the front and rear track width’s identical.

Other bits:  Cobra CB, JeepAIR A/C kit that blows cold, herculined floors, front quadratec floor mats, 2003 wrangler front seats, all seats have rugged ridge black neoprene covers.  Warn Winch.

All in all there is probably a bunch more I didn’t mention.  It is a rock solid performer and has never broken down on the trail.  Did Pritchett canyon in Moab without winching or any tugs, while everyone else in the group ended up needing help. 

The flaws:  Oil press. Gauge doesn’t work.  Speedometer fluctuates.  I have a gauge panel to replace the factory gauges with autometers.  Drivers rear window (plastic portion) was cut and has been taped up.  Windshield is cracked. It could use a sway bar if your going to do a lot of road driving.  It’s very stable, but does have a good bit of body roll.

I noticed the title check shows some issues...vehicle has a clean clear Michigan title in my name.  Shows some past issues with mileage reports, which are a mute point with this Jeep, as the only original items are the tub, dash, and some of the wiring. Prior owner stated he had hit a deer with the Jeep, no serious damage, which was repaired accordingly.

Selling as I don’t use it as much as I used to, and don’t have the opportunity to do the difficult trails this was built for.