what can be done with a 97 tj

[Rebel 4X4]

Ok i bought a 97 tj with 98,950 for 4 thousand dollars.It has air that works new best top and it very clean.No rust dents just a really nice jeep.So i ve looked at some members rigs and wow is all i can say.there are some nice rigs out there.Just need some info on where i should start with my rig?i wanna stay street legal butwould like to go off road knowing my rig is up to the task at hand.Please give me some ideas.Im in new market virgina and Richard is my name thanks for the time and please help me out guys and gals:wave:

[CMSurfer]

Welcome to the board...

Quadratec has some build-ups here from the parts they sell.. They have a build-up on a '97 too...

http://www.quadratec.com/showcases/jeep_build_ups/

[bleve212]

Welcome to the board.

There are a billion different angles to come from on where to start. I started with a 3" Body lift and bigger tires. I want to put a 3" suspension lift on now and do away with the BL. But, money isn't coming free to the hard working Americans, so I am having to save up. :)

Surf around, find a look you like, and work towards it. Ask questions! That's most important. People around here have a VAST knowledge of MANY different things!


Good luck!
blev-E

[DrLewall]

Welcome to the forum! :wave: Am sure you will find a starting point to MOD'n out your rig..there is a VERY EXCELENT FAQ section here that will be of HUGE help in answering your questions and giving you some more ideas so be sure to check it out.

[rcrawford91]

hey how far is market from Richmond

[texanpatriottn]

in addition to the reader rigs you should take a look at the thread in the off topic of members rigs, may have to click back a page or two. You would be able to then ask more specific questions bout others rigs, and may be able to get more guidance for your own rig.. your jeep have the 4.0 or 2.5??

[justin399]

What kind of axle do you have out back? Apart from a lift & bigger tires a locker up front makes a world of difference. If you have a manual trans a hand throttle also helps on steep hills.

[Bada-Bing.]

I recommend lowering, some 22" rims and lots of crome.

[DrLewall]

I recommend lowering, some 22" rims and lots of crome.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l60/DrLewall/Smilies/eek7.gif :lmao::eek::thumbsup:

[Knuckelhead]

Ok i bought a 97 tj with 98,950 for 4 thousand dollars.It has air that works new best top and it very clean.No rust dents just a really nice jeep.So i ve looked at some members rigs and wow is all i can say.there are some nice rigs out there.Just need some info on where i should start with my rig?i wanna stay street legal butwould like to go off road knowing my rig is up to the task at hand.Please give me some ideas.Im in new market virgina and Richard is my name thanks for the time and please help me out guys and gals:wave:

Find a local club and start wheeling. Welcome...:)

[Knuckelhead]

If you have a manual trans a hand throttle also helps on steep hills.

Works well with an automatic also...:cool:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/knuckelhead/throttle.jpg

[Tonka]

Find a local club and start wheeling.

:ditto:

Find out your comfort level and then build. Otherwise, you'd just be guessing and wasting your $.

[MechanicalMayham]

I would first off figure out what stock you have on the hoof then decide where you want to go from there. A streetable trail rig is a pretty easy task. Having the Jeep is a good starting point. What you really need depends on your ambitions and your wallet. I, however, threw good money after good money and still, over 6 months, don't have a movable heep. Take you time, read as many threads as possible, even delve into the archived ones. You will learn pretty easy who is full of it and who knows what time it is. Just remember, its your rig and the descision is ulimately yours to make.

[DrLewall]

You will learn pretty easy who is full of it ..

:wave: by popular vote that is :rolleyes:

(There JAFO, I covered for ya..you owe me!)

[MJMPC]

Works well with an automatic also...:cool:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/knuckelhead/throttle.jpg

Why would you need one with a auto ?

[DrLewall]

uh, cause on a step incline, even an automatic will roll backwards if you cant get to the skinny peddle on the right quick enuff!

[lilpoppa]

cant tell you where to start, but I can make a small sugestion, based on the following question. is the rig your daily driver or a weekend toy, if its a daily driver id start with a few power upgrades to improve milage and make it a little more enjoyable to drive on the street. if its a weekend toy figure out what you want for an end product and pick a place to start because there is no wrong place to start, but if you want to go fairly hardcore on your rig start with the innermost parts, if you want to run monster size tires start with axles and driveline this will keep you from breaking stuff by trying to get your desired end look as soon as possible, do it in the right order and youll save money in the long run, itll just take a little longer to get you final desired look.

[MJMPC]

uh, cause on a step incline, even an automatic will roll backwards if you cant get to the skinny peddle on the right quick enuff!



What does your left foot do just hang at the end of your leg :) ?

[Rebel 4X4]

from richmond its about 45 mi north on 81

[Rebel 4X4]

in addition to the reader rigs you should take a look at the thread in the off topic of members rigs, may have to click back a page or two. You would be able to then ask more specific questions bout others rigs, and may be able to get more guidance for your own rig.. your jeep have the 4.0 or 2.5??

It has a 2.5 with 5 speed

[Rebel 4X4]

What kind of axle do you have out back? Apart from a lift & bigger tires a locker up front makes a world of difference. If you have a manual trans a hand throttle also helps on steep hills.

it has dana 44s front and rear is that a bad thing?

[Knuckelhead]

Why would you need one with a auto ?

Cruise control on the trail, helps keep you from jacking the gas pedal when on ruff trails. Throttle set for OBA...:cool:

[Knuckelhead]

it has dana 44s front and rear is that a bad thing?

Nope. Fill in your profile...

[Rebel 4X4]

Nope. Fill in your profile...

i thought i did fill in my profile added some more info on it:thumbsup:

[Rebel 4X4]

On my stock 97 tj it has 15 x 7 rims can i put 15 x 8 with out a lift?

[Rebel 4X4]

Nope. Fill in your profile...

i thought i did but ill look again

[Rebel 4X4]

ok my tj has 15 x 7 rims can i put 15 x 8 without a lift ?and whats a good shock for a stock tj?? ive looked into some bds shock but i havent seen anybody on here that uses them skyjacker seems to be the fav of everyone.some input on this would help me out alot thanks richard

[wrangler X]

Dont waste your money on shocks. Wait until you figure out if your going to lift it. What size tires you want to run? If you have front and rear d44's you can step up in tire size. Did you swap the axles or buy it that way? A 2.5 didnt evr come with a d44 in the rear and the only tj that had d44 in front was the rubicon

[foxraca49]

well its a jeep so you can basically do anything with it lol i like how im set up with a 4" suspension lift sittwn on 33s its great on and offroad

[texanpatriottn]

if somebody was swapped in D44's then i wonder if they had it regeared also... if so then your machine is pretty well ready for whatever you want to do with it... reason i say this is if you go with to big of tires you will have to regear, which is expensive... I'm running 33's with the stock 4.10 ratio and often laugh at myself for how weak my rig is...

[Rebel 4X4]

yes it has d44 front and was swapped out by the frist owner.he lost interest in it and never did anymore with it.as for gear i have no clue yet.lol but i know i wanna do a 4 inch lift on it and run 33s.seems thats most popular tire sizes.the lift im lookin at is the shyjacker 2.is that a ggod for the 97 tjs?

[Knuckelhead]

Tie a string to the driveshaft, roll the Jeep 1 tire rotation and count the string wraps...;)

[Nate93YJ]

well far as tranny and engine stuff i can tell u what i did on my last rig which was a 93 yj 5spd 2.5, for power i made a cold air intake w/ an aem filter, new plugs high output coil and low resistance plug wires, also did a cat back exhaust, the best thing i can tell the most difference with is the tri-county gear inertia ring, do some reading on it i LOVE it it adds 5lbs to your flywheel so once it is spinning it takes more to slow it down to stall, i could drop it in 4L and 1st gear and go threw most everything w/o every hitting the gas, if u want more info drop me a line, and a 4" skyjacker kit would be the deal,