In 1997 Jeep finally decided to bring the round headlights back to the Jeep grill! We were extremely excited and had to have one. It wasn't until April of '99 that we purchased one, but we decided to buy the original... a 1997 Jeep TJ Sport. From that purchase, the TJ has seen a few changes. In fact, not sure there is much factory Jeep left now.

We were flipping through some pictures not to long ago when we came across a picture of our Project TJ when it was first purchased. We were amazed at the transformation it has seen in the past 5 years.



Here is a list of the modifications we have done in the past 5 years:

-Custom Dash -

Now that we look at the list... Wow, what is left??? Well, as you know, our Jeeps are never done! There is still plenty to do. But let us give you some updates on some of our projects that we have done and how they work.

JeepTrix Custom Dash

We wanted to something really unique with our vehicle. We contacted Duffy Ladd at JeepTrix to fabricate a custom dash. Duffy had not done a dash in a TJ yet, so he jumped at the chance. Some say it has to be difficult to see your gauges, but in the few years we've had it, there have been no problems (except trying to keep it clean from dust, kids, etc...) and we love the reaction we get when people see it! While there, we also had Duffy fab up a full custom roll cage, however we have not had to test it yet, and hope we don't have to. (see article)

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When we were looking for a lift we wanted something over 4" and something that would fit 35's without breaking a sweat (or a fender flare). This is when Skyjacker answered the call with their 6" Rock Ready lift kit. We installed the lift kit, then had to install a slip yoke eliminator kit to correct drive line angles. With the kit installed, (without lockers mind you) we were able to follow some of the more 'built' vehicles we went wheelin' with. Only problems that we have had with the kit was the front sway bar disconnects kept breaking, but Skyjacker quickly came out with a perfect fix for this. The only other problem we had was the rear factory brackets kept trying to rip off the axle. A few welds fixed that problem, and so did the replacement Ford 8.8. We have been extremely happy with Skyjackers kit and would highly recommend it. We also installed all of Skyjackers skid plates (belly pan, steering box, high capacity tranny pan, and tie rod). All of these were easy to install and have been a real help when tackling those tough trails. (see article)

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In order to fit the Skyjacker belly pan, we had to add a 1" body and motor mount lift. To do this, we contacted Mountain Off-road Enterprises. Their equipment is some of the toughest and well built we've seen and to top it off, it is easy to install (can be done by 1 person).

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The factory gas tank skid plate is made from a thin sheet of metal that can barely stand the pounding from big rocks. Kilby Enterprises came out with the TJ skid plate made of thick steel that bolts right to the stock location. Another easy install and your tank is protected when you 'accidentally' drop it on to that sharp jagged rock. We can attest that rocks are no match for this skid plate! If you don't have one, order one! (see article)

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When it comes to off-roading, there is one thing we all do... Air down! But, when you get to the end of your trail, if your lucky, you have a trailer and just throw your rig on the trailer and drive home. But for those of us that drive our rigs to the trail, we need a way to air our tires up. If you're close to town, you can just take it slow back to the nearest gas station and air up. But if you are a ways away, you need to get those tires aired back up. There are many options on the market right now, but we are extremely happy with the Onboard Air system from Kilby Enterprises. Install was easy, and is not all that expensive to do. Plus, you have an unlimited air source! (see article)

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We had a way to air our tires up, but getting them down took a while. We had a set of the trail airdowns that screw onto the valve stem, but we heard of something different. The R.A.D's as they are better known, have a valve that unscrews and airs down in about 5 seconds. That's more time to chat with friends or just hit the trail that much sooner. Plus, if you are out playing around and need to air down quick, you're ready to go! We have had no problems with these and love them. (see article)

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When the Sailcloth hit the market, there was a big rumor that these were much quieter than a factory soft top. We had to find out for ourselves, so we contacted Bestop and ordered our new Sailcloth top. The install was another easy one and was on in an hour or two. Is there a decrease in wind noise? Yes! We noticed a big difference. All Jeeps should have one of these. (see article)

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When we discovered a crack in our exhaust manifold, we knew there was no way we were getting past the smog test. So we decided, instead of spending an arm & a leg on a stock manifold, that we would just replace the entire system. With the help of Ron Schnieder from the Off-Road General Store, we replaced our stock system with our new Borla headers and exhaust system. With the swap, we have noticed increased performance and have a nice rumble from under the Jeep. The only issue we have noticed with the exhaust system, is that the exhaust tube wraps between the bell housing and the high capacity tranny pan leaving it vulnerable to rocks... and yes, we have already hit it. Other than that, have had no issues with the system and would recommend it. (see article)

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After being at several off-roading events with Jim Reel, we became increasingly impressed with his drivelines. Jim sponsors several of the major rigs in competitions and everyone we have talked to have stated that they are probably the strongest part on their vehicle. So we contacted J.E. Reel to get some shafts made for the Project TJ. We actually got to go to Jim's shop and see how the drivelines are made. J.E. Reel puts a lot of time into these and we have had no problems with ours! The only down fall is that they tend to be a little more expensive then other brands, but, you get what you pay for... It just may be worth spending a few more dollars for some really high quality, dependable drive shafts. (see article)

Ford 8.8 install (

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We were driving down the street, when this loud gear grinding noise came from the rear of the vehicle. The Jeep would not go forward. We had the Jeep towed home and opened up the rear Dana 35. To our surprise, one of the bearings had completely disintegrated and the gears began grinding. Since we did not want to really sink any money into a D35, we decided to look at our options. We decided to go with a Ford 8.8 (why? Because it was free! 2 of our Editors chipped in and purchased it - wow, what great friends!). With the new 8.8 on its way, it was time to get the brackets for it. Mountain Offroad Enterprises offers an install kit for the 8.8's. We ordered it and had an install party! (see article). The 8.8 came with 4.10's in it, so we had to install 4.10's in the front D30. We contacted Randy's Ring and Pinion because they had the best prices and the greatest customer service we found. We ordered 4.10's for the D30 along with a new ARB locker. We also had them throw in a Detroit for the 8.8. We installed the 4.10's ourselves, but would highly recommend taking the vehicle to a qualified mechanic. (see Ford 8.8 article - see Randy's Ring & Pinion article)

Axis Faux Bead Locks & Swamper SSR's

A new addition to the project TJ are a set of 15x7.5 Axis Regulators. These are a fake bead lock that gives our Jeep that trail look (while remaining street legal). To complement the rims are a set of 35x12.50 Interco SSR Super Swampers. Together, this combination really turns some heads. We went with a fake bead lock on the Jeep because it tends to see more street these days than dirt, but we hope that changes soon! (see article)

Custom PRP Suspension Seats (Daily Drivers)

After several years running some junkyard seats, we decided to finally break down and purchase some custom seats that would pull the interior out a bit more. So, we contacted PRP after Feature Editor Mike Troy purchased his and had our custom seats designed to our liking and shipped within 3 weeks. They fit great, installed quickly, are really comfortable, and hold you in while at extreme angles. (see article)

These are just a few of the major items we have done. Click on the items listed below for a write up on the equipment. Thus far, we have been impressed with all the items we have installed. Each item has done what the company built it to do, and we honestly would not change any of it!

Special thanks to:

JeepTrix
Skyjacker
Mountain Offroad Enterprises
Tom Woods
J.E. Reel Drivelines
Kilby Enterprises
Klune-V
Borla Exhaust
Bestop
Randy's Ring & Pinion
Interco
Axis Sports
Genuine Steel
PRP Seats

Other Articles

Custom Baby Seat
Flush Mounted Tail Lights
Jeep Actually Off-road