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Thread: Homebuilt TJ Brute

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    Default Homebuilt TJ Brute



    I like it - I'd prefer normal paint on the outside and the rear window seems a bit oversized. But considering its a bit of a homebuilt runt...I'd definitely wheel it. Put a lockbox/toolbox in the bed, 35s for the long wheelbase (which it looks like it could clear - but don't know about the gear ratio) and it'd be a lot of fun. Don't know much about the 5.2V8 or the Chrysler 8.25, but seems pretty darn cool. Wonder if the frame welds are done well...If I were looking for a wheeler I would seriously consider this but not quite feeling the price - maybe $8500-10000, although if its well done it might be worth more. Also guessing it would be a hard sell (limited buyers) so buy it to keep it and wheel it for a while.

    https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/...741344684.html
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    alanmikkelsen (November 14th, 2018)

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Hmm.....not so much. Frame welds don't look so great. But I would wheel it if that was fixed right
    ___________
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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Fun fact- there is no such thing as a 1996 Wrangler. The last YJ was 1995, TJ production is 1997-2006.

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Paul previously posted:
    "Fun fact- there is no such thing as a 1996 Wrangler. The last YJ was 1995, TJ production is 1997-2006."

    Wow. Good to know...
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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Wrangler is a specific model name?

    I use the name to denote that body style in generic. Facial Tissue / Kleenex???

    I guess I have a hole in my logic with the CJ era

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Jim previously posted:
    "Wrangler is a specific model name?

    I use the name to denote that body style in generic. Facial Tissue / Kleenex???

    I guess I have a hole in my logic with the CJ era"

    It appears Paul is pointing out that no YJ nor TJ was manufactured in '96. I don't read his comment as tying the Wrangler name to any model generation (CJ, YJ, TJ are all wranglers).

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    CJ are not Wranglers! All jeeps since then (YJs, TJs, JKs, JLs) are designated model name Wrangler. I believe Paul is correct that there was no 96 production of any wrangler as it was between the YJ and TJ - although I believe you could still buy new YJs off the lot in early 96 and possibly be titled as a 96 (although it was run off the production line as a 95 model. TJ was released in spring of 96 as a 97 model year.
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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Thanks for the clarification about CJ, James. Today I learned something.

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    I think there was attempt with the first Wrangler (YJ) to try and rebrand from the CJ name (this wasn't that long after the Consumer Reports investigation about the cj5 and rollovers). When I bought my first car (an 89 YJ) in 95, nobody called them YJs, just Wranglers. I think when the TJ wrangler came out, things started to shift back to using the 2 letter model identifier as Chrysler was trying to tie back in to the jeep heritage. I remember the TJ jeep sales brochure having pictures of a blue cj2a and a white cj3b. There of course, was a lot of discussion regarding the move back to round headlights with the classic jeep 7 slot grill (this may have even been when the grill became trademarked?). Once TJ became part of the lexicon I think people started using YJ to differentiate (heck I don't think most people even new what the letters were for the YJ Wrangler when it came out). In many ways - this isn't that different from other cars that go through model revisions.

    The model name (Wrangler, Corvette, Mustang) stays the same, but the different 'generations' are usually designated in some way in terms of corporate model numbers etc, its just that with jeeps, the model name didn't seem to stick in the lexicon as much. Part of that might be the loose use and re-use of certain names - even for significantly different vehicles - such as Cherokee, Renegade, Wangoneer, Grand Cherokee etc...so sometimes its easier to refer to them using the letter designation. So the mid-size cherokee is often known as the XJ to differentiate from the early FSJ Cherokee or the current version, or even the GrandCherokee (ZJ and later the WJ?). The current jeep Renegade is again a re-use of a previous jeep feature - an upgrade package on ecj5, then a graphics package on cj5 and 7s, then a ridiculous aero-trim package on YJs, and now its a different model. The term Laredo usually refers to a graphics and luxury package, but was also used across many different models and generations starting with 80s cjs and continuing to this day on many different Cherokees, GCs, etc. I kind of think it got overly complicated as first Chrysler, then Daimler, and now FCA have continued to attempt to tap into the jeep brand heritage for marketing purposes and keep bringing back names but using them for new purposes.
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    Jim (November 15th, 2018)

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Thx. You present names I've not heard in a while (Renegade) or that Laredo was (typically) used for a deluxe package.

    How about Sahara? Any purpose for that name - graphics only or vehicle features?

    Any pic of the aero-trim YJ package you mention?

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Sahara was a graphics package (that probably came with a few interior upgrades) that started with the YJ and I think has been used ever since.

    Renegade package on YJs - it has a little bit of the cj10 look:
    https://www.google.com/search?q=jeep...w=1366&bih=626
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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Oh _THAT_ (my mind does not compute how that design made it to production)


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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    I thought the easiest feature to notice to identify Sahara trim is the body-colored fenders. I think on JK / JL, it also comes with other things like leather seats and (JL-only) full-time 4WD transfer case.

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    Jim previously posted:
    "Oh _THAT_ (my mind does not compute how that design made it to production)

    "

    neither do I...I think it had some sort of 80s styling inspiration that came out in 1990 right about when the 90s were trying to be everything the 80s were not? Although i still don't love it, it gets significantly better with a lift and bigger tires,but that front end is still pretty ugly.:

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    On the original YJ Sahara - it seemed it was always a sort of drab sand/tan color and I think it did come with matching fender flares at the time as well. Up till then, all fender flares had been black. It had some pin stripes and I am guessing the fog lights might have been part of the package.
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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    I owned a black YJ Sahara.

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    Default Re: Homebuilt TJ Brute



    All of us CJ owners back in the day knew "YJ" stood for yuppie jeep and we didn't want to be seen in one. Square headlights were an abomination on a Jeep and not to be confused with "real" jeeps. However we all wanted the nice features the later YJ's offered and jumped at the chance to get galvanized boxed frames and fuel injection and such. Also figured out it was real easy to put a CJ grill and hood on a YJ and keep the traditional look.

    Now have a CJ in the garage, a YJ in the driveway and a JK in front of the house and spend most of the summer on the Harley.... Hmmm

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