neohic Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Another year has come and gone already. What a trip, right?! Take a second and think back at everything that you've accomplished on your MJ over the entire year... probably not near as much as you would've liked to have gotten done, right? I'm in the same boat. What if you had more time? How about 26 years or so? Say, WHA'?! Yup... we've gone into original owner territory! It's December and this month we celebrate... SLORIDE'S 1988 BASE!!! YEAR/MODEL ● 1988, Base, 2wd originally Purchased new. Overland Park Jeep Eagle, Overland Park, KS ENGINE/PERFORMANCE ● 4.0 / 6 cylinder DRIVETRAIN ● Was BA10/5 - 3.07 rear axle Now AX-15 /NP231 (‘96XJ) 3.55 rear and front axles (98 XJ) COOLING ● Stock original radiator with closed system on 3rd pressure bottle Original two fan stock set up Has A/C that’s recently been converted to R134 Replaced all hoses and ‘hard’ components except evaporator Evaporator flushed because a suitable replacement that would fit heater box was nowhere to be found ELECTRICAL/IGNITION ● Pretty much stock from the factory Idiot lights on dash swapped with gauge cluster SUSPENSION/STEERING ● New springs at four corners along with new shocks Suspension parts and steering you’d typically find on a stock ’98 XJ INTERIOR ● Charcoal grey colored buckets and carpet Full center console On its second headliner Manual windows Tilt wheel with cruise (Couldn’t get one without the other.) Came without radio or cigar lighter Currently has Pioneer head unit and Kicker speakers, front and back BRAKES ● ’98 discs rolling up front ’94 ZJ discs rolling back on the 8.25 Load sensing valve replaced with an adjustable version New hoses all around LIGHTING ● Stock lights at the corners, front and back Headlight up grade on the to-do list Interior lights converted to LED Dash lights, courtesy, B-pillar are all LED Adding LEDS to inside and outside console, specifically the back of the console – ash tray is out of there! Added LEDS in select spots elsewhere in cab EXTERIOR ● The MJ is rolling with the original, but since faded, Colorado red paint One minor mishap back in ‘96 when the then wife tried moving a concrete pole with the left front fender There’s a couple of dings with a few rust spots but no major cancer WHEELS/TIRES ● Truck came with stock steel wheels. Current aluminum rims added back in ’97 Tires are Firestone Destination A/T P235/75R15 MISCELLANEOUS ● Now, you might wonder how a base MJ came with buckets, console, carpet, tilt with cruise, A/C, 5spd and 4.0. Well, I ordered the truck from the factory that way. This was to be my DD doing 100 miles a day, all highway. Did I want all the bells and whistles? Yep, you bet I did. But this truck fit my budget at the time. To be honest, I never thought I’d keep it past five years. Remember That One Time?... Tell Us Your Best MJ Story ● If I had to pick one, it would be the first snow storm I encountered while driving that truck. With 4 tubes of sand in the back and a good set of snow tires, that 2wd drive 5 speed pickup would practically go anywhere. You’d have a blast doing it, too. CC is Awesome!... Why Do You Think So? ● For me, what started out as a casual one time search for tips on dropping a transmission out of an MJ has turned into a daily obsession of reading CC. The information on this site is priceless. Every day you learn something new. This site Pete started is truly awesome. The admins and moderators, as well as those others that keep this site functioning while offering advice and insight, cannot be thanked enough. This site, unlike some others on the web, makes you feel welcome. Congrats! And thanks. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● I can't even imagine if I had the opportunity to have my '88 since it was new. I love the simplicity of this truck and how it's another perfect example of making these trucks into what you want it to be! Have a look at everything that you've done since day one and the best part about it is that it's clearly still the same truck only better. It was beautiful then and it's beautiful now! Thanks for keeping it that way, Jay! Congratulations! -Ben This post has been promoted to an article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottJeep Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 WOW....awesome..near mostly original...might I say retro' mod MJ. Congrats on MJOTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiedust64 Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Very nice! It's so cool to see other original owners. I'm the original owner of my '92. I really wanted bucket seats, but I would of had to upgrade to either a Pioneer or Eliminator. I couldn't do it, due to the price increase at the time. Shout out and represent, congrats on your nomination! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-man930 Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Modified tastefully and driven! Love it :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Awesome. I like the truck, but love the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buxmj Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Congrats and nice mods done. Hope you have it another 26 years! Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbain Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Very nice truck.... the floorboards are amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91Pioneer Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 That is a super nice truck. Only one thing I'd suggest to improve it is to add some kind of OEM decal on the side, SporTruck or something would just be the icing on the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjrev10 Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Original owner and truck modded to suit present needs. There's not many guys like that out there! Congrads! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloride Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Thanks guys. I really appreciate the compliments. I see a lot of neat stuff you guys are doing with your trucks and I'd love to do the same and maybe experiment with bushwacker type wheel moldings or wrap around bumpers, but can't bring myself to take a pair of tin snips to the old girl's body panels....... Now a decal I could do, but a paint job would have to come first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Wonderful truck! Makes me wanna rip my Dakota seat out and find some MJ buckets... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Super clean, original MJ. Nice! Do you have a write up on the hand brake installation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloride Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Thanks! Sorry, no write up on the hand brake installation. I'm not entirely happy with it since it hits the shifter. Replacing it with another shorter version hand brake is on the to-do list. There's hand brakes that you have to cut the floor for the cable and hand brakes you bolt to the floor for the cable to be above the floor. This one is cable above. (I couldn't bring myself to cut a hole in the floor.) I just wrapped the existing e-brake cable around to come in from the front of the hand brake. I can take pics and post later if anyone's interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 When I first laid eyes on this jewel there was no doubt it would become the next MJOTM. The original owner, tastefully improved and modernized over the years, and dedication to the MJ marque are all qualities that exemplify what the MJOTM award is supposed to represent. Congratulations and thanks Jay for preserving this fine MJ example for so many years. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
az comanches Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Very nice truck, my 88 has been in my family since new. My first car was a 66 GTO, bought it new, loved the restoration on yours. Swapped out the 389 for a 421. Traded it in for a VW Beetle in 68 after I got drafted, sad day. Don't see many original owner MJ's yours is really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usamedic Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I like it! thats the kind of truck I want for my daughter when she is ready to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Double tapping this truck cause its just so right. Its perfect, I wonder how many other original owners are out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloride Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Thanks for the kind words, guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I wonder how many other original owners are out there? can't be many. I've owned my 88 for 18 years fricken now and if I remember right I'm the 5th owner. Take good care of her, Jay! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar95350 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Nice looking Comanche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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