1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ - Penny Pincher
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- Опубліковано 24 сер 2024
- In this video we meet up with an owner of a 1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ to get up and close with a build he recently finished and dubbed "Penny Pincher." He built this Jeep on a budget and now has a very capable rig. Join us as we talk with him about the history of buying it, his inspiration for the build and talk about many of the modifications he has done to it.
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1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ
4" Long Arm Kit
35" Good Year Tires
Trucklite headlights
Crawler Concepts Bumper
ATX Wheels
Flat Fenders
Beard Suspension Seats
Rock Hard roll cage
Upgraded axles - Авто та транспорт
Is it just me or did the dent on the grill bother you whole time
yup
I couldn't stop staring, and I'm not one to be picky about that stuff either.
If a dent or a scratch on a jeep bothers you. You should not be allowed to own a jeep.
It's a jeep. If its pretty, you're doing it wrong.
Sean R but it’s like the only dent
As a TJ owner, I promise no matter how cheap you got it there’s nothing penny pinching about driving one of these.
I love the Forrest green and copper/tan combo. So beautiful
Agree! I love the copper with the dark green!
Sahara colors.
Sweet!
This is exactly the type of builds I like to see. Real people not dumping their entire back account on builds.
for a penny pincher that green and copper is money! what a score on those axles, great story and build. thanks for sharing
LOL! It's money well spent!
It's like a high end pincher, lol.
Penny pinching is building it yourself. Fabricating yourself. Getting used stuff and fixing it yourself. I do like the jeep. Glad to hear the cummins swap.
that's what I was thinking, lots of "i had the shop do this and i had them do that" not really your build anymore when someone else is doing all the work. Also paying a mechanic to work on it isnt really penny pinching : /
keep the TJs/LJs comin. more character in the older rigs
Wait, 1998 is old? Okay, maybe I'm getting old! haha!
Imo, the TJ and LJ are the greatest Jeeps with apologies to the MB of course.
Jeep Beach Wheelin' I love my lj I just need a bigger lift now, 2” just doesn’t cut it for a lot of trails
When i think penny pincher/ budget build i think of junk yard springs, carbed small blocks and full size truck axles.
this gives me hope for my 98 4 banger! this is exactly what i dream for mine to look like! Time to start saving up!
Good luck with you 98 build!
this is far from a penny pincher but definitely nice
And green!, come on!
bikes yo for a Jeep, this is definitely a penny pincher
probably doesnt have $15,000 in it. That is pretty cheap
Finally!!! A TJ 👌
More to come in the future I hope!
Zephyr R&D exactly if i ever get out of my xj i would love to go to a tj
The best Jeeps of them all, nothing like a TJ. Got rid of my '08 JoKe X 3.8 mini van engine farse jeep. Going to test drive a Rubicon & X TJ's tomorrow. Psyche! Can't wait to finally getting my 4.0L I6!
Last of the best!
So how much does he have into this? New long arm lift, new bumper, new winch, new trucklites all around, new fox shocks, custom powder coating and 3 different shops doing work on it.... I wish I had a few of his "pennies"....
a jeep penny is different from a real penny
@@brendanjeans4423 I WISH they were the same
It’s cheap when you compare what you would’ve spent if everything was bought brand new .
Didn't he say $1500 (other than purchase price)?
@@tremerefury 1400 for only certain parts. that doesnt include wheels, seats, tires, engine mods, shocks, all the other parts and labor since it was done at a shop. he payed much more than 1500
Im 17 with an 05 TJ, really trying to get the money saved up to do the upgrades i want, all while trying to stay at a low but quality budget. Great video, love watching all these builds and adding things to the list that i want to do.
How'd your build go?
For a project called penny pincher all i hear too much "bought new"
And paying shops to do the work. ;)
Duo02 penny pincher for me is a $2000 ranger with lockers and a hockey puck lift
its called a penny pincher because its a tj and not a jk, lol
Lots of optional mods like the grinding the wheel wells and powder coating the rims also. It's also bothering me how light they were on pricing details of everything.
Well ok he's has about 1/2 of what someone would put in without pinching pennies...
I think it would be great to see more TJ build s
"Penny pincher" to me is more like making 2k in upgrades/repairs happen with 800. This is just another build that someone says is a "budget build" then fails to mention that budget is 30k
I bought my 98 Tj 4.0 sport for 1100 with 150k on the dash only repaired exhaust and floor pan ... steal!!
so glad my stock 98 tj has d44 rear and 4l I6 engine. still going to spend a pretty penny but im already on my way! the jeep looks great!
I'm lookin at those kevlars thinkin, "Penny Pincher my ass." lol
Tip: If you change to the diesel, I'd recommend a video from the channel "The Fast Lane Car" on how diesel exhaust fluid reduces NOx emissions. You go from a dirty polluter to basically a hippy with just an exhaust additive called UREA mixed 32.5% and 67.5% water. It's all sciency, but, that video explains it very well.
I love what you've done to the Jeep.
"Penny Pincher"...Fox Shocks...lmao. still a badass TJ though
This is awesome. I built volkswagens for the past 22 years and finally traded one for a jeep tj. The build is great, really similar to what I am working on. 👍
I love my TJ. I've thought about a new JK a few times but I just can't bring myself to getting rid of it. With all the mods I've put into it and at a reasonable cost, it just makes too much sense to keep it. And it's also just too much fun. LOL
TJ's are a worthy trail rig and if built like this one, no need to rush to upgrade to a JK.
+TrailRecon
Upgrade?
Only reason why I am driving a JKU is because my TJ was stolen. I loved my TJ. If I could, I'd buy a TJ in addition to my JKU.
Love it! I am currently in an FJ Cruiser and it's got great hwy manners in stock form. Don't really want to lift it. So I settled on a used TJ and your timing is perfect! for some ideas. Thanks! BTW my definition of penny pinching is a little bit different. :)
I like this guy. He tells you prices so if you wish to go down the rabbit hole as he did, at least you know what you’re up against.
Suer super super nice TJ. I love it. I'm happy for you to be so excited for it. You seem like a really nice guy too. Nice video.
Penny Pincher. Great idea, nice build.
My '98 4-banger had 251K miles on it when I sold it in 2013. I replaced it with a 2012 Unlimited. It currently has 84K miles on it.
I love this. I have a 2001 Jeep Wrangler I bought brand new and I have kept it stock, but now I think I'm going to start making mods.
Prayerful purchase. Appreciate that you didn’t edit that part out.
Awesome build! Love the fact that he used Craigslist for a budget. Great video Brad!
I just bought a 98 TJ and I love it!
Yes definitely do the R2.8! Excellent Jeep
Awesome build!
Nice rig, similar colour to my '99 TJ. I love JKs too but looking forward to seeing more TJs on TrailRecon.
More TJ's, JK's and other types of rigs to come is my plan.
Great video. I am right there with this guy on a budget friendly build. I have been very satisfied with some "off-brand" manufacturers. I love Smittybilt and Barracade bumpers but I wasn't prepared for the cost associated with them. I found several other manufacturers that offer relatively high quality alternatives for much less. Lighting is another place where I have found cheaper options that perform quite well. I have bought and sold parts on Craigslist and Ebay and been happy with the used/refurbished parts I have gotten. Just goes to show that It can be done. I love the "Penny Pincher" concept . Great build!!!
Building on a budget can be rewarding especially when you come across a great deal on a place likes craigslist. Thanks!
I love the 4 banger lifted and geared. I also have 4 banger tj with 5 inches of lift and 4:88 gearing. Locked in the rear and still saving to lock the front. lol. Wish i cccould say i pinched pennies but thats not the case. I am always surprising everyone i wheel with of where the little 4 banger can go. I feel when its locked up front too, it will go anywhere. Unlike this fellow im gonna keep it 2.5 litres of raw power! Lol. Love the build man, its an awesome jeep. Thanks for the video
Brad...thanks for covering this Jeep TJ. A lot like my 1998 SE, original owner, some great ideas...
Thank you! Lot's of great ideas can be taken from this TJ project for sure!
Thanks for this add, definitely an inspiration for a new 99 tj owner
Just bought a 97 all stock for 500, cant wait to upgrade. Hope I can get it pimped out like that.
wow your story sounds just like mines. two weeks ago i pick up 97 tj 4cyl with a procomp 2.5 lift out from the police auto auction. it only cost me 2k but once home and test drive the death wobble. i already replace rotors, pads, calipers and wheel bearing asembly, but im stuck at the deat wobble trying to find out where and what can be causing the issue. but your story its pretty inspiring to bring this thing back to life..
Yea I was Gonna build the TJ over a couple years, but the death wobble made expedite my process. I got new axles and drivrtrain... No more death wobble. LoL. Good luck with your build! That's a great price!
Joshua Butler , what up bro. Well funny thing I just saw your reply as I just got done with my jeep death wobble issues..lol I replace just about everything with the front suspension and steering. I found out my jeep came with a 3.5 inch lift not 2.5 like I thought it did.also a Dana44 in the rear and front Ox locker. Many parts were different manufacturers, like jks, high jackers and procomp. Now I'm waiting to do a trail run hopefully next weekend. Hope all goes well..
Sir One yes, sounds like my issue. The lift that was on it when I got it was comprised of mix match parts! No wonder it had the death wobble.
The dent haunts my perfectionism
Who makes those fenders? I already have the AEV high line kit and those would be a nice upgrade
Found a TJ in surprisingly great condition for $4,200. Very much considering purchasing it.
$4,200 here in CA is a great price for a TJ!
I can't find a TJ worth buying around me for less than 9, go for it
Awesome TJ build Dane! Definitely inspiring
Big inspiration for cost wise
I bought my 99 TJ for $2000. Has the 4.0 and it runs perfect. Owner needed the money and didn't want to fix the exhaust/brake lines.
I drove my TJ 1998 for 19 years it also had a 2.5 that jeep would go anywhere
Jeez this guys finding the holy grails in used parts
Awesome build.... Great interview!!!!
Thank you! We had a great time filming this!
This is super similar to where I want my jeep to be set up and color scheme, and he even wants the same engine swap as me omg!!!! This guy must be me 😂
Collin, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Sweet TJ
It sure it!
sweet build- not a jeep guy anymore but this is awesome!
New to off roading and looking for a starter Jeep or truck on a budget. This looks very inspiring...great job
I'm into my 4.0 Lj for about 18.5k and can no doubt out wheel this dude any day, tally up his build and its sitting right around 25k. its a very nice looking jeep but I certainly question some of the craigslist #'s he threw out on wheels and tires and the axles. just saying
it isnt the jeep it is the driver. Dude cant off road and said it was for his kid to learn? PIFF and son you can have it SURRREEE!!! How about a new one DAD! only 60K......
Yeah, I call BS
I bought mine which was red but kinda like this one at auction but from an old Man. Super clean Jeep w/ 33’s, Dana 44 front & rear, 4cyl, 4:10 gears, soft top, 97. I put a 6 1/2” long arm kit w/ 35 Super Swampers, Detroit Lockers front & rear, Hella Lights, Stinger, 8k lb Warren Winch, DVD player premium sound, etc. for an extra $14k. So I had around $20k invested. It was great on the trail. Named her “Ballz Deep” she led the pack but it sucked on the highway & in town. Just no power. Looking back, I would’ve never done what I did w/ such a small engine. Never pay more than $4k for a 4cyl Jeep. IMO Sold her for $9k cash less than a year later to a Lawyer. He tore it up. She won many car shows also
I love your Jeep. Very inspiring!! I have a 98 same color. 4.0 mine cost 5k with 130k mi. No rust..
I’ve probably watched this video 10 times over the years and it just occurred to me that he said he has a background in building prerunners, but he had a shop do all the work on the Jeep when it’s just bolting on parts?
I paid $4,100 for my 97 XJ (stock) and have about $5,000 into it so far. Long arms, lockers, trusses, sliders etc!
great story and build. thanks for sharing
@5:57 Did anyone else notice the tri-link bracket crack?
mightymikee is it a crack off a one piece item or is it two pieces, as in welded down the side of the bracket causing a step which is poorly welded? Not sure...
What flat fenders are these? i need wide ones like this to stay legal here in NZ
really want to see that zj from a off-road trip you were on recently.
Working on coordinating with the owner... hopefully in a few weeks we can get our schedules to line up.
Is it me or does Dane look like Drew Carrie??
This build is a beast!
I love it.
Not really a huge jeep fan. But this makes me want one now, just gotta make my 1970 F100 badass first.
Looks great! I wish I could find some deals like that!
This guy has some very giving friends.
I want to meet this guy! I have a 98 Sahara and he's doing everything I want but I can't find anything for the prices he is, amazing build for sure!
Ah, the last generation legacy Jeep 1997 to 2006 TJ. TJ should stand for, "Traditional Jeep," now. It is fitting for the last true, "traditional," Jeep. It may have been, "Trendy Jeep," back 8n the day. But, "traditional Jeep," is what it should stand for today.
what brand are the fenders cause i want THOSE fenders on my tj so badly. and ive watched this video so many times. i love this build and i finally have money to do more upgrades so i want those fenders.
dope rig!
It's a really sweet Jeep TJ! I would love to hear how much you actually spent on it. Whatever it is, definitely worth it.
Ronnie Montemayor total cost for everything with the cost of the jeep was 12,000.
What a good build. I loved it
Very cool vid. Keep up the great work bro. Woooooweeeee👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you! Really appreciate it!
Good solid build! Scott
funny story I when I bought a 1990 YJ four banger I paid 3 grand for it, no rust but it had the axles mounted under the springs,I changed all that stuff, the motor had been rebuilt 160 compression on all four, the engine ran like crap, the distributor was off by two teeth, which knocks the timing way off, the computer was messed up too , so I had it reflashed with emission delete, I put another 500 in parts, when I took the rear drums off the linings fell off the shoes and it had both lead ing shoes on one side and the shorter ones on the other wheel, plus it needed a new timing chain , which is easy as there is plenty of space to work, the seller kept saying the heat worked ( no thermostate) and a radio, big deal. After I got the Jeep running, the seller wanted to buy it back, and I said no way, this sucker runs like a top, I live in the rough mountains of WV,I ride around with no carpet no roof and no doors even in winter, and removed the passenger seat and rear seats so I can stuff my kayak in it
Just picked up a little 2.5 liter tj on 33s. Any recommendations on what size gears I should upgrade too. Thing is big time lagging on 4th and 5th .
488's are the answer.
Very cool build!
Very nice looks good
I wish we could do half the stuff he did his jeep in Australia. Half the mods he did to his would have the police pulling over and ticketing a car like that within the first hour of it being driven on the road
craigslist is your friend
I have found so many good deals on craiglist over the years... just have to put in the work to find the right stuff.
Dirt every day was my jeep Inspiration too
Great video and really cool build.
as an owner of an xj and an explorer, I can say jeeps are cheaper (modding wise) due to their aftermarket support.. The '3 lift kit etc. on my explo and tires all in all came out close to $5000 I spent half that on a similar kit for my xj sport
Awesome rig and awesome review!
New sub here....love the channel!!!
I did a Rubicon on my 2.5l to without any issues.
You could add the 2018 jeep pentistar engine with the 8 speed transmitiontion would make the the 1998 jeep wrangler jeep tj a bit more speedy
I would like to know how much a difference the exhaust and intake mods made from stock and if it was enough to keep him from wanting to swap in a bigger motor or selling and buying a jeep w a 6 cylinder.
Very cool
Good call man. Tubesock was a good rig.
Tube sock for the win and the rims looks similar to tubesock's rim's at there moab trip
excellent stewardship! Awesome rig!
Inland Jeep in Rialto, nice... my old home town.
tell me where to buy that steering wheel and the little red thing behind it ha
This Jeep is perfect!
Awesome Tj man. But I think you're $well past penny pincher$ already. Lol
Cool rig... don’t agree that it needs more motor just to do the Rubicon / rockcrawl 🤨 but maybe he said that to convince himself he needed the R2.8 😂 😂🤣
Kinda prefer the way it looked in the before pictures