1993 YJ first build

[Ledhed14]

Hello!

Making this post so I can track my work and share it as I go along.

I bought a decent condition 1993 yj. I live in Michigan. Told the owner I’d pay full asking if he drove it the hour it needed to go to get to my house. I considered that good enough of a test drive for me considering it was very cold and very snowy. It runs like a top and I can’t find any issues with it in the time iv owned it.

General look was:
Interior was very dirty and well used
Back seat and carpeted wood needed to go
Missing the back window panel
rusted out fuel skid plate under it
Top and windows need replacing
Body and frame workable but some rust damage
Mostly stock as far as I could tell


Started with removing and cleaning everything I could get off it. Removed the rear seats, all window panels. Washed everything real good, sprayed some primer/ rust converter.

Next i started with electrical. Radio/speaker worked(pretty sure they are aftermarket) but the cigarette lighter didn’t. Removed the entire housing and installed a new power source, with an on off button connected directly to the battery. Location will likely end up being moved. Found tons of dead wires I know I’ll have to attack.

Next was the underbelly. There are issues, but everything around those spots are in solid condition still. I took a wire brush to what I could and sprayed it with rust converter. Might go back after and add bed liner.

Before: after a bit of light sanding

After:

Up next I’m bringing it to a shop to replace the skid plate, fuel pump, 20 gallon conversion, and fuel filter while he is under there. I know I could probably of done it myself but the labor charge was cheap enough and it’s a chance to find a good shop nearby.

On the list:
body work, a few places with rust holes, but have to wait for it to get warmer before being able to paint.
Cover the entire floor pan in bed liner
Electrical mayhem under the dash
Remove top and clean/replace
Actual backup camera wiring
Adding a rocker panel for extra protection from high rust area https://www.ebay.com/itm/1166207490...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
Sound system rebuild/upgrade
New high quality seats
Maybe 5.3l ls engine and ax15 trans (or give me some good suggestions)
Replace front seats
Probably a ton of other things.

Let me know what else I should do, or what I have done wrong!

 

[Ledhed14]

Update:

I made some progress with rust on the body, electrical cleanup, and general removal of things I don’t like.

I was able to remove all of the zip on cage pads. Took a bit and needed some lube but got it done. Additionally I was able to remove the existing speaker and all wiring connected to it. Rat nest of wires has been dealt with! My current wiring is all temporary (hopefully). I have a few more wires to attach but I need to remove the radio first. If anyone has tips for this let me know.

Wiring Before:

After:

I also took on some rust removal. On both sides there is rust body damage directly under the doors towards the back tires. It was bondo’d over and painted but the paint was starting to bubble so I knew I had to address it when I bought it. It will be 90% covered by the rocker panel I have, but I want to get to and mitigate as much as I can before then. Using a magnet and a wire brush on my drill I was able to fully expose the extent of the rust. I wire brushed everything I could get off it and as close to raw metal as possible, and then sprayed with rust converter. Imagine this on both sides now sprayed with rust converter/primer. Color match Paint and clear coat on the way from scratcheshappen.com






And finally the to go pile is really stacking up. I’m sure I won’t be able to sell much, but just seeing how much progress I have made by watching the pile grow.

After all this removal I needed some speakers. I purchased these and some mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH16D4Q9?tag=yjforum-20

Once I bright this to the shop to install all the parts in the bed, I’ll get this mounted and wired up. Not sure if I’m going to hang it from the bar, or install it on the floor behind the seats.

That’s it so far but this week I’ll hopefully have another update after it gets back from car surgery.