Andrew Gee’s 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ

The TJ Wrangler was sold from 1997 to 2007 when it was replaced by the JK which was available in two and four-door versions.

The TJ has been and still is a popular choice for people who want to use their Wranglers off road and to modify them, mainly because their electrical system is much simpler than the later vehicle with its CANBUS system. The early TJs in fact rock a 4.0 litre ( straight) six-cylinder engine and three-speed auto straight out of a Chrysler Valiant.

I’ve owned my particular TJ for over 15 years and most of the mods I have made in that time have just been to improve serviceability and keep it going rather than improve its performance.

For instance, I have replaced the original suspension units with Old Man Emu 50 mm springs and Rough Country shock absorbers. Also over the years all of the suspension arms have also been changed to stronger tubular ones that are adjustable in length with better bushes.

The front upper arms are particularly weak and failure results in a lot of collateral damage to the transfer case. For a long time I ran sway-bar disconnects in the front for increased articulation off road but I’ve recently fitted an Anti-rock swaybar and am looking forward to not having to reconnect the sway-bar at the end of the day.

The transfer case also has the slip yoke removed and a longer CV drive shaft fitted to remove the weak stock driveshaft that causes problems when the vehicle is raised (which puts the universal joints at too great an angle for them to last very long).

The best modification I have made would have to be the cable to the transfer case to replace the shifting mechanism, it shifts reliably now.

Another essential mod for a three speed auto is to relocate the breather, though unfortunately you need to remove the transmission to do it. Without raising the breather you can’t risk going into deep water without getting water into your friction plates.

Finally, I usually run 32 or 33 inch tyres on 15 x 8 rims and 4.11 gearing.