My 87 YJ build.

I bought this 1987 Jeep Wrangler YJ from a good friend of mine. He had plans to build it into a rock crawler that just never came to fruition. So, I bough the Jeep from him in 2017. It had tons of parts I would never use so I sold those off to pay for the rebuild.

To start the process I had to repair all of the rust and wires that had been considered food by mice and squirrels. The driver floor pan and underbody bracing had to be replaced. I also replaced a portion of the passenger side and the mounts for the roll bar. Then I found a newer rust free frame in Atlanta that I bought to replace mine which had rotted just in front of the rear shackle mounts.

Next, I worked on the drive train and attempted to get it back to tip top shape. Unfortunately, the original 2.5L 4 banger was just too weak. I struggled on back roads and and hill I encountered. So I made the decision to get a V8 for it. I found a 5.7L out of a 97 Silverado that was in decent shape.

Here is where I am now!! I have been rebuilding the 5.7 to make it good again. I tore it apart and found it had spun a crank bearing and 2 rod bearings. Replaced the crank and had the block machined to fix the damage. Unfortunately it also meant that I could no longer use the stock timing chain and had to get a .010 under chain to make up the difference from the block work. I also went double roller for added strength. Now I am going carburetor since the crank shaft position sensor could no longer be used. I have a Holley 600cfm that was given to me for a case of beer that is being rebuilt this week. Then I just get to finish up the engine and start on making it all fit and function on the Jeep.

It has been a long and very drawn out process, but I have made it work in my small home garage and working many late nights. I’m ready to get it finished and start my adventures with my family now.