1999 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 4.0 REBUILD. →

In 2001, I bought my first and only Jeep Wrangler. It was a pre-turn-of-the-century 1999 Sahara model TJ and my primary vehicle in my mid-twenties. In 2005, I gave it to my Dad, who drove it periodically for years to come but eventually it ended up stored in my parents garage covered with dust and four flat tires. My options were to either sell it as-is or have some fun and revive it with new life. In 2012, I ordered a flatbed truck and had it hauled into a nearby custom bodyshop for a complete rebuild. If you’re familiar with Quadratec, well, I went a bit crazy and shipped everything straight to the shop. I was adamant about painting the Jeep flat black but the shop owner had another idea. He suggested a unique textured finish that wasn’t well known in the Midwest. The Rhino Liner and LINE-X textured finishes gained popularity in Texas in 2011. The owner of the shop caught wind of it and applied it to his ‘12 JK. It was the first time I’d seen this paint job and I was sold. Nowadays, it’s rare NOT to see a Jeep on the road with a similar finish, although they’re mostly newer JKs or JLs and I’ve yet to see another TJ done this way. The project was one of many jobs the shop was doing so it took 6 months, which was a long wait but worth it. I still have the Jeep today and it’s highlighted in the Gallery section above. Not only does this Jeep have a ton of sentimental value having had it for 20 years, but it also sparked my interest in starting a Jeep club to enjoy with my friends and family! The complete checklist of the rebuild and project photos are down below. The Jeep pictured next to mine is the shop owner’s Jeep and was the inspiration for the paint job.

-CB

  • Exterior/Interior/Hardtop Fully Refinished in Black Satin Rhino Liner

  • Bestop Trektop NX Twill Soft Top

  • Bestop Black Denim Sports Bar Covers

  • Trailmax II Pro Vinyl Black Denim Driver/Passenger/Rear Seats

  • Original Sahara Tan Interior Trim Refinished in Black Satin

  • Tuffy Secure Glove Box Safe

  • Kenwood KDC-BT952HD Stereo

  • Hertz 8-Speaker Audio with Dual 10” Subwoofers in Rhinolined Box

  • Hertz HDP D-Class 1000W Amplifier

  • New OEM Door Handles, Mirrors, Hood Latches and Hood Bumpers

  • Smittybilt XRC Front & Rear Bumpers with Tow Hitch

  • Smittybilt XRC Oversized Tire Carrier

  • Smittybilt SRC Side Armor

  • Smittybilt SRC Tube Doors

  • Quadratec Quick Release Round Mirrors

  • Four Point High Rock 4x4 D-Rings finished in Black Satin

  • Quadratec 9000 Winch

  • Warn Wireless 6.5” Halogen Fog Lights

  • Badland 48” High Lift Trail Jack

  • JoyTutus High Lift Tube Mount

  • ORO LiteDot Round LED Tailights

  • Bushwacker Flat Style Fender Flares in Black Satin

  • 4” Warrior Suspension Lift Kit

  • Super Lift Track Bars in Front and Rear

  • OME Nitrocharger Steering Stabilizer

  • All New U-Joints

  • Dana 30 in the Front with Upgraded 4.88 Gearing

  • Dana 35 in the Rear with Upgraded 4.88 Gearing

  • Rear Posi

  • Hypertech +25 HP Tuner

  • Speedometer Gear

  • New Front & Rear Brakes

  • New Russell Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines

  • 17x9 ProComp Series 7089 1-Piece Cast-Blast Satin Alloy Wheels

  • 35x12.5R-17 Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar Tires + Spare

  • Custom 4” Side Exhaust Located in Front of Passenger Side Rear Tire