Derek's old MJ Phase I - Exterior

I've wanted a project MJ for several years now and the stars have finally aligned to make it possible.

A local XJ guy overheated his '98 and bought a new head for it. He is moving and was tired of working on the jeep, so finishing the XJ wasn't an option for him. Since it wasn't running, no one really wanted to bite once he offered it up for sale. I showed up with cash a month or so later and got a screaming deal on it.



I could finish the head swap and sell it, but I want the transfer case for my WJ and I have a sneaking suspicion that it would be more trouble than it appears on the surface. Plus, a few days after towing it home, Derek (jmaxj) sent me a text with this picture:


His old MJ was on a trailer and about to be sent to the scrap yard. A few text messages and $300 later, it was off the trailer and in my backyard.












What's a guy to do with a Comanche in the back yard in need of a facelift and a '98 parts jeep 10' away? Pictures to come...

Cool, Israel. Does the MJ run?

That is sweet Israel! I have a similar bumper on my MJ

johnnyc said:

Cool, Israel. Does the MJ run?

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It does, but it has a knocking noise. Sounds a bit louder than something in the head. I have plans for a motor swap, but thats phase IV or something.

willie1 said:

That is sweet Israel! I have a similar bumper on my MJ

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Thanks!

Wow. That MJ is clean and straight for having passed through Derek's hands.

sweet!!! glad you got it man, i was sad when he tried to scrap it.

and geoff that thing looked a lot better before the dude stripped parts off it. oh and if you need a couple more tail lights i seem to still have the spares i had for it.

Isn't it? For as long as he had it, I'd expect it to have been rolled twice.

jmaxj said:

sweet!!! glad you got it man, i was sad when he tried to scrap it.

and geoff that thing looked a lot better before the dude stripped parts off it. oh and if you need a couple more tail lights i seem to still have the spares i had for it.

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I could use the passenger side at least. I noticed it was missing.

well if you were still going to the run this weekend i'd bring them to ya

I've got your ZJ parts too.

Israel said:

I've got your ZJ parts too.

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Were you following him when they fell off?

Israel said:

Isn't it? For as long as he had it, I'd expect it to have been rolled twice.

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He had it for two weeks?

Sweet pick up!