After separating from the Air Force on 9 Oct 1996, I decided I wanted some bigger tires and a lift kit on the Jeep. I went to a local tire shop (big mistake) and inquired about an Explorer Pro Comp 4″ lift with some 33×15.50 Interco TSX Super Swampers and 15×10 black modular rims.

First of all, never go to a tire shop for 4×4 work. They overcharged (like 200%), took 3 times longer than promised, basically lied to me on pricing, and kept bugging me about how to do the installation (duh, it’s 4 leaf spring packs, shocks, a drop pitman arm, and 2″ spacers for the transmission/T-case mounting bracket/skid plate – not rocket surgery). Should’ve been an easy job, but nope. Lesson learned.

But – it was so damn cool when I finally got it back.

The first thing I did was shore up the interior by getting some sheet metal screws and reattached the A/C to the dashboard.  After that was done, I picked up a nice JVC AM/FM/Cassette deck from the BX, and scored some second-hand stereo gear from a couple of friends.  I tore out the seats and laid down some black astroturf (rather than carpet) and bought some new seat covers.  Then I got a padded roll-bar cover, spare tire cover, and bikini top from 4WD Hardware.  So basically after some hardcore cleaning, the astroturf, some seat covers and a kickin’ stereo, the Jeep’s pretty much mine now.  No turning back now – and no pictures handy.

All of this stuff happened while my wife was stationed in Korea. The deal happened so fast, I didn’t have a chance to consult with her as it all transpired. I was a little afraid she would be upset when I finally got a chance to call her to tell her I had sold the Blazer and bought a Jeep. But quite to the contrary, she was almost ecstatic since she actually really hated my Blazer – another story.  OK – so that went well and it looks like the Jeep is a welcome addition to the family, after all.

So, sometime in March 1995, I checked in with my friends at the Auto Hobby Shop, and Don was talking about this cool old Jeep CJ-7 sitting in Stall 1, asking what I thought it was worth, being a 4×4 guy. I said that it looked like about $3500 to me, and he then asked, “What about if I took the winch off it?” Well, a winch is just an accessory, so I’d said it was still good for $3500. Then he asked, “Do you think it would sell for $1400?” I asked him if he’d take a check, and to give me a couple days to sell my ’78 K5 Blazer.

Little did I know there were wheels & deals flying around while I was getting the Blazer sold to an old paintball buddy. I showed up on Saturday with the money, and one of the other guys had already sold it to someone else in my unit, who had no idea I was already working a deal. He then ‘sold it’ to me for another $100. Guh… whatta PITA, but oh well – I have an awesome Jeep CJ-7 now!

Here are a few shots of it in the driveway after I got it home and washed.