Buy a Kid a Jeep and..........

[Big Red 97]

So the other day I was checking out Davey's web site and my 13 y/o son walked by, he saw a stolen/recovery/stripped TJ on there and told me that would be a great project. I said what's wrong w/ the YJ in the garage, he said we could build the TJ together and it would be his when he turns 16. (Besides a 16 y/o doesn't need a 350 powered YJ to start out) Mind you he also had emailed his grandma about this TJ and how he liked it. Long story short, my 13 y/o now has a 2000 TJ Wrangler, he is on cloud 9 and pouring over the 4-WDH catalogs. Just about everything it needs is bolt on so it's easy stuff and for the price of a decent ATV it will keep him in the garage and busy........... I sure am glad I bought him his own tools for his birthday now so he won't be taking mine, but he did take my front bumper and stinger.

[tomsjeep]

Good for you... that should keep the kid focussed for the next few years, and will give him things to keep busy. I think that's a great idea.
You get brownie points for being a good parent (Toralf, are you watching this?)!

[Big Red 97]

I'm just kicking myself for all the TJ parts I sold or tossed in the trash that we could have used on this. Oh well this way all the parts will be things he saved for (instead of video games) and installed on his own. My wife was upset about it, she wanted to know what we'd get him for his 16th B-day since we got our dtr a YJ for hers. I told her a 4" lift and 33's should even things out, Dale liked the idea.

[tomsjeep]

Don't kick yourself... if you'd saved everything that came along, you'd need a warehouse for all the might-be-useful stuff. Besides, I think it's a better learning experience this way... need the part, locate the part, procure the part. Useful skills to have.
ps. I have a rear bumper, and a coupla things laying around I can toss in... not that there's any real value to them.

[carlobee]

wow that's great. you got one lucky kid there.

[Big Red 97]

He's eyeing up my Procomp rear bumper, since I'm going to a Smittybilt w/ tire carrier. This all kind of started when he was bored 2 weeks ago, he ask if he could use the engine crane and jack stands to work on his Bayou 300 that has had a bottom end oil leak for some time. I said sure. I went out about a 1/2 hour later to check on him, he had the front end in the air w/ the crane, jack stands under it and tore off the body and skid plates, cleaned it all up and found 2 leaks in which he fixed on his own. When he talked to his grandma about fixing his atv's leaks and how he liked the stripped TJ she started on me about how it would be a good project. We pick it up next Saturday, keep everyone posted on how it's going.
Kelly- Dale wants to know if he can use my HOF 4x4 discount or if he needs to get his own account, lol

[Gryphon]

Good Daddy!

Buy me one too please? I'll even tell ya where she is...cheaper than the Davys jeep too I'm sure, and I'll go get her!

[tomsjeep]

He's eyeing up my Procomp rear bumper, since I'm going to a Smittybilt w/ tire carrier. This all kind of started when he was bored 2 weeks ago, he ask if he could use the engine crane and jack stands to work on his Bayou 300 that has had a bottom end oil leak for some time. I said sure. I went out about a 1/2 hour later to check on him, he had the front end in the air w/ the crane, jack stands under it and tore off the body and skid plates, cleaned it all up and found 2 leaks in which he fixed on his own. When he talked to his grandma about fixing his atv's leaks and how he liked the stripped TJ she started on me about how it would be a good project. We pick it up next Saturday, keep everyone posted on how it's going.
Kelly- Dale wants to know if he can use my HOF 4x4 discount or if he needs to get his own account, lol

Next thing you know, you'll have to buy him his own set of tools, too.

[Prope]

Cool bud! Tell Dale congrats! We'll have to get together soon for a burger & brew... you fell off the face of the earth lately!

[highlandercj-7]

........ I sure am glad I bought him his own tools for his birthday now so he won't be taking mine,:

Looks like he covered that already lol!

Nice work. I know building my 78 Silverado when I was in HS kept me out of trouble. Be nice to see more folks take that kinda approach. Keep us posted.