Kinja reply

Simply, it’s a challenge.

It appeals to the engineer-y/problem solve-y side of my brain. Here’s a vehicle that—if we’re honest—was destined for the junkyard. It had a bad frame, a cracked engine, a horrible suspension, a bad ignition system...the list goes on.

Understanding these problems, laying out a plan to solve them, and ultimately bringing something that far gone back to life (i.e. making it reliable and—most importantly—safe) is a true thrill. To see an underdog back on the road and doing great things—to cheer it on as the dozens of repairs my friends and I made function flawlessly—is an amazing feeling.

The projects are also crash-courses in wrenching, with each year bringing unique challenges/learnings, but all usually yielding some common headaches that come with rustbuckets (seized bolts, mostly). In some ways, wrenching on a junker is the ultimate way to learn how to work on cars; If you can wrench on a crap-can, you can probably wrench on damn near anything. (This is obviously a simplification, but you get the idea).

I also love the vehicles I’ve chosen for these endeavors. The XJ the first year, the CJ-2A the next, the Grand Wagoneer last year, and the DJ this year. They’re awesome Jeeps that I’ve always wanted to own, but since I can’t really afford to buy all four of them in good shape (especially the Grand Wagoneer), doing this annual project gives me a chance to justify owning/experiencing Jeeps I’ve always wanted.

I also see soul in cars; I genuinely think that junky ones like my camo-covered CJ-2A and this rust and fungus-covered postal Jeep look awesome. If they were mint, they’d look like other vehicles already out there; as they sit, they are truly unique. I’ve written about this before.

TLDR: It’s difficult and I like learning/solving problems with my friends; I think junky cars have soul, and that makes them beautiful in my eyes; I’ve always wanted to drive these Jeeps, but I’m a cheap bastard; the thrill of rooting for an underdog that you and your friends put countless hours into is unparalleled.