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The Beginning of a Long Road: Our 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ Project

A right side view of the 1988 Jeep
A front view of the 1988 Jeep
A left side view of the 1988 Jeep
A right hind view of the 1988 Jeep
A close up shot of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ
A close up shot of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ
A shot of the undercarriage of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ
A close up shot of the engine of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ
A close up shot of the engine of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ
A boy sitting in the front seat of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ we're going to restore.
A boy holding one of the tires we found in the scrap yard for the 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ.

We’re kicking off something a little different in the shop this week. This isn’t your typical wrap project. This is a full-on learning experience. A risk. And honestly, something we’ve never done before. We recently picked up a 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ, knowing full well it might be more work than it’s worth. But sometimes that’s exactly the kind of project you take on. We’re planning to document the process with weekly-ish updates as we bring this Wrangler YJ back to life.

Finding and Buying the Wrangler YJ

A friend of ours mentioned he picked up a few vehicles and thought one might catch our interest. We went out to take a look with very little expectation and ended up buying it on the spot.

No deep inspection. No restoration experience. Just a gut decision.

This Wrangler YJ had clearly been sitting for years. The last registration was back in 2011, and it showed. Still, we saw potential. Check out the before video right here.

Getting IT on Wheels (Literally)

Before we could even move it, we had to get it back on four tires. What should have been simple turned into a full scavenger hunt.

Ryland spent time digging through the yard trying to find wheels that would actually fit this Jeep Wrangler YJ. We thought we got lucky right away when the first wheel fit perfectly, but the rest weren’t so easy. We tried multiple combinations. Nothing lined up.

Eventually, we made it work using a spare trailer tire setup. Not ideal, but enough to get it rolling. All of this happened in an open field in 105-degree heat. By the end of it, we were exhausted, but the Wrangler YJ was finally mobile.

SHE Arrives at the Shop

A couple days later, we got help transporting it back to the shop.

Now it’s officially home. First impression? This Jeep needs everything.

Also… it probably needs a name.

Step One: Cleaning HER UP

Before anything else, we need to see what we’re actually working with.

This Wrangler YJ has been sitting in a field for years. There was literally vegetation growing around—and through—parts of it.

So step one is simple:

  • Pressure wash everything
  • Clear out debris
  • Shop vac the interior

No upgrades. No repairs. Just getting it back to a baseline.

Building a Plan for the Wrangler YJ Restoration

Once it’s clean, we can start figuring out what this project actually looks like.

What we do know:

👉 At some point, this Wrangler YJ will be wrapped. 

That’s where our expertise comes in. But before that, we’ve got a lot of mechanical work ahead.

Upcoming Steps for the WRANGLER YJ PROJECT

Here’s where we’re starting:

  • Clean it up completely
  • Get the engine running
  • Fix missing suspension components
  • Get steering functional
  • Find proper wheels and tires
  • Make sure it can stop safely

Basic stuff first. Then we’ll build from there.

Follow the Build

This is new territory for us, and that’s the whole point.

We’ll be sharing updates as we go—wins, mistakes, and everything in between.

Follow along on our social media accounts:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreprints/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CorePrintsUSA