im 20, and a full time student, so there is my budget, ha. ive got a 97 tj with the 2.5 and 5 speed stick thats totally stock with the exception of an AEM air intake and a throttle body spacer. this is my first jeep so i dont know the first thing about them and to be honest know only the very basics of mechanics in general. i'd really like to make it a pretty bad a$$ off roader but still want to be able to take it on the highway. i really wanna learn how to do this stuff myself as well. i dont plan on doin any extreme stuff but would like to be able to go just about anywhere. where do i begin??? whats the best ways to cut costs? (money is not my friend) ANY advice is welcomed    

If you're a student on a limited budget, you'll be surprised at how capable your TJ is without spending any money.

Now, if it's a look you're after, that takes money.  

yea ive taken it on a few trails and was pleasantly surprised.  but i would like to kick it up a notch. i know money will be an issue but i would just like a sense of where would be a good starting point. this is going to be a gradual slow build. thanks  

You really have to be honest about what you want. Looks or capability.

A Rubicon is extremely capable. The biggest difference between your's and a Rubicon is lockers.

You could run 30x9.50 mud tires on your stock rims with a 1" spacer on your front coils. And a set of lockers with stock gears.

The lockers would cost $1500 and $700 to install. The tires would cost $600.

You would not meet many people out on the trail that could out perform that.

Bigger tires need gearing changes, especially with the 2.5L. Bigger tires need lifts and wheels too. Getting the picture.

Nobody will be asking you any questions about your TJ at the gas station if you only have 30" tires though.

So, do you want to impress at the gas station or on the trail?  

LOL, now thats good!  

what ftgiles is telling you is true. i have an 05 rubcion, when started i was on a budget i got a 2.25 spacer for the front and a .75 spacer for the back so i could level the thing out all while lifting it, well that led to worse gas mileage not to mention the soft stock ride i had was RUINED. my stock 31s went bad and i ordered some 33s and had to be honest with myself, the 33s were going to fit but they were going to look a little bit crammed up in there, and i wasnt liking the ride of the spacer lift. My conclusion was I WAS LOKING FOR LOOKS, as well as a good ride. so i went off and spent 1338 bucks on an OME JKS lift kit, by the time the lift kit is all assembled, the gross amount of lift is almost 4 inches which will look good for the 33s as well as have the good ride that OME is known for.

http://www.dpgoffroad.com/TJ_LJ_OME_Kits.htm

when i first started looking i was going to go with just the basic OME kit, but i had to be honest with myself, i was looking to gain about an inch more clearance, so i stated looking at the deluxe kit which is now 200 bucks more, i got to thinking about it and i was going to eventually buy a front adj track bar to center my front axle and the thought of having a rear one would be nice to so i started looking at the unltimate kit which is now 500 more than i was going to spend on the basic OME kit, i knew it would be cheaper to do it right the first time so i took the plunge and did the right thing first, many jeepers find out doing the right thing first is what they should have done,as much as you tell yourself you can get around that extra money you really cant, just do it right the first time.

i know you are on a budget... so am i.. i know your 20 and dont have a lot to your name... im 19. you have to figure out wat is the most you are willing to spend for the best quality you can get and do it.

i am with ftgiles tho. since you have a 4 cyl. dont go with too much, the reason i can go with 33s and a 4 inch lift is i already have the lockers, i have the axles and tcase and the 4.11s to work with now all i needed was the tires and suspension.  

gotcha. thanks alot guys. one question to really show my complete ignorance of this stuff, what are lockers?  

locking devises that make both tires spin at the same time instead of only one...  

but isnt that 4 wheel drive or am i just retarded? ha  

Yes and no.  Yes 4 wheel drive puts power to all 4 wheels as long as all 4 tires have traction.

No because if one tire doesn't have traction, for example in the air or is spinning freely in mud or ice then the other tire can not put any power to the ground unless you have a locker.  If you have a limited slip then one tire has to spin enough to preload a clutch pack or something similar to put power to the other wheel of the axle.

Hopefully that helped you out some.  

go get your jeep stuck in mud and see if all 4 wheels actually spin, you may be in 4 wheeel drive but only 1 of the rear wheels will spin and only 1 of the front wheels will spin, you can get a just a rear locker(locks just the rear axle, and makes them spin at the same time) a front locker (locks just the front axle and make them spin at the same time) or you can get both, which is fully locked(all 4 wheels will spin at the same time)

heres an example of fully locked:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3Yv2YrksLg&feature=related  

yea that helps alot, thanks. so i might as well keep bein annoying and keep askin questions. outside of lockers, and a lift kit, wut else can i do to improve the capabilities of my jeep?  

tires, thats about it for right now. you need the other stuff first  

ha, sweet, i love being broke. wuts a good locker brand?  

selectable lockers are the best choice, theres many brands, like ARB...