$5,000. what do i do?

ok so this is a very general thing, just lookin for some input.  ive got a 97 tj with 114,000 miles. 2.5L with the ax5 tranny. stock everything with the exception of an aussie locker in the front. ive got about 5G's to play with. i'd love to build my jeep and not sell it to get a 6 cylinder cus he11, why not? i want the project/pride of building. if the the smartest option is to sell it tho, so be it.  but im lookin for ideas of where the money would be best spent??? looks are no concern, i like it ugly, just want it to be capable. some problems with it is the d35 is leaking, not real bad but nontheless, its leaking. and the tranny is starting to make some noise. besides that and having to replace the exhaust theres no other problems. so there you have it. any reasonable suggestions are welcome. thanks  
97 TJ 4 banger, front aussie locker, A/T tires. o yeaaa

bigger rear axle, 4 in long arm, high line hood, winch, low gears, and tires to fit  
"WHEN IN DOUBT TACH IT OUT!"

some beefy skid plates wouldn hurt either if you plan on doin alot of trails and rocks.  
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99 cherokee, stock engine and drivetrain. no lift with 30 x 9.5 wrangler GS/As costume tubular bumper and TJ fender flares with optronic off road lights on bumper

would i be able to use a 58" wheel mount to wheel mount ford 9" rear? would i be able to put on wheel spacers? obviously i'd have to get new mounting brackets. does it matter if its drum brakes?  
97 TJ 4 banger, front aussie locker, A/T tires. o yeaaa

If you can, look for a good deal on an ax-15 tranny at least if you're going to be running big tires. Mine blew itself up with the 2.5 between a cold air intake, 33's, off-roading, and towing a trailer. I swapped in an ax-15 using advance adapters kit for the swap. One less thing to worry about breaking.  

1.  Axle upgrades, gears, lockers  2.  Winch  3.  Suspension upgrades  4.  comunications  5.  Recovery gear  
America will NEVER forget !

Less talk, ... More wheeling

Sell it and get one with a 6 cyl because the more you build it the more you'll want the power.  Just ask anyone with a built Jeep running a 6 cyl what they want, more power!  I'm a big fan of 8 cyl Jeeps, but that requires a much larger budget to build everything behind it so those parts can survive.  Then again, my CJ's Model 20 rear axle and Dana 30 front with lockers survived for 10 years behind a V8.  I learned to keep my foot off the gas when it looked like things were going to explode with too much peddel and I would opt for the winch or strap without hesitation to keep the Jeep together.  $5K could get a modern V8 with a matching trans under your hood.