Doc's Garage started the way most garage builds do — with a Craigslist find, some optimism, and a serious underestimation of how far gone a 25-year-old Jeep could actually be.
I'm a family doctor by day, which means I spend a lot of time being careful, precise, and methodical. Turns out those same instincts translate pretty well to a restoration. I approach the TJ the same way I'd approach a patient — figure out what's wrong, understand why, fix the root cause, not just the symptoms.
This blog exists because when I started this build, I couldn't find the kind of documentation I wanted. Most build threads skip the boring parts. I'm documenting the boring parts — the part numbers, the torque specs, the mistakes, the do-overs. If you're restoring a TJ, I hope this saves you some time and money.
The goal is a trail-capable, daily-driveable TJ that looks and feels like it rolled off the line — only better. No shortcuts, no Band-Aids. Every system gets done right or it doesn't get done.
Build Philosophy
These are the principles I try to stick to — not always successfully, but always the goal.
If Jeep specced it, there's usually a reason. Aftermarket upgrades only where the stock part genuinely fails at the task.
Every torque spec, every part number, every mistake. Future me — and maybe you — will thank current me.
No Band-Aids. If something is leaking, we find out why it's leaking, not just where. If it's worn, we find out what caused the wear.
A restoration done right takes longer than expected. That's fine. Rushing is how you end up doing everything twice.
Tools & Resources I Rely On
The Jeep TJ factory service manual (FSM) is the single most valuable document in the garage — find a PDF copy and read it cover to cover before you touch anything. Beyond that: a quality floor jack and stands, a decent scan tool, and the Naxja and JeepForum communities who've seen every problem you'll encounter before you encounter it.