Make-A-Wish Foundation Restores Jeep for Teen

Performance Upgrades

Once the new frame was in place, the build team turned to the performance upgrades. This included a Teraflex low center of gravity long-arm kit that provides a comfortable ride on-road and incredible capabilities off-road. This kit also removes the track bar, instead relying on a triangulated system that offers better control while crossing rough, uneven terrain. Teraflex donated the components for this build.

Next, since EJ’s Jeep got the bigger wheels and tires, the extra suspension components and the new body bits – much of which adds weight, the team added a big brake kit to help this Wrangler get stopped in a hurry.

Finally, to make room for the new suspension setup, the team had to make a custom exhaust system that provided proper clearance, fitting this new pipe with a Flowmaster muffler.

Exterior Upgrades

On the outside, EJ’s TJ has Poison Spider front and rear bumpers, with a winch up front and an adjustable tire carrier out back. A set of side bars offers easier access to the lifted cabin while protecting the body and the fender bars provide a far sportier look than a panel piece.

Next, this Wrangler might get into some dark areas while playing in the woods, so the team added a 50-inch and 20-inch LED light bar from KC with full Bluetooth controls. There are also new headlights with projection LED elements and LED halo lights, LED turn signal lights up front and complete bolt-up LED taillight replacements out back. The back end also has a massive Rugged Ridge third brake light behind the spare tire, along with Bluetooth-controlled LED accent lighting in the wheelwells. Both Poison Spider and KC donated their items for the build.

Finally, the team added a power folding soft top that gave the Jeep a renewed look and easier function for EJ.

Interior Comforts

The interior was completely restored, with matte black bed liner on all of the exposed metal, new black vinyl seat covers with red stitching, new black carpeting and new black vinyl in other areas, including the visors and portions of the roll bar.

In addition to the power folding top, the build team also installed power windows and power door locks, a new CB radio system and a new sound system with a premium head unit and speakers. The interior was finished off with a set of mud mats to help keep the new carpeting clean.

Delivery Day

After having the 2002 Jeep aligned, the host of the video took it for a test drive ahead to make sure that it was ready for delivery. Upon passing his road test, the vehicle was cleaned up and ready for the big debut.

At an event at the headquarters of Extreme Terrain’s parent company Turn5, EJ was introduced to his restored Wrangler and he was so impressed that he was driven to tears. In the end, this was a cool project for a great cause and everyone involved should be proud of the gorgeous end result that is sure to make EJ smile every time he hits the road.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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