Four Wheeler 08.2022

FIRST DRIVE GMC HUMMER EV

LOCKED,
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’69 K5 BLAZER
ON 38S!

SPECIAL

INCLUDING
FORD • CHEVY • JEEP
LAND ROVER • RAM

MERCEDES

8.8-INCH AXLE LOCKER INSTALL
JEEP WRANGLER JK STEERING FIX
1975 FORD F-100 ROAD TRIP
HOW WE PIECED TOGETHER A CJ-5

AUGUST 2022 SEE US AT FOURWHEELER.COM

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CONTENTS AUGUST 2022, VOL.59, NO.8

COVER SECTION

FEATURE 4X4 SPECIAL!

12 MUST-SEE MACHINES

Crawling, camping, and creativity—get inspired
and informed with these six 4x4s

34 CAVALRY

The blue paintjob will catch your eye—
and what’s underneath will hold your attention

52 STANDING WAY OUT

Kirby Gonzales’ backcountry Benz is
strictly for pleasure

62 RETIREMENT PLAN 12

Chris Perron traded his sedan for off-road
self-sufficiency and never looked back

FEATURES & EVENTS

28 THE ROAD TO RELIC RUN

PART 1: Piecing together a relic

58 DENTSIDE

The saga of finding, buying, and the 600-mile
drive home in a project 1975 Ford F-100

76 FROM THE BACKCOUNTRY

Run with the wild ones

FIRST DRIVES 28 34

44 2022 GMC HUMMER EV

We hit the trails in GMC’s first-ever battery
electric supertruck

70 2022 TOYOTA TACOMA 44 40
TRAIL EDITION
DEPARTMENTS FIRST DRIVE GMC HUMMER EV Q ONTHE COVER
A budget-friendly off-roader that starts
at under $40,000 4 FIRING ORDER 6 INBOX Brian Jacobson
8 RPM 10 PARTS RACK
LONG-TERM TEST 80 CALENDAR LOCKED, transformed this 1969
82 TRAIL’S END L’6S9-PKO5WBELRAEZDE,R Chevy K5 Blazer from
74 2021 GMC YUKON AT4 ON 38S!

THIRD REPORT: A lot of off-roading, a languishing hulk to
a touch of towing, and more fun features
a trail-prowling fullsize
TECH & HOW-TOS
stunner. The full story
40 LIMITED TO LOCKED
begins on page 34.
Installing the Powertrax No-Slip locker
in an 8.8-inch axle Photo by Jered

SPECIAL “I Got This” Korfhage.
INCLUDING
10 FLOARNDDM•RECORHVCEEEVRDYE••SRJAEEMP

48 STEERED SMART 8J1HE9.O8E7W-P5INWWFCOREHRAPADNIXGFEL-CL1EEE0RLD0OJTRCKOKOSGEATERDETIETHNRRESIRINTPAAGLCFLJI-X5

A host of Steer Smarts parts right AUGUST 2022 SEE US AT FOURWHEELER.COM
the wrongs on a Wrangler JKU

48 WWW.FOURWHEELER.COM

FIRING ORDER

THANK YOU FOR thousands of outtake photos stored in bins. One
BUILDING TRULY of these days I need to dig into those, scan a
AWESOME 4X4S! few, and trot those 4x4s out in Firing Order. It
would be a fascinating walk down Memory Lane.
T his month’s issue of Four Wheeler is jam packed with a mind-blowing collection of 4x4
features. Feature 4x4s have been a popular staple of Four Wheeler for decades and being As I mentioned earlier, I enjoy meeting the
able to publish them is one of the best parts of my job. It’s thrilling to help show off a fellow owners of feature 4x4s and hearing the story of
wheeler’s rig and detail the story behind the machine. their rig, often told to me while I photograph it.
The first feature I photographed for a magazine was in the spring of 1989. The 4-Wheel & It’s fascinating to hear why each owner chose
Off-Road Jamboree was in Pecatonica, Illinois, at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds and I helped their rig and why they chose to modify it as they
coordinate the use of some family farmland so Off-Road and 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazines could did. For example, some built their rigs because
photograph 4x4s from the Jamboree. I was a wheeler, reader of the off-road books, amateur photog- that specific rig is appealing to them, while
rapher, and a wannabe off-road magazine staffer, so I spent as much time as possible watching the others chose their rig because it had a full frame.
magazine staffers work. I studied things like their technique and how they positioned vehicles. I also Some want a nice looking rig; others could care
talked with the vehicles’ owners and hung on every word as they told the backstory on their rigs. less what it looks like. Some owners build their
rigs almost entirely of bolt-on aftermarket prod-
The duo of Stuart Bourdon and Brent Ross When I first started out in the late ’80s and ucts, while others incorporate home-brew engi-
from 4-Wheel & Off-Road were photographing early ’90s it was all about tall suspension height, neering and fabrication, and others use parts
feature 4x4s in the pasture behind our house bolting as many shocks as possible at each acquired used from online sites like Craigslist.
while Bruce Smith and Steve Reyes were at corner, and neon. Through the mid- to late-’90s
work on nearby property photographing rigs I recall a mix of high-end show truck builds and In the end, these varied approaches to 4x4
for Off-Road. I watched a steady stream of more than a few 4x4s that qualified as quasi customization and builds are often an extension
incredible 4x4s come and go for a couple of monster trucks. By the late ’90s, rockcrawling of the 4x4 owner and what the owner intends to
days before Bruce Smith asked if I wanted to was coming on strong and I was photographing do with the vehicle. For example, the collection
photograph one of the feature rigs for Off-Road. rockcrawlers and tube buggies. Soon, the high- of rigs in this issue range from a Wrangler YJ
I recall it was a built Suzuki Samurai. Little did I end show trucks had dwindled and trail-ready to a fullsize van. And on this page you’ll see a
know at the time, but that Samurai would be the 4x4s with flexy suspensions were everywhere. small sample of the rigs we’ve featured in Four
first of hundreds of feature 4x4s I would photo- Today, the 4WD world is arguably more diverse Wheeler, chosen from the last decade or so.
graph over the next few decades. than ever with a wide range of modified 4x4s.
Thank you for building cool 4x4s! It’s an honor
During the past 33 years of photographing Up until early ’02 all of the features I photo- to feature them. If you have a 4x4 that you’d like
feature 4x4s there have been many trends. graphed were on transparency film and I have to submit for a potential feature in Four Wheeler
please email a couple of high-res images and an
overview of your rig to the email address below!

–KEN BRUBAKER
[email protected]

PHOTOS: KEN BRUBAKER

Clockwise from top left: Jeff Gotz’ Fordzilla, Steven Lutz’ Nissan Pathfinder, Todd Farrand’s Dodge Ram 2500, Sam Ayars’ Cummins-powered Dodge.

4 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

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Inbox

BY KEN BRUBAKER [email protected]

SNOW STORY

I lost my father the day before Thanksgiving
1992. The holidays were tough, and winter
seemed long. Then came the blizzard of March
1993 in the Northeast. I had my brand-new ’92
Toyota pickup (22RE/five-speed) out in the midst
of whiteout conditions and huge amounts of
blowing snow. I put on 180 miles in two days of
driving in town, out in the country, and wherever
the spirit took me with not even a snow shovel
on board. Young and dumb, yes, but cathartic,
nonetheless. The next few years that followed
had snowy winters which the truck handled no
problem thanks to mods purchased from Four
Wheeler. So, put me down as two big thumbs up
for snow wheelin’!

STEPHEN
VIA EMAIL

RESCUED FC-150 PLOW RIG SNOW: LOVE/HATE
RELATIONSHIP
I enjoyed your article in the last Four Wheeler magazine on snow wheeling (Firing Order, Apr. ’22).
My son and I have been old Jeep enthusiasts for many years. Attached are pictures of our ’62 In response to “Snow wheeling: Thumbs up or
thumbs down?” (Firing Order, Apr. ’22), I can’t
Jeep FC-150 that’s still going strong. We use it at our northern Minnesota hunting camp to haul fire- really answer your question as thumbs up or
wood and clear the many feet of snow that falls here each winter. I found this Jeep sitting in a rural thumbs down. It’s a love/hate relationship here in
junkyard in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan over 12 years ago. We hauled it home to Minnesota Ohio. Love the snow, hate the salt.
where my son Kyle completely rebuilt the driveline and tuned up the stock four-cylinder overhead-
cam engine. We had four new leaf springs custom built with an extra 3 inches of lift along with four
new Rancho shocks. A set of 12x33x15 Ditch Witch tires and chains on the rears makes this old
Jeep nearly unstoppable. Its cab is rusty, but our future plans include replacing and repairing some
sheetmetal.

We have more Jeeps in the pole barn for trail riding, deer and bear hunting rigs, and plans to start
on a rockcrawler rig. There’s a ’48 CJ-2A, ’46 CJ-2A, ’46 CJ-2 Ag, ’77 Wagoneer with a 401ci V-8,
and a ’79 Cherokee Chief with Quadra-Trac. We are Jeep fans from Minnesota and enjoy wheeling
them in the snow and mud.

Keep up your good work on keeping one of the last wheeling magazines on the newsstands!

KEVIN AND KYLE STRAND

VIA EMAIL

WHERE TO WRITE I bought my ’00 TJ brand new because I was
working full time while studying Engineering full
Address your correspondence to Four Wheeler, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 or send time and needed a reliable vehicle. I wanted a
an email to [email protected]. All letters become the property of Four Wheeler, and we four-wheeler but couldn’t afford both, hence a
reserve the right to edit them for length, accuracy, and clarity. The editorial department can also be reached Jeep! I would drive 30,000 miles per year at that
through the website at fourwheeler.com. Due to the volume of mail, electronic and otherwise, we cannot point in my life, snow or shine. I remember taking
respond to every reader, but we do read everything. out after work and driving down roads with only
my tracks and snowmobile tracks! Even in later
6 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER years when I had a second vehicle, I would claim
that my Jeep would sit during the salt months but
when the white stuff fell I drove the Jeep. The
frame on that Jeep finally rusted itself unsafe in
2020. I honestly thought that I took good care of
the undercarriage, but little did I know that it was
rusting from the inside out. Love snow, hate salt
on my vehicles!

JOSH
VIA EMAIL

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Please check your state and/or local laws/regulations. © 2022 AUTOSALES, INC.

BY JERED KORFHAGE PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
[email protected]
RPM
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

1 4

In The News 4 Fullsize van sales numbers haven’t dried
up in 2022, but they took a notable dip
compared to Q1 of 2021. Ford Transit, Ram
Promaster, Chevy Express, and Ford E-series
numbers all slipped by about 33 percent from
last year.

5 Rivian built 2,553 vehicles in Q1 of 2022
and delivered 1,227. The EV startup’s goal
is to produce 25,000 vehicles by the end of
2022.

1 When discussing the durability of the battery in the Hummer EV, GM engineers cited various
strength-adding characteristics designed to defend the SUV’s lifeblood from obstacles. Speaking
toward the integrity of the battery’s armor, it was said that piercing it would have to be done by drop-
ping the entire Hummer onto a hardened steel spike.

• Vietnamese electric automaker VinFast has 5
signed a memorandum of understanding with
the government of North Carolina for the estab- • The Ford F-series, Ram, and Chevy made
lishment of the company’s first North American up the top-performing brands for truck sales
production facility. VinFast plans to produce the in Q1 of 2022. Ford moved 140,701 pickups
VF 9, a seven-passenger all-electric SUV and the to Ram’s 127,116 and Chevy’s 121,107.
VF 8, a five-passenger, all-electric midsize SUV.
6 Midsize truck numbers are in, too. The
2 Bilstein has teamed up with motocross rider 2 Chevy Colorado sold 21,693 units in Q1, but
and off-road racing driver Brian Deegan to repre- the all-new ’22 Nissan Frontier was more
sent the company and advance the development popular. The redesigned truck saw a 107.8
and promotion of a new line of UTV shocks. percent growth over last year’s numbers,
selling 22,405. The top seller went to the
3 Decked, a company specializing in utility Toyota Tacoma, which sold 53,182 units.
vehicle storage and organization, acquired 6
CargoGlide, a producer of sliding truck bed
accessories. Expect to see more out of the part- fourwheeler.com
nership involving smooth-gliding ways to store
and organize gear in your vehicle.

3

8 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

7-8 The first-ever ’23 Chevy Silverado 78
Police Pursuit Vehicle is reporting for
duty. It’s not the truck’s 5.3L V-8/10- Shakin’ It Up
speed combo, the blaring sirens, or even
the better-than-the-Silverado-Trail-Boss • Joining the Tremor and the Raptor is the ’23 Ford
ground clearance figures that grabbed F-150 Rattler—and it’s way more than a sticker
our attention—it’s the brakes. Six-piston package. Built on the F-150’s XL trim, which
Brembo front calipers grip 16-inch rotors starts just shy of $30,000 for model year 2022,
to help the truck negotiate high-stakes the Rattler distinguishes itself stylistically through
pursuit situations. F-150 Rattler fender vent badging and rattlesnake-
inspired Rattler bedside graphics. It’s available in
Is It True? Oxford White, Avalanche, Iconic Silver, Carbonized
Gray, Antimatter Blue, Stone Gray, Agate Black,
Are Australians paying $245,000 (or and Rapid Red TriCoat. The Rattler strikes the dirt
$180,000 USD) for right-hand-drive Ram with features from the F-series’ widely available
1500 TRX pickup trucks? FX4 Off-Road Package, including skidplates, an
electronic rear locking differential, hill descent control, specially tuned off-road shocks, and all-terrain
Award You tires wrapped around painted 18-inch aluminum wheels. Four-wheel drive is standard on the Rattler.
Didn’t Know
Existed Supertruck Corner

Bridgestone Corporation AMERICAN EXPEDITION VEHICLES JT370 AND JL370
was recognized with
General Motors’ 30th • American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) has released a pair of attention-grabbing adventure vehicles.
Annual Supplier of The ’22 JT370 Gladiator takes the familiar Sarge Green Jeep pickup and adds AEV’s 2-inch spacer lift
the Year Award. and 2.5-inch DualSport suspension system. BFGoodrich mud-terrains (those are 37 inches) handle
relations with the ground, AEV’s 7000 Series LED off-road lights are on hand for low-light situations,
and there’s a Warn EVO 10-S winch up front, just in case.

AEV’s ’22 JL370 Wrangler Rubicon starts with a Silver Zenith paintjob and a complementing black
leather interior. The steel front bumper boasts AEV’s LED lighting package and Warn winch while

QUOTE: “I WASN’T SCARED the tubular rear bumper includes extra protection for the corners and stout recovery points. AEV’s
THAT MUCH, BUT IT WAS A DualSport RT suspension system is said to improve the Jeep’s on- and off-road performance while
SHOCKING MOMENT FOR ME” 37-inch BFGoodrich A/Ts grip the substrate.

-Riley Leon, of Elgin, Texas, after his Chevy ROUSH PERFORMANCE ’22 F-150
Silverado was rolled onto its side, and then back
onto its wheels—while he accidentally drove it • The Roush Performance ’22 Ford F-150 takes the truck experience to another level with an
through what was reported to be an EF-2 tornado. upgraded suspension system, customized styling, and more. Roush Performance pairs its coilover
suspension system with 33-inch General Grabber A/Tx tires and 20-inch Iridium Gray Satin wheels.
Chevrolet caught wind of this situation and Upgraded fender flares contain the added track width in the front and rear and they are Satin Black
donated $50,000 to relief efforts for those to match the front grille and other exterior components. Additional performance-adders include heat-
affected by the twister, and partnered with extracting hood vents and a Roush Performance Active Exhaust System with customizable settings.
Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet to furnish the 16-year- Customers can base their builds on the 302A XLT or 502A Lariat Ford F-150 chassis and choose
old with a new ’22 Silverado to replace the from nine exterior color options with two different leather interior packages. ’22 Roush F-150s built on
truck damaged in the storm. the XLT chassis receive two-tone gray and black leather seating, while Lariat packages receive an all-
black, vintage-carmine matching leather interior.

FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 9

Parts Rack

BY JERED KORFHAGE [email protected] PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS

-> LOOKING BACK

Quadratec’s new Spare Tire Mount Backup Camera improves the safety
and overall visibility of the Jeep Wrangler JK. Available for vehicles
equipped with both factory and aftermarket stereos, the backup
camera reduces the blind zone of the Wrangler, which is often blocked
by oversized spare tires or other bumper-mounted accessories. The
easy-to-install kit comes complete with a camera, black-powdercoated
stainless-steel mounting bracket, plug-n-play wiring harness, and
installation hardware. The Quadratec Spare Tire Mount Backup Camera
features a 170-degree viewing angle with integrated fixed parking lines
for maximum visibility. These guidelines can be deactivated during
installation by bypassing the line wire. With a sealed zinc-alloy housing,
the camera is corrosion resistant and features an IP68 intrusion rating.
INFO: Quadratec, 800/745-6037, quadratec.com

</ CUT THE GREASE

Clean those nasty and filth-encrusted 4x4 parts (or parts from your other toys)
with a touch of heat and some ultrasonic sound waves! Allstar Performance
Ultrasonic Cleaners are available in 1- and 5-gallon models and are designed
to clean everything from oily and greasy parts and tools to items with tiny
holes and crevices like carburetors and fuel injectors. You can even use them
to clean other things around the house like bicycle and mower parts, jewelry,
watches, and much more. Other features include heat dissipation holes to
eliminate overheating, double fuse protection, and a drainage system that
makes quick work out of removing dirty cleaning solution.
INFO: Summit Racing, 800/230-3030, summitracing.com

-> LIFT YOUR 392

Skyjacker can help you raise your Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 to new heights
in a bigger, bolder way with 38-inch tires. Keep your Jeep-tuned factory perfor-
mance shocks but upgrade the OEM coils to a performance option. Skyjacker
specifically engineered a progressive, variable-rate coil spring to coordinate with
the Rubicon 392’s distinctive suspension handling characteristics. Spring rate
progression is from a first flex rate to a second ride rate. The first rate stage of
the coil spring delivers a comfortable ride with the ability to flex for increased
articulation. The coil spring’s flex rate expands during full articulation as the
suspension drops (full droop). This keeps the coil springs seated in the upper
coil mount/bucket and the tires in contact with the terrain. The second rate
stage only engages after compression past the first rate. Skyjacker’s proper
geometry is said to ensure the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system func-
tions within factory parameters while the Lower Front Links’ and Upper Rear
Links’ Eccentric Cam Bolts adjust proper driveline phasing and alignment. The
kit also includes front and rear shock extension brackets, front and rear bump-
stop spacers, front and rear sway bar endlinks, an adjustable front track bar,
and much more. INFO: Skyjacker, 318/388-0816, skyjacker.com

\> CONTROL YOUR ROVER

The XLifter gives you precise control over your Rover’s electronic air
suspension. Raise or lower your vehicle far beyond factory settings
without the speed restrictions, tackle difficult terrain, or fit into low-
clearance spaces with ease. Use the unique self-leveling feature to
level your vehicle on almost any uneven terrain with the touch of a
button. Features include automatic self-leveling on slopes up to 4.5
degrees, seven pre-set lift heights, a trailer assist mode, and what
is said to be plug-and-play installation. The XLifter can be adjusted
with either the in-cab module or via a mobile device-based applica-
tion. INFO: Atlantic British Ltd., 800/533-2210, roverparts.com

10 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

-> INFLATED

Milwaukee Tool introduces the M18 Inflator, an 18-volt cordless tire inflator
with the durability to survive demanding off-road applications. The inflator
is said to top off 33-inch light truck tires in under a minute and it includes
an auto pressure check and automatic shut-off features. The auto pressure
check feature activates to ensure a tire’s targeted pressure is achieved
while the automatic shut-off stops when a selected pressure is reached.
The inflator can save up to four psi memory presets to expedite refills. The
M18 Inflator is built with onboard attachments such as the inflator hose
and nozzle storage as well as an internal cooling mechanism to extend
service life. The M18 Inflator is fully compatible with the entire M18 line,
which contains more than 200 power tool solutions.
INFO: Milwaukee Tool, 800/729-3878, milwaukeetool.com

\> COOL YOUR TACOMA \> LOCK ’EM UP

Help your 2.7L- or 4.0L-powered Warn’s Premium Hub lineup
Toyota Tacoma stay cool with has just gotten better.
Mishimoto’s all-new performance The company has
aluminum radiator. Mishimoto’s recently added an
radiator features a full-aluminum argent (gray) finish
design and TIG-welded end tanks to its hubs for the
for a substantial improvement in ’05-up Ford Super Duty
durability over the stock plastic application, which join
radiator. The radiator also features the black-finish hubs and
a 1.65-inch-thick two-row core with replace the chrome versions.
strategically designed fins. Packing These hubs are built to with-
more fins into the core is said to increase fin surface area by 84 percent, stand the stresses Super Duty
which has a direct impact on heat transfer and cooling ability. Mishimoto’s trucks can dish out and they
radiator incorporates a liquid-to-liquid stacked-plate transmission cooler include heat-treated gears, all-
into the end tank of the radiator, ensuring proper control of transmission metal cap and dial, corrosion-resis-
fluid temperatures. Mishimoto’s Toyota Tacoma Performance Aluminum tant stainless-steel hardware, and IP68 intrusion ratings. The easy-to-turn
Radiator is a direct fit for ’05-’15 Toyota Tacomas and includes the compa- dial also looks as great as it performs. Plus, these hubs include a limited
ny’s lifetime warranty. INFO: Mishimoto, 877/466-4744, mishimoto.com lifetime warranty. INFO: Warn Industries, 800/543-9276, warn.com

</ SILVERADO ELEVATED

BDS Suspension is offering 4- and 6-inch coilover systems for ’19-’21 Chevy/GMC 1500 trucks. These
BDS systems use Fox 2.0 Performance Series internal floating piston (IFP) non-reservoir coilovers and
2.0 IFP rear shocks to improve the ride and performance of trucks on and off the trail. Features of these
kits include a crossmember designed for maximum ground clearance, steering knuckles that maintain
ESC system compliance, multipoint differential relocation brackets for optimal CV joint angles, and a
heavy-duty skidplate system. Installing the kit is said to make space for 35- to 37-inch tires. Be sure to
read the BDS Suspension website for details on precise fitments for your specific model of truck.
INFO: BDS Suspension, 517/279-2135, bds-suspension.com

fourwheeler.com </ SLIMMED-DOWN ROOF TENT

The Roofnest Falcon 2 is a rooftop tent featuring a smooth and aerodynamic design as
well as a double accessory channel that accommodates Roofnest’s available accessory
crossbars. With the crossbars attached, the Falcon 2 can carry up to 150 pounds of
gear when closed and up to 75 pounds when open. The bottom shell, based upon
the Falcon Pro, is formed from honeycomb aluminum, and includes twice as many
accessory channels as its predecessor, doubling the number of accessories campers
and overlanders can attach to their Roofnest. Each accessory channel holds up to
75 pounds with a standard M8 hex bolt, ideal for mounting lights, shovels or axes,
recovery boards, or other items. The Falcon 2 comes with a 2.5-inch-thick memory
foam mattress that is said to be superior to a standard mattress foam. The rainfly is said
to zip on and off quickly while providing coverage at all three of the tent’s entrances.
The Falcon 2 also features an 8-foot telescoping aluminum ladder with angled rungs,
320-gram poly-cotton tent material with blackout coating for extended snooze time,
an interior-mounted six-pocket Gear Grid for stowing personal items, and two battery-
powered dimmable LED light strips. The Falcon 2 comes in Standard and XL sizes,
measuring 88x50 inches and 88x60 inches, respectively. Both tents are 6.5 inches tall
when folded closed and are said to comfortably sleep two people.
INFO: Roofnest, 303/625-6189, roofnest.com

FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 11

FEATURE By Jered Korfhage [email protected] Photos: Four Wheeler staff

4x4s! You build ’em, and we love pointing our cameras at ’em to
document your work so it can be shared with four-wheelers
around the world. These six rigs caught our attention on the trail with
exciting engine transplants, unique suspension configurations, sleek
trail appeal, vintage charm, and general zaniness. Read on for a look
into the stories and tech behind each of these six incredible builds.

MUST-SEE POINT YOUR
PHONE CAMERA
AT THIS CODE
TO SEE 28 FORD

BRONCO BUILDS

YOU MAY OR MAY
MACHINES NOTREMEMBER

12 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com



Feature Must-See Machines

Just. Everyone. Else’s. Parts. fourwheeler.com

W yatt McAllister describes his YJ Wrangler as “just everyone else’s parts,” beginning
with the 6.2L Detroit diesel. He’s on his second one of them and with the addition
of a marine injection pump and injectors, heads from the 6.5L Detroit diesel, and
the turbo out of a Cummins (and a handful of other modifications). The Wrangler
clatters its way up and over rocks, through deep snow, and leaves onlookers bewildered as it
slices across sand dunes. Wyatt’s NP435 came from a ’78 Bronco, and he used the Top Loader
shifter from a 2-ton Ford for a shorter throw. Wyatt found the steering box from a Nissan Xterra
to be the hard-core solution (kudos to its beefy sector shaft) to aiming his tires, and he mounted
it as far forward as he could on the bumper to keep the unit from contacting his harmonic
balancer. At each corner of the Jeep there’s a hydraulic system repurposed from a garbage truck
that Wyatt uses to manually level (or tilt) the rig on side slopes or to help avoid obstacles. Each
lower control arm is excessively overbuilt, and Wyatt will confidently smash any one of them
against a rock with the weight of the nearly 7,000-pound Jeep. Out back, his 14-bolt rear diff is
not shaved, instead, Wyatt welded 1⁄4-inch steel teeth to its bottom half to protect places where
the pumpkin might encounter a rock. There’s much more to Wyatt’s YJ and to fully appreciate
the details, you gotta see it in action. Look out for it on the Rubicon, where he can sometimes
be found sans 40s, wheeling for charity with 31-inch dualies at each corner.

14 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

SPECS “IF THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WAY, I CUT IT OFF,
AND BUILD WHAT I WANT.” -WYATT MCALLISTER
VEHICLE: ’88 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA

OWNER: WYATT MCALLISTER

STOMPING GROUNDS: GALT, CALIFORNIA

DRIVETRAIN
Engine: 6.2L Detroit diesel V-8
Transmission: NP435
Transfer case: NP205
Low range ratio: 1.96:1
Crawl ratio: 70.4:1
Front axle/differential: Dana 60 centersection w/custom
tubes and C’s, 4340 chromoly ’shafts, Yukon hubs, 5.38
gears/Yukon Zip locker
Rear axle/differential: GM 14-bolt, 5.38 gears/Eaton
Detroit Locker

SUSPENSION
Front: Custom four-link, overbuilt lower control arms,
Sway-A-Way Race Runner coilovers
Rear: Custom single-triangulated four-link, heavily
armored links, Sway-A-Way Race Runner coilovers, MCI
bus tag axle airbags

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 41.5x13.50R17LT Pit Bull Rocker
Wheels: 17-in B.A.D. beadlock

MISCELLANEOUS
Steering: Nissan Xterra steering box, dual Case 580
backhoe rams, custom links
Armor: Custom front bumper w/army truck crossmember;
MetalCloak front fenders; diamond-plate/steel tube
rocksliders; fuel tank skidplate; custom rear bumper w/air
chuck, eight recovery points, and swing-away tire carrier;
Chassis Dynamics pinion skid
Cool stuff: Warn 12,000-lb-capacity hydraulic winch;
four-corner hydraulic leveling system; Fluidyne race
radiator; hood clearanced for tires, turbo, and shock
towers w/Chevy Vega induction hump

fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 15

Feature Must-See Machines

White Whale fourwheeler.com

C arl Limpus bought his first 4x4 in 2005 while he lived in Colorado—a ’00
Dodge Ram. The truck made Colorado winters a bit more fun, and its duties
included daily driving and moving building materials about for Carl’s home
improvement projects. Rockcrawling wasn’t even in the plans until he moved
to California in 2009. With famed trails like the Fordyce and the Rubicon in his
backyard, Carl’s goal for the Ram was twofold: First, he wanted to fit 37-inch tires
into the wheelwells. This would enable him to volunteer as a driver for a grassroots
veteran organization called Wheelers for the Wounded of California. The group
pairs combat veterans with experienced 4x4 drivers for an all-expense-paid week-
end of off-road fun on the Rubicon and Fordyce trails, offering the vets a chance to
drive 4x4s on the trails, as well. Why build something so big? Like a Ram? Well,
Carl also wanted to have space for his wife and children to join him on the trail,
especially for the Father Daughter Rubicon Run hosted by NorCal Crawlers. The
Ram went together entirely in Carl’s cul-de-sac and has since evolved to accom-
modate 40-inch tires. You’ll find him creeping through the trails that are oftentimes
called “narrow” by drivers of short-wheelbase rigs, with expert precision.

16 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

SPECS “IT WAS NICK-
NAMED WHITE
VEHICLE: ’00 DODGE RAM 1500 WHALE BECAUSE
OF HOW LARGE
OWNER: CARL LIMPUS IT APPEARS
COMING DOWN
STOMPING GROUNDS: FOLSOM, CALIFORNIA THE TRAIL.”

DRIVETRAIN -CARL LIMPUS
Engine: 5.9L Dodge Magnum 360
Transmission: 46RE 4-spd auto, Winters shifter
Transfer case: NP241OR w/NorthWest FabWorks
BlackBox Underdrive
Low range ratio: 4.0:1, 2.72:1
Crawl ratio: 136.7:1 (max)
Front axle/differential: ’97 Ford high-pinion Dana 60;
Crane inner Cs, knuckles, and high-steer; chromoly
35-spline ’shafts; RuffStuff Specialties diff cover; Artec
truss, 5.13 gears/ARB Air Locker
Rear axle/differential: Dodge Dana 70U, 35-spline Dana
80 ’shafts, RuffStuff Specialties diff cover, 5.13 gears/
ARB Air Locker

SUSPENSION
Front: Limpus-fab three-link w/2x2x0.25-in square
tube, 14-in-travel 2.5-in Bilstein 9100 remote-reservoir
coilovers, Fox 2.0 bumpstops
Rear: Chevy 1-ton 63-in leaf springs, Carl-built 7-in
shackles, BDS shackle flip brackets, 14-in Fox air shocks,
Fox 2.0 bumpstops

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 41.5x13.50R17LT Pit Bull Rocker
Wheels: B.A.D. 17x10-in beadlock

MISCELLANEOUS
Steering: Lee Power Steering ported gearbox, Trail-Gear
hydraulic ram-assist
Lighting: LED scene and bumper lights
Armor: Cul-de-sac Customs front/rear bumpers, rock-
sliders w/3x3x0.188-in square tubing, gas tank skidplate,
fullsize spare tire carrier
Cool stuff: Front Warn M12 winch, rear Badlands
12,000-lb-capacity winch w/Master Pull rope, York
compressor w/5-gal tank, Thule bed rack w/cargo basket

fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 17

Feature Must-See Machines

Imperfectly Perfect fourwheeler.com

J oe Polcari’s search for a Land Rover took him (virtually) overseas, and it
began in Spain. He wanted a Series he could fit with a V-8 and a manual
transmission and really make it his own. After some sage advice from a
friend, he locked eyes with the ’81 Series 3 Stage 1 seen here and knew
that was the truck he wanted. The following 70 days were some of the longest of
Joe’s life as he tracked his new truck across the ocean from Brisbane, Australia,
to Baltimore, Maryland. Since then, the Series has been “the best worst car ever,”
as Joe put it, explaining how it doesn’t do anything particularly well and how it’s
even ended up on a flatbed a few times. To the contrary, the Series makes even
the most mundane drives exciting, adding the sensory experience of a race car
(just without the speed) and the ever-present question of “will it make it to the
destination?” Joe removed the rear bench seat, built a mattress/cot setup for the
rear of the Series, and with some hanging lights strung from the roof, the yellow
Rover becomes an imperfectly perfect backwoods camper.

18 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

SPECS “IT’S THE BEST WORST CAR EVER.” -JOE POLCARI

VEHICLE: ’81 LAND ROVER SERIES 3 109
STAGE 1

OWNER: JOE POLCARI

STOMPING GROUNDS: EAST HADDAM,
CONNECTICUT

DRIVETRAIN
Engine: 4.6L Range Rover V-8
Transmission: LT95A 4-spd manual
Transfer case: LT95A integrated 2-spd
Low range ratio: 3.22:1
Crawl ratio: 46.4:1
Front axle/differential: Land Rover type, Forbyn Bros disc
brake conversion, 3.54 gears/open
Rear axle/differential: Land Rover Salisbury, 3.54 gears/Eaton
Detroit locker

SUSPENSION
Front: Old Man Emu shocks, stock leaf springs
Rear: Old Man Emu shocks, stock leaf springs

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 255/85R16 BFGoodrich T/A KM2
Wheels: 16x16.5-in Land Rover Wolf

MISCELLANEOUS
Lighting: Hella driving lights
Armor: Solid Axle Industries diff covers
Cool stuff: Warn M8274 winch, dual 5-gal fuel cans, onboard
air, custom storage shelving/sleeping platform in rear

fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 19

Feature Must-See Machines

Grandpa’s Truck

W hen Nick Miller was 15 and deciding which vehicle he’d
learn to drive, he picked the ’71 Chevy Suburban that had
been sitting for 18 years. Nick’s grandfather bought it
new, his dad learned to drive on it, and now it belonged to
Nick. He got the engine running, the brakes stopping, and eventually
settled on an 8.1L big-block to motivate the sizeable machine. “Now
that it went fast, I needed it to ride better,” Nick said, and with some
help from the folks at ADS Racing, he fit the truck with a suspen-
sion to keep it going no matter what the terrain. Nick wheels the
Suburban in the sand and snow as much as he can, doesn’t shy away
from greasy mud-and-boulder tracks, and he enjoys using the trails
outside the King of the Hammers race as a proving ground for his
upgrades. Due to the sheer amount of factory sheetmetal and glass
still in the rig, Nick uses extreme precision when navigating the
trails, but he’ll tell anyone “it’s never not fun.”
20 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

“I CARRY FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 21
A FULLSIZE
SPARE AND
ENOUGH
PARTS TO
REBUILD HALF
THE TRUCK.”

-NICK MILLER

SPECS

VEHICLE: ’71 CHEVY SUBURBAN

OWNER: NICK MILLER

STOMPING GROUNDS:
BEAVERCREEK, OREGON

DRIVETRAIN
Engine: 8.1L Vortec V-8
Transmission: NV4500 5-spd manual
Transfer cases: Offroad Design NP203/205 doubler
Low range ratio: 4:1 (max)
Crawl ratio: 112.9:1 (max)
Front axle/differential: Jantz Engineering Dana 60/70
hybrid, Yukon ’chromoly shafts, CTM U-joints, Yukon
Hardcore hubs, 4.56 gears/Yukon Zip locker (heavily
modified to fit Dana 70 gears)
Rear axle/differential: Eaton HO72, Miller-fab diff cover,
Yukon chromoly ’shafts, 4.56 gears/Yukon Grizzly Locker
(slightly modified to fit)

SUSPENSION
Front: Three-link w/2-in 0.250-in-wall solid 6061 round
stock, 14-in-travel ADS 2.5-in coilovers, Eibach springs,
ADS 2-in bumpstops
Rear: 56-in 3⁄4-ton GM leaf springs, Fox 11-in 2.0 shocks,
ADS 2-in bumpstops, zero rate add-a-leaf, custom trac-
tion bar w/1.5-in, 0.250-in-wall D.O.M.

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 39.5x16.50R16.5LT Pit Bull Rocker
Wheels: Stazworks H1 beadlock

MISCELLANEOUS
Steering: 1.5-in, 0.250-in-wall D.O.M. steering links;
RuffStuff Specialties joints; PSC Motorsports ram-assist
Lighting: Baja Designs LED lights, Hella E Code housings
w/LED bulbs, 7-in LED pods
Armor: Miller-fab front and rear bumpers w/0.250-in plate
steel, custom pinion skid, custom rocksliders
Cool stuff: Warn M12 winch, original rear seat, ’13
Silverado front seats, ’80s EFI fuel tank

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Feature Must-See Machines

Never Too Big fourwheeler.com

G avin Johnson is accustomed to looks of disbelief
and amazement when he shows up to the trailhead
with his crew cab Ford pickup on 39-inch tires, fully
intent on weaving it between the trees and rocks. So,
pointing his lifted Ford Econoline 4x4 at trails outside the
King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley, California,
was nothing new. He found the van at an estate sale and
originally bought it solely for its wheels. However, when it
came time to hit the lakebed and his crew cab was still on
the lift, he needed something exciting to wheel. Using parts
he had on hand, Gavin set up the van with heavy-duty Ford
truck running gear, borrowed tires from another of his rigs,
and fit the back with a bench seat for all his passengers.
What you see here is the result of his handiwork, which he
pilots through some of the hairiest trails in the West.

22 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

“THE ONLY THING I HAD TO BUY
WERE SEATBELTS!” -GAVIN JOHNSON

SPECS FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 23

VEHICLE: ’79 FORD E-250

OWNER: GAVIN JOHNSON

STOMPING GROUNDS:
LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA

DRIVETRAIN
Engine: ’79 Ford 460ci V-8
Transmission: Ford C6 3-spd auto
Transfer case: NP205 2-spd
Low range ratio: 1.96:1
Crawl ratio: 19.3:1
Front axle/differential: ’97 Ford F-350 Dana 60, 4.10
gears/open
Rear axle/differential: Ford 10.25-in, 4.10 gears/open

SUSPENSION
Front: ’97 Ford F-350 shocks, ’95 F-150 leaf springs w/
leaves added for more arch
Rear: Stock shocks and leaf springs, 4-in lift block

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 39x13.50R17LT BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR2
Wheels: 17x9-in steel

MISCELLANEOUS
Steering: Home-brew links
Lighting: LED pods
Cool stuff: Onboard toilet, maximum-capacity rear bench
seat, custom driveshafts

fourwheeler.com

Feature Must-See Machines

All In One

A fter spending the better part of
six years and many thousands
of dollars building a trail rig
with solid axles, locking dif-
ferentials, and a winch, Mike Marrero
was ready for a new truck—one that
already had all those tools (and plenty
more) along with a factory warranty.
The story here is what he didn’t need
to modify on his ’17 Ram 2500 Power
Wagon. With a few small tweaks, the
truck was ready to tow a trailer, haul
a bed full of camping gear, and get
itself into and through some rugged
off-road situations.
24 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

SPECS “I WAS READY
FOR A FACTORY
VEHICLE: ’17 RAM 2500 POWER WAGON WARRANTY.”

OWNER: MICHAEL MARRERO -MIKE MARRERO

STOMPING GROUNDS: DEBARY, FLORIDA

DRIVETRAIN
Engine: 6.4L Hemi V-8
Transmission: 66RFE 6-spd auto
Transfer case: BW 44-47
Low range ratio: 2.64:1
Crawl ratio: 29.2:1
Front axle/differential: AAM 9.25-in, 3.42 gears/stock
electric locker
Rear axle/differential: AAM 11.5-in, 3.42 gears/stock
electric locker

SUSPENSION
Front: Factory coil springs, Fox remote-reservoir shocks
Rear: Factory leaf springs, Fox 2.0 shocks

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 35x12.50R17LT Nitto Terra Grappler G2
Wheels: Method 305

MISCELLANEOUS
Lighting: Amazon LED amber foglights
Armor: nFab rocksliders
Cool stuff: Custom bed rack w/Tepui tent, bed-mounted fullsize
spare tire, Kalamera fridge, rear Warn winch w/hitch cradle,
Viair 450 air compressor, Trigger Controller 6 Shooter FW

fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 25



Let’s find your
perfect ride.

GO TO :

MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/

Tech

THE ROAD POINT YOUR PHONE CAMERA AT
THIS CODE TO SEE A VIDEO OF
RTO ELICRUN VERNE’S THOUGHTS WHILE HE
INSPECTS HIS OLD CJ-5.

Part 1: Piecing together a relic FINDING THE PIECES

By Verne Simons [email protected] Photos: Verne Simons Over the past year or so we’d come across a few
intermediate and later Jeep CJ-5s, but nothing
W e’d been looking for a decent intermediate Jeep CJ-5 (built between 1972 and 1975) for a that was really what we wanted. We finally
while because our good friend Mike Tarvin has a ’75 CJ-5 we’ve always admired. His Jeep found a very nice, rust-free red ’73 body, tub,
has the original AMC 304ci V-8 (which has a few tweaks), locking differentials, 3.15:1 hood, front fenders, windshield, and more in a
transfer case gears (the factory gears in a Dana 20 are the not so desirable 2.03:1), and an NP435 suburb of Phoenix and bought it. Then, a few
transmission from a Ford truck swapped in for its granny gear. We wanted one for our own and so months later, a yellow ’74 Jeep CJ-5 with an
we could talk Mike into some more crazy adventures.

28 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

AMC 304 V-8, a wide-ratio T-18 transmission
(with a granny gear), and more—that needed a
nicer tub.

Our idea was to make the two Jeeps into
one and take the resulting intermediate CJ-5
to the Relic Run, a vintage-aimed off-road
and camping event put on by the website
Expedition Utah.

TEARING DOWN THE ’74

The clean, rust-free ’73 CJ-5 tub has a few stress
cracks, but nothing bad and it came with most
of the body, frame, front axle, transmission,
and transfer case. Our plan was to piece it back
together after gathering the missing parts. Later,
we found the odd yellow ’74 Jeep CJ-5. It was
running and driving and was in pretty good
shape. It had a few issues, and the price was
more than we should have paid, but instead of
gathering parts, all the parts we needed for the
build were there.

fourwheeler.com

Tech The ROAD TO RELIC Run

The ’74’s frame, drivetrain, and engine all
looked like they were fresh off a restoration.
The tub was a mess, with tons of body filler in
every panel and dubious repairs to the floors.
The wiring was sketchy at best, with a fair
number of butt splices, wire nuts, melted wires,
and loose connections. It also had a Bestop
soft top, factory rollbar, Dana 44 rear axle with
3.73:1 gears, and a limited-slip. The front axle
is a Dana 30 with like gears and drum brakes.
The ’74 also had power steering with several
new parts. Also, at some point this Jeep had
received some unmoving 4-inch-lift springs
and new body mounts (held in place with loose,
ungraded hardware). The coolest part is the
wide-ratio, granny-geared T-18 transmission
between the 304’s bellhousing and the Dana
20 transfer case. The T-18 is a bit stubborn to
shift, but the granny gear is one of the things we
wanted to swap into our ideal intermediate Jeep
CJ-5 at some point anyway. We tore the ’74 Jeep
apart to address the many loose nuts and also
add on our more desirable (to us) ’73 body parts.

REBUILDING IN RED

We then swapped the ’73 tub onto the ’74’s
frame, keeping the engine, fuel system,
exhaust, and drivetrain in place. It was quite
the undertaking for the week or nine days
we had before we’d need to leave for the
Relic Run, but apparently, we thrive on the
stress of a nearly impossible rebuild of a
Jeep CJ-5 in a short timeframe.

30 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

MAKING THE RED JEEP CJ-5 A RUNNER

We added a Rebel Wire 8-Circuit Harness, a new copper/brass radiator from
Summit Racing (more on that later), and a set of Milestar Patagonia M/Ts in
33x12.50R15 size (more on them later, too) on a set of old 8-inch-wide Ford
wheels from none other than our pal Mike (the owner of the green CJ-5 that
inspired this project). Then we began the 1,600-mile trip to Relic Run in the
freshly rebuilt rig.

FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 31

Tech The ROAD TO RELIC Run

WHAT IS AN INTERMEDIATE CJ-5? Mike Tarvin’s
intermediate ’75 CJ-5.
When AMC acquired the Jeep name in 1970, the company decided to
make some changes that would allow the use of its AMC engines in the Jeep
platforms. Technically, the intermediate Jeep CJ-5s were those built between
1972 and 1975, with early Jeep CJ-5s built from 1953-1971 and late Jeep
CJ-5s built from 1976-1983. The most notable change for the intermediate
Jeep CJ-5s would be the adoption of the AMC V-8 and I-6 engines. The AMC
304ci V-8 was installed in the Jeep CJ-5 as the first factory-available V-8 in
the open top CJ Jeep line. The wheelbase was stretched 3 inches and the
front fenders and hood 5 inches. The end result was a muscle car power-to-
weight ratio in the short and relatively tall CJ-5. Maybe this is the “American
sports car” Enzo Ferrari was referring to when he supposedly said, “Jeep is
America’s only real (or true) sports car”? The package is potent and, with a few
tweaks, can be reliable and driveable on- and off-road. There were a few other
changes with the introduction of the AMC powerplants like the swap to the
Dana 20 transfer case (replacing the offset Dana/Spicer 18); an open knuckle,
drum brake-equipped Dana 30 front axle; relocated fuel tank (to the back of
the Jeep rather than under the driver seat); and a centered rear Dana 44 with
flanged axles replaced the offset Dana 44 axle. Retained from the early Jeep
CJ-5 was the underseat toolbox resting below the passenger seat and a similar
frame and suspension.

MORE SOURCES
TO COME!
Bestop
Next month in Four Wheeler, we’ll dive into Part 2 of the three-part series “The Road To Relic Run” where bestop.com
you can read about what happened when we set out to drive our freshly built CJ-5 to the Relic Run event. Expedition Utah
Quasi spoiler: The drive was a pretty bold undertaking after the short timeframe of the rebuild. FW expeditionutah.com
Milestar Tires
32 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER milestartires.com
Rebel Wire
rebelwire.com
Summit Racing
summitracing.com

fourwheeler.com

THE TOUGHER
THE TIRE,
THE EASIER
THE ESCAPE.

Any
Vehicle.
Every
Terrain.

FEATURECAVALRYTahnedbwluheatp’saiunntdjoebrnweialltchawtcihll

your yeoyuer—attention
hold

POINT YOUR PHONE CAMERA
AT THIS CODE TO SEE ANOTHER
TRAIL-READY CHEVY BLAZER

34 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER

he outline for Brian Jacobson’s dream Chevy Blazer was simple: it had to go fast through the desert, hold up
to the rocks, and it had to be a classic. So, when he was pointed toward a ’69 K5 wasting away in a nearby
backyard, he quickly went to work turning the languishing hulk into a functional 4x4.

For Brian, building the Blazer was a deliberate process—he knew exactly what he wanted and wasted
no time removing the body, stripping the frame, and gathering the parts he needed. With the help of

T Rock Bottom Off Road in Riverside, California, Brian acquainted the chassis with its new fire-breathing
powertrain, lined up the linked suspension, and reinforced the mostly new Blazer body with custom armor
and a full rollcage. At the end of the two-year build process, the restored and reimagined ’69 Blazer was ready for the dirt.
Impressing friends and family was no sweat as the LS3 charged through the Southern California desert, and the Offroad
Design links and King coilovers made easy work of rock gardens and sandy whoops. The Cavalry Blue paintjob and the
Blazer’s all-around classic appeal continue to garner their share of attention, too.

By Jered Korfhage [email protected] Photos: Jered Korfhage

FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 35

Feature cavalry

|> /> Brian wanted big power for the K5, and he looked to J & M Speed Center and Hughes Performance for his crate LS3 V-8 and 4L80E transmission while Advance

Adapters helped mate the transmission to the Offroad Design NP205 transfer case. With a tune from CBM Motorsports, the engine’s power figure sit at a healthy 495 hp.

-> \> KC Lights’ Gravity Pro6 LED lightbar crowns the windshield and a trio of the company’s Gravity Pro6 pods are mounted

on the Chassis Unlimited front bumper. Truck-Lite headlamps light up the highways between home and the trail while rock
lights from KC Lights and Rigid Industries brighten obstacles beneath the Blazer. Milestar Patagonia mud-terrains sized
38x13.50R17LT fit into the Blazer’s fenders. The beadlocks are KMC Machete. With the Dana 60, ARB Air Locker, 5.13 gears,
and ram-assist components from PSC Motorsports, the frontend has everything Brian needs to pick his way through the most
challenging lines.

36 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

<\ <- |> Inside, the B&M shifter and JB Custom

Fabrication twin-sticks are nested in a console hand-
built by N8Z Fab, the same fabrication wizard behind
the Blazer’s full rollcage. Brian and passengers sit
secure with PRP Racing seats and harnesses while
the driver monitors the Blazer’s vitals on the carbon-
fiber Classic Industries dash with Auto Meter gauges.

-> \> Satisfying Brian’s needs for bump taming and rockcrawling was easy with the 14-inch-travel King

coilovers and King bumpstops. The four-link kit from Offroad Design suspends the front axle and puts every

inch of the coilovers’ travel to work.

fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 37

Feature cavalry AT A GLANCE

|> \> <| The 14-bolt rear axle is located by links from Offroad GENERAL
Vehicle: ’69 Chevy K5 Blazer
Design, suspended by King 2.5 coilovers, and the 5.13 gears are Owner: Brian Jacobson
behind a Crane Axle differential cover. Boyd Welding did the work Stomping grounds: Riverside, California
on Brian’s custom aluminum fuel tank. Softopper was the solution Build time: 2 years
for convertible coverage in the back. Passengers appreciate the
top’s roll-up capabilities and when it’s rolled down, mud, snow, DRIVETRAIN
and dust are sealed out. Engine: 6.2L LS3 V-8
Transmission: 4L80E 4-spd auto
Transfer case: NP205 2-spd
Low range ratio: 1.96:1
Crawl ratio: 24.9:1
Front axle/differential: Kingpin Dana 60, chromoly ’shafts,
5.13 gears/ARB Air Locker
Rear axle/differential: GM 14-bolt, 5.13 gears/ARB Air
Locker

SUSPENSION
Front: Offroad Design four-link kit, King 2.5-in coilovers,
King 2.5-in bumpstops
Rear: Offroad Design four-link kit, King 2.5-in coilovers,
King 2.5-in bumpstops, RockJock 4x4 Antirock sway bar

TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 38x13.50R17LT Milestar Patagonia M/T
Wheels: 17x9 KMC Machete

MISCELLANEOUS
Steering: Offroad Design links, PSC Motorsports ram-assist
Lighting: KC Lights Pro6 lightbar, bumper-mount KC Lights
Gravity LED pods, Truck-Lite headlamps, Rigid Industries
and KC Cyclone rock lights
Armor: Chassis Unlimited front/rear bumpers, pinion skid,
Crane Axle rear diff cover, full interior ’cage by N8Z Fab
Cool stuff: ARB air compressor, Boyd Tanks aluminum
fuel tank, Griffin Performance aluminum radiator, Spectre
Performance intake, sPOD Bantam 8-switch panel, B&M
shifter, Wilwood hydroboost brakes, Classic Industries
carbon-fiber dash w/Auto Meter gauges, Carven exhaust,
Vintage Air heat and A/C, custom Adams driveshafts

38 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER </ Brian kept the Blazer’s factory hood and tailgate

and replaced the remaining body panels with repro-
duction units. Color choices were narrowed down to
Toyota-inspired matte grey and Cavalry Blue, and it
was Brian’s daughter who made the final decision.
If the Blazer was grey, she said, it would be just like
everyone else’s truck. So, Cavalry Blue it was. FW

fourwheeler.com



LITechMITED TO
LOCKED

By Verne Simons [email protected] Photos: Verne Simons

INSTALLING
the Powertrax
No-Slip locker
in an 8.8-
inch axle

40 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

1

1 Here’s the Powertrax No-Slip locker in
its lunchbox-sized box. We got it from
Summit Racing for about $470. Unlike
a full case automatic locker, the No-Slip
fits in the existing differential carrier. In
this case, that’s a Trac-Lok 8.8 limited-
slip case. To start the install, pull the
differential cover and drain the gear oil.

2 Remove the cross-shaft retaining bolt
and then remove the factory cross-shaft
from the differential.

3 Push the axleshafts inward to remove
the right and left side axle C-clips.
We’ve found that using a magnet on a
stick, or some needle-nose pliers, helps
to get the clips out of the differential.
The C-clips will be reused.

2

W e’ve talked about “lunchbox 3
lockers” before, but to review,
SOURCE they’re an inexpensive and easy
way to gain traction for your
Summit Racing 4x4. The fact is, most lunchbox
800/230-3030, summitracing.com lockers can be installed in an hour or two in just
about any shop around the country with a little
fourwheeler.com patience and some hand tools. Still, they have
drawbacks, one of which is that they almost
always can only be used in open differential
carriers. So, when we heard about the Powertrax
No-Slip for the Ford 8.8-inch limited-slip differ-
ential we were somewhat surprised and pleased.
The No-Slip locker (PN 9206883128) fits
inside the factory Trac-Lok differential carrier,
changing what is probably a worn-out limited
slip to a true automatic locking differential.

We recently got a chance to install one of
these lockers in our ’00 Ford Explorer project
and found the install somewhat daunting, but
in the end relatively easy. Follow along for the
details and a few tips and tricks.

FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 41

Tech LIMITED TO LOCKED

4-5 Next, remove the Z-shaped pre-load spring
from between the two side gears. With it out,
turn one side gear and remove both spider

4 5gears and their thrust washers from the carrier.

67

6 Each of the side gears slide out along with their 7 Here are the parts that make up the Powertrax No-Slip. Note
respective clutch packs and thrust washers. the new cross-shaft and the little baggie with several springs and a
Pro tip: Take the non-ring-gear side out first. machined piece of steel that will come into play during the install.

8 This is the coupler. There 89 9 Shown here is the
are two, one for each side. 10 11 driver (outside) and
The one on the ring gear one of the active
side of the carrier needs to spacers (inside). The
be installed with the paddle paddle on the spacer
opening (widest gap in the (black arrow) has to be
synchro ring, shown with lined up with the seat
an arrow) aimed toward in the driver where
you on the ring-gear side the extended tooth is
and away from you on the missing. The paddle
non-ring-gear side. Also, the and missing extended
gaps in the coupler must tooth of the driver
be lined up with the gaps in (red arrows) will need
the synchro ring. Place the to line up with the
coupler in a vise and use paddle opening on the
the active spacer to align coupler, so facing you
them if necessary. Place on the ring-gear side
one C-clip on the ring-gear- and away from you on
side axleshaft and pull the the non-ring-gear side.
axleshaft into place.
11 This is what
10 But first you’ll have to you should see at
install four saddle springs this point. The two
with grease or assembly lube C-shaped cuts in
into each of the two drivers. the drivers (for the
Then insert the ring-gear-side cross-shaft) should be
driver and spacer with the aligned and the eight
paddle facing you. Then saddle springs should
install the non-ring-gear side still be in place.
driver and spacer with the
paddle facing away from you. fourwheeler.com
Each of the driver/spacers
should key into the driver
completely if the paddles and
spacers are aligned properly.

14 With the first inner and 12 The next step is to install the inner
outer springs installed you and outer springs between the two drivers
should see something like to hold the drivers and spacers in the
this. In order to install the carriers. To do this you will need to rotate
second set of inner and the locker a quarter turn inside the carrier
outer springs you’ll need to access the hole where the inner and
to rotate the locker in the outer springs will live.
carrier 180 degrees. 13 The inner spring
nests inside the outer
15 Next, pop the springs spring and both fit into
in place like you did on the the machined recess
other side of the locker. It’s between the two drivers.
important that you keep
the drivers and couplers 12 13
on both sides engaged
together so the orientation 14 15
of the paddle and paddle
spaces stay lined up. If not, 16 17
the space between the two
drivers will be too small to
install the outer spring.

16 Now you can install the
other side C-clip and pull
the axle outward to seat
the C-clip.

17 After checking that the
eight saddle springs are
still in place you can rotate
the locker in the carrier
in order to install the new
cross-pin.

18 Use the factory cross-shaft retaining bolt to help hold the 18 19 20
new cross-shaft as you push it into the carrier and past the eight 21
saddle springs. You’ll feel it pass the first set of saddle springs FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 43
and then the second set. Keep the hole in the cross-shaft
aligned so you can bolt the cross-shaft retaining bolt into the
carrier when everything is in place.

19-20 With the locker installed you can check the gap between
the two drivers. The kit comes with a machined piece of steel
that will fit between the two drivers in one orientation, but not
the other. If the machined piece fits in both ways something
isn’t right and you’ll need to call Powertrax technical support.

21 That’s it! It’s a pretty simple install as long as the grease holds
everything together and you are able to get all the parts aligned
without too much trouble. The last step is to reinstall the diff cover
with some fresh gasket maker, add gear oil, and go have fun. FW

fourwheeler.com

FIRST DRIVE

2022 GMC the best off-roading the deserts of Arizona have
HUMMER EV to offer. So, does the ’22 GMC Hummer EV
live up to its heritage namesake? Read on.
We hit the trails in GMC’s first-ever
battery electric supertruck \Off-Roading the Newest Hummer

By Jason Gonderman [email protected] Photos: Courtesy of GMC On the highway, the Hummer EV is phenom-
enal. How could it not be? The Edition 1
W hen the all-new battery electric ’22 GMC Hummer EV was unveiled in October 2020 the Pickup we were given to drive packs the
off-road world let out a collective gasp. The revival of the Hummer brand, once respected massive 1,000 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque.
by off-road enthusiasts everywhere, as an all-electric sub brand of GMC wasn’t exactly This makes the truck incredibly quick, acceler-
what everyone was hoping for. Then the specifications were released … 1,000 hp, 1,200 ating to its 106-mph top speed (electronically
lb-ft of torque, front and rear locking differentials, 35-inch tires with room for 37s, rear steering, and limited because of the 35-inch off-road tires) in
more than 320 miles of range. the blink of an eye. The truck is comfortable,
not particularly quiet, and draws massive atten-
On paper, the Hummer EV seemed to be the real deal. However, we all wanted to know if the tion everywhere you go. However, we were
truck could live up to its Hummer namesake in the real world. With impressive speed, GMC brought most intrigued by the Hummer EV’s claimed
the Hummer EV from concept to reality in less than three years, with the first production models off-road ability.
rolling off the line in December 2021. Now, with deliveries happening every day, GMC invited us to
jump behind the wheel and take the Hummer EV Edition 1 Pickup for a quick ride through some of To test this, the folks at GMC took us on
a short but informative off-road loop in the
Arizona desert north of Phoenix. The off-
road experience took us down graded gravel
roads, through rock-strewn dry riverbeds,
up steep rutted climbs, and along incredibly
tight saguaro cactus-lined trails. While not

44 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

fourwheeler.com particularly long, the trail taught us a lot about
the Hummer EV’s off-road chops.

One of the first questions you may ask is,
“What kind of off-road range does the Hummer
EV get?” Unfortunately, we can’t speak directly
to this until we get our hands on a Hummer
EV for a lengthier test. However, we can speak
to what we saw during our test day. Our day
looked a lot like that of many off-road enthu-
siasts. We started the day by driving 75 miles
on the road to the trailhead, wheeled through
20 miles of desert, and then drove 75 miles
back to the start point. Starting with the battery
reading 100 percent, we ended the day with 30
percent of range remaining. We used roughly 40
percent of range on the 150-mile road drive and
the other 30 percent off-road. Obviously, your
mileage will vary.

\High-Tech Off-Road Wizardry
… aka Drive Modes

Selectable drive modes are nothing new in
the motoring world. However, in the past few
years these different user-selectable options

FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 45

FIRST DRIVE 2022 GMC HUMMER EV

have become increasingly intelligent. The rear), it has what GMC describes as a “virtual” smooth out the ride; when large bumps, whoops,
Hummer EV comes with five drive modes: rear locker. Essentially, when engaged by or G-outs appear, though, the truck becomes
Normal, Off-Road, Terrain, Tow/Haul, and pressing the dash-mounted switch, the rear unsettled quickly. Taken at face value, the GMC
the user-configurable My Mode. GMC doesn’t motors work together to simulate the function Hummer EV provides a pretty decent off-road
include the three sub modes (WTF, Crab of a locked differential. While it would be ride. However, if you’re looking only at the spec
Walk, and Extract) in the official count. The simple to just program the motors to turn in sheet, you’re likely to be disappointed.
two modes we focused our attention on most sync, GMC’s engineers have made the system
were Off-Road and Terrain. smart, allowing for differing levels of engage- The adjustable air suspension is good for
ment in the available drive modes. During our quite a bit more than just ride comfort, however.
We know what you’re thinking, and we were, time off-road with the Hummer EV, the rear Interestingly, GMC has programmed the
too, so let’s explain the difference between locker worked exceptionally well. The biggest Hummer EV’s drive modes to not adjust the ride
Off-Road and Terrain modes. All of the difference between this type of virtual locker height, leaving this up to the driver. Depending
Hummer’s drive modes affect throttle maps, and a traditional mechanical locking differential on the mode, the truck’s suspension can be
torque distribution, steering, the ability to adjust is that the Hummer’s virtual locker still allows raised by either 2 or 4 inches. The suspen-
ride height, shock damping, braking, and inte- for differentiation between rear tire speeds, sion also has the ability to lower by 1 inch for
rior sound enhancements. Off-Road mode is the which eliminates the scuffing felt with a locked aerodynamics while driving, or 2 inches for
go-to setting for general off-road driving. This differential. The front locker, which can only be WTF mode. Most interesting to us, however,
mode gives a good mix of increased damping, engaged when the rear locker is turned on, is a is Extract mode, which raises the vehicle to its
a sensitive but manageable throttle, increased traditional mechanical unit and functions like maximum height, 6 inches above normal. This
rear steering, and a more aggressive rear virtual any other front locker. is useful for getting the truck unstuck when it
locking differential (more on the virtual locking gets hung up on its belly or suspension, which
diff in a moment). Terrain mode takes every- \Big Wheel Travel for a we’ve all experienced.
thing up a notch and is the Hummer’s most Smooth Ride … In Theory
aggressive off-road drive mode. Terrain mode \Rear Steering Steals the Show
damps the throttle pedal for smoother torque The Hummer EV sports a claimed 13 inches
application in climbing and rock-climbing situ- of wheel travel from its fully independent We think the Hummer EV’s automatic rear
ations, features softer shock damping for better suspension. On paper, this is right up there with steering is one of the most impressive features
articulation than in Off-Road mode, and has the Ford’s F-150 Raptor and Ram’s TRX. However, of the entire vehicle. Being more than 18 feet
most aggressive traction control and rear locker in practice, the Hummer EV has one major long and 7 feet wide, the Hummer EV is a large
settings. Most impressively, Terrain mode also drawback to being competitive when it comes to vehicle. As anyone who has taken a fullsize truck
increases rear steering angle to 1.2 times the its desert bashing ability: its heft. At more than off-road can tell you, a vehicle of this size can
front steering angle; more on that later. 9,200 pounds, the Hummer EV weighs almost make any trail quite challenging. This is where
2,000 pounds more than the aforementioned the rear steering function is a total game-changer.
Terrain mode also offers two distinct drive Ram TRX and 3,000 pounds more than the Before we get too far, let us say that, yes, the rear
modes within the drive mode, one of which Raptor. To adequately support this heft, the steering function can be completely disabled by
enables one-pedal driving, which allows the Hummer EV’s air suspension needs to run at a the driver with a quick press of a button.
driver to accelerate and decelerate using only higher pressure and with greater damping. In
the accelerator pedal. The Hummer EV does reality, this equates to an off-road ride that’s With the truck’s drive mode set to Normal,
this by modulating regenerative braking, fric- actually quite firm. At slow speeds on rough the rear steering works at a rate of 0.3:1 of the
tion braking, and motor torque. Using the one- roads, the Hummer EV’s ride is fairly rough. front steering angle. This means that if your
pedal driving was quite an interesting feature Taking the speed up a couple notches helps to steering input is 10 degrees, the rear will steer 3
off-road. We found it to be most useful when degrees. When you switch over to the Off-Road
descending steep grades as a replacement for drive mode, the rear steering increases to 0.6:1.
the traditional hill descent control, which the And most impressively, when in the Terrain drive
Hummer EV lacks. mode, the rear steering increases to an impres-
sive 1.2:1. This means that, at its maximum, the
\Front and Rear Locking Diffs? rear is actually oversteering the front.
Yes, Kind Of …
On the road in Normal mode, the Hummer
Much like the Hummers that have come before, EV’s rear steering operates nearly unnotice-
the Hummer EV Edition 1 comes fitted with ably. That is, until you try a U-turn. At that
front and rear locking differentials. How does point, the truck’s impressive steering ability is
this work, you ask? Well, it’s complicated. shown in full force, allowing the long truck to
Because the Hummer EV Edition 1 features make turns that would be otherwise impossible.
three motors (one in the front and two in the More impressive, however, is the function’s use
off-road. We were incredibly impressed by the
Hummer EV’s incredibly tight turning ability

46 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

while navigating tight trails strewn with large
bushes and cactus without adding the traditional
desert pinstriping. As noted earlier, engaging
Terrain mode enables the greatest amount of
rear steering. With a ratio of 1.2:1, driving the
Hummer EV in Terrain mode feels a lot like
piloting a forklift. It’s weird and unnerving at
first. After a few miles, however, driving with
the rear end oversteering the front starts to feel
like second nature. We were able to make tight
turns in and out of washes, up hills, and around
rocks with an ease and accuracy that we’d only
previously experienced with small two-door
Wranglers. Without this feature, wheeling the
Hummer EV would feel more like piloting a
heavy-duty longbed dualie, which we’ve done in
the past (hasn’t everyone?)

\Wait, What About Crab Walk? in which the Hummer EV will perform at its \Our Final Thoughts
peak. When activated, the truck’s suspension
GMC has leaned pretty hard on the Hummer lowers to its lowest setting, the motors and While our time with the 2022 GMC Hummer
EV’s Crab Walk function for its marketing batteries are conditioned (heated or cooled, EV was relatively short, we did get the answer
since practically day zero. Naturally, we were depending on need), and a fun graphic and to our burning question: Does the Hummer EV
quite eager to try out this function. The press sound effect package plays for the driver live up to its namesake? We can unequivocally
of a button on the center-console-mounted and passengers. When prompted, the driver say, yes, the all-new Hummer EV is the real
multi-function drive mode knob activates Crab then applies full brake and full throttle. deal when it comes to off-road ability. The truck
Walk. A long press while stopped brings on a Lifting off the brake pedal sends the 9,200- is amazingly powerful, packed full of useful
crab animation and exciting sounds. Once on, pound truck to 60 mph in 3 seconds or technology, and loaded with off-road hardware
and while moving at slow speeds, the Hummer less, depending on the road surface and the that really works. We’re confident, range
EV’s rear steering turns in phase with the front battery’s state of charge. anxiety aside, the Hummer EV could heartily
(which is opposite of how it would normally take on the most difficult off-road trails in the
operate) up to 10 degrees. Aside from being a Thankfully, GMC set up a demonstration of country with little fuss. What’s left to be seen
fun party trick to use in mall parking lots, Crab Watts To Freedom for us in a large parking lot, is just how many Hummer buyers actually get
Walk is especially useful in certain off-road allowing us to fully experience the full power their six-figure supertruck dirty, much like the
scenarios that drivers of large trucks and SUVs of the Hummer EV without worrying about original Hummers.
know all too well. pesky exhibition of speed laws. All we can
say is, holy cow, WTF mode is amazing. The
Picture this: You’re driving up a steep, whole process of getting the truck ready for a
loose, off-camber trail and suddenly there’s WTF 0-to-60 blitz takes only a few minutes,
a boulder that needs to be navigated around. and the rush of spinning all four 35-inch tires
Unfortunately, because of your rear locking is incomparable. And should there be a whole
differential, the truck’s rear end starts to slide line of supercars waiting to be put to shame,
down the grade. This wouldn’t be an issue if WTF can be used again and again without any
there wasn’t that pesky rock. Well, if you had wait time between speed runs.
the ability to crab by turning the rear wheels the
same direction as the front, you could crab-walk More to Come
the truck up the hill and around the obstacle
with ease. That’s just one of the many helpful Stay tuned to Four Wheeler because we’re planning to get more trail time in the Hummer EV
off-road uses for Crab Walk. combined with a look at what daily life is like driving GMC’s battery electric supertruck! FW

\Watts To Freedom

But that’s not all. We need to take a moment
to address another interesting feature of the
Hummer EV: Watts To Freedom. Watts To
Freedom, or WTF for short, is a drive mode

fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER AUGUST 2022 47

Tech

A host of Steer Smarts parts right the wrongs on a Wrangler JKU

1 1 Aluminum is hard to

bend, but it will bend if
you hit something hard
enough. We’re guessing
the previous owner of this
’18 Wrangler JKU knew he
hit something when the
tie rod bent. We may try to
unbend this one and keep
it for some future project.

48 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com

2

2-3 As said, this JK already had some
decent steering parts installed on it, but
even decent steering parts are dwarfed
by these parts from Steer Smarts. This is
the Yeti XD JK Top Mount Drag Link with
Griffin XD Attenuator, perfect for this Jeep
that had already been drilled for a drag link
flip. The attenuator works kind of like a
shock absorber for the drag link. Hard hits
from the wheels get damped slightly before
hitting the steering box or wheel.

SOURCE

Steer Smarts
steersmarts.com

3

STEERED SMART

By Verne Simons [email protected] Photos: Verne Simons they should. That system, the one on the UA CJ-6D, has
stood the test of time with no issues whatsoever despite
W e’ve used Steer Smarts Yeti steering parts before. years of heavy off-road use.
Namely, the Yeti XD Series JK tie rod and drag
link system on our 2017 Ultimate Adventure So, when our buddy Eric bought a new and well-built
vehicle build, the UA CJ-6D. When we installed JK for a family wheeler and daily driver, we knew
these parts back in 2017, we were gob-smacked at the size just what to recommend when he noted that the JK’s
and beef that you get with these steering parts. Steer Smarts aftermarket aluminum tie rod was bent (truth is, he
doesn’t skimp on the material, and rumor has it the parent told us these are the parts he wanted, and we agreed).
company is a genuine OEM steering component manufac- We’re still not exactly sure how the previous owner of
turer. That means well-engineered and strong parts that fit as Eric’s new-to-him ’18 Recon Rubicon JKU bent the
generally unbendable tie rod, but somehow it happened.
45 6
7

4-7 We also installed more beef in the form of the Steer Smarts JK Yeti XD Adjustable Front and Rear Track Bar. These parts are adjustable on the vehicle
(like the drag link and tie rod) and are available with rubber bushings or in the Pro Series with polyurethane. We went with the Pro Series. Installation is simple,
just be sure to coat the threads on the adjusters with antiseize. Also, a second set of hands or a ratchet strap or two can help line parts up during re-assembly.

Tech STEERED SMART

89

8 We also installed the Yeti XD JK Frame Side Track
Bar Reinforcement Bracket. This bracket bolts in
place using the supplied hardware. The part helps
reduce any flex at the frame-side track bar mount
position, which is great for any JK with oversize tires.

9-10 With most of the parts installed, we set the
track bar parallel to the drag link using the track bar
bracket holes in the Jeep’s aftermarket axle-side
track bar mount. This helps prevent bumpsteer
while lessening the angles of the drag link and track
bar. The tie rod is the Yeti XD Pro-Series Aluminum
Tie Rod Assembly for JK, which is another huge
part that boasts forged steel tie-rod ends and a
massive aluminum center adjuster tube that is
machined for clamps rather than relying on jam
nuts that can loosen up. The last step up front was
to center the axle at ride height and use the Steer
Smarts Toe Plate Alignment Kit. This kit makes
setting the toe of your front axle an easy affair and
it is well worth the cost of the product.

10

11 12

11-12 The last step was to install the Yeti XD Rear Adjustable Track Bar and center the rear axle at ride height. Did we mention that these parts are huge and thus should
take your mind off any possible failure while on the trail? That’s 11⁄2 inches of solid E-coated and powdercoated forged steel and it ain’t bending anytime soon.

Either way, the Jeep needed some love in the 13 13 After the install
steering and axle-centering department before we went for a test
Eric and his family undertook a cross-country drive and then we
overlanding vacation in the JKU. So, with a re-checked every-
drag link, tie rod, steering stabilizer, and front thing. Thanks to
and rear adjustable track bars in hand, we Steer Smarts this
took a few hours one day to install all these Jeep’s owner won’t
bulletproof parts. In addition, we did a DIY have to worry about
steering alignment using Steer Smarts’ Toe any of the steering
Plate Alignment Kit. or axle centering
components on
50 AUGUST 2022 FOUR WHEELER this JK for many
years to come. FW