Four Wheeler 2022-11
Four Wheeler 2022-11
Four Wheeler 2022-11
ERNAUT!
JU
40
G
6
G
CI V-8, 3
E
7S
CH
, 4.
&
56
I
S
S
, L
T
O
A
C
L
K
L
E
S
D
N R LJ SOFT TOP
, LIF TED, LEGI T
The Wolverine RMAX 1000 lineup sets a benchmark in the off-road world. Class-leading standard features
include: a 999cc parallel twin engine; aggressive tires; and an automotive-style cabin with unmatched
comfort points. Features on select models include: high-performance FOX® iQS in-cab adjustable
suspension; D-Mode to optimize power delivery; and a dashboard-integrated Yamaha Adventure Pro.
With the Wolverine RMAX 1000 lineup, experience the real world-tested Capability, Comfort and
Confidence of Yamaha’s Proven Off-Road promise.
Visit YamahaMotorsports.com
RMAX4 1000 R-SPEC RMAX2 1000 R-SPEC RMAX2 1000 SPORT
CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2022, VOL.59, NO.11
COVER SECTION
J10 JUGGERNAUT!
16 OLD SCHOOL OVERLANDER
Jason Helbig’s 1986 Jeep J10
has a classic adventure vibe
44 TOY REVIVAL 16
A classic 1980 Toyota perfectly
outfitted for off-road adventures
50 DENTSIDE
Part 4: Gears, lockers, disc brakes,
and many custom mods
56 REVAMPED WRANGLER 38
Skyjacker dual-rate coils and
remote-reservoir shocks for the win
68 CORROSION CONQUEST
We try to stop or slow rust with known
solutions and a few old tricks
50 56
Q ON THE COVER
DEPARTMENTS Jason Helbig’s 1986
6 FIRING ORDER 78 TECHLINE Jeep J10 is a rare
machine and along
8 INBOX 80 CALENDAR with being modified
10 RPM 82 TRAIL’S END to perfection it has a
great backstory.
12 PARTS RACK
FIRST DRIVES The story begins on
page 16. Photo by
Ken Brubaker
30 2022 CHEVY SILVERADO ZR2
Chevy carves a nice little space among
the Rebels, TRD Pros, and Tremors
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance
Company. In the state of CA, program provided through Boat Association Insurance Services, license #0H87086. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. Customer
satisfaction based on an independent study conducted by Alan Newman Research, 2020. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire
Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2022 GEICO 21_731772673
FIRING ORDER
T
his issue of Four Wheeler
contains a fun story about the
2022 Centerforce Adventure
Run, which is a multi-day
off-road foray into the Arizona
backcountry for 4x4s with
manual transmissions (mostly).
I think it’s safe to say that
manual transmissions have
played a big part in our wheeling
past whether we drive a manual-equipped 4x4
now or not. My history with a manual gearbox
began when the young me learned how to clutch
and row gears in an old six-cylinder-powered Ford
F-250 farm truck. Even though the shifter travel
was super long and sloppy, and the clutch feel
was funky, I eventually figured it out. The young
me was surprised that it took a bit of learning. I
guess I figured it would be easy after riding motor-
cycles since a young age, you know, manual shift
there, too, but it was surprisingly different. After
learning on the F-250, I found myself piloting
manual gearbox-equipped vehicles like a ’76 ■ Above: A manual gearbox was behind
AMC Pacer (don’t judge me), ’77 Toyota Corolla the 2.5L I-4 powerhouse in my ’84 XJ.
SR5, ’77 Datsun 280Z, ’77 Pontiac Trans Am, Below: This was the manual gearbox-
’84 Jeep Cherokee XJ, and ’90 Geo Tracker equipped ’90 Geo Tracker our kids learned
to drive in. I also plowed snow for many
among others. To me, driving a manual-shift
years with this little SUV.
vehicle just made sense. I liked the simplicity
compared to an automatic transmission and the
manual-equipped vehicles were almost always
less expensive than the automatic-equipped
machines. In late 1996, I bought a brand-new
’97 Jeep Wrangler Sport with a five-speed
manual. That Jeep was my daily as well as my
trail rig and I never regretted getting the manual.
My wife, a farmer’s daughter, learned to
drive a manual gearbox-equipped vehicle at a
young age and prefers them to this day. All three
of our kids learned how to drive on a manual
gearbox-equipped 4x4. Our kids agree that
learning to drive in a manual-equipped vehicle
is more challenging than learning to drive on an
automatic-equipped vehicle, but each is grateful
they mastered the skill. with a manual until the Jeep got hit by a drunk or manual gearboxes, the campfire would be a
The manual transmission is alive and well driver and was totaled. He had to settle for less exciting place if we didn’t get to discuss stuff
here at Four Wheeler and most of the edito- an automatic-equipped Wrangler JK since he like clutch pedals, shift patterns, clutch slaves,
rial staff owns and drives at least one manual needed a vehicle immediately and that’s what and pressure plates.
gearbox-equipped 4x4. Some examples: Sean was on the lot. He still prefers a manual gearbox Did you learn to drive on a manual-gearbox
Holman’s ’20 Wrangler and ’42 Ford GPW and will tell you how much he misses a manual vehicle? Have you owned a stick-shift 4x4? Do
(Project Odd Ford); Verne Simons’ Ultimate gearbox if you ask him. you currently wheel a manual-shift 4x4? Or do
Adventure Long Range Jeep (UALRJ), ’74 CJ-5, A spirited debate often ensues when the topic you prefer an automatic? Drop an email to the
’46 CJ-2A, ’70 Suburban (Project Dino), ’49 of driving manual gearbox-equipped 4x4s off- address below and share your thoughts!
CJ-3A, and ’98 Dodge Ram 4x4 2500; Christian road comes up. Some wheelers are vocal about
Hazel’s ’89 Wrangler (Project Why-J), ’53 flattie the advantages while others have much to say –KEN BRUBAKER
(The Hazel Flattie), and ’71 CJ-6 (UACJ6D). about the disadvantages. Nonetheless, whether [email protected]
Jered Korfhage drove an ’02 Wrangler equipped you call ’em manual transmissions, stick shifts, PHOTOS: KEN BRUBAKER
EDITORIAL ADVERTISING
Network Content Director VP Sales, Auto Aftermarket
Sean P. Holman Matthew Boice 949/705-3191
Editor Eastern Sales Director
Ken Brubaker Michael Essex 863/860-6023
Production Manager Ad Coordinator
Bill Klein Yvette Frost
Staff Editor
Los Angeles Sales Office
Jered Korfhage
831 S. Douglas Street
Contributors
El Segundo, CA 90245
Jason Gonderman
310/531-9900
Christian Hazel
KJ Jones New York Sales Office
Verne Simons 1180 Sixth Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN 212/915-4413
Creative Director
Detroit Sales Office
Alan Muir
4327 Delemere Court
Design Director
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Markas Platt
248/594-5999
READER SERVICES
MOTORTREND GROUP
Four Wheeler, P.O. Box 37198, Boone,
President/General Manager
IA, 50037; 800/777-0555 or e-mail
Alex Wellen
[email protected].
Group SVP, Sales
Please include name, address, and phone
Eric Schwab
number on any inquiries.
Head of Editorial
Occasionally, our subscriber list is made available to Edward Loh @EdLoh
reputable firms offering goods and services we believe VP, Ad Operations
would be of interest to our readers. If you prefer to be Pauline Atwood
excluded, please send your current address label and note VP, Digital Media
requesting to be excluded from these promotions to Jason Rice
Motor Trend Group, LLC, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, VP, Sales Auto Aftermarket
CA 90245, Attn: Privacy Coordinator. Matthew Boice
SVP, Marketing
BACK ISSUES Ryan Payne
To order back issues email us at: SVP, Content Strategy Aftermarket
[email protected] David Freiburger
In your email please include: publication name, month/year, VP, Finance/Controller
quantity, along with your phone number. Shilpa Joshi
Do not include payment information in your email. VP, Social Media & Content Monetization
Megan Neal
Submissions: Any submissions or contributions from
VP, Experiential Marketing & Events
readers shall be subject to and governed by Motor
Karen Brown (Echavarria)
Trend Group’s User Content Submission Terms and
Director of Publishing Systems
Conditions, which are posted at
Matthew Paige
https://www.motortrendgroup.com/submissions
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Please call the Four Wheeler advertising
department at 949/705-3191.
Related publications: Hot Rod and MotorTrend.
fourwheeler.com
Inbox BY KEN BRUBAKER [email protected]
RESCUED SUBURBAN
After trying to buy it for a few years, I finally rescued this ’70 K25 Suburban from under a bunch of 5.3L FLATTIE
sequoias on Palomar Mountain in Southern California. It has an SM465 four-speed, electric over- I just saw your article (Firing Order, Jun. ’22)
drive, NP205 with a hydraulic PTO for the 12,000-pound hydraulic winch, and an Eaton rearend. It regarding the upcoming magazine being dedi-
took me one day to get it driving and three days to clean it. cated to the flatfender. My story is a bit similar to
yours, although it was my dad who always spoke
JEFF
VIA EMAIL about his time in high school and helping a couple
of friends get an old flatty running. Over the years
I have owned three CJ-5s, a ’63 Willys wagon, two
Fast forward as time, money, and knowledge
TJs, an M715, and now an M38 (sort of). All of my
came along, it now has a 350ci small-block with
Jeeps have been modified to some degree, with
fuel injection, original three-speed with overdrive,
the last two being heavily modified (M715 and
power steering, disc brakes, lockers, on-board air,
M38). I love the old military stuff.
A/C, and whatever else could be squeezed into
it. For me, it’s a keeper. I was inspired by Colonel
Mustard (Column Shift, Oct ’11). Your stories do
inspire so keep them up, especially on flatfenders,
they are still around. Remember the saying, it’s not
a real Jeep if it doesn’t have flat fenders!
RALPH
VIA EMAIL
INSPIRED BY
COLONEL MUSTARD RESTO-BEATERS FOR THE WIN
I’m responding to the Trail’s End article on I really enjoyed your article, “Resto-Beater” in Trail’s
the flattie (Jul ’22). It’s a great story and hits End, in your July ’22 mag. I can relate to backyard-
home as I also have a ’51 CJ-3A and it has built budget four-wheelers since I’ve had a couple.
My current Jeep, the M38, has been length-
been a labor of love since I found it in 1994 I’d put his “Ugly” up against any $50,000 rig.
ened to a 91-inch wheelbase. I constructed the
totally beat, rusted out, with a seized 283ci My current rig is a ’48 CJ-2, but very little Jeep
frame out of 2x4-inch tubular steel. The front
small-block Chevy, but it had the adapter for is left. It sports front and rear axles off a Toyota
end, cowl forward, has been stretched 6 inches. It
the V-8 and that made it worthwhile. pickup using 5.29 gears and ARB Air Lockers.
runs a 5.3L LS engine with LS1 intake to fit under
Its power comes from a 4.3L Chevy Vortec TBI
the hood. The 4L60E is mated to a Bronco Dana
engine backed up with a four-speed auto with
20 T-case, and the axles are Wagoneer Dana 44s
overdrive. It’s also got a twin-sticked Dana 300.
with chromoly ’shafts. It also has lockers, 1-ton
My homebuilt sits on 37-inch Super Swampers
steering, and four-wheel discs. It is equipped with
mounted on 15-inch beadlocks.
a Warn 8274 winch and 37-inch tires on black
There are no creature comforts other than a
steel wheels with inner beadlocks. It has custom
tilt steering wheel (more of a necessity with the
sliders, a spare tire carrier, six-point cage, and
cramped cab) but does have a Warn 8274 winch
custom 20-gallon stainless fuel tank that sits
and onboard air with a small air tank. This is one of
partly under and partly above the rear floor. And,
those builds where you work with what you have.
of course, it is olive drab in color.
I love driving it and taking to the trails.
WHERE TO WRITE Although I’m from Illinois, I much prefer western
Address your correspondence to Four Wheeler, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 or send an trails such as in Colorado and Utah.
email to [email protected]. All letters become the property of Four Wheeler, and we reserve Here’s a picture. Love your magazine, although
the right to edit them for length, accuracy, and clarity. The editorial department can also be reached through I do miss Jp.
the website at fourwheeler.com. Due to the volume of mail, electronic and otherwise, we cannot respond to
every reader, but we do read everything. TIM
VIA EMAIL
8 NOVEMBER 2022 FOUR WHEELER
Custom Built for
Off-Road Fun
BY TORI TELLEM
[email protected]
In the
News
Q What color is your vehicle? Is it yellow? A
study by iseecars.com looked at depreciation
based on hue and yellow is currently the top
shade for retaining its value. Brown? Well, it
can’t be called No. 2 in this case. That and gold
have the highest depreciation. As usual, silver,
black, gray, and white are your safe bets.
Q According to a study of Gen Z vehicle buyers
via CDK Global, that age demo finds it more diffi-
cult to buy a vehicle online than any other genera- the most open recalls (5.6 million), and it’s mostly
tion. But … aren’t they the online generation? A sedans and SUVs.
shoutout to them via shrug emoji. Q UPS is testing the Fernhay eQuad in the U.S.;
Q 50 million vehicles currently whizzing around trials already began in Europe. The “four-wheeled
“are being driven with a known issue that should e-assist quadricycle” is designed for use in high-
be repaired,” according to Carfax. California has traffic areas. Oh yeah, it’s pedal-powered.
Is It True?
• Is GM training even more first responders
in EVs due to the increase in production
of the vehicles, most notably in that they
should indeed put out a battery fire with
water—and lots of it?
• Kanye West is getting into automotive manufacturing and his first vehicle will
be a car made from … foam?
• GM is eliminating the requirement for a 4-year degree for a bunch of its jobs?
• Is Ford sniffing around the name “Thunder” for vehicles that include the
F-150 and Ranger?
• Time for a rousing rendition of “Candle in the Wind” for the Nissan Titan?
SCAN HERE
S TA R T YO U R F R E E T R I A L
MOTORTREND.COM/MECUM2022
FEATURE
POINT YOUR
PHONE CAMERA
AT THIS CODE TO
SEE A GALLERY
OF PHOTOS
FROM THE 2021
OVERLAND
ADVENTURE
PRESENTED
BY JEEP
SPONSORED BY
By Stuart Bourdon
[email protected]
Photos: Four Wheeler staff
OLD
JASON HELBIG’S
1986 JEEP J10
HAS A CLASSIC
ADVENTURE VIBE
SCHOOL
fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER NOVEMBER 2022 17
Feature OLD SCHOOL OVERLANDer
|> The AMC 360ci V-8 was stroked to 406ci and fitted with gobs of power parts, |> Big shoes are meant for a big truck. That’s why Jason went with meaty 37-inch-
including a COMP Cams 280H camshaft and hydraulic roller valves, an Edelbrock tall and 12.5-inch-wide Interco IROK tires for his J10. They are wrapped around
Performer intake manifold, and a Holley Sniper EFI fuel-delivery system. It’s got 15x8.5 Western Cyclones with a 3.5-inch backspace. These bad boys can handle
the guts to quickly move the J10 and all its cargo across a wide-open landscape. everything they’re pointed at, whether that’s mud, sand, or rocks.
J
ason Helbig’s ’86 Jeep J10 overlander Jason had the tired AMC 360ci V-8 built
was a worthy addition to the 2021 to make more torque and horsepower. He
Four Wheeler Overland Adventure also had it powdercoated for good looks |> Sporting a Dana 44 front axle packed
with 4.56 Nitro Gear & Axle gears and a
Presented by Jeep. The Oregon native and corrosion resistance. A custom exhaust Detroit Truetrac limited-slip differential, the
was accustomed to off-grid travel and system runs Hedman long-tubes and dual J10 is ready to take on some serious terrain.
had designed his overlanding J10 specifically Flowmaster 40 Series 2.5-inch mufflers. A Rancho 4-inch-lift spring kit, Rancho
for remote adventure. “It was my grandpa’s The beast now has enhanced suspension RS9000 XL shock absorbers, and a 3-inch
body lift help make room for the 37-inch
truck,” Jason said. “He handed it down to me components and rolls on 37-inch tires. The tires. To help control those 37s, Jason went
and I decided to build it for long-distance off- truck’s axles are a Dana 44 front and an with a RedHead Steering Gears box and
road travel.” AMC Model 20 rear, and to up their traction Rough Country dropped pitman arm.
/> Among the many overlanding essentials carried on the custom bed rack of
Jason’s truck are two (one on each side) RotopaX 4-gallon fuel containers, a 5-gallon
propane tank, and a Freespirit Recreation rooftop tent. The bed rack and cargo bed
keep all of Jason’s gear and supplies stored securely and organized for quick access.
<- The rear axle of Jason’s |> The heart of the J10’s four-wheel-drive system
truck is the AMC model 20 is its chain-driven NP208 transfer case with a
commonly used in J-trucks 2.62:1 low-range gear ratio. The aluminum-cased
of this vintage. It now carries NP208 was used in a variety of vehicle applications,
an Eaton Detroit Locker including Jeep Cherokees and J-trucks from 1980
and 4.56 Nitro Gear & Axle to 1988, and is referred to as Command Trac.
gears. A Rancho suspension
add-a-leaf kit helps provide <| Night driving is always a possibility whenever
space for the 37-inch tires. you’re doing any long-distance off-roading like the
Suspension damping control 2021 Four Wheeler Overland Adventure Presented
is provided by a pair of by Jeep. Jason’s ability to access brilliant lighting,
Rancho RS9000 XL adjust- including LED rock lights, in all directions ensures
able shocks. It’s old school. successful and safe night ’wheeling.
And it works.
fourwheeler.com
Feature OLD SCHOOL OVERLANDer
\> All set up, unloaded,
and ready for the night,
Jason’s J10 had an old
school overlanding vibe.
It could carry a heck of a
lot of gear and not really
notice it. The Freespirit
Recreation rooftop tent
could sleep a small
tribe. It had everything
necessary. It had
nothing unnecessary.
AT A GLANCE
GENERAL
</ The interior of Jason’s Vehicle: ’86 Jeep J10
Owner: Jason Helbig
J10 is highlighted by the
Stomping grounds: Oregon
classic Grant steering Build time: “Never stops”
wheel and the brushed
aluminum three-on-the- DRIVETRAIN
Engine: AMC 360ci V-8 (stroked to 406ci)
tree column shift lever. For Transmission: TorqueFlite 727 3-spd auto
the most part, the interior Transfer case: NP208
and dash are factory, but a Low range ratio: 2.62:1
custom leather-and-cloth Crawl ratio: 30.3:1
Front axle/differential: Dana 44, 4.56 gears/
heated bench seat makes Eaton Detroit Truetrac
driving or riding comfort- Rear axle/differential: AMC Model 20, 4.56 gears/
able in any weather, and Eaton Detroit Locker
an Auto Meter 5-inch SUSPENSION
tachometer allows for Front: Rancho Suspension 4-in-lift springs, Rancho
precise engine monitoring. RS9000 XL shocks
Rear: Rancho 4-in add-a-leaf, Rancho RS9000 XL shocks,
DIY shackles
TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 37x12.50R15LT Interco IROK
Wheels: 15x8.5 Western Cyclone
MISCELLANEOUS
capabilities the front is fitted with a limited-slip that would make days and nights on the trail Steering: RedHead Steering Gears steering box, Rough
Country dropped Pitman arm
differential and the rear has a locker. pleasurable. The Freespirit Recreation rooftop Lighting: Full-width LED lightbar, multiple LED rock lights
With the backbone of his grandfather’s J10 tent offers comfortable off-the-ground accom- Interior: Custom leather/cloth heated bench seat,
made more sturdy and its off-road prowess modations. And the custom bed rack provides sPod BantamX w/Bluetooth screen, Auto Meter 5-inch
tachometer, Grant steering wheel
enhanced, Jason moved on to creature comforts a perch for auxiliary fuel storage and propane Cool stuff: Custom bed-mounted rack, dual 4-gal RotopaX
tanks, as well as storage space for literally a fuel containers, 5-gal propane tank, Freespirit Recreation
RTT, Warn Zeon 10 winch, powdercoated engine block,
truckload of gear. custom front and rear bumpers, Alpine 1000W amplifier,
All the bodywork was done by CLS Finishes Kenwood Bluetooth head unit, Kicker CompVR 10-in
speakers, Hi-Lift jack fw
in Vancouver, Washington. It’s sharp-looking,
but simple and straightforward. There’s no
chrome other than door handles and trim.
Jason wanted to keep the Jeep J10’s classic
and unique character. “I didn’t want to have
just another ‘Brand X’ rig. I kept it as close to
original condition as I could, while making its
different systems more reliable and powerful.”
2022
OVERLAND
Arizona Blazer and
Four Wheel Camper
<\ This ’78 Chevy K5 has
technically had two owners and
it still carries its original paperwork,
order card, and the beautiful Four
Wheel Campers Pop-Up Camper.
EXPO
I
WEST
f vehicle-based and self-sustained off-road travel is your
thing, then scrawl the Overland Expo series onto your
to-do list. Overland Expo West, in Flagstaff, Arizona,
is joined by similar gatherings in the East, Pacific
Northwest, and the Rockies (Mountain West), where adven-
teeming with over 28,000 showgoers hailing from all
corners of North America as well as from Great Britain,
Peru, Mexico, Australia, the Czech Republic, and Canada.
They were joined by 406 exhibitors as they attended clinics
on topics from cooking and trailside welding to vehicle
ture travel enthusiasts come together to get educated, ogle recovery and route planning, entered raffles, enjoyed happy
new products, and share stories from the trail. hours, and took in the Overland Film Fest during the three-
The 2022 Overland Expo West was held at Fort Tuthill day event. Read on for some of our favorite sights, scenes,
County Park, just outside Flagstaff, and the venue was and unique 4x4s from the 2022 Overland Expo West.
HOW MUCH
CAMPING DO YOU
LIKE WITH YOUR
OFF-ROADING?
By Jered Korfhage [email protected] Photos: Jered Korfhage
Godzilla-
Powered
Overlander
<- This ’97 Ford F-250
was one of the first rigs
to receive a Godzilla
7.3L V-8 crate engine
and KTL Restorations,
in Danville, Virginia, did
one heckuva job outfit-
ting the rig with tools
for off-grid living.
Overland Ford
Maverick
|> What went into making this
Area 51 (that’s the color name)
Ford Maverick? That’s a 2-inch
lift from Ford Ranger Lifts and
a custom-built camper with a
Go Fast Campers tent on top.
BFGoodrich T/A KO2 all-terrains
sized 265/70R17 fit underneath,
the setup weighs about 700
pounds empty, and Justin,
Amber, and Jack (the dog) report
about 22 mpg on the highway.
Firehouse or
Ski Lodge?
<\ Both! Thomas uses his
single-cab Tacoma and custom-
built camper to get between
firefighting jobs and face-
shredding ski destinations.
Transcontinental Troopy
\> This Troopy went through Dubai,
Venezuela, and Mexico before arriving in
America. Ernesto and Taisa have logged
41 countries in this rig so far and the
adventures continue.
Rubicon-Ready
Crawl Camper
|> Phil Villanueva has
no problems loading up
his Vagabond Outdoors
camper and ’wheeling the
Rubicon Trail no matter
the weather. The best
part? His 6-foot mattress
is always warm and dry
inside the camper after a
day of action.
Diesel-Powered Terra
/> This Scout Terra was found by Sean Barber of New Legend
4x4, in Ventura, California. Since Sean brought it home, it’s
received a Cummins R2.8 diesel mill, Tremec TR-4050 five-
speed transmission, the half-cab that International never got
around to making, and a list of tasteful upgrades.
Jeep Gladiator
With Bison
Overland Camper
<- It might look small, but
Phil Kockerbeck’s camper has
more interior space than you
may think. This is his full-time
dwelling and main means of
pursuing adventure.
Tacoma’s Almost 30
-> Here’s your reminder that the first Toyota
Tacomas will be turning 30 shortly and the newest
first-gen Tacos are nearly 20 years old. That said,
we dug this one, which is a little modern and a little
retro with about 4-5 inches of suspension lift, a bed
rack with some KC Dayliters, nice wheels, and a
winch bumper with more retrotastic lights. FW
Chevy carves
a nice little
space among
the Rebels,
TRD Pros, and
Tremors
2022 CHEVY
SILVERADO
30 NOVEMBER 2022 FOUR WHEELER fourwheeler.com
By Sean P. Holman
[email protected]
Photos: Courtesy of the manufacturer
I
n the world of performance off-road 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires; enhanced
trucks, the 1⁄2-ton market has separated chassis calibrations, including Terrain Mode;
itself into two general categories, what as well as a unique skidplate package, high-
we refer to as the standard-track-width approach steel front bumper, and a high-tuck
trucks (Ford F-150 Tremor, Ram Rebel, performance exhaust.
and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro) and the wide- The Multimatic 40mm DSSV spool-valve
track-width trucks (Ford Raptor and Ram TRX). dampers are a three-chamber design and
To the mix of standard-track-width trucks you feature three separate spool valves per shock.
can now add the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2. These shocks are paired with tuned springs
For 2022, Chevy has come into the standard- (coilovers in the front and leaves in the rear) for
track-width market with an incredibly strong exceptional performance and ride, while deliv-
product in the ZR2, a new off-road version of the ering 9.84-in of front and 10.62-in of rear wheel
Silverado that sits atop Trail Boss in the lineup. travel. Spool-valve shocks are significantly
At the core of this off-road package are a 6.2L different from the standard shim-style shocks
V-8 pumping out a strong 420 horsepower and that are standard across the rest of the industry
460 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic and have been proven in road racing and off-
transmission and an upsized version of the road racing for years.
Colorado ZR2’s exceptional Multimatic DSSV The Silverado ZR2 has an impressive
spool-valve shocks. To the package, Chevy adds 31.8-degree approach angle, thanks to its steel
front and rear electronic locking differentials; front bumper. This bumper was designed for
ZR2
fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER NOVEMBER 2022 31
FIRST DRIVE 2022 chevy SILVERADO ZR2
and towing check in at 1,400 pounds and 8,900
pounds, respectively.
Upgrades don’t just stop with the func-
tional hard parts, but extend into the ZR2’s
styling, allowing it to stand apart from lesser
Silverados. The ZR2 package includes a more
aggressive hood thanks to a black hood insert,
a ZR2-specific grille with integrated lighting,
and the cool red-accented “flow-tie” emblem
(or Chev-flow-let, if you will). ZR2 badging,
18-inch wheels, and red towhooks round out
the package.
Inside, the ZR2 cabin benefits from the
premium interior that is part of the ’22
Silverado midcycle refresh. This means the
ZR2 receives the same tech-forward dash of
other high-trim Silverados, which includes a
massive 13.4-inch high-definition touchscreen
and a new 12.3-inch configurable instrument
cluster. An exclusive Jet Black and Greystone
QUICK SPECS leather interior gives an all-business vibe to the
increased durability and clearance, and with Vehicle: ’22 Chevy Silverado ZR2 ZR2 interior.
removable end caps, the customer can get even Base price: $69,295 If you’ve ever experienced the Colorado
Layout: Front engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck
more clearance, or easily replace a damaged Engine: 6.2L V-8 ZR2, the feel of the Silverado ZR2 will be very
wing without replacement of the entire bumper. Transmission: 10-spd auto familiar. On the highway, the ride is fantasti-
This also makes it extremely easy for the Transfer case: 2-spd cally taut, without being harsh. It’s a fine line
aftermarket to fit their own solutions to the Wheelbase (in): 147.5 that the Silverado does a good job of balancing
L x W x H (in): 232.8 x 81.2 x 78.7
truck. Departure angle is 23.3 degrees, and the EPA fuel economy (city/hwy/comb mpg, est): on. The steering is nicely weighted, and the
breakover angle is 23.4 degrees. Ground clear- 14/17/15 brakes are strong, easy to modulate, and offer
ance comes in at 11.2 inches, while payload EPA range (mi, comb): 360 one of the better pedal feels in the class.
SIMPL
SOFT TOP
SOURCES
Rampage Products
800/328-2409, rampageproducts.com
Summit Racing
800/230-3030, summitracing.com
1 2
J
eeps and soft tops go hand in
hand. We love jeeping and the
fresh air and open feel that a
Jeep yields, but every now and
then we need to seek shelter
from the rain, wind, snow, or
sun. You know how it is. If you
want to keep the weather out or
just seek some shade from the
3 4
sun, there are several soft top
options on the market for Jeep TJs and LJs. You
can get bikini tops, which come in full-length or
front-seat-only varieties. You can get a replace-
ment factory-style full soft top with all the parts,
or one of several tops engineered differently
than a factory top. Or you can get a bowless,
frameless top, which is one of the most versatile
styles of tops for modern Jeeps. This style of top
uses an ingenious design that relies on a few of
the factory bits and the rollbar to keep the top
up off your head while it does its job.
Several years ago, we fitted a Rampage
Products frameless soft top to a ’97 TJ that we
wheeled the snot out of. The top was used and
abused and we kinda fell in love with it over
the more traditional framed tops we’d used
before. So, when it came time to get a new
top for our Ultimate Adventure Long Range
Jeep (UALRJ), a Jeep that uses a Wrangler LJ
tub, we knew we wanted another Rampage
Frameless Trail Soft Top. For one thing, these
tops are very versatile. They can be used as a
full top, full top with the side and rear windows
5
removed, or a full-length bikini top. And just
as cool, the design has several useful features, 1 At the time this issue went to weatherstrip and the Rampage Jeep and install the front of the
including a storage compartment for the rear press, the Rampage Frameless Windshield Channel Mount. These top into the windshield channel
and side windows when they are not in use. Trail Soft Top for an LJ costs install easily. Just be sure to push mount. You will want to make
$433.99 from Summit Racing down on the windshield channel sure it’s close to center, but you
These tops also look great and protrude less (the version for a regular TJ is mount while tightening. can also install the sides of the
than the factory-style framed tops, meaning less). We needed the Rampage top into the channels on the door
they catch fewer branches or other snags on Windshield Channel Mount as 3 The soft top comes with two surround to center it.
the trail. Also, if you do happen to have the well (PN 901004, $35.99) and strips of foam that need to be
misfortune to roll your Jeep or lean it hard on a we also ordered a replacement folded and inserted into the 5 At this point you should have
rubber weatherstrip (PN D4044) tops of the factory soft top door something that looks like this.
trail obstacle, there is no frame or soft top bow that goes on top of the TJ/LJ surrounds. These help keep the Next, you can flop the rest of the
to damage. You might cut the top, but the frame windshield. corners of the top up and tight. top over the back of the rollcage,
won’t get mangled because it doesn’t exist. in lieu of installing the side
2 We installed the rubber 4 Next, you can put the top on the windows.
8 9 10
11
CLUTCHES &
SHIFT LEVERS
A look at the 2022 Centerforce Adventure Run
he 2022 Centerforce Adventure Run combined (mostly) manual transmission- We had a blast at this year’s Adventure Run,
T
equipped 4x4s with overlanding to create a multi-day tour through the Arizona rowing gears, wheeling, and swiveling our
backcountry, punctuated by clutches and shift levers. necks to take in the killer scenery. So, let’s shift
In the January 2022 issue of Four Wheeler we covered the inaugural 2021 gears and look at each day of the three-day run.
Centerforce Adventure Run and it was an absolute blast. So, when this year’s
Adventure Run was announced we quickly set up our schedule to fit around the But First
trip. The result was amazing, starting within one of America’s natural wonders Unlike last year when this event started a mile or
and ending at the home of Centerforce Clutch in Prescott, Arizona, with a ton of so from this author’s house, the 2022 Centerforce
beautiful and remote dirt miles in between. Adventure Run was set to start on the shores of
Many folks falsely believe that automatic transmissions have some advantage off-road, and that’s the Colorado River. We’d just finished painting
just not true. Sure, a slushbox may make things easier for some, some of the time, but the amount the hood on our ’74 CJ-5 and had to get things
of control that you get from a manual transmission is something that many of us still hold onto with loaded up so we could head north. Participants
a firm grip. If you’re more comfortable with an automatic, have at it, but know that among other weren’t required to camp the night before the
things, manual transmissions often offer deeper gearing allowing for more control on technical off- event, but we wanted to camp there, literally on
road obstacles. the shores of the famed Colorado River.
Day 1
The Grand Canyon is huge and impressive and if
you have never seen it, know it is more than just
a hole in the ground … it’s a huge, awe inspiring,
humbling, epic hole in the ground. In the July ’22
installment of Techline, we talked about Peach
Springs, Arizona, and the Diamond Creek access
to the Colorado River. This remote road heads
north from the small town of Peach Springs,
descending into the Grand Canyon with an end at
the shores of the Colorado. It’s amazing and the
best kept secret that anyone can find, but a permit
from the Hualapai Nation is needed. Sightseeing
is $15 plus tax per person and camping is $20
plus tax per person per night. This was the start
point of the 2022 Centerforce Adventure Run.
After a night filled with amazing stargazing, and
a little rain, we woke and had delicious pancakes
Day 2
The air was cool, and we were surrounded by
different environments from mountainsides with
forests mainly comprised of lodgepole pines, to
to a wide variety of animals including bear,
mountain lions, deer, javelina, coyotes, and
Juniper trees as we packed our camp gear and scrub desert, and later we would pass through many birds. It’s crossed by many dirt roads
had breakfast. The plan for the day was much some spectacular eroded granite outcroppings that anyone can explore with respect for the
the same as the day before, we would explore reminiscent of another world only to return to land and animals. It’s bounded by Bureau of
parts of the Prescott National Forest and head the cooler air of the forest before camping for Land Management land, Arizona State Trust
into some of Arizona’s other public lands on another night. land (which requires a permit to travel on), and
old roads. Some of the old roads have had very Prescott National Forest encompasses a vast some private parcels. Our route would take us
little use over the past five years despite their 1.25 million acres in central Arizona, near the initially between the Juniper Mesa Wilderness
stunning beauty. We would encounter several town of Prescott. This national forest is home area and the Apache Creek Wilderness area
fourwheeler.com
Feature clutches & shift levers
there, we drove into Bagdad to top off our 4x4s’
fuel tanks and gather a few supplies.
Camp Wood was a military outpost estab-
lished in 1857 and we believe we camped at a
spot where there was a store and sawmill that
was actually a few miles east of the camp. The
area was later a source for wood and tungsten
was mined nearby. The area is beautiful, and
one can easily understand why our predecessors
wanted to be here despite its remoteness and the
inherent dangers of the time. The camp offered
our group a nice flat area with ample room to
congregate in the cool mountain air.
Day 3
As daylight infiltrated our camp the excitement
was palpable but there was also a bit of sadness
as we all knew this would be the last day of our
adventure. The day started with some repairs.
During the prior days of off-roading, the trailer
wiring from Nate and Jessica Pickle’s trailer
was pulled free and damaged. Luckily, we had
our own crew of off-road vehicle repair folks
on the trip. Jesse, JP, and Bobby from Summit
4x4 out of Prescott, Arizona, made quick work
of repairing the trailer wiring and plug as well
as replacing some fuses that popped so the
family could continue their trip during and after
the Adventure Run with trailer electrical items
working properly.
After repairs we shifted gears and followed
Centerforce’s Trent McGee on several miles of
dirt on lesser used forest roads in the Prescott
National Forest from Camp Wood to the
historic town of Prescott, Arizona. Then it was
on to the grand finale of the Adventure Run:
the head office of Centerforce Clutch. Our
trip would end with a tour of Centerforce’s
home office where we got a peek at how the
company’s clutches, flywheels, and other parts
are made. Centerforce has been helping manual
transmission enthusiasts shift gears since the
early ’80s and that includes many, many 4x4
applications. We’ve run Centerforce clutches in
many of our own personal vehicles and know
this is an American family-owned company
dedicated to making products that work.
fourwheeler.com
The Participants
A total of 11 4x4s joined the 2022 Centerforce
Adventure Run and it was an eclectic mix of
makes, models, and modifications. Who were the
participants and what were they driving? Read on.
TOY R
SPONSORED BY
W
hen Toyota hit North America with its first 4x4 pickup in
1979, the compact pickup caught the eye of four-wheelers
nationwide who loved its clean lines, solid front axle, leaf
springs, two-speed T-case, four- or five-speed manual trans-
mission, and fuel-efficient 20R 2.2L four-cylinder engine.
Those were the very attributes that caught the eye of Ryan Kennelly, who
bought a four-speed ’80 Toyota Pickup 4x4 sight unseen, modified it onsite
for light trail duty, and then drove it cross-country 2,400 miles to his home
near San Diego, California. As an added adventure, along the way Ryan hit
several epic mountain and desert 4x4 trails with his “new” Toy. Later, he
joined us on the epic 2020 Four Wheeler Overland Adventure in Arizona.
Ryan is no stranger to wrenching on 4x4s or the joy found in off-road
adventures and overlanding. He’s an engineering drivetrain manager at
4 Wheel Parts Engineering and has been an avid off-road enthusiast for
decades. Hence, the mods and accessories his over-40-year-old Toyota
has received since the purchase and inaugural cross-country drive home
are well thought out. Among those are ARB Air Lockers at both ends; an
Old Man Emu suspension; Sumo Gear 4.7 Transfer Case Reduction Gears;
31x10.50R15LT Milestar Patagonia M/T tires on new old stock Toyota
wheels; 7-inch Cibie headlights; a Warn Axon 55 winch in a Ryan-fabbed
fourwheeler.com
Feature TOY REVIVAL
AT A GLANCE
GENERAL
Vehicle: ’80 Toyota Pickup (Hilux) 4x4
Owner: Ryan Kennelly
Stomping grounds: Imperial Beach, California
Build time: 2 weeks
DRIVETRAIN
Engine: 20R 2.2L I-4
Transmission: L52 4-spd manual
Transfer case: RF1A 2-spd
Low range ratio: 4.7:1
Max crawl ratio: 78:1
Front axle/differential: Toyota 8-in, G2 Axle & Gear chromoly
Birfield axleshafts, 4.30 gears/ARB Air Locker
Rear axle/differential: Toyota 8-in, 4.30 gears/ARB Air Locker
SUSPENSION
Front: Old Man Emu 2-in-lift leaf springs, Old Man Emu
Nitrocharger Sport shocks
Rear: Old Man Emu 2-in-lift leaf springs, Old Man Emu
Nitrocharger Sport shocks
TIRES/WHEELS
Tires: 31x10.50R15LT Milestar Patagonia M/T
Wheels: FJ40 new old stock steel
MISCELLANEOUS
Lighting: Cibie 80W/100W headlights, KC Lights Apollo Pro
driving lights
Armor: Custom front bumper
Cool stuff: Softopper bed topper, SR5 console & dash
gauges, ARB CKMA 12 air compressor, bed-mounted 5-gal
jerrycan plumbed to direct-feed stock fuel tank, Smittybilt
Arctic Fridge/Freezer, 4-in foam sleeping mat in bed, bed
tie-down anchors, Warn Axon 55 winch fw
48 NOVEMBER 2022 FOUR WHEELER
GIFT
AMERICAN-MADE
QUALITY
This holiday season, put a twinkle in their eye with a gift that’s made
in America. Choose FloorLiner for iconic interior protection, and CupFone
to navigate your way through the holidays hands-free. Can’t decide? A gift
card unlocks many options for your lucky recipient to choose from.
FLOORLINER™ CUPFONE®
Made in USA
© 2022 MacNeil IP LLC
Tech
SOURCES
4 Wheel Parts
4wheelparts.com
ARB USA
arbusa.com
Jeff’s Bronco
Graveyard
broncograveyard.com
Milestar Tires
milestartires.com
Motive Gear
motivegear.com
Strange Engineering
strangeengineering.net
Ten Factory
tenfactory.com
1
2 Here’s the
pile of parts we
sent out to be
powdercoated.
2
POINT YOUR
PHONE CAMERA
AT THIS CODE TO
READ PART 1 OF
THIS F-100 BUILD
4 Prior to assembly,
we thoroughly
cleaned all the
parts after they
were returned from
the powdercoater.
4
I
n the August 2022 issue of Four Wheeler, we reported on buying a
classic ’75 Ford F-100 Dentside in Reno, Nevada, and the adventure
of driving it home to Southern California. In Part 2 (Sep. ’22)
we outlined the upgrades to the vintage Ford, including flooring,
gauges, tires, wheels, and more. The outcome was a significantly
improved truck that was coming together nicely. In Part 3 (Oct. ’22) we
told the story of how the truck was stolen, vandalized, recovered, and a
new build plan was hatched. In this installment we dig into that new plan.
From Day 1, this F-100 was always going to live out its days as an
adventure vehicle. A well-equipped overland vehicle would be expected
to have low gearing, big brakes, and locking differentials at both ends.
This would be the bare minimum we would accept. The Dentside’s current
upgrades include 35-inch tires and 4 inches of lift. Let’s talk about how and
why we picked the parts and gearing for Dentside.
brakes, and many lower gear ratio than the factory ratio. Tires with a diameter of 35 inches
are commonly paired with a 4.56:1 gear ratio. This helps get that rotating
custom mods mass turning from a stop and maintains a solid working rpm of 2,200 @ 71
mph when paired with a 0.70 overdrive of a newer transmission. Since we
have had a great experience with Motive Gear products in previous builds,
we installed 4.56 gears (PN D44-456) in the front axle and 4.57 gears (PN
By Ryan Kennelly [email protected] Photos: Ryan Kennelly F890457) in the rear axle. The Performance Differential ring-and-pinion
from Motive are made in Italy. The install kit had Koyo Bearings from
Japan. All the parts had a premium feel coming out of the box.
Refresh
There is an unwritten rule that is “if you take it off the vehicle to work on
it, you must clean it and paint it.” Since it’s so much nicer to work with
all-new parts, we decided to pull both axlehousings and have them sand-
blasted and powdercoated. The rear housing also got a drain plug added for
easier maintenance intervals.
Front Axle
With the ring-and-pinions chosen, we needed new carriers for the lower
3 gear ratios. The ARB Air Locker has a proven track record, so that got
3 We chose a textured powdercoat for the final finish on all the parts.
FOUR WHEELER NOVEMBER 2022 51
Tech dentside
Stop it!
Drum brakes were standard on ’73-’75 4WD F-100s. While the vehicle
stops well with stock-size tires and no payload, front drum brakes have
a nasty habit of fading fast, hating water worse than cats, and becoming
sporadic when out of adjustment. It was time to upgrade our F-100 to disc 13 The stainless brake lines were fun to build, so we also made an extension for the diff vent.
brakes. Many articles have been written on “how to” wrecking yard hunt
disc brakes from later-model vehicles, but in many cases those older rigs uninterrupted during braking. Everything went together well, and the
in the wrecking yards have been picked clean and crushed. So, we opted quality of the parts was premium. They only lacked some sort of coating
to use a complete kit from Jeff’s Bronco Graveyard. The kit comes with on the cast-iron parts. We chose to use a high-heat paint to help slow down
all new parts and everything to install 11-inch single-piston disc brakes the rust.
on the old drum brake spindles. While the front axle got new disc brakes, we retained the rear axle’s
Nowhere on the Bronco Graveyard website did it say this kit would fit 11-inch drum brakes. Why is that? Well, 70 percent of your vehicle’s stop-
an F-100, but Ford did a great job of sharing parts across multiple plat- ping ability comes from the front brakes. The rear brakes’ support role is
forms. The disc brake installation instructions were very light. One must small, but when it comes to the e-brake, we want the biggest brake we can
have decent skills and understand vintage Dana 44 axles before commit- get to hold the F-100 in place on the trail. From the backing plates out, we
ting to an install like this. While the races were factory installed in the replaced all of the components with new.
hubs, the rotors and studs needed to be pressed together. The factory
Ford knuckles had to be clearanced so the Chevy calipers could travel Hydraulics
The factory drum brake lines from the front axle would no longer support
14 All these parts
14 were discarded simply the new disc brake kit. We created new stainless-steel lines designed to
because we wanted stay out of harm’s way when the trail gets nasty. In the rear, we used the
35-spline axleshafts. same stainless-steel line to replace the rusty, frozen OE equipment.
15 16
15 The aftermarket 35-spline axleshafts dwarf the stock 31-spline units. 16 Notice the new axle has a smaller mounting flange. This decreases rotating mass.
Tech dentside
17 18
17 The Ford 9-inch appears stock but has a larger bearing 18 The ARB Air Locker assembly installed
diameter to accommodate the 35-spline axleshafts. into the high-pinion Dana 44 without a hitch.
19 20 21
19 This hole in the Ford 9-inch will soon be a 20 With the bung installed, the 21 Onboard air is a must for anything with pneumatic lockers.
threaded drain. The Ford 9-inch has no drain, so we new drain plug will be welded Airing up tires is a perk. We chose a CKMTA12 ARB High
added a weld-on bung to make fluid changes easier. inside and out. Performance Twin On-Board Compressor to provide air pressure.
22 Here’s a look at
22 the ARB Air Locker 23
switch wire loom
before we modified
its length.
23 With the Delphi
Metri-Pack 280
series connectors,
we shortened the
wire loom for a
form-fitting install.
VAMPED
RE
WRANGLER
POINT YOUR PHONE
CAMERA AT THIS
CODE TO SEE VIDEO
OF THIS INSTALL
SOURCE
Skyjacker Suspensions
318/388-0816, skyjacker.com
T
he Jeep JK Wrangler has been around since 2006 as a 2007 model year vehicle and This change isn’t all that the company has
has vastly changed and expanded the Jeep world on several fronts. The JK, with its done, however. Shock technology changes
coil-sprung, solid-axle suspension, was an evolution of the TJ Wrangler, and while rapidly in the aftermarket, and in keeping
the TJ is known for having a smooth ride, the JK was a definite improvement. with that Skyjacker has introduced several
Still, like most Jeeps, enthusiasts have been modifying JKs since their inception, different optional shocks for use with its suspen-
and the development of new parts to modify them has been steady since 2007. One sion systems, the latest being the ADX 2.0
of our favorite suspension companies, Skyjacker Suspensions, has kept its suspension Adventure Series line.
designs particularly fresh despite the passage of all that time. As of a few years ago, We recently got a chance to upgrade a ’13 JK
Skyjacker revamped most of its coil-based suspension kits, upgrading the company’s coil springs two-door Sport with Skyjacker’s dual-rate coil
from single-rate to dual-rate (the benefits of using a dual-rate spring are multiple, and we will touch springs and a set of ADX 2.0 Adventure Series
on some of those benefits later in this story). shocks. Here are the highlights.
1 2 3
1-3 We tack-welded a washer onto the coil mount so we could zip-tie the brake line in place. Then, with the axle supported and the factory shocks and springs removed,
we drilled holes and installed the front bumpstop spacers, per the instructions. We then installed the new dual-rate Skyjacker coil springs and the new shocks. The hole
for the axle end of the track bar was a little bit enlarged from wear, so we made some tabs out of 1⁄8-inch plate steel to weld over the front and back.
4 5
4-5 With that done, we reinstalled the track bar and drag link’s tie-rod end and torqued the bolts to factory specifications. With the front buttoned up we moved to the
rear of the Jeep, where installation is similar and straightforward.
6 7
6-7 Once again, we supported the axle and removed the factory springs and shocks. We unbolted the factory brake lines from the outside of the framerail to allow the axle
to drop enough to remove the springs without damaging the brake lines and ABS wiring. We then installed the new springs, rear bumpstop spacer blocks, and the new
ADX 2.0 shocks.
8 9
8-9 The last step was to install the track bar bracket, which keeps the track bar level with the new added suspension lift. The bracket bolts in place but requires drilling
one hole for an additional bolt. We then added some small stitch-welds to the bracket to keep it from moving. Since this JK will be wheeled hard off-road in the coming
years we also took some 3⁄4x1⁄8-inch steel strap and made some drop-brackets for the brake lines. This ensures that the brake lines won’t get stressed when the Jeep is
flexed off-road. It probably isn’t necessary on Jeeps that won’t be off-road much but gives us a little more peace of mind when on the trail. Finally, we torqued the bolts to
factory specifications and installed the tires and wheels.
How Does
It Work?
■ With the new lift complete
and a set of 35x12.50R17 tires
installed, we headed to our local
off-road area to see how the
Skyjacker dual-rate coils and
Skyjacker ADX 2.0 Adventure
Series shocks performed. The
results were everything we could
have hoped for. The coils allow
tons of flex (especially with the
front antisway bar disconnected)
and the dual-rate coils offer a
smooth ride on the pavement,
over a dirt road, or in a wash.
The shocks also felt amazing,
soaking up the washboards
and whoops in the dry wash we
blasted down. FW
CUPFONE® CUPFCOFFEE
4XE TRA
Quietly one of the most capable SUVs not named Wrangler
W
e’ve had some good experiences with Jeep’s luxurious all-new
Grand Cherokee freshening, but most of our time to this point has
been in the three-row L model. While we love the fifth-generation
Grand Cherokee’s highway ride, its incredible tech, and the luxury
found on the inside, the L just has a different feel. It lacks the
sportiness of the previous two-row, and its additional size keeps it
from being a truly credible trail machine (although you might be
surprised just how deep down a trail it could get you).
That all changes with the two-row Grand Cherokee and its tidier
proportions, shorter wheelbase, and more compact dimensions.
Thankfully, we’ve found everything we’ve loved about the Grand
over the years intact in the new WL two-row model. Add to that the
Trailhawk package and the improvement is even more substantial.
Take it a step further with the 4xe version and you have a forward-
leaning, class-leading SUV.
With incredible consumer acceptance of the Wrangler 4xe, espe-
cially by off-road enthusiasts, Jeep now turns its sights on the Grand
Cherokee. With the 4xe (pronounced “four-by-e”) variant, the Grand
Cherokee adds the Wrangler’s 2.0L turbo four-cylinder PHEV and eight-speed automatic
drivetrain to the standard 3.6L Pentastar V-6 and optional 5.7L Hemi V-8 offerings.
When dealing with future powertrains, we come to the table open-minded and
cautiously optimistic. We realize that the whole zero-emissions message is essentially
marketing spin, but whether you buy into it or not, electric vehicles are here to stay. So, for
us, an electrified vehicle should be judged on its capability—and its ability to make the
base vehicle better and add capabilities—versus any misguided attempt to save the world.
UPPER ARM
STRENGTH
How to beef the Dana 30 passenger-
side upper control arm mount
By Verne Simons [email protected] Photos: Verne Simons
W
e added strength to this WJ Grand Cherokee Dana 30 using parts from Artec Industries,
and then we replaced the upper control arm bushings. While we were replacing the upper
control arm bushings on this axle, we realized with just a little more work we could /> The problem is the passenger-side upper control
add even more strength to the passenger-side upper control arm mount. With a piece arm mount on this WJ, and many solid-axle coil-
sprung Jeeps, uses a stamped steel part. The part is
of 1x8x1⁄8-inch plate we were able to box the top of this upper control arm mount, which greatly
fine for stock use and can take a surprising amount
increased its strength with only a little fab time, a hammer, and a welder. This mod will apply to any of abuse, but with a strip of steel plate it can be
Jeep with a solid front axle and a link suspension, including the XJ Cherokee, ZJ Grand Cherokee, made stronger. First, we cut a strip of steel to fit. This
TJ Wrangler, JK Wrangler, and the JL Wrangler. Here’s what we did. 1x8x1⁄8-inch plate will work just fine.
|> /> As we got to the curved part of the control arm mount, we used a ball peen hammer to form the plate to the curve of the mount.
fourwheeler.com FOUR WHEELER NOVEMBER 2022 65
Tech UPPER ARM STRENGTH
|> /> <| \> As we did this, we continued to weld the plate to the stamped control arm mount all the way around the curve, forming a box rather than two thin arms.
This added beef will work well in conjunction with all the other modifications we’ve made to the axlehousing. FW
3 Peak
Mountain
Snowflake ALL NEW
Certified
3 Peak
Mountain
Snowflake ALL NEW
Certified
SION
Tech
CORRO
CONQUES
SOURCES
T
B’laster
blasterproducts.com
Eastwood
eastwood.com
Permatex
permatex.com
Pro Form
proformproducts.com
R
ust, often considered the cancer of the automotive world, is the
enemy of anyone who loves cars, trucks, or any items mainly
constructed of steel or iron. Rusting, or oxidation, is defined as a
chemical reaction in which electrons are lost, and while that’s a
stuffy, chemistry-based definition, it is relevant to stopping rust
from destroying our 4x4s. Basically, we want to stop or slow the loss of
electrons from the steel either chemically (via rust-remover) or physically
(by grinding it off and/or sealing it with paint or another type of sealer).
For decades, we’ve dabbled with various techniques for killing rust,
which is the only way to prevent its continued growth. Recently, we
needed to stop a bunch of surface rust on the hood of our ’74 CJ-5 and
thought this might be a good place to do some unscientific tests of what
works and what doesn’t. One important note before we begin: Wear safety
gear like eye protection, rubber or nitrile gloves, and clothes that you don’t
mind possibly damaging when using any of these methods.
White Vinegar
We did two tests with white
vinegar. One involved taking a
small, rusty part and letting it
soak in vinegar overnight. The
second test involved rubbing
some vinegar on our rusty hood.
Initially, the part we soaked in
vinegar looked about the same as
when we put it in, but with a little
brushing almost all the rust flaked
off, leaving some pretty clean
metal. We’d give it a solid 8 out of 10 in our arbitrary comparison. Rubbing
white vinegar on the rusty hood helped remove light surface, or flash, rust.
/> Chances are, you have some white We’d give that a 3-5 out of 10 for effectiveness. It worked, but not terribly
vinegar in your pantry because its typically
used for cooking and cleaning. We had well; hardly worth doing unless you can let the part soak for a while.
some and yes, it works. If you can soak
rust in vinegar for a while, it will come off.
Rubbing vinegar on a rusty hood, however,
produced some results on very light
surface rust, or flash rust, but didn’t seem
to touch heavier rust.
/> We soaked a rag with white vinegar
and let it sit on the hood.
-> After a few minutes some of the
surface rust was dissolved, but not all of it.
While we wanted this to work well, unless
the part can be soaked for a long time,
fourwheeler.com acetic acid (vinegar) just isn’t much help. FOUR WHEELER NOVEMBER 2022 69
Tech Corrosion Conquest
We’ve heard folks say that you need to dilute the We bought this product at our local paint supply
molasses at seven parts water to one part molasses. house. It worked well on light surface rust and
It supposedly takes several days to remove the rust flash rust (like all these products specifically
while parts soak in the molasses water. We’re not designed for rust removal) but seemed to leave
patient enough for that and lack a tub large enough some of the heavier rust in place.
for a Jeep hood.
fourwheeler.com
<\ Metal Rescue Rust Remover Gel from
B’laster was probably our favorite product
because it worked (albeit messily and slowly)
even on some of the heavier surface rust.
Metal Rescue Rust Remover Gel /> The instructions say to cover the product with
plastic wrap and allow it to sit on heavier areas
|> This rust remover gel from B’laster, of rust. We used some old packing material and
the same company that makes PB B’laster left coats on for about 30 minutes at a time.
penetrating lubricant, is probably our favorite Then we cleaned the area with fresh water and Rust Dissolver Gel
re-applied the gel and the plastic.
of the professional rust treatments we tried. <| This product from Permatex works about
Why? Well, basically, it works, even on the as well as the other rust dissolving products
heavier rust and pitting. But it does have some /> After three or four applications of the gel you
we tried. It’s hot pink, which is nice if you’re
can see some real improvement on the hood.
drawbacks. The gel formula helps keep it in This stuff works, but slowly. into that. The instructions say to apply liberally
place, but the instructions recommend painting and work the gel into any pits or areas of heavy
it on about 1⁄8-inch thick and then covering it rust. Allow the product to sit for 5-10 minutes
with plastic wrap (we used some old plastic Eastwood Fast Etch and then wash it off with fresh water. Like the
packing material to cover it). This keeps the <| Yeah, you’ve probably heard of Eastwood other solutions that only sit on the surface for
product from drying, which would presumably when it comes to automotive restoration and a few minutes (with the exception of the gel
stop it from doing its job. The product needs to repair supplies. We’ve had this bottle of Fast covered in plastic), this product removes lighter
sit in place for an hour or two, though, and may Etch from Eastwood for several years, and it surface rust but leaves some of the rust in pits
need to be reapplied a couple of times. Still, still works even after all this time. The litera- or more heavily rusted areas. We’ll give it a 6
after three or so treatments it cleared up some ture claims that it will dissolve rust and leave or maybe 6.5 out of 10 in our rust remover test.
of the pretty heavy surface rust on our hood. a protective zinc-phosphate coating, and we
The drawbacks are the time that it takes, the buy that. We like this product, but like the Pro
mess (it’s messy), and the need to cover it. That Form, it doesn’t seem to do much on heavier
seems to limit the size of the area you can treat rust. However, you can watch it dissolve
at one time. We give it a 7.5 out of 10. B’laster smaller surface rust from sheetmetal as you
says the product is non-toxic, contains no apply it with a rag. Pretty cool stuff. We give
harmful or corrosive acids, alkalis, or solvents, this product a rating of 6 out of 10. Again, you
but please wear eye protection, gloves, and need to wear old clothes, rubber gloves, and
clothes you don’t mind damaging. eye protection.
Sandpaper
<| Sandpaper is a classic tool for removing We love wire wheels on an angle grinder for removing
rust from metal, and it works pretty darn well paint and other grime from metal surfaces. It works
on light-to-moderate surface rust. You can do well for rust, too, but we noticed that on some of the
this the old-fashioned way, by hand, but one surface rust it seemed to polish the rust rather than
remove it. This method works in contoured areas, but
of the absolute best ways we found to remove the sander and abrasive pads work a bit better overall,
surface rust from this Jeep hood was to use in our opinion and experience.
sandpaper attached to the foam pad of an old
pneumatic random-orbit sander we borrowed
from our neighbor. This combo removed rust Wire Wheel
and rust-filled old primer from the old Jeep /> Using wire brushes or wheels is another one
hood relatively quickly. This is the method of our favorite methods for removing rust—as
we used on most of the hood. It works well, well as other grime and gunk—from various
except on deep rust or contours, and it’s great surfaces. Generally speaking, the faster the
on flat surfaces. We give it our highest rating wire brush moves and the thicker the wires
of 8.5-9 out of 10 for being the best method we that make up the brush or wheel, the more
personally used (this time). aggressive it is. Our go-to for general paint and
rust removal is a 4 1⁄2-inch angle grinder with
a wire wheel on it. It works well on all but the
hardest rust, which it tends to polish rather than
remove. Our rating is a 7-8 out of 10.
Abrasive Pads/Discs
/> A small pneumatic angle grinder with either |> This little pneumatic angle grinder with an
a 3M-style abrasive pad or a sanding disc is abrasive pad is great for getting rust off contoured
great for removing surface rust from more areas. On this kind of grinder, the pads don’t eat
away the metal like a sanding disc would, which is
contoured areas of a rusty part, but sometimes good as there isn’t a ton of metal here.
the sanding disc is too aggressive, and the
abrasive pad (which looks like Velcro) is too <| After chemically cleaning this area of the hood
we got after it with the grinder and abrasive pad to
forgiving. For that reason, we give this option a
remove what rust was left. The pad will eat away a
7-8 out of 10 as well. little of the metal and will leave some swirly scratches,
but that’s OK; they will eventually be hidden under a
Sandblasting/Mediablasting few coats of primer and a topcoat or two.
If you’ve ever restored anything with the help
of a small media blaster (we have a small
cabinet with glass bead as the medium), you
know that this is the hot setup … until a
|> Sandpaper stuck on the pad of an old pneumatic filter clogs or you can’t see inside the cabinet
sander wins our test of surface rust removal methods. It
works, but the machine needs a lot of air to eat up the because of dust, a bad window, or a bad light.
rust (the compressor wasn’t happy) and requires frequent It is our opinion, though, that mediablasting is
paper changes. We used 180-grit stick-on discs. The the best way to clean up surface rust and more.
only thing that might be better than this at removing rust
would be blasting with sand or other media.
Its downfalls are that you can only clean some-
thing small enough to fit in the cabinet—you’ll
<| We used the DA, or random orbit, sander to “finish have to take larger items to a professional, pay
the job” and clean up the hood after the test—that’s them, and wait for them to do the job—but the
after all the chemical removers, wire brushes on angle results are the best and the task (when things
grinders, abrasive pads on angle grinders, and so on.
are working correctly) is pretty simple. Other
drawbacks to mediablasting are that it doesn’t
work well on rubbery surfaces (like some bed
liners, for instance), it can cause parts to warp, and other customers), and instead of doing
and the dust can be harmful. For these reasons, your own manual labor you’ll need to spend
we give this method a solid 8-9 out of 10. The money to have it done. It’s not necessarily an
results may cost some money, but if you plan easy job. It requires the right equipment, and
ahead mediablasting is great at removing rust. the operator needs to know how to strip thin
In our humble opinion, paying a professional to metal without warping it or blowing holes in
mediablast paint, surface rust, and filler from it. Oh, and if the sheetmetal is rusted through,
an old body panel is the best option available. It mediablasting will show you that, with a result
does take planning (these shops have schedules that looks like Swiss-cheese. FW
DOMINATES
THE COMPETITION
WE OUTPERFORM OUR COMPETITION, SO YOU CAN OUTPERFORM YOURS!
Leading Neapco
Competitor Performance Series
+177%
NeapcoAftermarket.com
Feature GRANVILLE SALUTE Due to many requests, we’re republishing some of Granville King’s “From
The Backcountry” columns as space permits. These columns ran in Four Wheeler from 1984 until Granville’s passing in
1989 at age 70. Granville was a retired aerospace engineer and television screenwriter who lived off-grid in a trailer in Baja,
Mexico. His off-road experiences were many, and his storytelling was amusing, riveting, timeless, and unparalleled.
H ave a 4x4 tech question you want answered in Techline? Drop an email to [email protected]
or message us through our Facebook page at facebook.com/fourwheelermag. All letters become the
property of Four Wheeler, and we reserve the right to edit them for length, accuracy, and clarity. Due to the
spacer for the transmission/transfer case or just
buy an aftermarket kit for likely less than you
would spend making the same parts and sourcing
volume of mail, electronic and otherwise, we cannot respond to every reader, but we do read everything.
Month motortrend.app.link/fw
★FIRST DRIVE★
2022 GMC SIERRA No one plans on getting stuck driving off-road.
But when it happens you need to get unstuck
quickly and safely.
Bubba Rope
★UPGRADING★
A 1999 WRANGLER SAHARA
FOUR WHEELER (ISSN 0015-9123) November 2022; Vol. 59, No. 11. Copyright © 2022 by Motor Trend Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Published monthly by Motor Trend Group, LLC, 831
South Douglas Street, El Segundo, CA 90245. Periodicals postage paid at Los Angeles, CA, and at additional mailing offices. Single copy price is $6.99. SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. APO, FPO and
U.S. Possessions $19.97 for 12 isssues. Canada orders add $12.00 per year and international orders add $24.00 per year (for surface mail postage). Payment in advance, U.S. funds only.
POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to FOUR WHEELER, P.O. Box 37198, Boone, IA 50037.
Any
Vehicle.
Every
Terrain.
REMOTE WORK.
• OE specific hardware
WAY AHEAD.