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♪ [ engines revving ] ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> WELCOME TO POWERNATION BUILDS. I'M ALLI WALKER. WOULD YOU EVER BUY A TWO WHEEL DRIVE JEEP WRANGLER? YOU MIGHT AFTER SEEING HOW TO TURN ONE INTO A BUDGET FRIENDLY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.
(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCK TECH. NOW NOT TOO LONG AGO I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AT USED VEHICLES IN SEARCH FOR THE NEXT TRUCK TECH PROJECT AND CAME ACROSS THIS JEEP WRANGLER THAT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY CHEAPER THAN JEEP WRANGLERS LIKE THIS TYPICALLY GO FOR. THAT'S BECAUSE THIS POOR JEEP IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE. AND AFTER THAT REVELATION MY REACTION WAS WHAT'S THE POINT OF A TWO WHEEL DRIVE JEEP WRANGLER AND WHO WOULD WANT ONE? THEN I REALIZED THE MONEY WE WOULD SAVE ON THE PURCHASE PRICE WOULD MORE THAN COVER THE COST OF CONVERTING THIS THING TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. IN THE CASE OF THESE JEEP WRANGLERS THE CONVERSION REALLY ISN'T THAT INVOLVED. IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY. AND WITH THE JEEP UP IN THE AIR WE CAN MAKE QUICK WORK OF TEAR DOWN, STARTING BY REMOVING THE LONGEST VERSION OF A JEEP WRANGLER DRIVESHAFT EVER MADE. NOW TYPICALLY WHEN DOING A TWO TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CONVERSION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUYING AN ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SO YOU'VE GOT A SPOT TO HANG A TRANSFER CASE BUT ON THIS SPECIFIC JEEP MODEL TRANSMISSION IT'S A LOT SIMPLER. ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS REMOVE THIS REAR PORTION OF THE TRANSMISSION, OR THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE EXTENSION HOUSING, AND THEN SWAP IT FOR A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE EXTENSION HOUSING. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS REMOVE THE DRIVESHAFT YOKE BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT HAD TO COME OFF IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE EXTENSION HOUSING. THERE WE GO. I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO TAKE THAT YOKE OFF, LOOK AT THAT. THE OUTPUT SHAFT IS COMING WITH IT. ♪ ♪ THEN BOLT IT DOWN USING THE HARDWARE PROVIDED. ♪ ♪ NOW TO MAKE OUR JEEP FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WE'RE USING A STOCK TRANSFER CASE OUT OF A JK WRANGLER, THE NP-241. NOW IT'S GOT 2.72 TO ONE LOW RANGE. WE COULD HAVE USED THE RUBICON EDITION OF THIS TRANSFER CASE WITH ITS FOUR TO ONE LOW RANGE. BUT WITH OUR UNDERDRIVE BOX THERE'S REALLY NO NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL LOW RANGE GEARING. NOW THESE THINGS ARE PLENTIFUL AND THEREFORE PRETTY CHEAP. THIS ONE CAME FROM POWERTRAIN PRODUCTS AND IT'S BEEN FULLY REBUILT. SO WE KNOW IT'S READY FOR INSTALLATION. OFF IN THAT HOLE, THAT'S THE STOCK INDEXING. USE MY HEAD HERE.
THERE WE GO, ALRIGHT.
[ ratchet clicking ] NOW WE PLAN ON USING OUR NEWLY CONVERTED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WRANGLER ON SOME PRETTY HARDCORE TRAILS. SO WE WANTED TO GO WITH A SUSPENSION KIT THAT WAS UP TO THE TASK. WE ENDED UP GOING WITH THIS BDS FOUR AND A HALF INCH LONG ARM KIT. MEANING THESE LONG ARMS WILL REPLACE THE MUCH SHORTER FACTORY CONTROL ARMS. NOW THE KIT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND INCLUDES MOST OF THE THINGS YOU SEE ON THE TABLE. A FEW ITEMS WERE OPTIONAL. WE'VE GOT COIL SPRINGS AND SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, HEAVY DUTY UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR THE FRONT AND BACK, SWAY BAR END LINKS, ALL THE BRACKETRY AND HARDWARE NECESSARY FOR THE INSTALLATION, ALONG WITH A DROPPED PITMAN ARM AND EXTENDED BRAKE LINES. WE'VE GOT THE OPTIONAL ADJUSTABLE FRONT AND REAR TRACK BARS, AND THE OPTIONAL JKS ULTIMATE SWAY BAR DISCONNECTS. NOW THE CONTROL ARMS THEMSELVES FEATURE FLEX JOINTS AT ONE END AND A RUBBER BUSHING AT THE OTHER TO TRY TO LIMIT NOISE AND VIBRATION. NOW ONE OF THE UPGRADES WE WANTED TO GO WITH THE MOST WERE THESE FOXX SHOCKS. THEY'RE MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR BDS AS THEIR 2.0 PERFORMANCE SERIES. AND THEY'RE CUSTOM TUNED AND VALVED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS LIFT KIT AND OUR WRANGLER. SO THEY SHOULD PERFORM AND HANDLE REALLY, REALLY WELL. THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS SWAP IN OUR EXTENDED BRAKE LINES. THEN REMOVE THE SHOCKS AND THE COIL SPRINGS, AND THEN REINSTALL THE SHOCKS SO THE AXLE HAS SOMETHING TO REST ON AND BE STABILIZED BY. THEN YOU CAN GET TO WORK CUTTING OFF THE ORIGINAL LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. THEN I'M MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF CLEARANCE ROOM FOR THE NEW LOWER AND LONGER CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE REAR BODY MOUNT. THEN WE CAN REINSTALL THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET, ATTACH ALL THE HARDWARE, AND TORQUE EVERYTHING TO SPEC, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS 65 FOOT POUNDS. THEN YOU CAN INSTALL THE NEW LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. ♪ ♪ TO FINISH UP THE REAR LIFT WE'RE INSTALLING THE SUPPLIED TRACK BAR RELOCATION BRACKET ON THE AXLE END USING THE FACTORY TRACK BAR MOUNTING HOLE AND A HOLE WE DRILLED IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNT. THEN WE CAN ADD THE ADJUSTABLE TRACK BAR. THAT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE MASSAGING. ♪ ♪ THEN WE CAN ADD THE NEW LONGER REAR COIL SPRINGS. THEN WRESTLE THEM INTO POSITION. FOLLOW THAT WITH THE INSTALLATION OF OUR UPGRADED FOXX SHOCKS [ drill humming ] AND NEW LONGER SWAY BAR END LINKS. ♪ ♪ [ drill humming ] WITH THE REAR HALF FINISHED UP WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FRONT, STARTING WITH GETTING RID OF THIS SAD TWO WHEEL DRIVE BEAM AXLE. NOW WE ARE GONNA REUSE PORTIONS OF THIS AXLE. SO WE'RE NOT THROWING THE WHOLE THING AWAY. WE DO NEED TO REUSE THE STOCK KNUCKLES AND BRAKES. SO FAR WE'VE ADDED AN UNDERDRIVE CRAWL BOX, A FACTORY NP-241 TRANSFER CASE, AND A FOUR AND A HALF INCH LONG ARM LIFT KIT. AND TO FINISH THIS THING UP WE CAN JUST GO TO THE JUNKYARD, PICK UP A FACTORY DANA 30 FRONT AXLE, ORDER UP A COUPLE OF DRIVESHAFTS AND WE'D BE DONE. BUT LIKE WE TOLD YOU RIGHT UP FRONT, WE WANT TO ORDER AND INVEST IN PARTS THAT ARE MORE INLINE WITH THE INTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS TACKLING SOME PRETTY HARDCORE TRAILS. SO WE'RE GONNA BE ORDERING A DANA 44 HEAVY DUTY FRONT AXLE HOUSING. I DON'T THINK THE STOCKER IS UP TO THE TIRES AND WHEELS WE HAVE IN MIND.
(ALLI)>> MORE OF OUR DRIVEWAY FRIENDLY WRANGLER BUILD COMING UP!
(ALLI)>> WELCOME BACK. NEXT UP, RYAN ADDS SOME TRAIL RIDING MUST HAVES.
(RYAN)>> THIS IS A CURRIE ROCK JOCK 44. IT'S A 100 PERCENT NEW HEAVY DUTY HIGH PINION DANA 44 THAT MATCHES THE JK AXLE WIDTH. IT FEATURES CURRIE'S FORGED INNERC'S, THREE INCH AXLE TUBES WITH A WALL THICKNESS OF THREEEIGHTHS OF AN INCH. SO BENT HOUSINGS ARE A THING OF THE PAST. IT ALSO USES HEAVY DUTY BRACKETRY READY FOR THE RIGORS OF OFF ROAD USE AND THE LARGER AND STRONGER JK RING AND PINION. WE HAD THEM FILL THIS ONE WITH A YUKON GEAR AND AXLE 5.13 RING AND PINION SET AND AN ARB AIR LOCKER. TO FINISH THIS THING UP ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS PAINT IT AND ADD OUR FACTORY STEERING KNUCKLES. NOW SINCE WE ONLY WANT TO PAINT THE BARE STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOUSING I'M MASKING OFF EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T WANT PAINTED BLACK. NOW FOR MY OFFICIAL PROFESSIONAL GRADE MASKING PAPER OR A SCOT PRO SHOP TOWEL, EITHER ONE. THAT OUGHT TO BE GOOD ENOUGH. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS DEGREASE ALL THE BARE METAL SURFACES. THEN I FOLLOWED THAT WITH A FEW COATS OF DUPLICOLOR SELF ETCHING PRIMER. KINDA DIG THE GREEN BUT DIDN'T REALLY MATCH UP WITH THIS PROJECT. SO I'M GIVING IT A BATH IN SEMIGLOSS BLACK. LET'S SEE HOW GOOD MY PAPER TOWEL DID. LOOK AT THAT! ♪ ♪ AND WITH THE AXLE ON JACK STANDS UNDERNEATH THE JEEP THE FIRST THING I'M DOING IS HOOKING UP THESE UPPER CONTROL ARMS. THEN LOWERING THE JEEP DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND ATTACHING THE FRONT SHOCKS. LIFT IT UP, UP, AND AWAY. [ mechanical humming ]
(RYAN)>> THEN AFTER SETTING BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO THE SAME OVERALL LENGTH I ATTACH THE FLEX JOINT END OF THE ARM TO THE FRAME AND THE RUBBER BUSHING END TO THE AXLE. THE FRAME END ACCEPTED SUPPLIED GRADE EIGHT HARDWARE BUT ON THE AXLE END I USED THE ORIGINAL FACTORY CONTROL ARM BOLTS. ALRIGHT, NEXT. ♪ ♪ THEN I INSTALLED THE BDS TRACK BAR WITH THE ASSIST OF A RATCHET STRAP. NOW I'M JUST LOOSELY INSTALLING IT FOR NOW. I'LL MAKE THE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS ONCE THE JEEP IS BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND. FOLLOW THAT WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS INCLUSIVE OF THE BUMP STOP EXTENSION. YOU CAN'T GET THE BUMP STOP IN PLACE ONCE THE COIL SPRING IS ON. SO DON'T FORGET IT. THEN WE INSTALL THE JKS ADJUSTABLE SWAY BAR END LINKS ONCE THE AXLE'S JACKED UP INTO POSITION. AND JUST LIKE THE TRACK BAR, I'LL MAKE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS ONCE THIS THING'S BACK ON THE GROUND, BUT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE ARMS OF THE SWAY BAR LEVEL OR PARALLEL WITH THE GROUND AT RIDE HEIGHT. ♪ ♪ NOW IF YOU'RE IN TERRAIN THAT REQUIRES LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE YOU COULD GET STUCK. IF YOU DO YOU'RE GONNA NEED ONE OF THESE. THIS IS A NEW WINCH FROM WARN. IT'S THEIR ZEON 10-S PLATINUM EDITION. IT'S GOT A 10,000 POUND PULL RATING, 100 FEET OF THREEEIGHTHS THICK SPIDORA SYNTHETIC WINCH ROPE, AND A POLISHED ALUMINUM FAIRLEAD, ALL IN A NICE SLEEK PACKAGE. BUT ONE THING YOU DON'T SEE IS A MANUAL CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT LEVER CAUSE THAT IS NOW CONTROLLED VIA REMOTE. NOW IN ADDITION TO CONTROLLING CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT IT CONTROLS SPOOL IN AND SPOOL OUT ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER AUXILIARY OUTPUTS, SUCH AS OFF ROAD LIGHTING. IT ALSO MONITORS THE REMOTE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY, AND THE WINCH MOTOR TEMPERATURE. SO IF WE EVER DO GET STUCK MAYBE GETTING UNSTUCK WILL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND MORE CONVENIENT. LET'S GET THIS THING ON HERE. NOW OBVIOUSLY THE REENFORCED PLASTIC FACTORY BUMPER ISN'T A SUITABLE MOUNTING LOCATION FOR A RECOVERY WINCH. SO WE'RE GONNA BE INSTALLING A NEW STUBBY BULL BAR. WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF SMALL MODIFICATIONS TO THE BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS NOTCH MAKES ROOM FOR OUR BIG WINCH AND THIS RAISED LIP THAT I'M CUTTING OFF CAN EITHER BE FLATTENED OR CUT OFF LIKE WE'RE DOING. THAT WILL ALLOW THE BUMPER TO SIT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. A LITTLE BIT OF SPRAY PAINT WILL HOPEFULLY KEEP CORROSION AT BAY. WITH THAT DONE WE CAN PUT THE BUMPER INTO POSITION AND START SECURING IT WITH THE EIGHT MOUNTING BOLTS. NOW SINCE THIS ISN'T A FULL WIDTH BUMPER IT'S ACTUALLY NOT TOO HEAVY, AND THE TEXTURED BLACK POWDER COAT BLENDS IN WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS ON THE JEEP NICELY.
[ drill humming ] KEEP THESE WIRES, CABLES FROM TANGLING ME UP TOO BAD. ♪ ♪
AND WITH THE WINCH WRESTLED INTO POSITION WE CAN ATTACH THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CABLES TO THE SIDE POSTS OF OUR OPTIMA YELLOW TOP DEEP CYCLE BATTERY. JUST REMEMBER IF YOU EVER NEED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO REMOVE BOTH GROUND CONNECTIONS. NOW WITH THIS BEING A DEEP CYCLE BATTERY IT WILL ALLOW THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED DOWN FROM WINCH USE AND STILL RECOVER IT WITHOUT EFFECTING THE BATTERY'S LONG TERM HEALTH. [ drill humming ] ♪ ♪ AND WITH THE WINCH BOLTED DOWN WE CAN INSTALL THE SUPPLIED FAIRLEAD. ♪ ♪ [ drill humming ] ♪ ♪ TO FINISH THINGS UP WE ADD THE SUPPLIED HOOK AND SECURE IT WITH A COTTER PIN. ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> COMING UP, THE WRANGLER GETS SOME HAND FABBED ROCK SLIDERS.
(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOP. NOW WITH OUR FLARES INSTALLED AT ALL FOUR CORNERS WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY TO HIT THE DOOR AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF WHEELING. BUT LIKE WE MENTIONED UP FRONT, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE PROJECT. WE WANT TO BUILD SOME CUSTOM ROCKER PROTECTION FOR THIS THING. AND NOW THAT OUR FLARES ARE IN PLACE WE KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH. I STARTED THINGS OFF BY CUTTING A 45 DEGREE ANGLE INTO ONE END OF THE TUBE. THEN GETTING MY OVERALL LENGTH MEASUREMENT AND CUTTING A 45 INTO THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH OUR DAKE COLD SAW MADE QUICK WORK OF. AND BEFORE I BENT THE FIVE SUPPORT TUBES, I WENT AHEAD AND NOTCHED THE ENDS. IF YOU TRY TO NOTCH IT AFTER YOU MAKE THE BENDS IN THE TUBE IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY LOAD IT INTO THE NOTCHER. I'M USING AN INCH AND A HALF HOLE SAW ON OUR INCH AND A HALF STEEL TUBING. AND WITH THE NOTCHES MADE I CAN LOAD THE TUBING INTO THE BENDER AND LOCK IT INTO POSITION MAKING SURE THAT THE TUBE IS INDEXED CORRECTLY. AND RATHER THAN MESS AROUND WITH AN ANGLE FINDER OR THE DEGREE WHEEL, I JUST EYE BALLED THE BEND AND TOOK A MEASUREMENT TO MAKE IT EASILY REPEATABLE. THEN FOR THE OTHER FOUR SUPPORTS IT'S AS SIMPLE AS MATCHING UP THAT 11 INCH MEASUREMENT, AND I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE EXACT. THE PIECE OF TUBE I'M WORKING ON NOW IS ACTUALLY TWO BENDS. I'LL CUT IT IN THE MIDDLE MAKING TWO SUPPORTS. THEN I NOTCHED A COUPLE OF PIECES OF SCRAP EXHAUST TUBING, SET THEM UP ON THE LIFT ARMS, MOCKED THE ROCK SLIDER INTO POSITION, AND GOT IT WHERE I WANTED IT. JUST USING ANOTHER PIECE OF TUBING. SET MY SPACING AWAY FROM THE BODY CAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT. NOW THE TUBULAR SUPPORTS ARE GONNA WELD DIRECTLY TO THE FRAME BUT THERE'S A SUSPENSION BRACKET IN MY WAY. CONTROL ARM BRACKET I'M GONNA TRIM JUST A LITTLE BIT. GIVE ME SOME ROOM TO WELD ON IT. JUST A LITTLE BIT. GIVE ME SOME ROOM TO GET SOME WELD IN THERE. [ grinder buzzing ] AFTER MAKING A CUT I'M USING A BRISTLE DISC ON A DYE GRINDER TO GET RID OF THE PAINT SO I CAN WELD DIRECTLY TO THE BARE STEEL. THEN I JUST MOCKUP THE FIRST SUPPORT, TACH WELD IT INTO PLACE. THEN JUST WORK MY WAY DOWN THE FRAME RAIL. NOW I WILL ADD MORE BRACING TO THESE LATER. FOR NOW THIS'LL GET US MOCKED UP. NOW IN BETWEEN THE SLIDER SUPPORTS I'M GONNA BE ADDING REENFORCEMENT PLATES. BUT RATHER THAN GO WITH JUST PLAIN FLAT STEEL I'M GONNA BE DIMPLE DYING SOME HOLES INTO THE PLATE. STEP ONE IN THAT IS DRILLING SOME HOLES. THEN AFTER CUTTING THE HOLES I CAN USE OUR INCH AND A HALF DIMPLE DIE THAT WE PICKED UP FROM LIGHT RACING TO FORM THE DIMPLES. OF COURSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR HEAVY DUTY HYDRAULIC PRESS. NOW BY ADDING THESE DIMPLES TO THE FLAT PLATE IT MAKES THEM LIGHTER, STRONGER, AND ARGUABLY BETTER LOOKING, AND IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF STYLE TO OUR OTHERWISE STRAIGHT FORWARD ROCK SLIDERS. LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. NOW IN ADDITION TO THESE REENFORCEMENT PLATES I'M ALSO GONNA BE ADDING A VERTICAL SUPPORT TO THE BACK EDGE OF THE PLATE TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF STRENGTH. I'M ALSO GONNA CAP THE ENDS OF THE TUBE, BUT THAT'LL HAPPEN OFF OF THE JEEP. ONCE I FINISH TACKING THESE PLATES INTO POSITION I CAN CUT THE TACK WELDS LOOSE AT THE FRAME AND REMOVE THE ROCK SLIDER AS ONE BIG PIECE. ALRIGHT, TO THE WELDING TABLE. NOW THE MAIN SLIDER TUBE IS STRAIGHT FOR NOW. EVERY TIME I TRY TO WELD ON IT IT'S GONNA TRY TO WARP. SO TO MINIMIZE THAT I'VE GOT IT CLAMPED TO A PIECE OF HEAVY QUARTER INCH ANGLE IRON. IT'S STILL GONNA WARP A LITTLE BIT BUT THIS WILL MINIMIZE IT. THEN I CAN WELD IN ALL THE REENFORCEMENT PLATES IN A SERIES OF TACK WELDS. ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> COMING UP NEXT, THE JK HEADS INTO THE WILD!
(ALLI)>> DOES RYAN GET IN OVER HIS HEAD ON A ROCKY TRAIL? LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCK TECH. WE'RE UP HERE AT GOLDEN MOUNTAIN PARK IN SPARTA, TENNESSEE, TO TEST OUT OUR JK. ♪ ♪ NOW IT RAINED ON OUR TRIP OVER HERE AND THEY'RE FORECASTING MORE. SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SQUEEZE IN SOME QUICK WHEELING. GOLDEN MOUNTAIN'S GOT SOME OF THE BEST WHEELING IN THE REGION, AND THEIR TRAILS GO FROM MILD TO QUITE CHALLENGING. YEP ROCKERS ARE DOING THEIR JOB. THIS WATER AND MUD'S GONNA BE PUSHING ME AROUND ALL DAY I THINK. I'M GONNA GO AROUND THAT SUPER NASTY SPOT. NOW WE HAD OUR NITTO MUD TERRAINS AIRED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 PSI ON OUR ALUMINUM BEAD LOCK WHEELS AND THEY WERE WORKING REALLY WELL. AND WITH OUR HEAVY DUTY FRONT AXLE, 35 SPLINE DIFF AND AXLE SHAFTS, WE KNEW WE COULD GET ON THE THROTTLE A LITTLE BIT WITHOUT FEAR OF BREAKING AN AXLE SHAFT EVERY TIME WE DID. NOW THE SUSPENSION WAS WORKING REALLY WELL AND TAKING US FARTHER OFF THE TRAIL THAN THIS JK PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DIFFICULT TRAIL AND IS USUALLY TRAVERSED BY BUGGIES OR PEOPLE THAT REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT BODY DAMAGE BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. NOW EVERYTHING'S GOING GOOD SO FAR, AND THE TIME WE SPENT BUILDING ROCK SLIDERS AND SKID PLATES IS PAYING OFF BECAUSE WE'RE DRAGGING THIS THING ACROSS SOME BOULDERS. EVEN OUR HEAVY DUTY STEERING LINKAGE TOOK A PRETTY GOOD HIT BUT SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. SO LET'S KEEP GOING. NOW OUR BDS LONG ARM KIT AND FOXX SHOCKS MADE THIS JEEP RIDE GREAT OUT ON THE ROAD, AND IT'S HANDLING THIS TRAIL PRETTY WELL TOO. ♪ ♪ WELL THE ODDS AREN'T REAL GOOD THAT THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE THE FARTHER WE MADE IT THE TOUGHER THE TERRAIN. THE FRONT END FEELS A LITTLE LIGHT. AND IN A RUSH TO GET ON THE TRAIL I REMEMBERED TO AIR DOWN THE TIRES BUT FORGOT TO DISCONNECT THE FRONT SWAY BAR UNTIL ABOUT HALF WAY UP THE TRAIL. I HOPE THAT'S NOT SOME TWISTED FORESHADOWING. I'LL TAKE THIS WITH ME. CLEAN UP THE TRAIL. ALRIGHT IF I GET OVER THIS LITTLE RISE AM I GOOD TO KINDA GET AFTER IT? THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. HEY THERE'S A WINCH ON THE FRONT OF THIS THING RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S NOT GONNA GET BETTER ON ITS OWN. IT'S GONNA JUST KEEP PULLING MY FRONT END DOWN HILL AND GO FROM BAD TO WORSE. I THINK NOW IS WHEN YOU JUST PULL OUT THE WINCH AND MOVE ON. INSIDE OUR RECOVERY KIT IS A TREE SAVER, WHICH WILL PREVENT US FROM DAMAGING THE BARK ON THE TREE. HUGGING THIS TREE. I'M GONNA LIKE IT A WHOLE LOT IF IT GETS ME OUT OF THIS BIND. ♪ ♪ NOW WINCHES AREN'T JUST FOR GETTING VEHICLES UNSTUCK FROM DEEP MUD. THEY CAN ALSO BE USED AS A TOOL TO GET YOU FURTHER UP THE TRAIL AND DO SO SAFELY. AH, MUCH BETTER, THAT FEELS MUCH SAFER! AT THAT POINT I DECIDED TO GET OUT AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TRAIL. NOW IT LOOKS PRETTY NASTY UP HERE. WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING IN OVER OUR HEAD BUT WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT. AT LEAST MAKE SOME GOOD TV. WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? THIS RAIN DIDN'T DO US ANY FAVORS EITHER BUT WE'RE WELL EQUIPPED. SO LET'S GO FOR IT. RIGHT AFTER I HOPPED BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND FIRED IT UP, THE SKIES OPENED UP. ♪ ♪ HOLY #*$%! CAME OFF THAT ROCK QUICK. ♪ ♪ YEAH, WITH IT RAINING LIKE IT IS, IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO HEAD BACK TO THE SHOP BEFORE WE WAD UP THIS NEWLY COMPLETED JEEP. ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> FROM OFF PUTTING TO OFF ROAD, THAT'S A BUILD YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AT POWERNATION TV DOT COM. I'M ALLI WALKER AND I'LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.
Show Full Transcript
(ALLI)>> WELCOME TO POWERNATION BUILDS. I'M ALLI WALKER. WOULD YOU EVER BUY A TWO WHEEL DRIVE JEEP WRANGLER? YOU MIGHT AFTER SEEING HOW TO TURN ONE INTO A BUDGET FRIENDLY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.
(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCK TECH. NOW NOT TOO LONG AGO I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AT USED VEHICLES IN SEARCH FOR THE NEXT TRUCK TECH PROJECT AND CAME ACROSS THIS JEEP WRANGLER THAT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY CHEAPER THAN JEEP WRANGLERS LIKE THIS TYPICALLY GO FOR. THAT'S BECAUSE THIS POOR JEEP IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE. AND AFTER THAT REVELATION MY REACTION WAS WHAT'S THE POINT OF A TWO WHEEL DRIVE JEEP WRANGLER AND WHO WOULD WANT ONE? THEN I REALIZED THE MONEY WE WOULD SAVE ON THE PURCHASE PRICE WOULD MORE THAN COVER THE COST OF CONVERTING THIS THING TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. IN THE CASE OF THESE JEEP WRANGLERS THE CONVERSION REALLY ISN'T THAT INVOLVED. IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY. AND WITH THE JEEP UP IN THE AIR WE CAN MAKE QUICK WORK OF TEAR DOWN, STARTING BY REMOVING THE LONGEST VERSION OF A JEEP WRANGLER DRIVESHAFT EVER MADE. NOW TYPICALLY WHEN DOING A TWO TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CONVERSION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUYING AN ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SO YOU'VE GOT A SPOT TO HANG A TRANSFER CASE BUT ON THIS SPECIFIC JEEP MODEL TRANSMISSION IT'S A LOT SIMPLER. ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS REMOVE THIS REAR PORTION OF THE TRANSMISSION, OR THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE EXTENSION HOUSING, AND THEN SWAP IT FOR A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE EXTENSION HOUSING. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS REMOVE THE DRIVESHAFT YOKE BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT HAD TO COME OFF IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE EXTENSION HOUSING. THERE WE GO. I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO TAKE THAT YOKE OFF, LOOK AT THAT. THE OUTPUT SHAFT IS COMING WITH IT. ♪ ♪ THEN BOLT IT DOWN USING THE HARDWARE PROVIDED. ♪ ♪ NOW TO MAKE OUR JEEP FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WE'RE USING A STOCK TRANSFER CASE OUT OF A JK WRANGLER, THE NP-241. NOW IT'S GOT 2.72 TO ONE LOW RANGE. WE COULD HAVE USED THE RUBICON EDITION OF THIS TRANSFER CASE WITH ITS FOUR TO ONE LOW RANGE. BUT WITH OUR UNDERDRIVE BOX THERE'S REALLY NO NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL LOW RANGE GEARING. NOW THESE THINGS ARE PLENTIFUL AND THEREFORE PRETTY CHEAP. THIS ONE CAME FROM POWERTRAIN PRODUCTS AND IT'S BEEN FULLY REBUILT. SO WE KNOW IT'S READY FOR INSTALLATION. OFF IN THAT HOLE, THAT'S THE STOCK INDEXING. USE MY HEAD HERE.
THERE WE GO, ALRIGHT.
[ ratchet clicking ] NOW WE PLAN ON USING OUR NEWLY CONVERTED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WRANGLER ON SOME PRETTY HARDCORE TRAILS. SO WE WANTED TO GO WITH A SUSPENSION KIT THAT WAS UP TO THE TASK. WE ENDED UP GOING WITH THIS BDS FOUR AND A HALF INCH LONG ARM KIT. MEANING THESE LONG ARMS WILL REPLACE THE MUCH SHORTER FACTORY CONTROL ARMS. NOW THE KIT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND INCLUDES MOST OF THE THINGS YOU SEE ON THE TABLE. A FEW ITEMS WERE OPTIONAL. WE'VE GOT COIL SPRINGS AND SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, HEAVY DUTY UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR THE FRONT AND BACK, SWAY BAR END LINKS, ALL THE BRACKETRY AND HARDWARE NECESSARY FOR THE INSTALLATION, ALONG WITH A DROPPED PITMAN ARM AND EXTENDED BRAKE LINES. WE'VE GOT THE OPTIONAL ADJUSTABLE FRONT AND REAR TRACK BARS, AND THE OPTIONAL JKS ULTIMATE SWAY BAR DISCONNECTS. NOW THE CONTROL ARMS THEMSELVES FEATURE FLEX JOINTS AT ONE END AND A RUBBER BUSHING AT THE OTHER TO TRY TO LIMIT NOISE AND VIBRATION. NOW ONE OF THE UPGRADES WE WANTED TO GO WITH THE MOST WERE THESE FOXX SHOCKS. THEY'RE MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR BDS AS THEIR 2.0 PERFORMANCE SERIES. AND THEY'RE CUSTOM TUNED AND VALVED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS LIFT KIT AND OUR WRANGLER. SO THEY SHOULD PERFORM AND HANDLE REALLY, REALLY WELL. THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS SWAP IN OUR EXTENDED BRAKE LINES. THEN REMOVE THE SHOCKS AND THE COIL SPRINGS, AND THEN REINSTALL THE SHOCKS SO THE AXLE HAS SOMETHING TO REST ON AND BE STABILIZED BY. THEN YOU CAN GET TO WORK CUTTING OFF THE ORIGINAL LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. THEN I'M MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF CLEARANCE ROOM FOR THE NEW LOWER AND LONGER CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE REAR BODY MOUNT. THEN WE CAN REINSTALL THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET, ATTACH ALL THE HARDWARE, AND TORQUE EVERYTHING TO SPEC, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS 65 FOOT POUNDS. THEN YOU CAN INSTALL THE NEW LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. ♪ ♪ TO FINISH UP THE REAR LIFT WE'RE INSTALLING THE SUPPLIED TRACK BAR RELOCATION BRACKET ON THE AXLE END USING THE FACTORY TRACK BAR MOUNTING HOLE AND A HOLE WE DRILLED IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNT. THEN WE CAN ADD THE ADJUSTABLE TRACK BAR. THAT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE MASSAGING. ♪ ♪ THEN WE CAN ADD THE NEW LONGER REAR COIL SPRINGS. THEN WRESTLE THEM INTO POSITION. FOLLOW THAT WITH THE INSTALLATION OF OUR UPGRADED FOXX SHOCKS [ drill humming ] AND NEW LONGER SWAY BAR END LINKS. ♪ ♪ [ drill humming ] WITH THE REAR HALF FINISHED UP WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FRONT, STARTING WITH GETTING RID OF THIS SAD TWO WHEEL DRIVE BEAM AXLE. NOW WE ARE GONNA REUSE PORTIONS OF THIS AXLE. SO WE'RE NOT THROWING THE WHOLE THING AWAY. WE DO NEED TO REUSE THE STOCK KNUCKLES AND BRAKES. SO FAR WE'VE ADDED AN UNDERDRIVE CRAWL BOX, A FACTORY NP-241 TRANSFER CASE, AND A FOUR AND A HALF INCH LONG ARM LIFT KIT. AND TO FINISH THIS THING UP WE CAN JUST GO TO THE JUNKYARD, PICK UP A FACTORY DANA 30 FRONT AXLE, ORDER UP A COUPLE OF DRIVESHAFTS AND WE'D BE DONE. BUT LIKE WE TOLD YOU RIGHT UP FRONT, WE WANT TO ORDER AND INVEST IN PARTS THAT ARE MORE INLINE WITH THE INTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS TACKLING SOME PRETTY HARDCORE TRAILS. SO WE'RE GONNA BE ORDERING A DANA 44 HEAVY DUTY FRONT AXLE HOUSING. I DON'T THINK THE STOCKER IS UP TO THE TIRES AND WHEELS WE HAVE IN MIND.
(ALLI)>> MORE OF OUR DRIVEWAY FRIENDLY WRANGLER BUILD COMING UP!
(ALLI)>> WELCOME BACK. NEXT UP, RYAN ADDS SOME TRAIL RIDING MUST HAVES.
(RYAN)>> THIS IS A CURRIE ROCK JOCK 44. IT'S A 100 PERCENT NEW HEAVY DUTY HIGH PINION DANA 44 THAT MATCHES THE JK AXLE WIDTH. IT FEATURES CURRIE'S FORGED INNERC'S, THREE INCH AXLE TUBES WITH A WALL THICKNESS OF THREEEIGHTHS OF AN INCH. SO BENT HOUSINGS ARE A THING OF THE PAST. IT ALSO USES HEAVY DUTY BRACKETRY READY FOR THE RIGORS OF OFF ROAD USE AND THE LARGER AND STRONGER JK RING AND PINION. WE HAD THEM FILL THIS ONE WITH A YUKON GEAR AND AXLE 5.13 RING AND PINION SET AND AN ARB AIR LOCKER. TO FINISH THIS THING UP ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS PAINT IT AND ADD OUR FACTORY STEERING KNUCKLES. NOW SINCE WE ONLY WANT TO PAINT THE BARE STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOUSING I'M MASKING OFF EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T WANT PAINTED BLACK. NOW FOR MY OFFICIAL PROFESSIONAL GRADE MASKING PAPER OR A SCOT PRO SHOP TOWEL, EITHER ONE. THAT OUGHT TO BE GOOD ENOUGH. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS DEGREASE ALL THE BARE METAL SURFACES. THEN I FOLLOWED THAT WITH A FEW COATS OF DUPLICOLOR SELF ETCHING PRIMER. KINDA DIG THE GREEN BUT DIDN'T REALLY MATCH UP WITH THIS PROJECT. SO I'M GIVING IT A BATH IN SEMIGLOSS BLACK. LET'S SEE HOW GOOD MY PAPER TOWEL DID. LOOK AT THAT! ♪ ♪ AND WITH THE AXLE ON JACK STANDS UNDERNEATH THE JEEP THE FIRST THING I'M DOING IS HOOKING UP THESE UPPER CONTROL ARMS. THEN LOWERING THE JEEP DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND ATTACHING THE FRONT SHOCKS. LIFT IT UP, UP, AND AWAY. [ mechanical humming ]
(RYAN)>> THEN AFTER SETTING BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO THE SAME OVERALL LENGTH I ATTACH THE FLEX JOINT END OF THE ARM TO THE FRAME AND THE RUBBER BUSHING END TO THE AXLE. THE FRAME END ACCEPTED SUPPLIED GRADE EIGHT HARDWARE BUT ON THE AXLE END I USED THE ORIGINAL FACTORY CONTROL ARM BOLTS. ALRIGHT, NEXT. ♪ ♪ THEN I INSTALLED THE BDS TRACK BAR WITH THE ASSIST OF A RATCHET STRAP. NOW I'M JUST LOOSELY INSTALLING IT FOR NOW. I'LL MAKE THE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS ONCE THE JEEP IS BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND. FOLLOW THAT WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS INCLUSIVE OF THE BUMP STOP EXTENSION. YOU CAN'T GET THE BUMP STOP IN PLACE ONCE THE COIL SPRING IS ON. SO DON'T FORGET IT. THEN WE INSTALL THE JKS ADJUSTABLE SWAY BAR END LINKS ONCE THE AXLE'S JACKED UP INTO POSITION. AND JUST LIKE THE TRACK BAR, I'LL MAKE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS ONCE THIS THING'S BACK ON THE GROUND, BUT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE ARMS OF THE SWAY BAR LEVEL OR PARALLEL WITH THE GROUND AT RIDE HEIGHT. ♪ ♪ NOW IF YOU'RE IN TERRAIN THAT REQUIRES LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE YOU COULD GET STUCK. IF YOU DO YOU'RE GONNA NEED ONE OF THESE. THIS IS A NEW WINCH FROM WARN. IT'S THEIR ZEON 10-S PLATINUM EDITION. IT'S GOT A 10,000 POUND PULL RATING, 100 FEET OF THREEEIGHTHS THICK SPIDORA SYNTHETIC WINCH ROPE, AND A POLISHED ALUMINUM FAIRLEAD, ALL IN A NICE SLEEK PACKAGE. BUT ONE THING YOU DON'T SEE IS A MANUAL CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT LEVER CAUSE THAT IS NOW CONTROLLED VIA REMOTE. NOW IN ADDITION TO CONTROLLING CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT IT CONTROLS SPOOL IN AND SPOOL OUT ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER AUXILIARY OUTPUTS, SUCH AS OFF ROAD LIGHTING. IT ALSO MONITORS THE REMOTE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY, AND THE WINCH MOTOR TEMPERATURE. SO IF WE EVER DO GET STUCK MAYBE GETTING UNSTUCK WILL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND MORE CONVENIENT. LET'S GET THIS THING ON HERE. NOW OBVIOUSLY THE REENFORCED PLASTIC FACTORY BUMPER ISN'T A SUITABLE MOUNTING LOCATION FOR A RECOVERY WINCH. SO WE'RE GONNA BE INSTALLING A NEW STUBBY BULL BAR. WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF SMALL MODIFICATIONS TO THE BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS NOTCH MAKES ROOM FOR OUR BIG WINCH AND THIS RAISED LIP THAT I'M CUTTING OFF CAN EITHER BE FLATTENED OR CUT OFF LIKE WE'RE DOING. THAT WILL ALLOW THE BUMPER TO SIT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. A LITTLE BIT OF SPRAY PAINT WILL HOPEFULLY KEEP CORROSION AT BAY. WITH THAT DONE WE CAN PUT THE BUMPER INTO POSITION AND START SECURING IT WITH THE EIGHT MOUNTING BOLTS. NOW SINCE THIS ISN'T A FULL WIDTH BUMPER IT'S ACTUALLY NOT TOO HEAVY, AND THE TEXTURED BLACK POWDER COAT BLENDS IN WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS ON THE JEEP NICELY.
[ drill humming ] KEEP THESE WIRES, CABLES FROM TANGLING ME UP TOO BAD. ♪ ♪
AND WITH THE WINCH WRESTLED INTO POSITION WE CAN ATTACH THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CABLES TO THE SIDE POSTS OF OUR OPTIMA YELLOW TOP DEEP CYCLE BATTERY. JUST REMEMBER IF YOU EVER NEED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO REMOVE BOTH GROUND CONNECTIONS. NOW WITH THIS BEING A DEEP CYCLE BATTERY IT WILL ALLOW THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED DOWN FROM WINCH USE AND STILL RECOVER IT WITHOUT EFFECTING THE BATTERY'S LONG TERM HEALTH. [ drill humming ] ♪ ♪ AND WITH THE WINCH BOLTED DOWN WE CAN INSTALL THE SUPPLIED FAIRLEAD. ♪ ♪ [ drill humming ] ♪ ♪ TO FINISH THINGS UP WE ADD THE SUPPLIED HOOK AND SECURE IT WITH A COTTER PIN. ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> COMING UP, THE WRANGLER GETS SOME HAND FABBED ROCK SLIDERS.
(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOP. NOW WITH OUR FLARES INSTALLED AT ALL FOUR CORNERS WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY TO HIT THE DOOR AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF WHEELING. BUT LIKE WE MENTIONED UP FRONT, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE PROJECT. WE WANT TO BUILD SOME CUSTOM ROCKER PROTECTION FOR THIS THING. AND NOW THAT OUR FLARES ARE IN PLACE WE KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH. I STARTED THINGS OFF BY CUTTING A 45 DEGREE ANGLE INTO ONE END OF THE TUBE. THEN GETTING MY OVERALL LENGTH MEASUREMENT AND CUTTING A 45 INTO THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH OUR DAKE COLD SAW MADE QUICK WORK OF. AND BEFORE I BENT THE FIVE SUPPORT TUBES, I WENT AHEAD AND NOTCHED THE ENDS. IF YOU TRY TO NOTCH IT AFTER YOU MAKE THE BENDS IN THE TUBE IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY LOAD IT INTO THE NOTCHER. I'M USING AN INCH AND A HALF HOLE SAW ON OUR INCH AND A HALF STEEL TUBING. AND WITH THE NOTCHES MADE I CAN LOAD THE TUBING INTO THE BENDER AND LOCK IT INTO POSITION MAKING SURE THAT THE TUBE IS INDEXED CORRECTLY. AND RATHER THAN MESS AROUND WITH AN ANGLE FINDER OR THE DEGREE WHEEL, I JUST EYE BALLED THE BEND AND TOOK A MEASUREMENT TO MAKE IT EASILY REPEATABLE. THEN FOR THE OTHER FOUR SUPPORTS IT'S AS SIMPLE AS MATCHING UP THAT 11 INCH MEASUREMENT, AND I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE EXACT. THE PIECE OF TUBE I'M WORKING ON NOW IS ACTUALLY TWO BENDS. I'LL CUT IT IN THE MIDDLE MAKING TWO SUPPORTS. THEN I NOTCHED A COUPLE OF PIECES OF SCRAP EXHAUST TUBING, SET THEM UP ON THE LIFT ARMS, MOCKED THE ROCK SLIDER INTO POSITION, AND GOT IT WHERE I WANTED IT. JUST USING ANOTHER PIECE OF TUBING. SET MY SPACING AWAY FROM THE BODY CAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT. NOW THE TUBULAR SUPPORTS ARE GONNA WELD DIRECTLY TO THE FRAME BUT THERE'S A SUSPENSION BRACKET IN MY WAY. CONTROL ARM BRACKET I'M GONNA TRIM JUST A LITTLE BIT. GIVE ME SOME ROOM TO WELD ON IT. JUST A LITTLE BIT. GIVE ME SOME ROOM TO GET SOME WELD IN THERE. [ grinder buzzing ] AFTER MAKING A CUT I'M USING A BRISTLE DISC ON A DYE GRINDER TO GET RID OF THE PAINT SO I CAN WELD DIRECTLY TO THE BARE STEEL. THEN I JUST MOCKUP THE FIRST SUPPORT, TACH WELD IT INTO PLACE. THEN JUST WORK MY WAY DOWN THE FRAME RAIL. NOW I WILL ADD MORE BRACING TO THESE LATER. FOR NOW THIS'LL GET US MOCKED UP. NOW IN BETWEEN THE SLIDER SUPPORTS I'M GONNA BE ADDING REENFORCEMENT PLATES. BUT RATHER THAN GO WITH JUST PLAIN FLAT STEEL I'M GONNA BE DIMPLE DYING SOME HOLES INTO THE PLATE. STEP ONE IN THAT IS DRILLING SOME HOLES. THEN AFTER CUTTING THE HOLES I CAN USE OUR INCH AND A HALF DIMPLE DIE THAT WE PICKED UP FROM LIGHT RACING TO FORM THE DIMPLES. OF COURSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR HEAVY DUTY HYDRAULIC PRESS. NOW BY ADDING THESE DIMPLES TO THE FLAT PLATE IT MAKES THEM LIGHTER, STRONGER, AND ARGUABLY BETTER LOOKING, AND IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF STYLE TO OUR OTHERWISE STRAIGHT FORWARD ROCK SLIDERS. LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. NOW IN ADDITION TO THESE REENFORCEMENT PLATES I'M ALSO GONNA BE ADDING A VERTICAL SUPPORT TO THE BACK EDGE OF THE PLATE TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF STRENGTH. I'M ALSO GONNA CAP THE ENDS OF THE TUBE, BUT THAT'LL HAPPEN OFF OF THE JEEP. ONCE I FINISH TACKING THESE PLATES INTO POSITION I CAN CUT THE TACK WELDS LOOSE AT THE FRAME AND REMOVE THE ROCK SLIDER AS ONE BIG PIECE. ALRIGHT, TO THE WELDING TABLE. NOW THE MAIN SLIDER TUBE IS STRAIGHT FOR NOW. EVERY TIME I TRY TO WELD ON IT IT'S GONNA TRY TO WARP. SO TO MINIMIZE THAT I'VE GOT IT CLAMPED TO A PIECE OF HEAVY QUARTER INCH ANGLE IRON. IT'S STILL GONNA WARP A LITTLE BIT BUT THIS WILL MINIMIZE IT. THEN I CAN WELD IN ALL THE REENFORCEMENT PLATES IN A SERIES OF TACK WELDS. ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> COMING UP NEXT, THE JK HEADS INTO THE WILD!
(ALLI)>> DOES RYAN GET IN OVER HIS HEAD ON A ROCKY TRAIL? LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCK TECH. WE'RE UP HERE AT GOLDEN MOUNTAIN PARK IN SPARTA, TENNESSEE, TO TEST OUT OUR JK. ♪ ♪ NOW IT RAINED ON OUR TRIP OVER HERE AND THEY'RE FORECASTING MORE. SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SQUEEZE IN SOME QUICK WHEELING. GOLDEN MOUNTAIN'S GOT SOME OF THE BEST WHEELING IN THE REGION, AND THEIR TRAILS GO FROM MILD TO QUITE CHALLENGING. YEP ROCKERS ARE DOING THEIR JOB. THIS WATER AND MUD'S GONNA BE PUSHING ME AROUND ALL DAY I THINK. I'M GONNA GO AROUND THAT SUPER NASTY SPOT. NOW WE HAD OUR NITTO MUD TERRAINS AIRED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 PSI ON OUR ALUMINUM BEAD LOCK WHEELS AND THEY WERE WORKING REALLY WELL. AND WITH OUR HEAVY DUTY FRONT AXLE, 35 SPLINE DIFF AND AXLE SHAFTS, WE KNEW WE COULD GET ON THE THROTTLE A LITTLE BIT WITHOUT FEAR OF BREAKING AN AXLE SHAFT EVERY TIME WE DID. NOW THE SUSPENSION WAS WORKING REALLY WELL AND TAKING US FARTHER OFF THE TRAIL THAN THIS JK PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DIFFICULT TRAIL AND IS USUALLY TRAVERSED BY BUGGIES OR PEOPLE THAT REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT BODY DAMAGE BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. NOW EVERYTHING'S GOING GOOD SO FAR, AND THE TIME WE SPENT BUILDING ROCK SLIDERS AND SKID PLATES IS PAYING OFF BECAUSE WE'RE DRAGGING THIS THING ACROSS SOME BOULDERS. EVEN OUR HEAVY DUTY STEERING LINKAGE TOOK A PRETTY GOOD HIT BUT SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. SO LET'S KEEP GOING. NOW OUR BDS LONG ARM KIT AND FOXX SHOCKS MADE THIS JEEP RIDE GREAT OUT ON THE ROAD, AND IT'S HANDLING THIS TRAIL PRETTY WELL TOO. ♪ ♪ WELL THE ODDS AREN'T REAL GOOD THAT THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE THE FARTHER WE MADE IT THE TOUGHER THE TERRAIN. THE FRONT END FEELS A LITTLE LIGHT. AND IN A RUSH TO GET ON THE TRAIL I REMEMBERED TO AIR DOWN THE TIRES BUT FORGOT TO DISCONNECT THE FRONT SWAY BAR UNTIL ABOUT HALF WAY UP THE TRAIL. I HOPE THAT'S NOT SOME TWISTED FORESHADOWING. I'LL TAKE THIS WITH ME. CLEAN UP THE TRAIL. ALRIGHT IF I GET OVER THIS LITTLE RISE AM I GOOD TO KINDA GET AFTER IT? THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. HEY THERE'S A WINCH ON THE FRONT OF THIS THING RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S NOT GONNA GET BETTER ON ITS OWN. IT'S GONNA JUST KEEP PULLING MY FRONT END DOWN HILL AND GO FROM BAD TO WORSE. I THINK NOW IS WHEN YOU JUST PULL OUT THE WINCH AND MOVE ON. INSIDE OUR RECOVERY KIT IS A TREE SAVER, WHICH WILL PREVENT US FROM DAMAGING THE BARK ON THE TREE. HUGGING THIS TREE. I'M GONNA LIKE IT A WHOLE LOT IF IT GETS ME OUT OF THIS BIND. ♪ ♪ NOW WINCHES AREN'T JUST FOR GETTING VEHICLES UNSTUCK FROM DEEP MUD. THEY CAN ALSO BE USED AS A TOOL TO GET YOU FURTHER UP THE TRAIL AND DO SO SAFELY. AH, MUCH BETTER, THAT FEELS MUCH SAFER! AT THAT POINT I DECIDED TO GET OUT AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TRAIL. NOW IT LOOKS PRETTY NASTY UP HERE. WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING IN OVER OUR HEAD BUT WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT. AT LEAST MAKE SOME GOOD TV. WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? THIS RAIN DIDN'T DO US ANY FAVORS EITHER BUT WE'RE WELL EQUIPPED. SO LET'S GO FOR IT. RIGHT AFTER I HOPPED BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND FIRED IT UP, THE SKIES OPENED UP. ♪ ♪ HOLY #*$%! CAME OFF THAT ROCK QUICK. ♪ ♪ YEAH, WITH IT RAINING LIKE IT IS, IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO HEAD BACK TO THE SHOP BEFORE WE WAD UP THIS NEWLY COMPLETED JEEP. ♪ ♪
(ALLI)>> FROM OFF PUTTING TO OFF ROAD, THAT'S A BUILD YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AT POWERNATION TV DOT COM. I'M ALLI WALKER AND I'LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.
