Lock Jaw: Moab or Bust

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH TRAILS RANGING FROM MILD TO WILD, MOAB, UTAH IS THE IDEAL PLACE TO GO WHEELING, AND THE WEEK LONG EASTER JEEP SAFARI IS THE

PERFECT TIME TO BE THERE. TODAY ON XTREME OFF ROAD OUR KAISER JEEP WILL JOIN THE REST OF THE GANG AT EJS ONCE WE TAKE CARE OF THE ROLL CAGE, TARP, RADIATOR, AIR INTAKE, WINCH, BUMPERS, DRIVESHAFTS, WHEW!

(IAN)>> WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TAKE A RIG OUT ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE I GET PRETTY EXCITED. I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE TAKING

LOCK JAW FOR ITS FIRST TRAIL RIDE. LATER TODAY WE'RE GONNA THROW IT ON A TRAILER, DRIVE ALL THE WAY OUT TO MOAB, UTAH, TO THE EASTER JEEP SAFARI AND HIT SOME TRAILS IN OUR CLASSIC M-715. THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF BEFORE WE DO THAT THOUGH. THE FIRST IS A FULL ROLL CAGE.

TO BUILD THIS CAGE I'M GONNA BE BREAKING OUT A NEW TOOL THAT WE JUST GOT IN THE XTREME SHOP. THIS IS A NEW ROTARY DRAW TYPE BENDER THAT WE GOT FROM EDWARDS MANUFACTURING. IT'S EQUIPPED WITH A 10 TON HYDRAULIC RAM TO MAKE BENDING THICK TUBE EASY. BUT THE COOL PART ABOUT THIS SET UP IS INSTEAD OF USING A STAND ALONE HYDRAULIC PUMP AND VALVE

ASSEMBLY, IT CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO OUR IRON WORKER AND USES THE PUMP INSIDE IT TO CONTROL OUR BENDER.

THE CAGE WILL BE BUILT USING SOME INCH AND THREE QUARTER, 120 WALL DOM TUBING, AND IT STARTS WITH TWO MAIN KICKERS THAT TRAVEL FROM THE WINDSHIELD FRAME BACK INTO THE BED TYING INTO OUR REAR SPARE TIRE MOUNT THAT WE BUILT EARLIER. THE CAGE FOR LOCK JAW IS GONNA BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOU'D NORMALLY SEE GUYS BUILD ON THESE M-715 TRUCKS. A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING AFTERMARKET CAGES IN THIS BODY STYLE, THEY TRY TO MIMIC THE FACTORY DESIGN. IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS TRUCK HAD KINDA LIKE A BIG COVERED WAGON ROOF. AND SO THEY'LL PUT A BIG BPILLAR HOOP IN THE BACK. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT KINDA MAKES THE TRUCK LOOK TALL AND I'M TRYING TO LOWER THE OVERALL VISUAL HEIGHT OF THIS RIG. THAT'S WHY I CHOPPED THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. MY PLAN IS A FASTBACK CAGE. A FLAT ROOF, IT'LL KICK BACK INTO THE BED. I'M ALSO GONNA TIE THE CAGE INTO SPECIFIC POINTS OF THE BODY, KINDA LIKE A NEW MODERN JEEP. I'LL PUT A PLATE UP HERE AT THE WINDSHIELD FRAME LIKE YOU'D SEE IN A JK, BASICALLY LOCK IT TOGETHER. THAT'LL HELP STIFFEN UP THE BODY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT'LL ALSO WORK WELL WITH THE SOFT TOP I'VE GOT PLANNED FOR THIS RIG.

A FRONT CROSSER CONNECTS THE TWO KICKERS TOGETHER AT THE WINDSHIELD. THE REAR CROSSER IS TACKED INTO PLACE AND ROOF BARS ARE ADDED TO GIVE THE TRUCK A FLAT ROOF, FINISHING UP OUR FASTBACK LOOK. FLOOR PLATES ARE BOLTED INTO PLACE AND BPILLAR BARS ARE RECESSED INTO THE BODY FOR MORE ROOM INSIDE THE CAB.

NOW I AM NOT AN UPHOLSTERER BY ANY MEANS BUT I HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE SOFT TOP ON THIS RIG. I JUST WANT SOMETHING TO KEEP THE SUN AND THE RAIN OFF US WHEN WE'RE OUT WHEELING. I WENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL ARMY SURPLUS STORE AND PICKED UP ONE OF THESE OLIVE DRAB CANVAS TARPS. NOW IT'LL TIE IN REALLY WELL WITH THE OLD THEME

WE'VE GOT GOING WITH OUR TRUCK. NOW THE PLAN IS TO TIE IN OFF THE WINDSHIELD FRAME, PARTS OF OUR NEW CAGE, AND THE ORIGINAL DOOR SURROUNDS.

I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS GONNA WORK OR NOT.

SO WE'RE IN THIS RIDE TOGETHER.

WITH THE TARP DRAPED OVER THE CAGE AND ATTACHED TO THE WINDSHIELD FRAME, IT IS TRIMMED AROUND THE DOOR

OPENINGS AND THE BACK OF THE CAGE. CLAMPS AND FLAT BAR LOCK THE TOP ONTO THE FACTORY DOOR SURROUND.

WITH THE TARP MOCKED INTO POSITION I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW IT'S LAYING ACROSS THE CAGE. NOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE A REMOVABLE SOFT TOP. IT'LL BE PERMANENTLY ANCHORED TO THE WINDSHIELD FRAME, THE DOOR SURROUNDS, AND THE BACK OF THE CAGE, BUT IT'LL DO ITS JOB. IT'LL KEEP THE SUN OFF US AND RAIN OFF US WHEN WE'RE OUT WHEELING. I CAN NOW STRIP IT OFF AND COMPLETELY WELD IN ALL THE TUBING OF OUR ROLL CAGE. WHILE I'M AT IT I'LL ADD SOME SEAT MOUNTS FOR OUR SUSPENSION SEATS. NOW THESE ARE PRP DAILY DRIVER SEATS.

NOW THEY'RE A GOOD, COMFORTABLE SUSPENSION SEAT WITH HIGH BOLSTERS THAT'LL GIVE US GOOD,

EASY CONTAINMENT. KEEP US NICE AND SAFE WHEN WE'RE OUT WHEELING. NOW I HAD THEM GO AHEAD AND COVER THE SEATS IN A BLACK VINYL WITH GRAY PIPING, TWEED ON THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN IN THE CENTER INSERT I SWITCHED

IT UP AND WENT WITH A BALLISTIC NYLON COVER

BECAUSE IN AN EX MILITARY TRUCK IT JUST SEEMS RIGHT TO USE THE WORD BALLISTIC.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT WE INSTALL A CLASSIC WINCH ON OUR CLASSIC JEEP AND TRY OUR BEST NOT TO NEED IT.

(IAN)>> THERE'S JUST A FEW ITEMS LEFT ON OUR PUNCH LIST TO FINISH UP PROJECT LOCK JAW. THE FIRST IS TO FINISH OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM. NOW I NEEDED A RADIATOR THAT WOULD FIT UNDERNEATH OUR HOOD AND WORK WITH OUR VEIGHT ENGINE. AND NOBODY MAKES A HEMI SWAP RADIATOR SPECIFICALLY FOR THE M-715 JEEP. NOW SUMMIT RACING DOES HAVE THIS

RADIATOR AVAILABLE. THIS IS A HEMI SWAP RADIATOR FOR A JEEP JK. IT'S A THICK CORED, ALL ALUMINUM RADIATOR AND INCLUDES AN ELECTRIC FAN AND SHROUD. BECAUSE IT'S DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE HEMI, THE INLET AND THE OUTLET ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AND SINCE IT'S FOR A JEEP JK, I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WILL BE ABLE TO FIT THIS RADIATOR UNDER THE

HOOD OF OUR JEEP WITH MINIMUM MODIFICATION. THE RADIATOR COMES WITH ALL THE NECESSARY BRACKETS TO BOLT IT INTO A JEEP JK. SINCE WE'RE NOT WORKING WITH A JK, WE'LL MODIFY OUR CLASSIC JEEP TO WORK BY DRILLING A HOLE, INSTALLING A GROMMET TO ACT AS A RADIATOR CUSHION.

FOR THE UPPER MOUNTS WE'LL JUST DRILL INTO THE FRONT OF THE SHELL AND USE A SIMPLE "L" BRACKET TO LOCK IT ALL INTO PLACE. NEXT ITEM UNDER THE HOOD IS AN AIR FILTER SYSTEM. I'M GONNA BUILD MY OWN INTAKE KIT USING A YOU BUILD IT KIT FROM AIRAID. THE ROTO MOLDED INTAKE TUBE HAS MULTIPLE ANGLES AVAILABLE. AND ONCE THE LOCATION OF THE REUSABLE AIR FILTER

ELEMENT IS FOUND, THE TUBE IS CUT TO FIT AND CONNECTED USING THE INCLUDED

CLAMPS AND CONNECTORS.

IF YOU EVER SEE A CLASSIC MILITARY M-715, THE FIRST THING YOU'LL NOTICE IS A HUGE WINCH HANGING OFF

THE FRONT OF THE FRAME. NOW SOMEONE HAD ALREADY STRIPPED THE ONE OFF THIS TRUCK PROBABLY LONG BEFORE IT WENT TO THE SCRAPYARD,

AND THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY TO MOAB, UTAH, WITHOUT A GOOD QUALITY WINCH TO REPLACE IT ON THE FRONT OF THIS RIG. WHAT BETTER THAN THE CLASSIC WARN 8274 WINCH? NOW THIS WINCH HAS BEEN USED FOR DECADES, AND OFF ROADERS STILL LOVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF KEY REASONS. IT HAS 150 FEET OF FIVESIXTEENTHS AIRCRAFT CABLE. NOW THAT'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD LONG LINE PULL. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY FAST WINCH. IT'LL RECOVER THAT LINE AT ALMOST 80 FEET PER MINUTE.

IT HAS THIS VERTICAL DESIGN, WHICH GIVES YOU A GOOD SET OF SPUR GEARS INSIDE THIS OIL BATH HOUSING. KEEPS THE MOTOR UP OUT OF THE WAY, ALLOWS AIR TO CIRCULATE, KEEPS EVERYTHING GOOD AND COOL. NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE THAT VINTAGE LOOK BUT IT'S ALSO ALL BUSINESS, CAPABLE OF PULLING 8,000 POUNDS ON A SINGLE LINE PULL.

AND THAT'LL BE PERFECT ON THE FRONT OF OUR RIG. THE WINCH MOUNTING PLATE IS BUILT USING QUARTER INCH FLAT STEEL. MOUNTING HOLES ARE PUNCHED USING OUR IRON WORKER. AND THE OPENING FOR THE CABLE IS CUT WITH A PLASMA CUTTER. WITH THE WINCH AND FAIRLEAD BOLTED INTO PLACE, THE ASSEMBLY IS MOCKED UP ONTO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK USING THE ENGINE CRANE. SIDE PLATE TEMPLATES ARE MADE FROM CARDBOARD, CUT, AND THEN TACKED INTO PLACE.

THE BOTTOM PLATE IS ALSO QUARTER INCH STEEL, AND

WILL ACT AS A SKID PLATE FOR THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND HAS OPENINGS CUT INTO IT TO ALLOW FOR DRAINAGE. THE WINCH MOUNTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK ALL BY ITSELF IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'D SEE IN A CLASSIC M-715. BUT SINCE WE'RE TAKING THIS RIG WHEELING, I WANT TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THIS SHEET METAL THAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRAME. IT'S JUST IN A BAD SPOT. IT'S GONNA BE VERY EASY FOR A ROCK TO GET CAUGHT UP IN HERE AND KEEP US FROM MOVING DOWN THE TRAIL. NOW ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO GET OUT SOME DOM AND BUILD A ROUND PRERUNNER STYLE TUBE BUMPER TO PROTECT ALL OF IT, BUT ROUND TUBE BUMPER ISN'T GONNA LOOK RIGHT ON THIS TRUCK.

INSTEAD A SQUARE TUBE BUMPER IS GONNA LOOK RIGHT. AND THE COOL THING IS MY NEW BENDER CAN ACTUALLY BEND QUARTER INCH WALL SQUARE TUBING.

WITH EVERYTHING TACKED INTO PLACE THE WINCH IS THEN REMOVED AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS FULLY WELDED INSIDE AND OUT. THE TRUCK IS UP ON THE LIFT ONE LAST TIME. I'LL NUT AND BOLT EVERYTHING, FILL ALL THE

FLUIDS, AND THEN TOSS IT ON A TRAILER AND HEAD OUT TO MOAB, UTAH. BEFORE I DO THAT I NEED TO BOLT IN BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVESHAFT. NOW OUR SHAFTS ARE CUSTOM UNITS FROM JE REEL DRIVELINE. IT'S A THICK WALLED DOM SHAFT WITH 1350

JOINTS AT EITHER END. I DON'T HAVE ANY SEVERE DRIVELINE ANGLES ON THIS TRUCK. SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO OPT FOR A CONSTANT VELOCITY

JOINT AT THE TRANSFER CASE. NOW IF YOU DO REMEMBER, OUR TRANSFER CASE DIDN'T COME WITH ANY YOKES. AND THE GUYS AT JE REEL HELPED US OUT BY SENDING US THESE YOKES FOR OUR CASE.

THEY'RE FOR THE 205, 32 SPLINE, AND THEY FIT A 1350 UJOINT. BUT THEY DO OFFER THESE SAME YOKES ALL THE WAY UP TO A 1480 IF YOU'RE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT NEEDS A BOMB PROOF SETUP.

WITH THE YOKES AND DRIVESHAFTS INSTALLED IT'S TIME TO ADD FLUID TO THE AXLE AND THE TRANSFER CASE. DROP THE TRUCK DOWN, FIRE UP THE ENGINE, AND HEAD OUT OF THE SHOP. NEXT STOP, MOAB, UTAH! [ engine starts ] TIME TO GO!

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT WE JOIN A GROUP OF 50

DEDICATED JEEP WHEELERS TO TAKE ON THE METAL MASHER!

(IAN)>> MOAB, UTAH, IS JUST OVER 1,500 MILES FROM THE XTREME SHOP. MORE THAN HALF WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FOR YEARS MOAB WAS KNOWN FOR URANIUM MINING AND FOR THE MANY FEATURE FILMS SHOT IN THE REGION. BUT THESE DAYS IT'S CONSIDERED THE CAPITAL OF OUT DOOR ADVENTURE.

EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS OF JEEPS COME TO MOAB FOR THE ANNUAL EASTER JEEP SAFARI HOSTED BY THE RED ROCK FOUR WHEELERS. A WEEK LONG EVENT THE CELEBRATES EVERYTHING JEEP. TRAIL RIDES, MANUFACTURER DISPLAYS, AND A VENDOR SHOW TO CAP IT ALL OFF. THIS IS THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR LOCK JAW TO MAKE ITS DEBUT. AFTER ALL, THIS CLASSIC M-715 IS A JEEP AT HEART, AND PERFECT FOR THE TRAILS OF MOAB. WE MADE IT ALL THE WAY OUT HERE TO MOAB, UTAH. WE'VE JUMPED IT ON A TRAIL RIDE OUT TO A TRAIL CALLED METAL MASHER.

WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW PROJECT LOCK JAW HANDLES THE RED ROCKS OF EASTER JEEP SAFARI. METAL MASHER IS A DIFFICULT RATED TRAIL IN THE MOAB TRAIL GUIDE. IT BEGINS JUST NORTH OF TOWN AND IS A STAPLE FOR ANYONE HEADING OUT TO EJS. OUR GUIDE FOR THE TRIP IS NENA BARLOW FROM BARLOW JEEPS OUT OF SEDONA, ARIZONA. AND SHE LIKES THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL FOR GOOD REASON.

(NENA)>> THE TITLE SAYS IT ALL. NO ACTUALLY, IT'S GOT THAT CLASSIC SLICK ROCK. IT'S ONE, WE CALL IT ONE OF THE MOAB CLASSIC HARDCORE TRAILS. HARDCORE, OF COURSE, THE DEFINITION HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS BUT IT'S GOT THE GREAT SLICK ROCK STEPS AND THE VIEWS OF THE RIM, AND JUST A LOT OF FUN. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY.

(IAN)>> AFTER GATHERING AT THE TRAIL HEAD, OUR GROUP OF 50 RIGS AIRED DOWN THE TIRES, GAVE EVERYTHING A

QUICK LOOK OVER, AND WE HEAD INTO THE RED ROCKS. METAL MASHER STARTS WITH A LONG SLOW CLIMB RISING 1,300 FEET ABOVE THE HIGHWAY BEFORE DROPPING BACK INTO THE CANYON BELOW. AFTER RIDING THROUGH SOME DUSTY ROADS, WE FINALLY MADE IT INTO SOME ROCKS AND TOOK ON THE FIRST REAL OBSTACLE OF THE DAY, A STEEP WALL WITH A VNOTCH CRACK TO THE LEFT. AFTER TRYING THE INITIAL WALL, I DECIDED THE BEST OPTION WAS TO TRY THE NOTCH. AND AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF DIGGING, THE STICKY CRAWLERS DID THEIR JOB AND LOCK JAW WAS ABLE TO CRAWL TO THE TOP.

EASTER JEEP IS A GREAT DESTINATION FOR JEEPS OF ANY LEVEL BECAUSE TRAILS LIKE METAL MASHER OFFER BYPASSES FOR THE HARD OBSTACLES ON THE TRAIL, ALLOWING DRIVERS TO EITHER TRY THE CLIMB, OR BYPASS IT TO WATCH OTHERS BEAT ON THEIR RIGS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, TROUBLE ON THE TRAIL WHEN WE PUSH OUR RIG A LITTLE TOO HARD. PLUS IT'S RARE AND IRREPLACEABLE, BUT THIS AWARD WINNING SHOW TRUCK STILL GETS DOWN AND DIRTY!

(IAN)>> WE ARE DEEP IN THE SLICK ROCKS OF MOAB, UTAH, AT THE 49TH ANNUAL EASTER JEEP SAFARI WITH PROJECT LOCK JAW SEEING HOW OUR CLASSIC M-715 JUNKYARD FIND HANDLES SOME SERIOUS TRAILS. BREAK DOWNS ARE ALWAYS A THREAT OUT HERE, AND THE REMOTENESS OF THE TRAILS MAKES MECHANICAL FAILURE A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS. I FOUND THAT OUT ON THE NEXT CLIMB. ROCK CHUCKER, A STEEP ROCKY SECTION THAT CAUSED THE FRONT AXLE TO WRAP AND RIP THE CAPS OFF THE FRONT AXLE YOKE. IF WE WANTED TO KEEP WHEELING, OR EVEN JUST GET BACK TO THE TRAIL HEAD, THIS HAD TO BE FIXED. ( )>> 1350.

(IAN)>> THERE'S A CAP.

CAN WE GO WHEELING NOW OR WHAT? WITH THE DRIVELINE REPAIRED, OUR GROUP CONTINUED THROUGH METAL MASHER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY, HITTING LEDGES WHENEVER WE COULD AND OCCASIONALLY TAKING A BREAK TO GET SOME PICS OF THE UTAH LANDSCAPE.

WE WERE HAVING A BLAST IN OUR RIG.

AND WE ASKED SOME OUR FELLOW WHEELERS WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF OUR CLASSIC JEEP.

(MATT)>> ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. IT'S A GREAT PACKAGE. I REALLY LIKE SEEING THE OLD METAL THERE ALONG WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY YOU'VE PUT INTO IT WITH THE NEW MOTOR AND THE AIR LOCKERS, NEW AXLES, AND ALL THE OTHER GEAR YOU'VE PACKED IN THE BACK OF THE BED.

(IAN)>> THE LAST OBSTACLE ON METAL MASHER IS AN OPTIONAL CLIMB UP A SERIES OF SLICK ROCK LEDGES CALLED THE WIDOWMAKER. A SERIOUSLY STEEP SECTION THAT IS BYPASSED BY MOST.

BUT AFTER BREAKING ON ROCK CHUCKER, LOCK JAW HAD TO REDEEM ITSELF. SO I POINTED IT AT THE CLIMB, ROLLED UP ON THE ROCK. RIGHT AWAY IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT CRAWLING THIS OBSTACLE WAS NOT GONNA BE AN OPTION. BUT WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE HEMI UNDER THE HOOD, THE RED LABEL CRAWLERS, AND A WHOLE PILE OF THROTTLE, LOCK JAW PULLED ITSELF UP THE WIDOWMAKER, THE MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLE ON THE TRAIL. ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING RIGS ON THE TRAIL TODAY WAS THIS 1958 FC 170 JEEP. A SEMA SHOW TRUCK THAT GENERATED TONS OF BUZZ AND LANDED ON DOZENS OF BEST OF SHOW LISTS. BUT THE BEST THING ABOUT IT, IT'S NOBODY'S TRAILER QUEEN.

(MARK)>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY WHEEL THE HECK OUT OF IT, BUT YES, WE DO WHEEL IT, WHICH I THINK SHOCKS PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU'VE GOT TO USE WHAT YOU BUILD.

(IAN)>> NOW OUR TRUCK IS NEVER GONNA WIN A BEST OF SHOW TROPHY, BUT WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE SAVED THIS RIG FROM THE SCRAP YARD. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AGO THIS RETIRED MILITARY CLASSIC WAS HEADING TO THE CRUSHER TO BE CUBED AND TURNED INTO SCRAP METAL. AND NOW IT'S CRUISING THE RED ROCKS OF MOAB, UTAH, DURING EASTER JEEP SAFARI.

WE ARE VERY PROUD TO SEE THIS RIG BROUGHT BACK FROM THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION, AND NOW IT'S SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD.