XOR - Xtreme Off-Road Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Daystar Products International, Inc.
Performance Accessories Body Lift, 2 in., Jeep, Wrangler, Kit
Flex-a-lite Automotive Division
87-06 Jeep TJ Rad/Fan w/160 Fan LS Conversion
General Tire
Tire, Grabber, LT 35.00 x 12.50R17, Radial, Load Range 121, Q Speed Rating, Solid Red Letters, Each
Gibson Performance Exhaust
Headers, Shorty, Stainless Steel, Silver Ceramic Coated, Chrysler, Dodge, 5.7L, Pair
Summit Racing
Air Intake, Cold Air, Chrome End Cap, Red Filter, Black Plastic Tube, Dodge, 5.7L Hemi, Kit
Warn Industries
Winch, VR 10000, 12 V, Hawse Fairlead, Power In/Out, 3/8 in. x 100 ft. Synthetic Rope, 12 ft. Hand-Held Remote, Each
Advance Adapters
713098 : Jeep TJ Hemi 5.7L Motor Mount Kit
Advance Adapters
Atlas 2 Speed Transfer Case
Currie Enterprises
Jeep TJ Wrangler, LJ, XJ & MJ Rockjock 44 High Pinion Frontend Housing, W/ Arb Air Locker
Edwards Ironworkers
55 TON EDWARDS IRONWORKER with Hydraulic Accessory Pack option; 10 Ton Bender, 15 Ton Horizontal press,Tubing Roller and 40 Ton Shop Press.
ESAB
The Official Welding and Cutting Supplier of Xtreme Off Road, featuring the all-new Rebel 215 Multi-Process Welder
Express Pull-N-Save
KNOX Auto-Express Pull-N-Save is a self service used auto parts facility located in LaVergne, TN, just outside metropolitan Nashville.
Hotwire Auto
Custom ECU Flash, And Engine Wiring Harness
MetalCloak
CUSTOM 3.5" TJ Lock-N-Load Long-Arm Suspension System, 6 Pak Edition
PowerTrain Products
Dodge 5.7 Engine Hemi 2003-2007 w/egr
PowerTrain Products
Dodge/Jeep/Mits/Chrysler 545rfe/45rfe Transmission with Torque Converter
PSC Motorsports
PSC Motorsports 95-02 Jeep TJ//YJ/XJ Stage 4 Cylinder Assist Kit
RockAuto.com
Alternator, Starter, Water Pump, Thermostat
Savvy Offroad
Savvy Aluminum Full Corner Armor Blanks for 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Swag Off Road
YJ- TJ Drop Down Tailgate Conversion Kit
The Industrial Depot
The Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies
Trail Gear Inc.
17" Aluminum Beadloclk Wheel, (5 on 4.50" w 3.75" BS), Custom Silver and Black Segmented Ring

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> THIS LJ WILL BE REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP TO TAKE ON ALL KINDS OF OFF ROAD ADVENTURE. WE'LL START BY DROPPING IN A HEMI, AND THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS JEEP, IT'S GOING HOME WITH ONE OF OUR VIEWERS. PLUS LAST YEAR WE HELPED A VETERAN TURN HIS JEEP INTO A FULLY EQUIPPED CRAWLER. NOW HE'S TAKING IT TO MOAB!

(IAN)>> THE LIFT IS EMPTY HERE IN THE XTREME SHOP BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO START A VERY SPECIAL PROJECT. NOW I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE FIGURED OUT BY NOW THAT I PERSONALLY LOVE JEEPS. I MEAN LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM, YOU CANNOT DISMISS THE FACT THAT THE WORD JEEP AND ROCK CRAWLING OR TRAIL RIDING ARE BASICALLY SYNONYMOUS. YOU COULD ARGUE THAT NO OTHER BRAND HAS DONE MORE FOR THE WORLD OF OFF ROADING OVER THE PAST 75 YEARS THAN A JEEP, AND THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE A GROUP OF JEEPS OUT ON THE TRAIL. EVERYONE SHOULD OWN A JEEP SOMETIME IN THEIR LIFE BUT I

KNOW THAT EVERYONE CAN'T JUST RUN OUT AND BUY A JEEP WHENEVER THEY WANT. SO WE'VE TEAMED UP WITH ROCK AUTO DOT COM TO HELP YOU GUYS OUT WITH THAT. WE'RE GONNA GIVE AWAY THIS JEEP LJ TO ONE LUCKY VIEWER TO LET THEM LIVE THE JEEP LIFESTYLE. THE JEEP LJ IS KIND OF A UNICORN OF WRANGLERS. THEY WERE ONLY MADE FOR A FEW YEARS AND IT WAS JEEP'S FIRST ATTEMPT TO GET MORE FAMILIES INTO THIS MODEL OF JEEP. WITH AN ADDITIONAL 10 INCHES IN THE WHEEL BASE, THE REAR SEAT HAD MORE LEG ROOM AND STORAGE, BUT IT ALSO MADE THE JEEP MORE STABLE AND CAPABLE OFF ROAD. THE INTERIOR WAS SLIGHTLY MORE PLUSH WITH CARPET FRONT TO BACK. POWERED BY THE FOUR POINT ZERO STRAIGHT SIX, THE LJ IS A GREAT PLATFORM TO TURN INTO A HARDCORE WHEELER. NOW WE'VE BUILT A PILE OF JEEPS, WRANGLERS, CHEROKEES, TUBE BUGGY JEEPS, AND EVEN SOME CLASSIC JEEP OLD IRON. THEY ALL SHARED ONE COMMON THEME, THEY ARE BUILT TO HANDLE SOME SERIOUS WHEELIN'. NOW THIS RIG, IT'LL BE NO DIFFERENT. YES, IT'LL HAVE THE STANDARD UPGRADES, NEW AXLES, TIRES, WHEELS, BODY PROTECTION, BUMPERS, AND SOME RECOVERY EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S ALL GONNA START WITH THE BEST UPGRADE TO ONE OF THESE JEEPS, AND THAT IS A HEMI SWAP.

[ saw cutting metal ]

IT IS A LOT MORE WORK TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DRIVETRAIN FROM THE JEEP. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE, FRONT DRIVESHAFT, ALL THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE ACCESSORIES, BUT IT PAYS OFF IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE NOW I HAVE A COMPLETE DRIVETRAIN PACKAGE THAT CAN EASILY BE SWAPPED INTO ANOTHER PROJECT ALL IN ONE SPACE. I DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PARTS KICKING AROUND THE SHOP THAT COULD BE HARD TO FIND. AND NOW THAT THIS ENGINE PACKAGE IS OUT OF THE JEEP, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING IN. I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PERFORMING A HEMI SWAP ON THIS JEEP. SO I PICKED UP THIS 2007 HEMI ENGINE FROM A LOCAL WRECKING YARD. NOW AT THE VERY LEAST I'D WANT TO TEAR THIS ENGINE DOWN AND GIVE IT A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION OF ALL THE INTERNALS BEFORE I PUT IT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE JEEP. BUT BECAUSE THIS JEEP IS GONNA BE ONE OF YOURS, I WENT ONE STEP FURTHER. I PICKED UP A COMPLETELY REENGINEERED LONG BLOCK FROM POWERTRAIN PRODUCTS. NOW THEY CALL IT REENGINEERED BECAUSE THEY DON'T JUST REBUILD THESE ENGINES.

THEY ADDRESS ANY COMMON FAILURE AREAS IN THE MOTOR TO PREVENT THEM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THE VALVE SEATS IN THE HEMI HEADS DO HAVE A TENDENCY TO FALL OUT. SO TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING POWERTRAIN PRODUCTS INSTALLS ALL NEW HARDENED VALVE SEATS AND PINS THEM IN PLACE. MULTILAYERED STEEL HEAD GASKETS PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, AND A REDESIGNED PISTON PREVENTS ANY OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP DUE TO HOT AREAS ON THE CYLINDER WALL. NOW I DO STILL NEED THE COMPLETE ENGINE FROM THE WRECKING YARD TO TRANSFER ALL OF THE PARTS ONTO OUR LONG BLOCK BEFORE I DROP IT IN THE HOOD, BUT ONCE THIS THING IS IN PLACE IT IS EQUIPPED WITH A FOUR YEAR, ONE MILLION MILE WARRANTY THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE WITH THIS IN YOUR

JEEP, AND THAT IS A LOT OF WHEELING. A PILE OF PARTS NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR DONOR ENGINE, INCLUDING THE INTAKE, VALVE COVERS, BALANCER, FRONT COVER, FLYWHEEL, AND OIL PAN.

THIS IS ALSO A GOOD TIME TO REPLACE ANY POSSIBLE WEAR ITEMS ON THE ENGINE, AND WHEN YOU NEED A PILE OF PARTS AT ONE TIME, ROCK AUTO DOT COM IS A GREAT RESOURCE. WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK UP WHAT WE NEEDED BASED ON OUR DONOR VEHICLE ENGINE, AND ORDERED EVERYTHING FROM IDLER PULLEYS TO WATER PUMPS, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, SPARK PLUGS, AND A THERMOSTAT. EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS ENGINE BASICALLY

100 PERCENT BRAND NEW.

THEN THE 545 RFE TRANSMISSION, ALSO REENGINEERED FROM POWERTRAIN PRODUCTS, IS BOLTED UP BEHIND THE HEMI. THIS FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC IS FOUND IN MANY RAM PICK UPS AND HAS A DEEP THREE TO ONE FIRST GEAR, AND THREE INCREDIBLY STRONG PLANETARY UNITS WILL HELP DELIVER OUR HEMI'S TORQUE TO THE WHEELS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP ALL THE REQUIRED MODS TO GET OUR HEMI RUNNING IN THE JEEP. PLUS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PROJECTS TAKES ON THE RED ROCKS OF UTAH.

(IAN)>> KEEPING WITH OUR JEEP THEME TODAY WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK BACK AT A VERY SPECIAL JEEP TJ THAT WE BUILT WITH A TEAM OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE XTREME SHOP.

THE JEEP BELONGED TO A MARINE BY THE NAME OF JOHN CURTIN, AND IT NEEDED A PILE OF WORK BEFORE IT WOULD BE READY FOR THE TRAIL. THE JEEP WAS PRETTY MUCH A STOCK FOUR CYLINDER TJ THAT NEEDED A LOT OF HELP.

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO TEAR THE ENTIRE RIG APART TO A BARE FRAME.

WHOO!

THE STOCK DRIVETRAIN WAS ALL GARBAGE BUT THE BODY WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. AND WITH THEM SEPARATED, A NEW SIX CYLINDER JEEP FOUR LITER WAS SLID INTO THE FRAME RAILS ALONG WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ATLAS TRANSFER CASE.

A SET OF CURRIE ROCK JOCK AXLES FRONT AND REAR FILLED

WITH AIR LOCKERS AND CHROMOLY SHAFTS HUNG ON A METAL CLOAK GAME CHANGER SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH THREE INCHES OF STRETCH BUILT INTO THE REAR ARMS. HYDRAULIC ASSIST STEERING, GENERAL GRABBER 35 INCH TALL TIRES MOUNTED ON 17 INCH BEAD LOCKS. THIS ROLLING CHASSIS WAS A WORK OF ART ALL ON ITS OWN. THE BODY WAS SOLID BUT NEEDED HELP.

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO CONVERT THE REAR TAIL GATE TO A DROP DOWN DESIGN.

THEN THE ENTIRE OUTSIDE OF THE JEEP BODY WAS WRAPPED WITH ALUMINUM BODY ARMOR. TUBE FENDERS FRONT AND REAR, HALF DOORS, AND ROCK SLIDERS, ALUMINUM BUMPERS WITH A WARN WINCH, PILE OF LED LIGHTING,

SUSPENSION SEATS, AND A FRONT TRAIL CAGE KIT. OVER A PERIOD OF SIX WEEKS CLOSE TO 20 PEOPLE JUMPED IN TO HELP IN THE XTREME SHOP ON JOHN'S JEEP, AND ALL OF THEM HAD A GREAT TIME DOING IT.

(DOUG)>> YOU KNOW EVERYONE'S WORKING TOGETHER, WORKING HARD, WE'RE BUSTING IT OUT. IT'S JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO DO SOMETHING SO GREAT FOR A GOOD GUY.

(STEVE)>> GREAT GUY, SUPER FUN, YEAH, DON'T KNOW, JUST STAND UP GUY.

(TONY)>> HARD FOR ME TO EXPRESS IT FULLY. I CAME HERE KNOWING WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE TOLD WE WANTED TO GET TO DO A MILITARY GIVE BACK FOR SOMEONE THAT'S GIVEN SO MUCH FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR US PERSONALLY.

EVERY ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY HAS BEEN GIVEN SO MUCH BY HIM.

IT WAS A NOBRAINER.

WE ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT BUT COMING HERE TODAY AND SEEING HIM, AND SEEING HIS SPIRIT AND HIS DIGNITY, AND HIS WILLING TO WORK AND PITCH IN, I AM SO GLAD WE'VE DONE AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE COULD NOT TRY TO COMPENSATE HIM, BUT AT LEAST HONOR WHAT HE'S DONE FOR US.

(IAN)>> WITH THE JEEP ALL DONE WE DROVE IT OUT OF THE SHOP TO HAND THE KEYS OVER TO JOHN. HIS JEEP WAS NOW READY FOR HIM TO TAKE WHEELING, WELL ALMOST. NOW AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO TAKE THIS JEEP OUT FOUR WHEELING RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT MY JEEP TO WHEEL. THIS IS JOHN'S JEEP, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE HAND CONTROLS IN IT QUITE YET. SO JOHN IT'S YOUR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF GETTING HAND CONTROLS IN THIS RIG. YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT MUCH?

(JOHN)>> YEAH FOR SURE.

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS JEEP?

WE MADE A HUGE TRANSFORMATION SO FAR.

(JOHN)>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT WENT FROM A BEAST TO A BEAUTY THAT'S FOR SURE. LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

(IAN)>> WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART YOU THINK?

(JOHN)>> MY FAVORITE PART, I DON'T KNOW. THE FRONT END LOOKS PRETTY NASTY.

(IAN)>> I LIKE IT, I THINK MY FAVORITE PART IS THE FACT THAT YOU WERE HERE EVERYDAY WORKING ON IT. SO NOW YOU KNOW THIS JEEP INSIDE AND OUT. THAT'LL HELP YOU WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL.

(JOHN)>> YEP, I HOPE SO.

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT WELL NOW YOUR JOB IS TO BASICALLY TAKE THIS RIG, CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN WE'LL SEE YOU OUT ON THE TRAIL.

(JOHN)>> SOUNDS GOOD!

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT JOHN HITS THE TRAIL IN MOAB, UTAH!

(IAN)>> WITH JOHN'S JEEP 100 PERCENT COMPLETE AND READY TO HIT THE TRAIL HE WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE IT QUITE YET. WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL SOME HAND CONTROLS COULD BE INSTALLED. THEN WE HIT THE TRAIL BUT IT WAS A PRETTY SPECIAL TRAIL. IT INVOLVED HIM JOINING US IN MOAB, UTAH, FOR EASTER JEEP SAFARI. FROM ITS CREEKS AND CANYONS, TO ITS MOUNTAINS AND PLATEAUS,

MOAB, OFFERS WORLD CLASS SCENERY AND

TRAILS FOR ANY WHEELER. IT'S THE ULTIMATE LOCATION FOR JOHN CURTIN TO FINALLY GET SOME SEAT TIME IN HIS RIG. OUR FIRST TRAIL IS KANE CREEK. PERFECT FOR A SHAKE DOWN RUN WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS. NOTHING TOO SERIOUS FOR A WELL EQUIPPED JEEP, JUST 13.7 MILES OF GOOD WHEELING. TRAVELING WITH JOHN IS JESSIE WILLIAMSON, WHO VOLUNTEERED DURING THE BUILD OF JOHN'S WRANGLER. AND AFTER ALL THAT TIME IN THE SHOP, HE ISN'T GONNA MISS THE CHANCE TO SEE THIS RIG IN ACTION, EVEN IF IT MEANS SPENDING HIS DAY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SO AFTER ALL THE ANTICIPATION OF WORKING ON HIS JEEP AND TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO UTAH, HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR JOHN TO GET THIS RIG ON THE TRAIL?

(JOHN)>> IT WAS EXTREMELY REWARDING TO SEE ALL THE EFFORT THAT I PUT INTO THIS VEHICLE PAYOFF IN THE WAY I HAD HOPED IT WOULD. IT HANDLED PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING OUT HERE WITH

A GOOD AMOUNT OF EASE.

(IAN)>> WE ARE SPENDING DAY TWO IN MOAB, AT THE PATRIOT CRAWL, WHICH HAS GATHERED 60 VETERANS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO GATHER FOR A DAY OF WHEELING AT AREA BFE. JOHN AND HIS TJ ARE TAKING THE TRAILS WITH EASE. WITH A RADIUS ARM FRONT SUSPENSION AND FOUR LINK REAR, THE TJ EASILY ARTICULATES OVER ANY OBSTACLE JOHN FINDS ON THE TRAIL, AND THE ROCK JOCK AXLES AND GENERAL TIRES ENSURE THE JEEP HAS PLENTY OF TRACTION AND STRENGTH WHEN NEEDED. DITCHING THE WORN OUT FOUR CYLINDER FOR A NEW STRAIGHT SIX IS THE IDEAL UPGRADE. THE FOUR LITER POWER PLANT IS THE ICONIC MOTOR FOR A TJ. LOTS OF TORQUE AT THE READY, AND WHEN COUPLED WITH THE THREE SPEED AUTO AND THE ATLAS TWO TRANSFER CASE, IT IS THE ULTIMATE DRIVETRAIN FOR CRAWLING OR JUST HAVING FUN. THIS RIG REPRESENTS MORE THAN A JEEP FOR JOHN. IT IS LITERALLY A FREEDOM MACHINE!

(JOHN)>> I'VE NEVER WHEELED MY OWN PERSONAL VEHICLE ANYWHERE. YOU KNOW I'D ALWAYS TIE MY FEET TO A PEDAL OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO BE IN MY OWN VEHICLE THAT I HAD WORKED ON FOR SO LONG, AND YOU KNOW, REAP THE BENEFITS FROM IT. JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, THERE'S A LOT OF BARRIERS IN LIFE FOR CERTAIN GUYS. TO OVERCOME THOSE IN WHATEVER MANNER IT MAY BE, IT'S REWARDING AND I HOPE TO PASS THIS ON TO OTHER GUYS THAT ARE MAYBE A LITTLE SKEPTICAL OF THE SPORT ITSELF, OR JUST EVEN GETTING OUT. IT'D BE ANOTHER REWARDING CHAPTER IN MY LIFE FOR SURE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, IN DEPTH INFO TO HELP YOU INSTALL

A HEMI IN YOUR JEEP.

(IAN)>> WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEMI SWAP INTO OUR ROCK AUTO DOT COM GIVEAWAY JEEP. NOW THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS IS TO REMOVE THE FENDERS TO GIVE US MORE ROOM TO WORK.

THE HEMI WILL NOT WORK WITH THESE STOCK FOUR LITER MOTOR MOUNTS. SO THEY NEED TO BE CUT OFF THE FRAME AND THE FRAME GROUND COMPLETELY SMOOTH FOR OUR NEW MOUNTS. [ grinder spinning ]

(IAN)>> YOU DON'T JUST WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND DECIDE TO THROW A HEMI UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF YOUR WRANGLER. THERE IS SOME PLANNING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL ADVANCE ADAPTERS AND GET THE MOTOR MOUNTS FOR YOUR APPLICATION. THIS IS THEIR HEMI SWAP KIT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE JEEP LJ. IT WILL RELOCATE THE ENGINE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE NEXT CALL IS TO HOT WIRE AUTO. THEY ARE THE GO TO SOURCE FOR ELECTRONICS AND THE HEMI ENGINE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF ANY JEEP. FOR THE LJ YOU'LL ALSO NEED TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THEM THE FUSE BLOCK OUT OF YOUR JEEP TO BE MODIFIED TO WORK WITH THE HEMI ENGINE. THEN THEY'LL SUPPLY A NEW REFLASHED ECU AND A 100 PERCENT NEW HEMI ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. NOW THIS PACKAGE WILL ALLOW THE JEEP TO SEAMLESSLY WORK WITH THE HEMI ENGINE AS IF IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD FROM THE DAY THE JEEP WAS BUILT, BUT THESE AREN'T THE ONLY ITEMS THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED. YOU'LL NEED A NEW RADIATOR ABLE TO KEEP THE VEIGHT COOL UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, LIKE THIS HEAVY DUTY ALUMINUM UNIT THAT WE GOT FROM SUMMIT RACING. FOR YOUR EXHAUST YOU CAN USE CAST IRON MANIFOLDS, BUT JUST FOR A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS YOU CAN UPGRADE TO A BETTER

FLOWING SET OF HEADERS, LIKE THESE SHORTIES FROM GIBSON EXHAUST THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FIT A CHRYSLER 300-C WITH A

FIVE POINT SEVEN HEMI. I'LL FOLLOW THAT WITH A FULL CUSTOM STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST I'LL BUILD USING A UNIVERSAL HOT ROD KIT I GOT FROM SUMMIT RACING.

AN AIR INTAKE TUBE WILL BE NEEDED FOR OUR ENGINE. SO I GRABBED A COLD AIR KIT FROM SUMMIT RACING FOR A 1,500 RAM WITH A HEMI UNDER THE HOOD. FINALLY WE'LL NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND A FUEL VAPOR LEAK DETECTOR FROM THE NEWER '06 JEEP WRANGLER.

ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SO FAR ARE JUST THERE TO GET THE ENGINE RUNNING CORRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF OUR JEEP, BUT THERE IS ONE MORE UPGRADE YOU HAVE TO PLAN IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT A HEMI UNDERNEATH THE TUB OF YOUR WRANGLER, AND THAT IS TO ADD A BODY LIFT.

NOW THIS BODY LIFT KIT IS FROM PERFORMANCE ACCESSORIES. IT'S ACTUALLY VERY SIMPLE. IT'S JUST SOME ABS PUCKS THAT GO BETWEEN THE BODY

MOUNTS AND THE BODY JUST TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE FOR OUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN OUR TUNNEL BECAUSE THE 545 RFE IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE FACTORY TRANSMISSION. NOW BODY LIFTS USED TO GET A REALLY BAD WRAP AND THAT'S

BECAUSE GUYS WE'RE BASICALLY STACKING HOCKEY PUCKS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER JUST TO GET THE BODY UP AS HIGH AS THEY COULD TO FIT LARGER WHEELS AND TIRES AND NOT ADDRESS THE SUSPENSION, BUT BODY LIFTS ARE FINE IF USED IN MODERATION AND FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE, LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARANCE FOR A BIGGER TRANSMISSION. THE MOTOR MUST BE REMOVED TO FINISH WELD THE FRAME SIDE MOUNTS.

THEN THE JEEP IS RAISED AND THE BODY MOUNT BOLTS ARE REMOVED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE TUB, AND LOOSENED BUT

NOT REMOVED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEN THE BODY CAN BE RAISED OFF OF THE FRAME AND THE BODY

MOUNT SPACERS ARE PUT IN PLACE AND THE NEW BOLTS INSTALLED. THIS IS THEN REPEATED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE.

WHILE THE JEEP IS IN THE AIR, THE FUEL TANK IS LOWERED TO

UPGRADE THE FUEL PUMP. THE HOT WIRE HARNESS REQUIRES THE NEWER '06 WRANGLER FUEL PUMP MODULE AND IT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED SLIGHTLY TO FIT INTO THE OLDER TANK. THE NEW LEAK DETECTOR PUMP IS THEN INSTALLED ONTO THE EVAC CANISTER, AND THE DRIVETRAIN CAN BE DROPPED INTO THE FRAME FOR GOOD.

THERE'S JUST A FEW ITEMS LEFT TO TAKE CARE OF. I'LL HAVE TO BEND THE FUEL LINE SO THE CONNECTOR LINES UP WITH THE FUEL RAIL ON THE HEMI. THE CONNECTOR IS THE SAME BETWEEN THE FOUR LITER AND THE HEMI. SO NO CUSTOM FUEL LINES WILL BE NEEDED. I HAVE TO HOOK UP THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND INSTALL A DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE CAB BECAUSE THE HEMI IS NOT A THROTTLE CABLE ENGINE, IT'S A DRIVE BY WIRE, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT HARD TO GET A HEMI UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF YOUR RIG. NOW I HAVEN'T FINISHED ALL THE EXTERNAL SHEET METAL AND ALL THAT EXTRA STUFF BECAUSE I'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO TO THIS JEEP. TRUST ME, WHOEVER WINS THIS JEEP IS GONNA HAVE ONE BAD RIG.
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