Installs
Bryan Irons
We Can Rebuild It: Junkyard Motor Mod Part II
In our last issue (4WDrive Volume 24, Number 1), we broke down a 2005 6.0 L Chevrolet LQ9 V8 engine we cored from a Denali pickup in a junkyard and explained what to look for when getting ready to add more trail-worthy parts for optimal... Read more
Jun 6, 2022
Bryan Irons
Tooling for More Power!
Preface: When working on any fuel system for your 4x4, the combined reaction of sparks and fuel vapours is just a recipe for disaster. If they ignite, missing eyebrows are the best-case scenario and fatal injuries are the worst-case scenario... Read more
May 16, 2022
Bryan Irons
We Can Rebuild It: Junkyard Motor Mod Part I
We were recently in a situation that many DIY wrenchers dream of and fear. We had a clean, spacious engine bay and used LS series engine on a stand with grandiose plans to make it great again for off-roading. So what were we afraid of? Well, with... Read more
Mar 17, 2022
Kolyn Radbourne
From Stock to Superb: A DIY Xterra Lift Project
Years ago, when I first started four-wheeling, lifting a rig was a fairly straightforward DIY process - just swap out the leaf springs and shocks, and it was pretty much good to go. Now that I own a Nissan Xterra, lifting it to run larger tires... Read more
Nov 10, 2021
Peter Boyer
Add New Life into a Project Jeep
During the first wave of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, I started thinking about how to best pass the time other than communicating on social media, watching Netflix and reading through a stack of novels. My solution was simple - purchase a used... Read more
Oct 29, 2021
Quiton Neufeldt
Doubling-Up on Off-Road Protection
Pickup trucks complete a variety of duties - be it work or play. Our Project 99 Super Duty is no different. We use it to tow, haul, plow snow, and other work-related tasks for our contracting business. We also use it for off-road trips whenever... Read more
Sep 16, 2021
Kolyn Radbourne
No Xterra Parts? No Problem
When it comes to late-model 4x4s, we all know they may not be as tough as their forefathers. Let's face it, neither are we. But we still crave adventure and modifying an older off-road vehicle is always an option to add more function, strength... Read more
Aug 2, 2021
Peter Boyer
Install: Replacing Rear Axle Seals
Rear axle seal failures are not uncommon on Jeep Wranglers. But, with the severe use that the seal encounters in a 4X4 rig, and its minimal design, it’s surprising that it doesn’t fail more often. This repair is fairly straightforward, as we shall... Read more
Jul 24, 2021
Perry Mack
Fab Your Own Light Mount for $20!
We often get lights to review but occasionally they don’t mount easily on our existing vehicles. Many lighting companies are not light ‘mount’ companies, due to the diversity of vehicles and the accompanying mounting options. We received some... Read more
Jun 8, 2021
Peter Boyer
Suspension Swap for a 2011 Project Jeep
It’s widely known that Jeep manufactured approximately 2.1 million Wrangler JKs from 2006 to 2018, making it one of the most popular Jeep models of all time. The vast aftermarket of parts and accessories for the JK is only exceeded by the... Read more
May 27, 2021
Bryan Irons
Ramp-Up Your 4X4 Parking Brakes
Short of breaking into a ‘back in my day’ monologue, a time existed when the criteria I needed to deem a vehicle safe and reliable could have been written on a single post-it note – in large letters with a thick-tipped Sharpie... Read more
May 3, 2021
Bryan Irons
Install: Trutrac Axle Swap
No true off roader has gone for a trip in a newly acquired vehicle and proclaimed, “Perfect, I’m not going to change a thing.” Those people are what grizzled, dirt-eating wheelers term “quitters.” We’re always looking for ways to enhance... Read more
Nov 9, 2020
Bryan Irons
Good Lubrication for Great Engine Performance and a Long Life
Despite what some may think, many of the lubricants used in your vehicle perform important functions other than just “keeping things slippery.” Engine oil has to be one of the most abused fluids in your vehicle short of the half-sack of Bud Light... Read more
Oct 12, 2020
Bryan Irons
How To: Install a Slip Yoke Eliminator
You have to be a special kind of nerdy to get giggly over part number deciphering and acronyms. I’m not talking about the “Wut R U Doing?” texts I get from my daughter, that’s a whole other language. No, I’m talking about the day-to-day codes and... Read more
Oct 2, 2020
Bryan Irons
Converting a Transmission from 2WD to 4WD
Every time we go to find a component for a 4x4 in our stables, we strive to select parts that don’t carry monikers like “rare” or “obscure”. General Motors had a 15-year production run starting in 1969, the with the Turbo Hydromatic 350, or TH350... Read more
Sep 9, 2020
