Installs
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
Quinton Neufeldt
Change Your Front Wheel Bearings like a Pro
The clean up after running the trails can be a challenge and a lot of times the parts that really need cleaning can’t be seen. Wheel bearing deterioration commonly occurs from frequent wear and tear – especially on older vehicles – as water, grit... Read more
Aug 7, 2020
Bryan Irons
Install: Finding the Right Stopping Power
You may remember our article “44 for Life” Dana 44 (4WD June 2018) that we built for the back end of our Stinky Jeep. We took everything we had and threw it at a pedestrian Dana 44 rear axle and ended up with a bantam-weight trail beast with parts... Read more
Jul 7, 2020
Bryan Irons
How to Bypass Electrical Hiccups
Many off-roaders have had their vehicle break down at one point or another, whether on a trail, on a highway or just down the street from their home. Not everyone has days on end to repair these automotive SNAFU’s. And if the problem is an... Read more
Jun 4, 2020
Brad Morris
Fender Liner Fix
Late in the wheeling season, the 40” Coopers on our Punk’n JL were beginning to rub, and in all the wrong places. After a closer inspection, we realized higher clearance inner-fender liners would be just the trick to help us better clear our big... Read more
Feb 25, 2020
5.9L Dodge Magnum Engine Teardown
How to tear down a junkyard engine and see what parts can be salvaged for the rebuild. Ours is a 1998 5.9L Dodge Magnum engine which, once rebuilt, will drop into a '99 Dodge Dakota replacing the existing 5.2L. Throughout the tear down we do a... Read more
Feb 15, 2020
Bryan Irons
The Ultimate Shock Solution!
We have owned our down and dirty 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 project truck, well, since 2012, or 120,000 km (75,000 mi) ago. In that time, it has been used to haul family, groceries, not to mention approximately 3600 kg (8000 lbs) of jeep and trailer... Read more
Dec 24, 2019
